"Got him!" x2
Time.
At this moment, it seemed to slow down.
Motomu's clothes fluttered high behind him as a heavy punch and a straight thrust from either side bore down on him, carrying the duo's absolute resolve to win.
"Oh? Is that all?"
As Motomu's voice fell.
Glass-like barriers materialized out of thin air, one after another, in dense layers.
Consuming over half of Motomu's chakra, as many as fifty layers of Reflect stood at a forty-five-degree angle in front of Kakashi and Guy.
Before their wide-eyed stares, the air barriers shattered silently layer by layer. Their fist and kunai, driven by inertia, were gradually deflected to the sides by the rigid barriers.
"It's over."
Motomu reached out and instantly seized both of their necks.
Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!
Within the vision of Motomu's Sharingan, the Kakashi who had chakra flowing through him vanished into smoke with a *poof*.
Simultaneously!
The ground beneath his feet sank as a pair of hands reached out to grab his ankles.
A Shadow Clone!
'Was I misled by the basic jutsu?'
I didn't expect this.
To think Kakashi already knows so many techniques at his age!
But the Headhunter Jutsu won't work on me.
Ten layers of Reflect were quickly constructed beneath his feet, sealing Kakashi underground while Motomu used the momentum to leap backward, carrying Guy with him.
By the time he landed, Motomu's chakra had just hit rock bottom.
The soil churned, and Kakashi emerged from the other side. Looking at the exhausted Motomu, he spoke softly.
"I've..."
Before the word 'won' could escape his lips, Kakashi was startled by the sound of Motomu's wild laughter.
Without anyone noticing.
A senbon had slid out from Motomu's sleeve and was already pressed against Guy's neck.
"Kakashi!"
"Your teammate is in my hands. Is this what you call victory?"
"Or is winning more important to you than your comrades!"
The air seemed to solidify.
Only five years old, Kakashi froze in place.
Having never considered such a scenario, he instinctively looked at Guy.
Guy instead gave a thumbs-up, flashing a hearty grin and showing his bright white teeth.
It didn't help one bit.
Just as Kakashi was at a loss for what to do.
A mature and steady voice drifted from outside the woods.
"Kakashi."
"For a ninja, there are comrades as well as victory."
"Father?"
Hearing the voice that was as familiar as could be, Kakashi immediately turned his head.
A man wearing a Konoha forehead protector and a green flak jacket, with a short sword strapped to his back and white hair just like his own, walked over with a smile.
Who is this?
Hatake Sakumo!
Motomu also looked at the newcomer.
'I didn't expect him to be watching from the sidelines.'
Whatever, I'll show some respect for his father's sake.
Plus, I can score some points for being 'politically correct' while I'm at it.
Having stalled for enough time to recover chakra for one Senbon Cannon shot, Motomu slowly released his grip.
"I lose, Kakashi."
"Guy is my comrade too. To me, comrades are more important than any victory."
Hatake Sakumo's rough hand pressed gently onto Kakashi's hair and ruffled it.
He looked at Motomu upon hearing those words, a hint of approval flashing across his smiling face.
"Uchiha kid, is your name Motomu?"
"Yes, Lord Hatake Sakumo."
"I look forward to the day you become Kakashi's teammate."
Teammate?
Hearing that word, Motomu's thoughts began to race.
In his plan, he had already intended to graduate early to avoid Uchiha Madara's attention.
Coupled with his background as Orochimaru's disciple, applying for early graduation from the academy should be quite easy.
And as for Kakashi, in the original story, he seemed to have graduated the same year he entered the Ninja Academy.
If he worked hard enough, he might actually become Kakashi's teammate.
I could get close to Hatake Sakumo and become a familiar face then.
If Orochimaru wanted to make a move on me after that, he'd have to consider Sakumo's short blade!
At least until Sakumo's suicide, I would be safe.
With his plan formed, Motomu replied to Hatake Sakumo with a serious expression.
"I will apply for the early graduation exam. What about Kakashi?"
"I will too."
Kakashi glanced at Motomu with his signature dead-fish eyes.
"It should take about three months. I can finish learning all that boring academy knowledge by then."
"You sleep in class, so don't go dragging me down when the time comes."
Heh, little brat.
I spent ten years studying hard in my previous life; I can surely handle three months of your work.
Just as Motomu was at a loss for words, Guy's arm suddenly draped over his shoulder.
"Motomu, you beat me! The new record is 30 to 2."
"Eh? Guy, did you really win thirty matches before this?!"
"Yo! Kakashi, don't you believe me?!"
"In that case, I'll challenge you to a duel to prove it!"
"All right, all right."
Hatake Sakumo interrupted the three with a smile, his gaze shifting from Kakashi to Motomu and Guy's faces.
Finally, his gaze settled on Obito and the other two who were peeking from not far away.
"To celebrate little Kakashi making new friends—"
He paused, a gentle smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.
"I'll treat everyone to barbecue."
"Yay!"
...
Half an hour after the gathering began.
Hatake Sakumo was found by his two subordinates.
After receiving a transfer order from the Hokage, Sakumo left in a hurry.
As they dispersed, Guy started chasing Kakashi for another duel.
Obito, with a red face, insisted on protecting Rin as she went home.
Meanwhile, little Anko, who had stuffed herself, stood at a street corner. After waving goodbye to Motomu with an outstretched arm, she disappeared into the crowd with a waddle.
*Snap!*
He hadn't gone far.
When Motomu caught up and grabbed Anko's small hand.
Under her messy purple hair, Anko's delicate white face turned slightly red.
"What? You want to walk me home too?"
Motomu paused, looking at Anko's already pink earlobes, and gave a cold chuckle.
"Dream on."
"When are you giving me back my shirt? The pants don't matter."
"That shirt is the only other summer top I have to change into."
Anko's shy face instantly froze.
He went to Anko's house to retrieve the clothes.
Motomu soon arrived at his own home.
The Uchiha clan grounds.
A blood-red Big Eyeball hovered and drifted under the cover of the night.
Tonight, besides increasing his strength.
Motomu was also considering a matter left over from yesterday.
That fat girl should be at home tonight.
After the Big Eyeball flew a circle, Motomu finally found her at the clan training ground.
The fat girl, Uchiha Haru, was incessantly practicing combat techniques under Koji's guidance.
Every time she thrust a kunai, she shouted Motomu's name, as if the scarecrow before her were her mortal enemy.
Motomu glanced at the Chunin Koji who was instructing her and retracted his idea of taking out the fat girl right now.
A Chunin wasn't someone the Big Eyeball could handle on its own.
If he got caught, it wouldn't be worth the loss. Wouldn't it be better to strike after she fell asleep?
The Big Eyeball rolled its gaze and flew toward Training Ground 7.
Motomu decided.
He would go grind some levels first.
Strength was the foundation for solving problems.
With a Level 5 Big Eyeball, he had to dodge Uchiha Kemono, Orochimaru, and even keep a respectful distance from a Chunin.
Once he reached Level 100, heh, all these punks would be shining his shoes.
Just the thought of it was incredibly satisfying!