"Puff!"
Kakashi could no longer suppress it. He spat out a mouthful of acid mixed with blood and foam, his body curled up as he flew out again, rolling several times on the ground before barely stopping.
Shizune, Kurenai, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara were all dumbfounded, their mouths wide open.
In their minds, the clash between two already renowned Chunin geniuses should have been a fierce and evenly matched battle.
Kakashi graduated earlier, became a Chunin earlier, and carried out more missions, so he should theoretically have more combat experience.
However, the scene before them completely overturned their understanding.
Kakashi was undeniably strong; his speed, swordsmanship, and reflexes far surpassed those of Chunin ninjas, leaving onlookers in awe.
But in front of Shinichi Higashino, he was like a disobedient child being disciplined by an adult, constantly restrained and utterly pathetic.
Shinichi completely overwhelmed Kakashi, who was wielding the White Light Chakra Sabre and going all out, using only the most basic Taijutsu and sword skills!
"Disappointing."
Shinichi sheathed his sword and stood there, looking at Kakashi, who was struggling to get up not far away, his voice filled with a cold indifference.
"You've disappointed me greatly, Kakashi."
Shinichi slowly shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the gleaming White Light Chakra Sabre in his hand, a sarcastic smile curving his lips.
"Why are you so weak, Kakashi? Is this all your so-called belief, your so-called perseverance is? Clinging to the shadows of the past, wrapping yourself in a set of cold, self-deceiving rules, do you think you can prove anything, can surpass anything?"
He paused, his gaze returning to Kakashi's deathly pale face, and said sarcastically: "It seems that inheriting this sword has not given you the corresponding capacity. The so-called White Fang of Konoha... ha, now it seems that it is nothing but an outdated name."
"Shut up!!"
Kakashi suddenly let out a roar like a wounded beast.
"You are not allowed to insult my father!"
His chakra exploded without restraint!
The ground several meters in radius beneath his feet shattered, sending debris flying everywhere!
This time, the speed of his charge far exceeded any previous one. He gripped the White Light Chakra Sabre tightly with both hands, transforming it into a pale and resolute streak of light that tore through the air and stabbed straight at Shinichi!
This strike was swift, ruthless, and decisive!
However, faced with this overwhelming and powerful attack, Shinichi's expression remained calm to the point of being cold.
Just as the tip of White Light Chakra Sabre's knife came within three meters of him.
Shinichi moved.
Just a simple sidestep.
The movement was subtle yet exquisite, allowing the blade, imbued with all of Kakashi's power and emotion, to graze his clothes.
At the same time, the katana in his hand rose silently, drawing a simple yet powerful arc that embodied immense strength and precise control.
There were no dazzling sparks, no deafening roars.
There was only one dull, heart-stopping sound.
Bang!
Bright silver fragments scattered like frozen teardrops, reflecting brief and desolate glints in the sunlight before clinking onto the dusty ground.
Time seemed to have been paused at that moment.
On the training ground, you could hear a pin drop.
Shizune covered her mouth, Kurenai's pupils shrank, Obito opened his mouth wide but couldn't make a sound, and Rin's exclamation was stuck in her throat.
Even Minato and Tsunade, who were in the distance, were stunned.
It's broken.
The White Light Chakra Sabre, which symbolizes a legend in Konoha, carries countless stories and glory, and also bears the tragic weight of a hero's fall.
It's broken!
Kakashi remained frozen in place, still in his forward thrusting stance.
His hands were still loosely clenched, maintaining the posture of holding a sword, but the weight in his palms felt very light and airy.
He slowly, very slowly, lowered his head, his gaze falling blankly to his hands.
There, he held the sword his father had left him.
No, it can no longer be called a sword.
Only the hilt and half of the blade remained, along with scattered, lifeless fragments.
"Oh?"
Shinichi's icy voice broke the deathly silence, mocking, "So you do care about your father's honor? What have you been doing for the past three years, Kakashi?"
He stepped forward, staring intently at Kakashi's distraught face, and asked the same question again: "So, why are you so weak?"
Kakashi's body trembled slightly, and his empty eyes seemed to be stung by those words, regaining a sliver of focus.
"What did I say to you three years ago?"
Shinichi's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, like a heavy hammer striking Kakashi's memory.
"I said, if you don't know what to do, then strive to become stronger, strong enough to avoid falling into the same predicament as your father did back then, strong enough that you might be able to forge a third path even in dire circumstances!"
"But what have you done in the past three years? You graduated early, worked tirelessly to complete tasks, and kept shouting that rules are paramount, as if that would prove you were right and had surpassed expectations!"
"But what about deep down? You are in pain and struggling all the time. You long for someone to tell you that your father's choice was not wrong! You are trapped in a cage of your own making, torn between denying and understanding your father, torturing yourself in an infernal hell!"
Shinichi pointed to the pile of broken metal on the ground:
"You're just endlessly questioning yourself, simulating dilemmas, agonizing over what you would choose if it were you, and whether your father was wrong or not. You're wasting all your energy on internal struggles and self-justification, using your obsession with rules to mask your inner fear and confusion! You've never truly faced the future to accumulate the strength to break through the predicament and transcend the choice itself!"
"A swordsman's sword is the sword of his heart!"
Shinichi's gaze swept over the broken White Light Chakra Sabre, his tone heavy: "The reason White Light Chakra Sabre became an invincible, legendary weapon in your father's hands was that it carried his unwavering faith, clear resolve, and burning determination to protect his comrades! It was a blade that resonated with his soul! But in your hands..."
He shook his head, his words like a final verdict: "It's nothing more than a mirror, reflecting your inner wavering, fear, and self-imposed restraints. A man filled with contradictions, unable to find his own path, no matter how sharp the sword he holds, it is destined to be fragile and crumble at the first strike."
"If that's the case, then it's better for this sword to be broken."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Everyone looked at each other, even holding their breath.
Kurenai and Shizune exchanged complicated glances, while Rin Nohara clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest, staring worriedly at Kakashi's back.
Obito Uchiha glanced at Kakashi, who stood motionless, then at Shinichi, whose face was stern.
He opened his mouth, but ultimately only muttered under his breath, "What he said is true... but... wasn't it a bit too harsh..."
The Shinichi he remembered wasn't like this.
He was a kind and gentle person. He would nod when you met him on the street and got along well with other students. Sometimes you would see him helping the villagers when you were walking down the street. He never saw him be cold to anyone or lose his temper.