"That's enough, Kakashi!"
Shinichi's voice suddenly rose, interrupting Kakashi.
"The test hasn't even started yet, and you're already trying to undermine morale, sabotage potential cooperation, and belittle your comrades!"
Shinichi stepped forward, his sharp gaze fixed on Kakashi: "You don't even understand the most basic principles of teamwork. Are you really a qualified ninja? It seems that graduating too early hasn't helped you grow; instead, it's made you lose your way."
"You call them a burden? I think you, the one creating internal rifts, are the biggest destabilizing factor in the team, the real burden! You're the one who should go back to the Ninja Academy and study for a few more years to learn how to be a ninja properly, Kakashi."
"What did you say?"
Kakashi's eyes suddenly turned cold, the surrounding air seemed to freeze, and a suppressed yet sharp aura emanated from him.
The shadow of his father's suicide was like the heaviest shackle, and also his most obsessive driving force.
He graduated early, worked tirelessly to complete his missions, adhered to those cold rules, and suppressed all the emotions he considered weak.
Everything he did was to prove his father wrong, to prove that prioritizing missions and efficiency is the right path for a ninja, and to prove that he would not repeat the same mistakes.
Now, Shinichi Higashino actually rebuked him on the face for not being a qualified ninja, saying that he was the burden and even making him go back to the Ninja Academy to repeat his studies.
This is not just a clash of beliefs, but a complete denial of all his struggles, all his perseverance, and all the beliefs he has used to support himself over the past three years!
"What, you're not convinced?"
Shinichi stepped forward as well, not giving an inch.
"Kakashi, if you believe your reasoning is the only truth, and that strength is the only standard..."
Shinichi's gaze sharpened like a sword, his voice echoing clearly in the silent training ground: "Then, let's resolve this in the way you most approve of."
Duel!
Kurenai, Shizune, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara all held their breath, watching in shock as the situation took a dramatic turn for the worse.
No one expected that before the test even started, an internal conflict would break out between the two classes, and it was a direct confrontation between two core Chunin!
"Kurenai, lend me your katana."
"Huh? Oh, okay!"
Kurenai Yuhi paused for a moment before realizing what was happening, and quickly unfastened the sword from her waist and handed it over.
Her katana was different from the common katana with a slightly curved blade; it was a straight, double-edged katana with a slender blade that gleamed with a cold metallic luster.
Shinichi took the katana. It felt slightly heavy in his hand, and the feel was a little different from the katana he was used to, but it did not hinder him.
"I remember it very clearly. Four years ago, during the practical assessment at the Ninja Academy, you said that you would definitely defeat me the next time we faced off."
With a flick of his wrist, Shinichi's katana emitted a clear, resonant hum, its blade rising and pointing towards Kakashi.
"Then, right now, let me see how much progress you've made in these four years."
The two stood facing each other, each holding a weapon.
The tense atmosphere was almost tangible, making the four teenagers watching from the sidelines breathe even more heavily.
From the treetops in the distance, Minato and Tsunade, who had witnessed the entire scene, looked at each other in bewilderment.
"This..."
Minato frowned slightly, instinctively wanting to step forward to stop them.
"Wait a minute."
Tsunade stopped him, arms crossed, a smile of interest appearing on her lips. "What's the rush? Since these kids are so energetic and opinionated, let them have their fun. We'll see what they come up with."
Inside the training ground.
Kakashi showed no intention of using any Ninjutsu; he simply slowly drew the short sword from his back. He was clearly extremely unwilling to accept his defeat in that battle years ago.
The moment the blade was drawn from its sheath, a chilling flash of light streaked across the surface, and the edge seemed to be imbued with an invisible sharpness.
This was the legendary White Light Chakra Sabre, once wielded by his father, Sakumo Hatake, whose name had shaken the ninja world.
After his father's death, he inherited this legendary weapon.
Meanwhile, Shinichi, on the other side, simply stood calmly with his sword in front of him.
The next moment, Kakashi moved!
His figure suddenly disappeared from the spot. Compared to the fight at the Ninja Academy four years ago, his movements were faster, more ruthless, and carried an indomitable determination.
His short sword tore through the air, turning into a lightning-fast, cold light that stabbed straight at Shinichi!
Over the past years, he has clearly never slacked off, turning his grief and obsession into motivation to become stronger.
But!
"Too slow."
Shinichi's calm voice sounded almost at the same time as the clash of metal.
With a slight twist of his wrist, he slashed out with his sword, the blade appearing precisely in the path of Kakashi's thrust, like a precise machine.
Clang!
A crisp, loud impact rang out!
Kakashi felt an irresistible force coming from the blade; his hand went numb, his forward momentum was abruptly stopped, and he staggered backward uncontrollably, leaving two shallow marks under his feet.
How is that possible?!
Kakashi was overwhelmed with shock. The confidence he had built up over three years of arduous training crumbled under this attack.
However, Shinichi did not give him time to adjust.
"What are you spacing out about?"
The voice was right beside him.
Kakashi was startled, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Shinichi's figure approaching like a ghost.
He gritted his teeth, gripped the sword in the back of his hand, and swung it upwards, trying to deflect any possible slash.
But Shinichi was faster. His katana coiled like a serpent, skillfully avoiding the blade, and he used the spine of the sword to block Kakashi's point of attack again.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, he thrust forward, and the hard end of the hilt slammed into Kakashi's unsuspecting abdomen like a heavy hammer!
"Ugh!"
Kakashi groaned and flew backward like a kite with a broken string, his back slamming heavily against the trunk of a large tree, causing branches and leaves to fall in a rustling sound.
He endured the pain and just as he propped himself up, Shinichi's figure was already close behind, and the sword slash rained down like a storm!
Kakashi gritted his teeth, brandishing his White Light Chakra Sabre to desperately block, the sound of swords clashing densely like raindrops falling to the ground.
He tried to fight back and find an opening, but Shinichi's swordsmanship, though seemingly simple, was smooth and coherent. Whenever his old strength was exhausted, and new strength had not yet been generated, or in the subtle gaps between his moves, he would precisely cut in.
"Weak!"
Shinichi's voice rang out coldly, accompanied by a dull thud as his left shoulder was struck by the spine of a sword, causing his body to sway.
"Weak!"
The katana drew an arc, its blade striking his right wrist, nearly causing White Light Chakra Sabre to slip from his grasp.
"Weak!"
The hilt of the sword thrust forward again, striking his ribs and causing him to catch his breath.
"Too weak!"
The final blow was a swift side kick from Shinichi, his heel like a battle axe, slamming into Kakashi's abdomen!