On the training field, Renzou's gaze was fixed on Kakashi, who stood ready on the opposite side. The earlier clash had allowed Renzou to gauge their ninjutsu abilities, remarkably even. Then, Renzou thought, let's shift to close combat, focusing on taijutsu with illusion as support. I'll gradually build my advantage in physical skills.Decided, Renzou's hand moved to his waist, drawing a kunai that glinted sharply. For this spar, he'd forgone any added weights, prepared to give it his all from the start.
Kakashi didn't wait for Renzou to initiate. Having already discarded any lingering underestimation, he drew two shuriken from his pouch and sent them spinning towards Renzou, the Short Sword already drawn and following close behind!
Renzou took two quick steps forward, his eyes tracking the incoming shuriken. "Clang! Clang!" His movements were swift, deflecting both projectiles with his shuriken. Before he could fully register the parry, Kakashi was upon him, the Short Sword aimed at Renzou's abdomen. Renzou swiftly retreated, the blade's tip grazing his waist. Kakashi's expression remained impassive, his momentum carrying him forward, Short Sword held ready. He pressed his attack, the blade targeting vital points. Renzou met each thrust with his kunai, the rapid succession of blocks demanding his full attention. Kakashi was Renzou's equal in both taijutsu and ninjutsu. In such a balanced confrontation, even the slightest edge could tip the scales. Kakashi's sword skills, honed by his father, the White Fang himself, combined with the Short Sword made of chakra-infused metal, sharp as any iron, meant Renzou had no intention of relying solely on close-quarters combat. Not for long, anyway.
Another flurry of blows exchanged, kunai meeting Short Sword in a shower of sparks. They momentarily locked blades, each testing the other's strength. "You're strong," Kakashi said abruptly, his gaze unwavering as he pushed against Renzou's kunai.
"Ah, hahaha, thank you for the compliment. Let's end this boring warm-up," Renzou replied with a grin, his free hand reaching into his ninja pouch, producing a smoke bomb which he slammed onto the ground. Instantly, thick black smoke billowed outwards, obscuring everything within a five-meter radius. Renzou used the opportunity to disengage, putting distance between them. Kakashi didn't press his attack, and both quickly retreated to their starting positions, waiting for the smoke to clear.
Kakashi's dead fish eyes scanned the lingering haze. The preceding taijutsu exchange had given him a rough measure of Renzou's capabilities. Their physical skills were comparable; victory would hinge on strategy. As the smoke thinned, Kakashi's gaze sharpened. The space where Renzou had stood was empty. Where is he?Kakashi's eyes darted around, then snapped upwards. Hurtling towards him was a massive, exploding fireball!
"Water Style: Water Barrier!" Kakashi swiftly sheathed his Short Sword, his hands flying through rapid seals before slamming his palms onto the ground. A swirling vortex of water erupted, encasing him in a 360-degree, bowl-like shield. The exploding fireball slammed into the water barrier. Upon contact, the water began to boil and evaporate rapidly, creating a thick white mist that once again obscured the central area, much to the dismay of the spectators.
"Whoa, so strong…" Uchiha Obito breathed, his eyes wide as he watched the fierce ninjutsu collision. Kurenai and Rin exchanged worried glances. "Renzou!" "Kakashi! Do your best!" they called out, offering their support. The two combatants, both aware of the shouts, briefly glanced towards the sidelines before refocusing on their battle.
"Ah la la, the vigor of youth!" Jiraiya chuckled, glancing back at the cheering girls before his gaze settled on Obito, who seemed instantly deflated by Rin's support for Kakashi. "Cheer up, kid. You gotta fight for the one you like. I'm rooting for you," Jiraiya said, a hint of amusement in his voice before turning his attention back to the field.
Just as Kakashi momentarily relaxed, having blocked Renzou's ninjutsu, a sudden paralysis gripped him. Tiny electric currents danced across his skin. This is… Lightning Release! When? Kakashi's expression shifted, his eyes scanning the ground. He noticed small puddles of water that hadn't fully evaporated. Understanding dawned. No wonder I didn't sense the chakra fluctuation of a ninjutsu! Lightning Style used both hands to emit electricity that spread through the earth or water. While potent and capable of paralysis, its limited range usually restricted its use to close quarters. But Renzou had cleverly used the residual water to extend its reach, catching Kakashi completely off guard.
At that moment, two shuriken flashed out from the thinning white mist! Despite the numbing sensation, Kakashi frantically formed the Body Flicker Technique seal. As the shuriken struck, they hit a piece of wood that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. The shuriken embedded themselves, the momentum carrying the wood forward before it clattered to the ground. Kakashi had already substituted himself with the log on the lawn ten meters away, the edge of the forest just behind him.
Just as Kakashi regained his footing, the scene before him twisted, the surroundings falling into an eerie silence. Kakashi, on guard, suddenly saw his father, the referee, walking towards him. Before Kakashi could speak, he witnessed a horrifying sight. His father drew his Short Sword and, without warning, slashed it across his neck. Then, Kakashi watched in disbelief as his father clutched his throat, collapsing into a pool of blood, despair etched on his face!
"No!" Kakashi cried out, staring at the gruesome image of his father, a searing pain tearing through his chest. But as the shock began to subside, the irrationality of it all struck him. He was sparring with Renzou, wasn't he? How had he suddenly been left alone with his father committing suicide before his eyes?
Genjutsu!
Kakashi snapped awake, his hand instantly reaching into his ninja pouch, drawing a shuriken, and then forcefully stabbing it into his arm! A jolt of searing pain ripped through him, and the horrifying illusion shattered like a mirror. His eyes blinked, adjusting. When Kakashi returned to reality, he found Renzou standing before him, a kunai pressed lightly against his neck. A grin stretched across Renzou's face. In Kakashi's vision, the spinning single tomoe of Renzou's Sharingan was impossibly vivid. In truth, Renzou hadn't wanted to reveal his Sharingan so early, but it was unavoidable. Once he initiated the genjutsu, the Sharingan became an inseparable part of it, unlike his Byakugan.
Hatake Sakumo, having recovered from his initial surprise, looked at the scene before him. Then, his voice resonated clearly across the training ground. "The victory is decided!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Chapter 25