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[NTU] [ARC-04-CHUNIN-EXAMS] Chapter : 57
🕑 Added 2024-06-01 19:29:19 +0000 UTCAt this moment, four or five high-ranking Konoha officials were present in the stands. However, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was absent. He was attending a high-level meeting in the village to strategize for the impending ninja war.
Just a few days ago, Danzo delivered shocking news. The Third Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village, reputed to be the strongest Kazekage in history, had mysteriously disappeared and had not been seen for some time now. Furthermore, alarming reports emerged from the border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Wind. Hidden Sand Village ninjas had been frequently crossing the border, engaging in espionage activities aimed at Konoha.
This situation demanded his immediate and careful attention. Any misstep could disrupt the hard-won peace. Consequently, the responsibility for overseeing the Chunin Exams was entrusted to Jiraiya, while the Hokage himself focused on managing this unexpected crisis from the Hokage Building.
In the battle arena, Kakashi faced Toshiro. His expression grew increasingly serious as he observed his opponent, his right hand gripping the sword was trembling slightly. The tremor was a testament to his opponent's astonishing speed and powerful slashes.
Moments earlier, to avoid the explosion tag's blast, Kakashi had found himself at a disadvantage. Seizing this opportunity, Toshiro launched a surprise attack. In his haste, Kakashi had drawn his short sword to engage in a sudden clash. One side had meticulously planned the attack, while the other was caught off guard. Additionally, the age and physical strength differences further tipped the scales.
Fortunately for Kakashi, his opponent did not press the advantage. This unexpected reprieve allowed Kakashi to regain his composure. Had Toshiro pursued aggressively, Kakashi would have struggled to recover and likely fallen into a losing rhythm, prematurely deciding the battle's outcome.
Toshiro's decision not to chase was partly due to his admiration for Kakashi, one of his favorite characters in the anime. Moreover, he was curious to see if Kakashi had inherited the Kenjutsu style from Sakumo. Eager to observe this legendary Kenjutsu style, Toshiro had drawn his own sword, which he had rarely used during the Chunin Exams.
Given that Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze were the chief examiners, with strict rules against causing death or severe injury, Toshiro had previously relied on hand-to-hand combat to avoid unintended casualties and injuries. Using his sword could easily lead to bad situations and unintended harm.
After approximately ten breaths, seeing that Kakashi had recovered, he initiated another offensive. This time, there were no ninjutsu or shuriken tactics. Instead, he utilized his fastest speed to engage Kakashi in close combat with his ninja sword.
Kakashi, now composed, didn't retreat. As soon as Toshiro moved, Kakashi counter-charged, ready for a direct confrontation.
"Boom!"
The sound of swords clashing filled the arena, followed by the continuous ringing of metal striking metal.
As the weapons of the two combatants collided, sparks erupted intermittently, heightening the thrill of the battle and captivating the audience in the stands, who held their breath once again. It wasn't that they hadn't seen such clashes before, especially the Chunins and Jonins; the intense confrontation was simply too eye-catching. They couldn't help but be drawn in.
In the arena, one combatant displayed exquisite and intricate swordsmanship, with hidden lethal intent. This allowed him to anticipate his opponent's moves, exploit flaws, and launch successive deadly attacks, forcing his opponent to be increasingly cautious with each strike.
This was the essence of the Uchiha clan's swordsmanship. Uchiha clan members, due to their exceptional dynamic vision granted by the Sharingan, required precise attention to the details of their opponent's moves. The Sharingan's ability to detect the opponent's weaknesses made this style of swordsmanship not only beautiful but also deadly. Often, it resembled a skillful display rather than mere swordsmanship. Toshiro had considered abandoning this style, feeling that combat should be practical rather than overly ornate.
Contrasting sharply with Toshiro's Uchiha-ryu swordsmanship, Kakashi's use of the short sword embodied a different philosophy. His movements were less about elegance and more about efficiency. Each strike focused on the shortest attack range, the most unexpected angles, and unparalleled accuracy and speed. The Hatake-ryu kenjutsu, developed by Sakumo Hatake, emphasized being fast, precise, and ruthless, discarding all unnecessary actions to deliver the deadliest of blows.
As they exchanged attacks, even the Jonin Shinobi in the stands felt the tension. Close by, Minato Namikaze, the referee, was equally on edge. He wasn't merely impressed by their swordsmanship but was anxious about the ferocity of their attacks.
The battle was so tightly contested that one moment Kakashi would be on the offensive, only to be countered by Toshiro in the next. Their proximity added to Minato's concern, as he wasn't confident he could intervene in time to prevent a serious accident.
A slight misstep could result in severe injuries. It wouldn't be surprising if someone ended up dead or permanently disabled. Both combatants represented the future of the village. Serious injuries or disabilities would be disastrous, and even minor injuries with potential long-term effects would be a significant loss for Konoha.
As they both clashed, the only sound that echoed was the collision of their swords. The intense confrontation repeatedly ignited clusters of bright, dazzling sparks.
With a single slash, Toshiro disrupted Kakashi's rhythm, forcing him to retreat from a dead angle behind. Ignoring Kakashi's defensive maneuvers, Toshiro's blade flashed quickly, pushing Kakashi back further and seizing the initiative. A relentless storm of attacks followed, pressing Kakashi more and more.
Toshiro's precise control of his chakra and strength enabled him to execute high-speed moves with deadly accuracy, ensuring each strike inflicted maximum damage. This doubled the pressure on Kakashi, whose nerves remained taut from the onset of their encounter. The relentless tension weighed heavily on his body and mind.
Their blades clashed once more, and Kakashi, now at a clear disadvantage, retreated to maintain a safe distance from Toshiro. He needed a moment to regroup and devise a strategy against the other's assault. Continuing the fight in this manner would not end well for him. He might withstand another dozen or even thirty rounds, but the outcome seemed inevitable.
As he moved his wrist, feeling the burning pain in his wrist joint, Kakashi glanced at Toshiro, who had paused about ten meters away.
'Not good!'
Even though Toshiro halted his pursuit, Kakashi's anxiety grew. He recalled the swordsmanship his opponent had displayed. Toshiro's moves were intricate and adaptable, frequently changing trajectory during high-speed combat as if inertia did not affect him.
Slash! Thrust! Cut! Collapse! Parry! Strike!
Each basic sword technique, masterfully executed, presented Kakashi with constant challenges, forcing him to remain vigilant. These moves were often blended with Konoha-style and Uchiha-style kenjutsu, seamlessly transitioning into continuous, relentless combinations.
Kakashi found it increasingly difficult to cope.
To Toshiro, the so-called secret skills of each sword style, beyond their unique philosophies, were layers of intricate routines. By deconstructing these moves and recombining them in an orderly fashion, he could create a style that is even more effective in combat.
As Toshiro prepared to launch another offensive, Kakashi braced himself, knowing he needed a new approach to counter his opponent's relentless and methodical assaults.
Kakashi became the first test subject of this style. To Satoshi and the other Jonin, this approach might still seem immature, but the experimental results were promising.
Otherwise, Toshiro wouldn't have given Kakashi repeated chances to catch his breath. He could have ramped up his offense and finished the battle quickly, but he chose to extend the fight.
"What's wrong? Can't keep up?" Toshiro teased, seeing Kakashi's labored breathing. "If you're struggling, let's settle this with one decisive move!"
Years of rigorous physical training and practicing Yang Release had given Toshiro significant advantages. Most notably, his height was half a head taller than his peers, creating the impression of him bullying kids. Seeing Kakashi's current state, he proposed to end the fight decisively.
So far, Toshiro has gained a clear understanding of Kakashi's abilities. He had appreciated the renowned Hatake-style kenjutsu but found Kakashi's swordsmanship merely adequate, far below the high expectations he had imagined. The early death of Sakumo Hatake, meant Kakashi's training was still in its initial stages, primarily relying on basic techniques.
Kakashi couldn't be blamed; managing to live alone and become a shinobi at such a young age was an achievement in itself. Expecting him to master advanced swordsmanship from just a few scrolls and notes left by his father was unrealistic.
Toshiro hadn't even used his Sharingan yet. Just with his swordsmanship, he had successfully suppressed Kakashi. An Uchiha with an awakened Sharingan and one without it are vastly different beasts. This gap is often unnoticed until experienced firsthand.
Take Obito Uchiha as an example. Once he opened his Sharingan, he was able to injure a jonin, who was running circles around him till then. This illustrates the profound difference.
Toshiro, having undergone rigorous training with Satoshi-sensei, had become incredibly strong. If not for his age and chakra limitations, applying for special Jonin status would have been easy for him.
"Alright! One move to decide the winner!" Kakashi responded without much hesitation.
He had no choice. If he didn't accept, Toshiro would win by attrition. His disadvantages were evident to any onlooker.
The conversation between Toshiro and Kakashi heightened Minato Namikaze's tension as the referee. He knew he had to be fully alert, as any slip could lead to serious consequences.
In contrast, the spectators were thrilled, especially those who enjoyed the drama. They were more enthusiastic, almost as if the fighters were their own teammates.
