Many years ago, Kakashi had witnessed his father fight on the battlefield. Sakumo's every sword stroke seemed like a dance set to music, utterly breathtaking. When the rhythm abruptly ceased, the flash of Sakumo's blade would appear. His face remained impassive, merely gazing into the distance like a philosopher contemplating profound truths. Finally, as the enemy's weakening heartbeat faded, Sakumo would blink. In that instant, the silver-haired boy felt his father was truly as mighty as a mountain.
Perhaps, Kakashi thought, he never truly died.
A blinding flash momentarily robbed Fuguki Suikazan of his sight. The lightning blade struck like thunder. Pushing himself to the absolute limit, Kakashi's entire body was enveloped in crackling chakra. A dragon's roar vibrated the very air, shaking eardrums as a colossal thunder dragon burst through the cave ceiling. Stone fragments flew like bullets, whistling violently through the air. Fuguki raised Samehada to block, his expression momentarily dazed.
"Lightning Release: Sonic Dragon Assault!"
BOOM!
The young man's face twisted into a ferocious mask, his features distorted by the sheer power coursing through him. His cells, pushed to their zenith by the lightning chakra, trembled under the immense strain. This state demanded an astronomical amount of stamina and chakra; Kakashi, in his current condition, could only maintain it for a few minutes at most.
Viewed from the distant sea, a lifelike dragon of pure lightning coiled around the cliff face before surging upwards, obliterating everything in its path.
Caught in the thunder dragon's jaws, Fuguki Suikazan struggled to maintain his footing, his face grim. With a swing of Samehada, the mighty lightning construct dissipated into nothingness.
Wait, this is a feint! the portly swordsman realized, sensing the unfavorable turn. Samehada pulsed, linking with his internal chakra to manipulate the terrain to his advantage.
His eardrums vibrated again – the second time. Before Fuguki could finish forming his next hand seal, his vision blurred once more. The dragon's roar echoed again, growing even louder, more piercing.
A sound-based attack? I see.
Using chakra, Fuguki deliberately deafened himself, relying solely on sight to track his opponent. This young Jōnin from Konoha was far stronger than he had anticipated. Why hadn't Kushimaru and Jinpachi warned him beforehand?
What Fuguki didn't know was just how brutal Kakashi could be when fighting without fear of death, readily trading injuries to land blows.
Kakashi hadn't wanted to resort to this technique. Like the Eight Inner Gates, this modified Lightning Release stimulation pushed the body to its absolute limits, placing an enormous burden on it. Its explosive power was top-tier, but sustained use was impossible. While the Raikage possessed immense physical conditioning built over years, Kakashi hadn't yet reached that level of bodily resilience.
Mei's running out of time.
That was the sole reason for unleashing his full power now. He hadn't even helped her become the Fifth Mizukage yet; he couldn't possibly let her die here.
Sensing that Fuguki had ruptured his own eardrums, Kakashi immediately ceased channeling the Sonic Dragon Assault. He slammed his feet into the ground, and the solid rock beneath him actually buckled under the force.
Chakra will be absorbed. Ninjutsu is useless.
The thought flashed through his mind. Taking several more explosive steps, the air resistance drastically increased, forming visible white ripples before him. Under the extreme speed, his skin tore, capillaries burst spraying crimson mist, and his bones emitted faint groans under the unbearable load.
In less than a second, Kakashi crossed several dozen meters. The kinetic energy gathered in his right fist slammed viciously into the side of Fuguki Suikazan's face.
Fuguki's cheekbone instantly caved in, shattering inwards. Samehada's chakra feedback immediately began repairing the damage, but the physical regeneration wasn't instantaneous. Half the flesh on his cheek vanished, exposing bone and bared fangs, making him look utterly bestial.
The punch nearly snapped his neck. Overwhelmed by pain and fury, Fuguki struck back with his left palm, hitting the young man square in the chest, while Samehada whistled through the air.
"Water Release: Water Collision Wave!"
The term "Elite Jōnin" wasn't a separate rank, but rather described those powerful shinobi within a village second only to the Kage. Their defining characteristic was the ability to utilize their skills and exert their full combat potential anytime, anywhere, against any enemy.
Kakashi felt his chest cavity slightly collapse. He couldn't tell how many ribs were broken, or if they had punctured his liver or heart. Physical agony was pushed aside; he lacked Uzumaki Naruto's monstrous healing factor. Blood streamed from his torn skin, dyeing him red. If he didn't finish his opponent soon, he would collapse first from exhaustion and blood loss.
I can't fall here.
His form remained taut. With another explosive burst of speed, the young shinobi pushed past his limits once more.
Fuguki Suikazan, typically an endurance-based fighter rather than a speed type, should have been Kakashi's worst matchup – a natural counter. But now, unable to land clean hits on the blindingly fast shinobi, he couldn't absorb chakra with Samehada. Thankfully, his reserves were already substantial, but he was forced onto the defensive, struggling to parry the relentless onslaught.
Weaving hand signs at incredible speed while circling into his opponent's blind spot, Kakashi split off half his remaining chakra to create a Lightning Clone, concealing it underground using Earth Release. His sustainability was halved, but he launched a flying kick aimed at the stout man's wrist.
Anticipating this, Fuguki gripped Samehada tightly, refusing to let go. From behind him, several tracking water bullets seized the opportunity, aiming for a critical blow. Kakashi, caught momentarily airborne, couldn't fully evade. Planting his hands on the ground, he rolled backward, dodging the projectiles, then surged forward again, Raikiri blazing in both hands.
Fuguki Suikazan met the charge head-on, swinging Samehada down like a club.
An instant before contact, Kakashi dispersed the Raikiri. He caught the spike-covered Samehada barehanded, using the momentum to twist his body sideways, smoothly locking Fuguki's right arm into a standard cross armbar (Jūji-gatame). With two sharp cracks, the bone snapped.
Before Fuguki could exert even a third of his strength, he lost the weapon essential to his survival – Samehada!
"YOU! ROTTEN! LITTLE! BRAT!"
Sensing his end was near, Fuguki had no time to regret not facing Kakashi alongside the others. If only one more Swordsman had been here! No, if only Hozuki Mangetsu had been present, he was certain they could have put this kid down.
But there were no second chances.
Without Samehada, Fuguki Suikazan's combat power plummeted. Lacking speed, he became a living target for Kakashi. His deafness prevented him from even attempting the Hidden Mist's Silent Killing techniques to escape.
The silver-haired youth gave him no opportunity.
Finding an opening, the Lightning Blade, sharp enough to cut steel like mud, sliced cleanly through Fuguki Suikazan's neck. Kakashi deactivated the lightning chakra enveloping him, the immense burden on his body finally easing.
Left hand gripping the severed head, Kakashi didn't relax. He knew another familiar presence was nearby.
When Hozuki Mangetsu appeared moments later some distance away, his pupils constricted sharply. He saw a demonic figure, bathed in blood, holding Lord Fuguki's head and walking towards him.
He looks like he doesn't have much strength left to fight me, Mangetsu thought, forcing himself to appear calm despite the chilling sight. He had an ace up his sleeve: Terumi Mei. He could use her to threaten this Konoha missing-nin.
And I can get Samehada!
Looking at it now, perhaps Fuguki Suikazan's death was actually a good thing.
Kakashi tossed the head onto the ground. His body was hunched over, the searing pain in his chest making it almost impossible to even lift his head.
Hozuki Mangetsu spoke first.
"I didn't kill Terumi Mei. And I won't kill you either. Hand over Samehada, and I'll let you both leave."
Kakashi looked up, his gaze locking onto Mangetsu. He saw the faint outline of Mei trapped within a Water Prison Technique, her arms hanging limply, unnaturally.
"Are... you... threatening me?" Kakashi ground out, each word an effort.
Instantly, the Lightning Clone, hidden underground for so long, erupted from the earth. An electrical current far exceeding the human body's tolerance surged through Mangetsu, preventing him from using his Hydrification Technique. The clone slammed one hand onto Mangetsu's face, smashing him into the ground, the sheer force and speed carving a horrifying trench as it dragged him across the earth trailing sparks of lightning.
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