Huh… this technique is…
The sharp cry resembling a thousand chirping birds instantly triggered a mory inside Naruto's mind.
A mory connected to the strange familiarity he felt ever since eting Kakashi.
Back then—
The first ti Naruto ever truly encountered mortal danger—
There had also been lightning chakra screaming like chirping birds.
And those scarlet eyes arriving instantly before him.
Only…
The killing intent back then had been nowhere near as terrifying as it was now.
Yet strangely—
Even surrounded by overwhelming killing intent, Naruto still couldn't sense genuine malice from Kakashi.
Kakashi didn't actually want to hurt him.
That subconscious realization instinctively caused Naruto to reduce the amount of senjutsu chakra poured into the Rasengan.
The spiraling sphere instantly shrank slightly.
Boom!
The instant the attacks collided, the surrounding world seed to fall into unnatural silence.
Then—
A deafening explosion erupted across the entire training ground.
The violent clash between those two massive chakra signatures was so intense that even the Third Hokage—currently reading docunts inside the Hokage's office—paused and looked toward the training grounds after seeing the windows tremble violently.
anwhile, at the battlefield—
Sasuke and Hinata, standing directly beside the resulting shockwave, instinctively raised their arms before themselves.
Even the aftermath alone nearly knocked them off their feet.
After barely stabilizing themselves, the two hurriedly looked toward the center of the battle.
Drip.
Naruto stared blankly at Kakashi standing directly before him.
His fox-like vertical pupils visibly trembled.
He had clearly seen it—
The instant their attacks collided, Kakashi abruptly dispersed the Lightning Cutter and twisted his body sideways instead of continuing forward.
As a result, Naruto's Rasengan rely grazed Kakashi's shoulder.
Yet even that graze—
Enhanced by senjutsu chakra—
Was enough to tear a horrifying bloody wound directly into Kakashi's shoulder.
Fresh blood splattered across Naruto's face.
And Naruto froze completely.
Shadow Clones disappear when damaged.
That wound…
That blood…
This wasn't a Shadow Clone!
"Eight Gates Release—Open!"
Kakashi, who had clearly been waiting for exactly this opportunity, activated a taijutsu secret technique without hesitation.
A completely new surge of chakra erupted from his body instantly, explosively strengthening his physical abilities.
Then Kakashi suddenly extended his hand.
Taking advantage of Naruto freezing in shock, Kakashi's fingers directly flicked the forehead protector upon Naruto's head.
Although Naruto's Fox Sage Mode senses already detected Kakashi's movent—
At that mont, Naruto's mind remained entirely focused on the blood splattered across his face.
The shock made him instinctively panic instead.
"Kakashi-sensei, I didn't an to—"
Smack!
A crisp, resounding forehead flick landed directly upon Naruto's forehead protector.
"Konoha Taijutsu Secret Technique: Eight Gates Hidden Art—One Finger Flick!"
Kakashi proudly raised the finger he just used while smiling toward the stunned Naruto sitting on the ground.
He looked completely unconcerned about the arm hanging limply at his side or the blood pouring from his shoulder.
"This…"
Kakashi's visible eye softened slightly.
"Is your greatest weakness, Naruto."
Then Kakashi sat down nearby and lowered his forehead protector back over the Sharingan.
"You've never truly seen blood before."
"No matter how many friendly sparring matches or practice battles you've experienced…"
"They are completely different from real combat."
"When you possess power truly capable of killing an enemy…"
"The first thing you must overco…"
Kakashi's voice beca calm.
"Is your own heart."
"The first ti you see blood."
"And the first ti you take soone's life."
After speaking, the "real" Kakashi sitting nearby dispersed into smoke.
From the very beginning—
It had always been Kakashi's real body fighting Naruto.
"Kakashi-sensei!"
Hinata hurried over imdiately.
The bandages she previously prepared for Naruto finally beca useful now.
"So…"
Kakashi suddenly smiled toward Naruto.
"Does this make us even?"
"Even…?"
"Not only did I injure you just now…"
Kakashi scratched his ssy white hair.
"I also placed my own life before your hands once."
"Consider it my apology for attacking you before."
"... So that person really was Kakashi-sensei…"
Naruto finally dispelled Fox Sage Mode.
His expression beca complicated as he looked toward Kakashi.
He never asked why.
Because after Naruto learned how to sense malice, he had already noticed the countless hidden gazes surrounding him disappeared after that assassination attempt.
Back then, Naruto couldn't fully understand it.
But afterward, he gradually guessed certain truths.
"Hmph."
Suddenly Naruto sprang to his feet.
Then he grabbed Sasuke beside him and started dragging him toward the village.
"I'm starving to death!"
"Hinata, once you finish bandaging Kakashi-sensei, co pay the bill too!"
"It's Ichiraku Ran, right?"
Kakashi laughed lightly.
"... Sasuke, are there any ridiculously expensive ran shops in the village?"
"Since when can ran beco that expensive?"
"There's gotta be one sowhere, right? Should we search?"
"... Aren't you hungry?"
"Hmm…"
Naruto seriously considered it.
"Then we'll first eat Hinata's lunch boxes until full, and afterward go searching for the expensive places!"
Watching Naruto's conflicted expression, Hinata—currently helping Kakashi wrap his wound—finally understood sothing.
Then while naturally continuing to wrap the bandages, she casually added:
"Uncle Teuchi ntioned recently that Ichiraku Ran might introduce an unlimited yearly mbership plan."
"THAT'S IT!"
Naruto's eyes instantly lit up brilliantly as he turned toward Kakashi.
"Sigh…"
Kakashi helplessly rubbed his forehead.
"Understood. Three mberships?"
"Four!"
Naruto imdiately corrected him proudly.
"Kakashi-sensei needs one too!"
"Ichiraku Ran is seriously delicious!"
Pretending to feel helpless, Kakashi watched Naruto's bright smile.
Sothing stirred quietly within his heart.
Such overwhelming strength at this age…
Combined with such kindness…
It truly was sothing incredibly precious.
At this mont, Kakashi recalled Naruto's earlier words:
"My absolute favorite is eating Ichiraku Ran together with friends!"
"And I'll inherit and surpass every Hokage before !"
Honestly, the assassination attempt against Naruto had originally been a top-secret mission.
Kakashi should have buried that secret forever.
Yet after realizing the Nine-Tails inside Naruto likely already knew the truth—
Kakashi finally made his decision.
More importantly—
After seeing Naruto again now, Kakashi understood Naruto already possessed enough power to protect himself.
Thus, Kakashi no longer intended to hide things.
Whether Naruto forgave him or not…
Whether Naruto eventually chose to hate him…
Kakashi would accept it all without complaint.
Because the more Kakashi watched him—
The more firmly he believed—
The Naruto standing before him now…
Would eventually create a future unlike anything the ninja world had ever seen before.
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> [email protected]/AiraTales7 (replace @ with a)
User Comments
0 comments from readers