Chapter 44: Kakashi's Battle!

Time slowly ticked away.

Namiichi Uchiha and En Yamanaka entered the arena one after another.

However, both of them were merely playing supporting roles; facing the actual candidates striving for promotion to Chunin this year, neither exerted their full strength.

In fact, En Yamanaka even lost his match outright.

"Kakashi Hatake, Torii Shimura!"

Finally, it was Kakashi's turn.

Gen'ichi Geshita felt a tinge of regret that he wasn't matched against him.

However, Torii Shimura?

Someone from the Shimura clan... The original story hardly portrayed the Shimura clan at all, as if they practically did not exist.

In reality, however, the Shimura clan was much like the Sarutobi clan, serving as one of the core ninja lineages of Konoha.

While the Sarutobi clan excelled in Fire Release, this clan specialized in Wind Release.

In present-day Konoha, Danzo Shimura was undeniably the foremost master of Wind Release, with absolute mastery.

"Go for it, Kakashi!"

"Watch out for their Wind Release!"

Watching Kakashi leap into the arena, Gen'ichi called out at the top of his lungs.

Without looking back, Kakashi merely raised a hand and made an OK gesture.

He was well aware that the Shimura clan excelled in Wind Release.

In truth, he was even more familiar with the backgrounds of Konoha's various clans than Gen'ichi was.

His father, Sakumo Hatake, had taught him all about this since he was a child.

After all, the Hatake clan could also be considered one of Konoha's minor ninja families, even though its numbers had dwindled significantly over time.

Meanwhile.

In the observation room, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Sakumo Hatake, and Danzo Shimura were currently watching the displays on the screens.

With both his son and his disciple participating, Sakumo Hatake naturally had to come and watch.

As the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi also needed to observe the newcomers' performances, especially considering he was keeping a close eye on Kakashi and Gen'ichi.

As for Danzo, his expression remained profound and inscrutable; perhaps he was simply observing the performance of the young talent from the Shimura clan.

As for snatching geniuses away, that was out of the question.

Aside from the earliest days, the members of the Root were subsequently trained entirely by Danzo himself.

Their core sources were individuals drawn from various ninja clans.

For instance, young members from clans such as Ino-Shika-Cho, the Shimura, and the Mitokado would be noticed by Danzo and recruited into the Root at a young age to undergo rigorous training.

Secondly, Danzo would personally select talented individuals from among commoners and orphans, who would likewise be trained within the Root from childhood, bypassing the Ninja Academy entirely.

The principal of the Ninja Academy, after all, was the reigning Hokage, meaning the Academy fell squarely within the sphere of influence of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Naturally, as Hokage, even Root operatives nominally belonged under his jurisdiction.

Therefore, even for those trained in the Root from youth, their official resumes would still document a period of study at the Ninja Academy.

For example, Yamato, the future master of Wood Release architecture, possessed a record of graduating from the Ninja Academy.

In reality, however, he had never set foot inside the Academy.

As for whether Danzo had planted spies among the Hokage's subordinates, or whether Hiruzen had planted his own people within the Root, only the two of them knew for certain.

On the screen, as the proctor gave the command, Kakashi and Torii Shimura clashed in the arena.

Neither used ninjutsu at the very beginning. In such an open space and at such close range, conditions simply did not permit casting ninjutsu right off the bat.

Both drew their blades and charged, engaging in close-combat swordplay.

After a dozen or so exchanges, Danzo spoke up, "As expected of the White Fang's son. Sakumo, this boy has truly inherited your swordsmanship!"

Sakumo Hatake replied with deep humility, "You flatter him, Lord Danzo. Kakashi still has much to work on."

Hiruzen chuckled, "Kakashi is a diligent boy; his future achievements won't fall short of yours, Sakumo."

At that moment, Torii Shimura seized an opportunity to leap backward and form hand seals. With a deep breath, he unleashed Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, stirring up a violent gale that swept toward Kakashi.

Kakashi swiftly formed hand seals as well, pressing both hands against the ground.

Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!

An earthen wall rose abruptly from the ground, blocking the rushing tempest.

Gen'ichi watched closely as Torii Shimura, immediately after executing the Great Breakthrough, formed hand seals once again.

First, he created a shadow clone, and then his true body formed seals anew.

Wind Release: Gale Palm!

Gen'ichi saw swirling currents of air enveloping Torii Shimura's entire body, particularly concentrated around his hands.

He drew his blade once more, the air currents clinging to the steel to enhance its sharpness, and charged toward Kakashi again.

Boosted by the Gale Palm, Torii Shimura's speed increased visibly.

His clone took the lead, acting as a decoy that vaulted over the high wall and hurled a barrage of shuriken directly at Kakashi.

Clang!

Holding his blade in one hand to parry, Kakashi flung a shuriken with his left hand.

Poof!

The airborne Torii Shimura vanished in a puff of smoke as his real body struck from the flank.

Kakashi spun around to meet the assault, only to be forced into a continuous retreat by Torii Shimura's aggressive offensive, culminating in a powerful kick that sent him flying.

Poof!

Kakashi crashed heavily to the ground. Torii Shimura immediately used Body Flicker technique to pursue him, pressing the edge of his ninja blade against Kakashi's throat.

Yet the next instant, Kakashi burst into a puff of smoke.

"Shadow clone!"

Torii Shimura's expression shifted slightly, and he prepared to leap back, but the ground right in front of him cracked open. Kakashi erupted from beneath the earth, driving a heavy punch straight into Torii Shimura's jaw.

Seeing stars and stumbling unsteadily, Torii Shimura was sent flying by another kick from Kakashi.

After tumbling across the ground several times, Torii Shimura suddenly sprang to his feet, his hands flying through seals at blinding speed.

Gen'ichi watched with slight astonishment; seeing the trace of blood at the corner of Torii Shimura's mouth, he instantly realized the fellow had bitten the tip of his tongue to shock his brain back into absolute clarity.

Such a reaction time was nothing short of swift, and his fighting spirit was formidable.

Torii Shimura unleashed the Gale Palm once more, sending concentric rings of fierce wind straight toward Kakashi.

Believing he had already won and failing to anticipate such stubborn tenacity from his opponent, Kakashi found himself enveloped directly by the gale, forced to cross his arms defensively.

Meanwhile, Torii Shimura flung his hands outward simultaneously, releasing a volley of shuriken. Bringing his hands together again, he invoked the Gale Palm a second time, infusing the technique into the shuriken to amplify both their speed and destructive power.

Zzzt!

Arcs of lightning sparked across Kakashi's hands, allowing him to forcefully break free from the surrounding squall.

Clang, clang, clang!

Flashes of motion blurred as the faster Kakashi deflected the incoming shuriken one by one. Still, a single blade managed to slice through the fabric on his left forearm, leaving a shallow bloody gash.

Ignoring the injury entirely, Kakashi leaped upward and descended upon Torii Shimura with a downward slash.

Clang!

Torii Shimura raised his blade horizontally to block.

At that exact moment, the lightning crackling on Kakashi's weapon surged intensely, transmitting an electric shock straight through the steel into Torii Shimura's body.

Trembling all over, Torii Shimura was kicked backward by Kakashi once again. Before he could recover, Kakashi closed the distance, pressing the edge of his blade against his opponent's neck.

"Kakashi Hatake wins!"

Announced the proctor.

Returning to the spectator stands, Gen'ichi began treating Kakashi's wound, scolding softly, "You got careless there, Kakashi!"

Kakashi nodded, though he remarked, "Don't waste your chakra; just wrap this little scratch with a bandage."

Gen'ichi glanced at the electronic screen and replied, "It's fine, it's not my turn yet anyway."

"Besides, a minor injury like this doesn't consume much chakra."

Kakashi looked across the arena toward Torii Shimura, who had rejoined his teammates, and noted, "That guy is quite strong."

Gen'ichi turned his gaze in the same direction and nodded in agreement, "He's very good. His swordsmanship and Wind Release were both exceptionally well-handled."

Although Torii Shimura had lost, his strength was by no means lacking.

Judging by his age, Torii Shimura was likely only a year or two older than them.

He might even have graduated later than they did.

After two more matches concluded down below, Gen'ichi finally saw his own name displayed.

However, upon reading the name of his opponent, he could not help but freeze in place.

Tekka Uchiha!