Chapter 94: I've Had Enough of Formalities
Poof
The "Haruko" before him turned into a cloud of white mist and disappeared.
"Shadow Clone? From the very beginning... Oh no!"
Kakashi, who had stabbed nothing but air, immediately tried to retreat—
"Haruko" had been constantly provoking and luring him since they met; there must be a trap here!
—Unfortunately, he was still a step too late.
Boom—!
The exploding tags attached beneath Haruko's lounge chair detonated, and the massive force sent Kakashi flying like a ragdoll.
Poof—
Another cloud of white smoke burst open.
The "Kakashi" who was blown away also vanished without a trace, leaving only a few bits of soil and leaves swirling in the air.
This "Kakashi" was also a Shadow Clone.
...
"Whew... That was close..."
As everyone knows, Shadow Clones sync their sensations back; if he had been a bit slower in dispelling it...
Since no whistle sounded, Haruko knew the battle wasn't over yet, and Hana must have been taken out too.
"So that really was a Shadow Clone... but this is also within my plan. Now, let's see where the original is hiding. Byakugan!"
His vision instantly lost its color, turning into a world of black and white.
"Found him."
Kakashi was crouching behind a tree not far from where they had previously fought, while Hana and Izumi were still unconscious on the spot.
"Their Chakra flow is normal, they're just unconscious... He was quite merciful."
Haruko had just breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Kakashi bite his finger and slam his hand on the ground.
Smoke erupted, and a pug wearing a vest appeared beside Kakashi.
It was the Ninja Hound, Pakkun.
"Damn! That troublesome dog nose... Luckily, I'm prepared."
Haruko immediately began to form hand signs.
"Shadow Clone Technique."
An identical "Haruko" appeared.
"I'll leave it to you."
One Haruko sprinted deep into the forest.
The other Haruko took out a bottle of Scent Remover. After spraying it all over himself, he found a hidden spot nearby and used Earth Release to hide.
A few breaths later.
Pakkun and Kakashi's figures flashed past his previous position, giving chase.
...
"Hey, wake up."
Haruko patted Hana's face and pressed on Izumi's philtrum a few times.
"Ugh..."
Izumi's eyelashes fluttered as she opened her eyes.
Hana also woke up, rubbing her aching neck with a look of frustration: "Dammit, that man is too strong, we're not even on the same level..."
"He is an elite Jonin from the Anbu, after all." Haruko helped the two of them up, leaning them against a tree root.
"Sorry, I was too impulsive..." Izumi lowered her head, "If I hadn't used that Fire Release to block the vision..."
"Now isn't the time for a post-mortem." Haruko interrupted her self-reproach, "My clone lured him away, but he'll realize it soon. We don't have much time."
"Do you have a plan?" Hana moved her shoulder.
"First..."
"Whistle— whistle—"
He was interrupted mid-sentence by a whistle from afar.
"So fast?! Scatter!"
As soon as Haruko spoke, Kakashi appeared before the three of them.
"Nice use of Shadow Clones. Only..." Kakashi spread his hands, "running with such a clear purpose made it obvious you were trying to lure me away."
"Ha..." Haruko sighed, "Hana, Izumi, support me... No, stay back."
Haruko moved his body, making a crisp "crackling" sound.
"I've had enough of formalities."
The air around him seemed to thicken, and the burning fighting spirit in Haruko's eyes was chilling.
Coming to their senses, Hana and Izumi instinctively took a few steps back—their bodies were naturally fleeing from danger.
The two glanced at each other and then moved even further away.
Across from Haruko, Kakashi also dropped his lazy demeanor, assuming a true combat stance for the first time.
"Not even using the Sharingan?" Haruko also took a stance—
"Aren't you looking down on me a bit too much?!"
Then he struck out with both palms.
"Wind Release: Air Wall Palm."
"?!"
Although Kakashi was prepared, he was caught off guard by the unexpected technique.
He avoided a direct hit in the nick of time, but the gale from the shockwave whipped against his face, making it hard to keep his eyes open.
Haruko quickly closed in while forming hand signs.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique."
Unlike the last time, which was to force Kakashi to jump, this time there were more fireballs, the range was wider, and the distance was closer.
"Both Hyuga and Uchiha... Is this your true strength..."
Seeing that he couldn't evade, Kakashi also quickly formed signs and slammed both hands on the ground.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall."
A dog-headed earth wall rose, blocking the flames and the approaching Haruko.
"A smokescreen... but coincidentally, I love using this trick too."
Without hesitation, Haruko jumped straight up.
A second later, two hands burst out of the ground, grabbing at where he had been standing.
"Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation... Huh?"
Kakashi, having grabbed nothing, poked his head out of the ground, only to suddenly feel a shadow looming overhead—
He saw Haruko in mid-air with one leg raised, his heel coming straight down toward Kakashi.
Kakashi, who had originally intended to take the hit, suddenly felt a surge of dread and hurriedly formed signs to activate a Ninjutsu.
"Earth Release: Earth Shore Return."
"Tenshu Kyaku!"
Boom—!!
The earth seemed to let out a groan of pain.
The hemispherical rock wall crumbled, and countless fragments of stone and dust shot out wildly in all directions.
Before the dust settled, a figure emerged somewhat disheveled from the ground a dozen meters away, widening the distance with a few leaps.
"You even know Lady Tsunade's Superhuman Strength Technique?"
Kakashi looked at the shattered rock wall, a bead of cold sweat forming on his brow.
Although it was nowhere near as powerful as Tsunade's, it was still Superhuman Strength Technique. Getting hit would mean a broken bone at the very least.
Facing the murderous Haruko, Kakashi didn't dare hold back any longer and pushed up the forehead protector covering his left eye.
In the dust, that flash of crimson with three tomoe was particularly striking.
Haruko closed his eyes the moment he saw Kakashi reach for his head—one must never make eye contact when fighting a Sharingan.
As a substitute—
"Wind Release: Sensing Wind."
Noticing Haruko's actions, Kakashi was dumbfounded: "This is too much... Is there anything you can't do?"
"Yes, I can't use Genjutsu yet, at least for now."
Responding with a sentence, Haruko assumed a combat stance again: "So, round three?"
...
The battle resumed not long ago,Kakashi noticed something was wrong..
Whenever he activated his Sharingan, Haruko would maintain his distance and resolutely avoid close combat.
But if he lowered his protector to close the Sharingan, Haruko would use Ninjutsu as cover to force his way in for a close-range assault.
Furthermore, even when he had the advantage, he never overextended his pursuit, focusing more on preserving his own state than dealing damage.
This kid... is trying to wear me out!
Unfortunately, he realized it a bit too late. Since the start of the survival exercise, he had used Shadow Clones and several Ninjutsu, and was forced to use the Sharingan; his Chakra was already nearly depleted.
—But the opponent was the same.
The frequency of Ninjutsu and the power of the Superhuman Strength Technique had decreased significantly since a while ago; he was clearly conserving Chakra as well.
It remained to be seen who would have the last laugh.
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