For Veigar Koshima, this battle was one he could not afford to lose. But for Kakashi Hatake, it was a battle he could not allow himself to lose either.
Because the pride within Kakashi Hatake would never permit him to accept defeat.
Clang!
The sharp clash of blades marked the beginning of the battle between Veigar and Kakashi.
"Such incredible strength."
Kakashi was shocked by the raw power surging through Veigar's strikes. He could feel it reverberating through his own blade, a stark reminder of his opponent's sheer might.
Seizing the advantage with his overwhelming strength, Veigar immediately pressed forward. He capitalized on his momentum, sweeping his leg toward Kakashi.
Thanks to his extraordinary reflexes, Kakashi reacted in an instant, swiftly leaping back to evade the attack.
Exploit your strengths, target your opponent's weaknesses. If strength is insufficient, use skill to triumph. Victory lies in strategy.
This principle applied to any battlefield. To understand one's strengths and weaknesses and to deliver a decisive blow was the key to victory.
As Veigar closed in, Kakashi gripped his blade tightly, aiming for the openings in Veigar's kenjutsu.
Speed. Precision. Ferocity. Unpredictability. Risk.
These were the hallmarks of Kakashi's inherited kenjutsu style. Combined with his innate perception, his swordsmanship became a relentless force, refined and deadly.
Recognizing the danger, Veigar swiftly parried. Though his swordsmanship lacked the finesse of Kakashi's, his enhanced physique granted him superior reaction speed and agility, allowing him to keep up with Kakashi's relentless assault.
Two small figures darted across the training ground, their blades flashing like streaks of light. The razor-sharp gleam of steel sent shivers down the spines of the onlookers.
Among them, Minato Namikaze observed with the greatest intensity.
As the student of one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, and Kakashi Hatake's current jōnin instructor, Minato had been closely monitoring his student's progress. Although Kakashi was currently the only member of his assigned three-man team, Minato was deeply familiar with his abilities.
Yet, at this moment, he realized there was much about Kakashi's skill that he had never truly understood.
The refined kenjutsu Kakashi displayed was beyond anything Minato had previously seen from him.
His sharp gaze flickered between Veigar and Kakashi. To his astonishment, both fighters were improving right before his eyes, their kenjutsu evolving mid-battle.
"Such incredible talent with the blade."
Minato couldn't help but voice his amazement, a ripple of awe passing through him.
Seated at the back, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, also noticed their rapid growth. A glint of intrigue flashed in his wise old eyes, revealing hidden thoughts yet to be spoken.
Veigar's blood boiled with excitement. The battle ignited his fighting spirit, pushing his skills to new heights. He was adapting to Kakashi's attacks, realizing that his kenjutsu had unknowingly advanced to another level.
And it continued to improve.
Kakashi, too, was evolving. The pressure Veigar exerted forced him to draw upon his full potential, driving his kenjutsu to greater heights.
You grow stronger, and so do I.
A fierce and mutually beneficial competition had formed between them, a cycle of continuous improvement through battle.
If this pattern persisted, the only way to determine the victor would be when one of them reached their absolute limit.
However, fate had other plans.
At the moment their blades clashed once more, an unforeseen event unfolded—
Clang!
A sharp, metallic ring echoed through the air. Kakashi braced himself for the impact of Veigar's immense strength.
Yet, the expected force never came.
Instead, Veigar's blade shattered upon contact.
Broken. The sword had broken. Veigar's ninjatō had snapped cleanly in half.
No one had anticipated this outcome—not Sarutobi, not Minato, not even Veigar or Kakashi themselves.
But regardless of the shock, the battle had to continue.
Now disarmed, Veigar was like a tiger stripped of its fangs. His most effective means of clashing with Kakashi had been taken from him.
The broken blade fell in slow motion, while Kakashi's short sword slashed directly toward Veigar.
A fleeting moment of disbelief crossed Veigar's face, but he quickly snapped back to reality.
He was still fighting. This was no time to hesitate.
Chakra erupted beneath his feet as he propelled himself backward.
Victory was within reach. Seeing Veigar retreat, Kakashi surged forward, his blade shifting from a slash to a thrust, aiming directly at Veigar's vital point.
The broken sword clattered to the ground, while Veigar's hands formed seals with practiced speed.
"Ram—Ox—Tiger."
Substitution Jutsu!
Kakashi's blade pierced Veigar's body—only for his opponent to vanish, replaced by a wooden log.
At that exact moment, the battlefield shifted once again.
Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof!
Suddenly, four identical figures surrounded Kakashi, each wielding a kunai.
"Clone Jutsu…"
Kakashi stood firm, scanning the four Veigars around him, attempting to discern the real one.
"Such mastery of the Three Basic Jutsu."
Sarutobi and Minato, along with every shinobi—both in the open and hidden in the shadows—watched in astonishment at Veigar's flawless execution of the fundamental shinobi techniques.
Meanwhile, the students watching erupted in cheers, awed by the breathtaking exchange between Veigar and Kakashi.
Even if they couldn't follow every detail, they all knew one thing—
Veigar Koshima and Kakashi Hatake were both extraordinary.
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