Unfortunately, Guy had already activated what could only be described as “Hot-Blooded Mode.”
At this point, he was completely incapable of listening to reason.
Seeing Guy looking as though he’d been injected with pure adrenaline, Kakashi’s eye twitched.
He was starting to regret ever mentioning Haruto in the first place.
Guy confidently declared that when it came to taijutsu, the only person in Konoha who could even remotely match him—aside from the Hokage—was Kakashi himself.
And honestly, that wasn’t just bragging.
In his normal state, Guy really was monstrously strong.
The former dead-last had become a taijutsu master capable of giving even Kakashi headaches.
That was also why Guy regarded Kakashi as his lifelong rival.
It wasn’t just friendship.
It was genuine respect for his strength.
Looking at Guy’s stubborn determination, Kakashi gave up trying to persuade him.
He knew Haruto well enough.
That excessively rational little monster wasn’t going to be swayed by Guy’s burning passion.
In the end, Kakashi simply spread his hands helplessly and gave his friend a warning.
“If you fail, don’t cry about it later. This is Haruto’s choice.”
Guy clenched his fist, his teeth sparkling under the moonlight.
He swore that he wouldn’t let such a precious gem slip away.
Kakashi merely snorted.
He had absolutely zero confidence in Guy’s chances of success.
Meanwhile, Haruto was already fast asleep, completely unaware that two of Konoha’s top shinobi had spent half the night arguing about his future training path.
The next morning, sunlight bathed the village.
Haruto headed to the Ninja Academy as usual.
Everything appeared normal.
The only difference was that Hinata’s gaze seemed even more frequent—and more intense—than before.
To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, Haruto had deliberately maintained a cool and distant attitude lately.
He barely spoke to her.
As soon as school ended, Haruto packed up and headed toward the training grounds behind the mountain.
His senses were sharp enough to notice that a certain little tail was secretly following him again.
But he chose not to expose her.
Just as he was preparing to use the Body Flicker Technique to shake off his pursuer, a commotion suddenly erupted behind him.
Haruto frowned and halted his hand seals.
Who’s causing trouble now?
After extending his perception, he immediately sensed that something was wrong.
There were too many people.
And their intentions weren’t friendly.
It turned out that Hinata had run into trouble.
She had been cornered in a dead-end alley.
Haruto had no interest in meddling in other people’s affairs.
But within the range of his senses, he discovered something strange.
Not a single Hyūga bodyguard was nearby.
If he ignored the situation, that little white rabbit might genuinely get hurt.
After weighing the pros and cons, he sighed and turned back.
Inside the narrow, dimly lit alley, four boys around ten years old had surrounded Hinata.
In truth, Hinata’s actual combat ability was more than enough to defeat these punks.
Unfortunately, her timid personality acted like a set of shackles, suppressing every instinct to resist.
Just as the four brats were loudly demanding money from her, a cold voice suddenly echoed from the entrance of the alley.
“If you don’t want to get expelled, you’d better leave now.”
The four boys froze.
Then they all turned around simultaneously.
Upon discovering that the speaker was a younger student, they immediately burst into mocking laughter.
One of them pointed at Haruto.
“Mind your own business, kid.”
“Or we’ll beat you up too.”
Despite their arrogance, they still had some fear of the Academy’s rules.
Haruto couldn’t even be bothered responding.
His gaze bypassed them entirely and landed on Hinata.
The moment she saw him, a flash of joy appeared in her eyes.
But when she met his indifferent gaze, her face immediately lowered in shame.
She felt certain that he must dislike seeing her in such a pathetic state.
Being ignored completely enraged the older boys.
They began shouting insults.
One even bragged about showing Haruto what “grade-level superiority” meant.
Haruto looked at them expressionlessly.
To him, they were nothing more than insects.
Even if they somehow became shinobi someday, they’d still be cannon fodder.
That said, leaving pests like these unchecked could eventually become troublesome.
His contemptuous attitude finally pushed the ringleader over the edge.
With a wave of his hand, he ordered his three followers forward.
“Beat him up!”
“As long as he doesn’t die, hit him as hard as you want!”
Meanwhile, he crossed his arms and watched confidently.
Three against one.
This was obviously a guaranteed victory.
At least, that’s what he thought.
In the corner, Hinata panicked.
She tried to rush forward to help.
“Yu—Haruto!”
The ringleader noticed her movement.
Without hesitation, he turned and kicked viciously toward her.
At that moment, even the gentlest person had their limits.
Hinata finally snapped.
“Byakugan!”
Veins bulged around her eyes.
Acting purely on instinct, she thrust out her palm.
Bang!
The strike directly sent the boy stumbling backward several steps.
He barely managed to keep his footing.
His face was filled with disbelief.
The timid punching bag he bullied every day had actually fought back.
And she was ridiculously strong.
Humiliated and furious, malice flashed through his eyes.
He grabbed a broken brick from beside the wall and charged toward her like a madman.
Meanwhile, three punks rushed toward Haruto.
A cold light flashed in his eyes.
“Idiots.”
The next instant, his figure vanished.
Only a blurry afterimage remained.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Three dull impacts echoed through the alley.
The boys didn’t even understand what had happened.
A crushing blow struck each of them in the stomach.
Their bodies instantly folded like shrimp.
Clutching their abdomens, they collapsed to the ground screaming.
Their faces twisted in agony.
The fight was over in a single exchange.
At the same time, the boy wielding the brick was about to strike Hinata.
His figure flickered again.
Like a ghost, he appeared directly in front of her.
Smack!
The incoming brick was caught effortlessly by a pale hand.
Then—
Crunch.
An ear-piercing cracking sound echoed through the alley.
Haruto tightened his fingers.
The solid red brick was crushed into powder in his palm.
Dust rained down from between his fingers.
The boy froze completely.
His mind went blank.
Is that even humanly possible?
Behind him, Hinata stared at Haruto’s back.
It wasn’t broad.
It wasn’t imposing.
Yet it made her feel safer than anything else in the world.
Her cheeks instantly flushed bright red.
“Y-Haruto…”
Ever since learning that Haruto had intentionally lost to her during their spar, she had been unable to get him out of her thoughts.
She had tried using Naruto as a distraction.
But the more she suppressed those feelings, the more Haruto’s image filled her mind.
At that moment, Kakashi strolled over to Haruto.
A lazy smile appeared beneath his mask.
“You’re right.”
“Lightning Release: Earth Walk does indeed have potential for combining with Water Release.”
“But the complexities involved are enormous.”
“Perfectly synchronizing two chakra nature transformations requires control bordering on insanity.”
“Even at my current level, I can’t pull it off casually.”
“It’s far from a simple one plus one equals two situation.”
“Still…”
He scratched the back of his silver hair.
“You’re smart.”
“If you keep studying it, maybe one day you’ll actually figure it out.”
Combination ninjutsu sounded simple in theory.
Just mix different chakra natures together.
In practice, however, it was an entirely different story.
Normally, such techniques required multiple shinobi working together with impeccable coordination.
Performing them alone demanded chakra control so precise that it was almost absurd.
Even someone as strong as Kakashi found it troublesome.
This definitely wasn’t something that could be mastered on a whim.
After thinking for a moment, Kakashi continued.
“I’ve already taught you the basics of Lightning, Water, Fire, and Earth.”
“Today we’ll complete the set.”
“I’ll teach you a Wind Release technique.”
Haruto nodded obediently.
“Sounds good.”
Nearby, Guy stared at him as though he were some priceless treasure.
Even after witnessing Haruto’s absurd talent for several days, the shock still hadn’t faded.
This kid learns techniques after hearing them once.
He’s a monster.
Kakashi really hit the jackpot.
Maybe he truly can reach the Fourth Hokage’s level someday.
He’s only six years old and can already use Lightning Release at this level.
His talent surpasses even Kakashi’s back then.
Guy couldn’t help recalling the era when Kakashi had been hailed as a genius.
At Haruto’s age, Kakashi had already shattered records and become a Chūnin.
Meanwhile, Guy had still been dead last at the Academy.
Back then, he wasn’t even qualified to call himself Kakashi’s rival.
Looking at Haruto now felt like seeing a younger version of Kakashi.
In some respects—especially taijutsu—his foundation might even be superior.
Kakashi glanced at his student.
Though Haruto looked a little tired, Kakashi’s voice carried a hint of concern.
“That Earth Walk earlier consumed quite a bit of chakra.”
“Can your body still handle more training?”
“You sure you’re up for learning Wind Release today?”
Haruto took a deep breath and felt the power flowing through him.
“No problem.”
“My chakra reserves are still pretty full.”
“I could throw up a B-rank Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall and still have plenty left.”
In reality, his chakra was already fully restored.
His body functioned like a bottomless spring.
The expenditure from a mere C-rank lightning technique was recovered almost instantly.
A flash of approval crossed Kakashi’s eye.
“That level of endurance is a terrifying advantage.”
“But remember this.”
“This is your trump card.”
“Never show it off carelessly.”
“You understand what I mean?”
Compared to Haruto’s talent for ninjutsu, his immense chakra reserves at such a young age were the truly shocking part.
Haruto nodded seriously.
“Don’t worry, Kakashi-sensei.”
“I know how to keep secrets.”
Seeing his student ready, Kakashi immediately began explaining the principles of Wind Release.
Thirty minutes passed in the blink of an eye.
The moment Kakashi finished speaking, something exploded inside Haruto’s mind.
A profound sense of clarity swept through him.
His spiritual energy expanded wildly.
Five times greater than before.
The transformation triggered a chain reaction.
Supported by his already powerful body, his chakra surged like a broken dam.
The increase was so immense that visible currents of wind began swirling around him.
Haruto frowned.
What’s going on?
This chakra growth is ridiculous.
This feels like…
Jōnin-level reserves.
He clenched his fist in disbelief.
In an instant, his energy had undergone another massive leap.
Even his physical capabilities seemed to have improved.
Naturally, Kakashi noticed the fluctuation immediately.
“Hm?”
“What’s that?”
Haruto instantly suppressed his aura and looked up.
“It’s nothing.”
“I just had a sudden moment of enlightenment after listening to your explanation.”
“In fact…” Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“I have a feeling that once I fully understand all five chakra natures, I might actually be able to create combination ninjutsu.”
He deliberately changed the subject to distract Kakashi.
Kakashi found the boy increasingly mysterious, but couldn’t identify the cause.
So he simply followed the conversation.
“Still thinking about combination ninjutsu?”
“If it were easy, everyone in the ninja world would be using it.”
“Most of the time it’s something multiple shinobi perform together.”
“As for people who can do it alone…”
“The only one I’ve personally seen is the Third Hokage.”
Of course, Jiraiya and Orochimaru might also be capable of it.
Kakashi just hadn’t witnessed it firsthand.
Haruto blinked.
“It’s really that difficult?”
Kakashi chuckled.
“Things are valuable because they’re rare.”
“The difficulty is exactly why they’re so powerful.”
“Anyone who masters them becomes a major figure in the ninja world.”
“If you actually succeed one day, your combat power will skyrocket.”
To ordinary shinobi, combination ninjutsu was one of the few ways to compete with bloodline-limit users.
Many combinations produced qualitative changes capable of rivaling kekkei genkai abilities.
Haruto nodded thoughtfully.
“Then hopefully your prediction comes true.”
Seeing the confidence on the boy’s face, Kakashi smiled beneath his mask.
As long as Haruto continued working hard, he’d be willing to believe in even a one-percent chance.
“Enough talking.”
“Watch carefully.”
“This technique is called Wind Release: Wind Cutter.”
“A standard C-rank ninjutsu.”
“It’s all about sharpness.”
Haruto immediately focused.
His eyes locked onto every movement Kakashi made.
Kakashi turned toward a large boulder.
His hands blurred through a sequence of seals.
“Tiger—Rabbit—Dog…”
The final seal clicked into place.
“Wind Release: Wind Cutter!”
A nearly invisible ripple swept through the air.
Whoosh!
A faint slicing sound flashed by.
Ten meters away, the massive stone looked as though it had been cut by a hot knife through butter.
Thunk.
The boulder split neatly into two halves.
The cut was perfectly smooth.
The cutting power was terrifying.
Haruto’s eyes lit up.
A silent killing technique like this was exactly his style.
Kakashi dusted off his hands.
“You understand the theory, right?”
“Give it a try.”
“You seemed pretty focused during the explanation.”
Haruto grinned.
“Shouldn’t be a problem.”
He stepped forward and took a deep breath.
His hands moved instantly.
The speed of his seals was no slower than Kakashi’s.
If anything, they were faster.
“Wind Release: Wind Cutter!”
WOOOOOM—!
This time, there was no subtle slicing noise.
Instead, a piercing shriek erupted through the air.
BOOM!
A gigantic wind blade several meters long materialized instantly.
It tore forward with overwhelming force.
The unfortunate boulder exploded into dust.
But that wasn’t the end.
The wind blade continued onward.
It slammed into the cliff behind it.
RUMBLE!
When the dust settled, a horrifying trench dozens of meters long and several meters deep had been carved directly into the mountainside.
The cut was so smooth it practically reflected light.
The sharpness of the attack was enough to make one’s scalp tingle.
Compared to Kakashi’s demonstration, the difference was like comparing a hand grenade to a missile.
The most unbelievable part?
The amount of chakra used should have been roughly identical.
Yet the resulting destruction was worlds apart.
For the first time, Kakashi was genuinely shocked.
A trace of alarm flashed through his eye.
After staring at Haruto for a long moment, his tone became unusually serious.
“It wasn’t a control issue.”
“The quality of your chakra is simply too high.”
He couldn’t think of any other explanation.
Only a fundamental difference in chakra quality could account for such a massive increase in power.
“Haruto…”
“Your physique…”
“It’s practically a gift from the heavens.”
Then his expression hardened.
“But this absolutely cannot become public knowledge.”
“Not even your closest friend can know.”
Kakashi was genuinely worried now.
If a physique like this were exposed, every faction in the ninja world would tear Haruto apart trying to claim him.
Even though the boy was mature for his age, Kakashi couldn’t help acting like an overprotective parent.
Haruto put on an innocent expression and nodded obediently.
“I understand, Sensei.”
“I’ll listen to you.”
Kakashi rolled his eye.
“Stop pretending.”
“You were shocked by it yourself just now.”
“You’ve definitely noticed something was unusual.”
Haruto chuckled.
He didn’t bother denying it.
Kakashi chose not to press further.
Instead, he seemed somewhat relieved.
“Being cautious is a good thing.”
“In the ninja world, staying hidden until you’re strong enough is the smartest approach.”
He didn’t blame Haruto for keeping secrets.
Some things were simply too important.
The fewer people who knew, the safer it was.
If this ever leaked out, not even Hatake Kakashi would be able to protect him.