The battle began swiftly.
Yugito, eager to defeat Kakashi, unleashed her claws as bursts of blue fireballs shot toward him.
Fast—but Kakashi was faster.
The fireballs passed through his afterimage as the real Kakashi erupted from the ground beneath her, his blade wreathed in condensed flames.
Clang!
Steel met claw.
Yugito struck at Kakashi's blind spot, but he ignored it, channeling Wind Release chakra into his blade instead.
The sword erupted in flames, elongating into a blazing spear that thrust toward Yugito's heart.
!!!
Every hair on Yugito's body stood on end. She blasted chakra from her palm, propelling herself backward just in time.
What kind of swordsmanship is this?!
The onlookers were stunned.
None of them could have dodged that strike.
Were all of Konoha's squad members geniuses?
As the fight escalated, Yugito's movements grew fiercer—until a surge of ominous chakra erupted from her.
A single blue tail materialized behind her.
So this is tailed beast chakra...
Kakashi didn't rush in. Instead, he weaved through her attacks, testing her enhanced speed and reflexes.
To an outsider, it seemed Kakashi was struggling—barely dodging, taking minor wounds, forced into retreat.
But in truth, he was analyzing.
Yugito's speed had indeed increased, but her control was lacking.
Too much power, not enough precision.
The moment she lunged again, Kakashi's blade flickered with lightning.
Lightning Release: Chakra Mode!
His own speed skyrocketed.
Clang!
Yugito's claws were severed cleanly.
"Speed means nothing without control. Otherwise, it's just a liability."
Kakashi sheathed his sword.
Yugito stared at her hands, disbelief etched across her face.
She had lost again.
To someone she'd never even heard of.
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
Minato, noticing her frustration, gave Kyohiko a subtle look before speaking up.
"Kakashi graduated from the Academy at five, became a chūnin at six, and is now nearing jōnin level. He's far from ordinary."
Kyohiko stepped forward, healing Kakashi's minor injuries with Mystical Palm Technique.
Dodai sighed inwardly.
Just as the intel suggested—Hatake Kakashi was a prodigy.
He feigned surprise.
"Hatake Kakashi... Any relation to the White Fang?"
Kakashi nodded calmly.
Two years had passed since his father's death. He no longer carried the same bitterness—only pride in his legacy.
The name Hatake Kakashi might not be widely known, but Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang, was legendary even in Kumo.
"Yugito, go train."
Dodai's tone was gentle but firm.
Yugito clenched her fists but didn't argue.
She was proud.
If she couldn't even beat Kakashi, she had no right to challenge Kyohiko.
With a wave, Dodai dismissed the remaining students.
None dared linger, but the strength of Konoha's team left a lasting impression.
No one doubted Samui or Yugito's skill—they were the strongest in their age group.
Yet they had lost effortlessly.
"Dārui... those Konoha guys are monsters. Do you think we'll ever be that strong?"
"Give up."
Dārui spat out a blade of grass, his expression bored.
His teammate groaned.
"Yeah, yeah... Four or five years isn't enough to catch up. How the hell did they get so strong?!"
"Tch. I'm going for a run."
Dārui stood, stretching lazily.
"Wait! Even if we can't match them, maybe we can at least try to be as versatile—"
After the spar, Dodai led them through the academy's facilities.
No classified secrets were revealed, but Kyohiko and Minato gained a clear understanding of Kumo's education system.
Brutally practical. Battle-focused from day one.
Unlike Konoha, which balanced theory and practice, Kumo's training was almost entirely field-based.
As they toured the village, Kumo's ANBU worked tirelessly in the background.
By nightfall, the Third Raikage's desk held a detailed report on Konoha's attack against Kusagakure.
Two techniques. One outcome: annihilation.
A scoff came from the Raikage's son.
"The Kusa leader was an idiot. If we'd known about those jutsu beforehand, the results wouldn't have been so one-sided. And those moves have to be kinjutsu—the backlash must be brutal!"
The Raikage shot him a look.
"You think I don't know that? You willing to test how severe the backlash is? Or do you think Konoha would sacrifice two elite jōnin just for show?"
If Danzō were Hokage, maybe.
But Tsunade? Never.
Konoha had to have a way to mitigate the side effects—or the techniques weren't as costly as they seemed.
A grumble. "So what do we do?"
A smirk. "Why worry? Ōnoki's the one who got his fingers chopped off. Let's see how he reacts."
For now, the other villages were frozen.
No one wanted to risk facing Konoha's unknown trump cards.
"A, tomorrow you'll escort them back to Konoha. Use this 'exchange' as a chance to observe, learn, and adapt."
"Understood."
That night, the team regrouped in their quarters.
Kyohiko's shadow clone melded into the surrounding foliage via Wood Release, keeping watch.
Minato summoned a toad to relay their findings to Jiraiya, who had already returned to the village.
Soon, a response arrived from Tsunade.
Kyohiko didn't see the contents of the letter, but he already knew Tsunade's stance—
[As Hokage, diplomatic skills are indispensable.]
[Under your planning and guidance, Konoha and Kumogakure have achieved deep cooperation, further binding their interests and relations.]
[Reward: Lightning Release Chakra Mode (Beginner)]
Thanks to the system's tempering, Kyohiko had learned to remain composed.
But—
When he saw the reward, he couldn't help but reveal a trace of joy.
Luckily, with the mission's success, everyone was in high spirits.
His expression didn't seem out of place.
Kyohiko didn't rush to integrate or comprehend the technique.
Lightning Release Chakra Mode—alternatively known as Lightning Armor—was a B-rank technique, but it was one of Kumo's most closely guarded secrets. Even within the village, only a handful had mastered it.
Even at the beginner level, its value was extraordinary.
However, since he was still in Kumo, attempting it now would be unwise. Back in his room, Kyohiko merely absorbed and pondered the knowledge.
The technique aligned with his earlier discussion with Kakashi—
It used Lightning Release chakra to stimulate cellular and muscular activity, enhancing the body's resilience and strength.
Its defensive capabilities were directly tied to muscle density and physical conditioning.
The stronger the body, the greater the defense.
That was why the Raikage's office emblem was a flexing bicep.
After careful consideration, Kyohiko realized this ability wasn't perfectly suited for him.
It was useful, yes—
But unless he underwent a drastic physical transformation, he'd never reach the Raikage or A's level.
Their muscles were just too monstrous!
Kakashi wasn't an ideal candidate either.
"Muscle activation doesn't have to rely solely on Lightning Release."
Kyohiko's mind drifted to the Strength of a Hundred Seal.
This S-rank technique, developed by Tsunade, maximized the use of the Yin Seal by releasing stored chakra throughout the body to enhance physical abilities.
By combining the principles of Lightning Release Chakra Mode, the Strength of a Hundred Seal, and the Yin Seal, he might be able to create his own unique chakra mode.
Iwagakure, Tsuchikage's Office
Ōnoki's face was grim as he stared at the latest intelligence report.
Konoha had sent a team to Kumogakure.
After three days, they departed unharmed—escorted by Kumo-nin all the way to the Land of Fire's borders.
Even more suspicious—
The Kumo team didn't turn back. Instead, they followed the Konoha squad straight to the village.
"Tch."
"Konoha... Konoha... Sarutobi Hiruzen, why did you have to step down?"
Ōnoki sighed.
Only after his enemy retired did he realize how much he missed the old man.
Even with this development, he couldn't tell if Konoha and Kumo were preparing for war or just solidifying their alliance.
But if it were Hiruzen, Ōnoki could've been certain—he would've chosen peace.
That man never initiated conflicts.
Not even when provoked.
Southwest Land of Fire, A Remote Village
A man disguised as a villager sprinted through the forest.
But—
Within moments, two black-clad figures emerged from the trees.
Their faces were hidden behind masks.
One formed hand seals, and a peculiar chakra gathered in his palm.
A flash—
The man screamed as an unseen force ravaged his body.
Within seconds, he collapsed, writhing in agony—no external wounds, only unbearable pain.
"Take him."
"Yes!"
They hauled him away, leaving behind a single marking.
Shortly after, another squad arrived.
"Where is he?"
"Taken by Root."
One of them sighed. "Let's go."
"Damn it... Root again? Even with Danzō-sama on our side, why is that organization still active?"
"Who knows?"
Takemasa erased the marking and stood. "Our mission was to eliminate the Suna spy. As long as he's captured, it's fine. Let's find the next one."
"Understood!"
Konohagakure's Outskirts
An eight-member squad approached the village gates.
Four were Kyohiko's team.
The other four?
A, Samui, Mabui, and Darui.
"Just ahead—that's Konoha."
Minato pointed.
A looked up.
Konoha.
The village he never imagined visiting like this.
"Let's go."
Minato quickened his pace.
At the gates, two chūnin stood to greet them.
"Eight in total—our squad plus Kumo's delegation."
Minato handed over the paperwork.
After a quick check, they were waved through.
"Kyohiko, what about them—"
"I'll handle it."
Kyohiko smiled.
Minato grinned sheepishly before excusing himself and darting off.
Kakashi and Gai followed.
"A-san, I'll take you to the Hokage's office. Tsunade-sama will arrange your accommodations and itinerary."
Kyohiko turned to the Kumo team.
A raised an eyebrow. "Where's Minato going?"
"Ah, he's got someone waiting for him. Not like me."
Kyohiko chuckled, subtly observing A's reaction.
A merely nodded, indifferent.
Good. He doesn't know about Kushina.
Hokage's Office
Utatane Koharu stood at the entrance, smiling warmly.
"Welcome, envoys of Kumo. I am Konoha's advisor, Utatane Koharu—"
"I'm A."
A introduced himself and his team.
Once formalities were exchanged, Kyohiko bowed and took his leave.
Koharu didn't stop him—he'd earned the rest.
Konoha Outskirts
Kyohiko immediately tested his new technique.
First—
Lightning chakra surged through his muscles, stimulating cellular activity.
Then—
He guided the energy evenly across his body.
Lightning Release Chakra Mode—Activate!
Whoosh!
A single shunshin carried him far into the training grounds.
The speed boost was comparable to opening the First Gate.
But unlike the Eight Gates, this had no severe drawbacks.
As for defense—
Bam!
Kyohiko punched trees, rocks, testing his limits.
After a series of trials, he concluded—
Physical defense had increased by 10-20%.
Not groundbreaking, but the real advantage was its sustainability.
This technique could be maintained indefinitely.
That alone made it invaluable.