On the way forward.
Naruto moved forward swiftly.
"Shadow Clone Technique."
Accompanied by Naruto's low shout.
Not only Sakura and Sasuke, who were hiding in the forest, but even Kakashi, who was standing casually in front of them, showed a trace of surprise in his eyes.
"Puff!"
White smoke suddenly burst out.
The smoke spread instantly.
In the blink of an eye.
"Are they real bodies?"
Four figures appeared directly beside Naruto. Under the sunlight shining through the forest canopy, the clones possessed solid bodies and clear outlines. At this moment, Sasuke's pupils shrank sharply. This was not the basic Academy-level Clone Technique. This was the Shadow Clone Technique—an advanced ninjutsu that creates physical entities. Even with the Sharingan or Byakugan, it is impossible to immediately distinguish the original from the clones.
As the last surviving heir of the once most powerful Uchiha clan.
Sasuke naturally understood this point.
And precisely because of that.
Seeing Naruto actually use such an advanced ninjutsu, Sasuke's heart could not help but surge with shock.
"Shadow Clones…? It seems I really need to take this a little more seriously…"
The five figures spread out.
Advancing from different angles.
Their movements were coordinated, as if the five of them were one body.
Even Kakashi could not immediately tell which one was the original.
His eyes narrowed.
The sudden change entered his field of vision.
Kakashi instantly closed the book in his hand.
With a smooth motion, he reached behind his back, drawing several kunai from the ninja pouch on his thigh while slightly lowering his center of gravity.
Less than half a second passed.
The five Narutos had already closed the distance and rushed straight at Kakashi.
At the final moment.
As if it had been calculated in advance.
One figure suddenly accelerated.
"Hm!?"
A sharp glint flashed.
Naruto stabbed fiercely toward Kakashi's face without the slightest hesitation.
A short, rapid, and decisive assault.
Even Kakashi was momentarily startled.
He did not expect Naruto to use such an obvious psychological feint—suddenly accelerating at the last instant.
However.
That was all.
Kakashi still had time to spare.
Even though Naruto's speed would be considered extremely fast by ordinary people, close to the level of an average chūnin, the opponent was Hatake Kakashi. From Kakashi's perspective, Naruto's movements were still slow enough to read clearly.
With a simple shift of his body, Kakashi easily avoided the strike.
Naruto, who launched the surprise attack, had clearly anticipated that his first blow would not succeed.
The kunai that missed its mark twisted downward as Naruto turned his wrist, stabbing again.
At the same time.
The remaining figures closed in from the other sides.
Blades slashed horizontally.
All aiming at Kakashi's vital points.
The pressure came in waves.
Kakashi felt the killing intent and the cold gleam of metal brushing past his vision. He stepped forward sharply, his body twisting as he exploded upward, his right leg snapping out with speed and precision.
The kick landed solidly on the chest of the first Naruto.
"Gah!"
Before that figure could react.
It was sent flying backward.
Midair.
A pained expression appeared on its face.
"Puff!"
The moment it took the decisive blow, the body turned into white smoke and vanished.
A clone.
Kakashi did not linger on it.
He pivoted sideways, raising his arm and swinging it in a clean horizontal arc.
"Keng! Keng!"
The movement easily blocked the follow-up attacks.
Kunai clashed in quick succession.
With a sharp twist of his wrist, Kakashi used his overwhelming strength and experience to force the attackers back.
"Not good!"
Among the remaining figures, Naruto's pupils shrank.
But before he could adjust his tactics—
In the next instant.
A powerful counterforce surged forward.
"Peng! Peng!"
Like stacked wooden dolls collapsing.
Several clones collided with one another and were blasted backward.
The unavoidable impact trapped the real Naruto in the center.
"Boom!"
The figures were sent flying.
At that precise moment.
Naruto's right hand flicked subtly.
Kakashi did not notice it at all.
In the surrounding space.
Thin, nearly invisible white threads glimmered faintly, scattered in every direction like a net.
"Boom!"
Kakashi took a step to stabilize himself.
"Puff! Puff!"
The clones disappeared one after another.
"Stagger—hold!"
Using the brief resistance provided by the clones.
Naruto barely managed to halt his retreat.
"Well," Kakashi said calmly, standing not far away, his posture relaxed and his expression easy, "your awareness is good, and the assault was quite fierce. But Naruto, attacking like this alone won't be enough."
Naruto breathed slightly heavier.
Hearing Kakashi's words, a confident smile appeared on his face.
"Oh? Is that so, Kakashi-sensei? But my attack has only just begun."
"Oh?"
The very next second.
A faint, crisp sound echoed.
"Hm?"
The air trembled slightly.
Kakashi's expression changed.
He tried to move—
But it was already too late.
"It's over, Kakashi-sensei!"
Naruto shouted, pulling his arms outward sharply.
At the center of the battlefield.
Kakashi suddenly felt his body tighten.
Transparent yet incredibly tough chakra threads wrapped around him instantly, binding his limbs in place.
"Sasuke! Now!"
Naruto clenched his fists and yelled.
From the forest.
Sasuke, who had been waiting for this exact opening, did not hesitate.
His figure shot forward.
Leaping high, he formed seals midair with practiced speed.
The next instant—
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
The hand seals completed in one breath.
Sasuke's chest expanded as he exhaled fiercely.
A massive fireball erupted from his mouth and roared toward Kakashi.
The blazing flames surged forward.
In the blink of an eye.
Kakashi was swallowed whole.
Almost simultaneously.
Naruto also completed his technique.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
A violent gale exploded outward.
The wind fed the flames.
The inferno intensified.
The surrounding temperature spiked sharply.
The combination between Naruto and Sasuke was flawless.
It seemed to leave Kakashi with no room to escape.
A deafening explosion echoed.
The flames dissipated.
A scorched crater was left behind, blackened and smoking, heat still rising into the air.
However.
As Naruto and Sasuke stared at the burned ground in front of them.
Neither of them showed any trace of joy.
Instead.
Their expressions grew tense and solemn at the same time.
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