Chapter 401: Mugetsu's Strongest Disciple
"I'll win!" Obito said with absolute confidence.
Shisui's old title, the undefeated legend of their internal sparring, belonged to the past. Too many things had happened since then, and Obito had gone through more than one transformation. He was sure he could beat Shisui, who was two years younger.
Shisui had awakened the Sharingan earlier, yet Obito was the first to reach three tomoe. That alone proved he had already surpassed him.
Obito was already thinking about the second match and who he would face next.
He and Shisui stepped onto the open ground, took their stances, and formed the Seal of Confrontation.
"Begin!" Rin called out when she saw they were ready.
The moment her voice fell, both of them pushed their Breathing Technique to intensify their bodies, then surged forward with Body Flicker.
Bang! Bang!!
Fists and feet collided in a rapid exchange, the sound of impact repeating again and again until it became difficult to tell who held the advantage.
Then Shisui abruptly shifted from offense to defense and used Body Flicker to pull away.
He understood his strengths and weaknesses. Because of age, Obito's body was bigger and stronger. A stalemate now would become Obito's advantage the longer they stayed in close combat.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Obito did not chase right away. Shisui was too good at Body Flicker. If Obito pursued blindly, Shisui could drag him around and force an opening.
Chakra gathered in Obito's throat, converting fully into Fire Release in an instant. He exhaled, and flames roared forward.
Whoosh! Whoosh!!
The blaze swelled into a massive orange red fireball nearly five meters tall, racing toward Shisui.
As an Uchiha, Shisui knew the Great Fireball's timing and rhythm like an old habit. To conserve chakra, he did not counter with ninjutsu. He used nimble footwork and slipped aside.
Under normal circumstances, Shisui's chakra reserves were more than enough. A three tomoe Uchiha had far more chakra than an ordinary shinobi.
But this battle was different.
His opponent was also a three tomoe Uchiha. And Shisui intended to break the deadlock with Armament Haki, which meant he had to reserve a portion of chakra for it.
The moment Obito saw Shisui dodge instead of countering with Fire Release, he launched his next plan.
First came a storm of shuriken.
Then Obito flashed in with Body Flicker and pressed with fast, sharp taijutsu, aiming to shave down Shisui's stamina and force small injuries.
When Obito used Great Fireball, he had already prepared two paths.
If Shisui countered with Fire Release, Obito would immediately answer with a stronger Fire Release and overwhelm him. Obito trusted his Fire Release completely, especially with Flame Breathing Chakra Mode.
If Shisui dodged, Obito would use the opening to grind him down.
Facing the assault, Shisui stayed calm and activated his three tomoe Sharingan, sharpening his reactions.
Obito also gathered chakra and activated his own Sharingan, maintaining pressure.
Sure enough, I'm stronger now, Obito thought.
He had inferred it from Kakashi's previous fight with Shisui, but too much time had passed, and Obito had not sparred with Shisui since then. He had intentionally underestimated Shisui in his plan, but in his heart, he had not been completely certain he would win.
After these exchanges, the uncertainty vanished.
Shisui's overall strength was beneath his. Obito had surpassed him by a clear margin.
The probing was over.
Obito pushed his Breathing Technique to the limit and entered Flame Breathing Chakra Mode, preparing to end it in one decisive burst.
Flame Breathing Chakra Mode greatly enhanced nature transformation, strengthened Fire Release, and boosted physical capability. Its only real drawback was the cost. The chakra consumption was brutal.
But in exchange, it gave power that felt almost unfair.
Obito felt the surge in his body and could not help smiling.
In this state, he could release Fire Release without hand seals, and the power was terrifying. How was Shisui supposed to fight that?
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique."
Obito clapped his hands, then opened his mouth and spat out a dense swarm of small fireballs.
Shisui retreated fast, hands moving in a blur. He barely managed to complete his own technique before the flames reached him.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
It was the same jutsu.
But because Obito was in Flame Breathing Chakra Mode, his fireballs were more numerous and significantly larger.
When nature transformation and technique were the same, the stronger side won by default.
Obito's fireballs smashed through Shisui's volley, snuffing them out and continuing forward with overwhelming force.
It was a wide range attack. Shisui could only shield himself with chakra and move desperately.
The distance was too close.
Even with all his effort, Shisui still took injuries. Obito's Sharingan caught every wound.
"Shisui…" Obito muttered, a flicker of guilt rising as victory seemed guaranteed. "Even if you're my clan brother, I can't concede on this."
Then the thought of test papers flashed through his mind, and that guilt evaporated instantly.
He burst forward, charging straight at Shisui.
Before Shisui was injured, they could barely hold even in taijutsu.
Now Obito had Flame Breathing Chakra Mode and Shisui was wounded. The outcome felt like nine to one.
Obito honestly thought it was ten to zero, but he decided that sounded too arrogant, so he generously left Shisui a one.
Obito condensed chakra in his palm, transforming it into Fire Release. Flames exploded from his hand.
Every punch and palm strike carried searing heat.
Shisui looked unable to parry. He retreated again and again, forced into dodging, and he took more damage from Obito's fast, wide range Fire Release.
The scales kept tipping.
"It looks like Obito's about to win," Rin said softly, watching the flow of the fight.
Compared to Shisui, Obito held the advantage in position, momentum, and condition. He was not injured at all.
"Not necessarily," Kakashi said, shaking his head.
"Shisui shouldn't be getting suppressed like this. Even if Obito wins, it shouldn't look this easy."
Kakashi could not see the hidden card, but he was certain Shisui was holding something back.
This was going too smoothly. Smooth enough that it felt rehearsed.
"Is this the bond between best friends?" Guy laughed and gave Kakashi a thumbs up. "I feel the same way!"
Guy also felt Shisui was intentionally feigning weakness. Sometimes he would rather take injuries than use ninjutsu.
"Fire Release: Flame Fist!"
Obito clenched his hand and poured in chakra, preparing a finishing strike.
Flame Breathing Chakra Mode was strong, but the consumption was no joke. Without realizing it, Obito had already burned through two thirds of his chakra.
Then something happened that Obito did not expect.
His blazing punch was caught.
Not by Shisui's palm.
By Shisui's black palm.
Obito froze for a fraction of a second, then realized it instantly.
Armament Haki.
The secret technique Mugetsu had taught them earlier.
Obito tried to burst the Fire Release chakra packed in his fist. He had assumed Shisui was done, so he had not poured in full power.
But Shisui had already anticipated that thought.
In the next instant, he slammed Obito into the ground.
Dust and fallen leaves exploded outward as Obito's back struck hard.
Obito had no time to focus on the sharp pain in his palm or the impact in his spine.
He forced chakra into his throat and spat a sheet of flames at Shisui. While Shisui dodged, Obito scrambled up.
But Shisui flashed forward again with Body Flicker.
As long as Obito dared to use ninjutsu, he would pay for it with an Armament Haki iron fist.
Obito could only return to taijutsu.
Even if hand seals were not required, releasing ninjutsu still took a moment.
And what Obito lacked right now was precisely that moment.
The momentum reversed.
Now Shisui was the one pressing forward.
With his right fist injured, Obito could not win a taijutsu exchange against Armament Haki.
"So that's it," Kakashi said quietly, understanding. "He's mastered Armament Haki. No wonder he fought like that."
Shisui's earlier injuries were not only bait. They were also chakra management.
Armament Haki demanded a large amount of chakra. Shisui had been conserving for the exact moment Obito fully committed.
"He's already lost," Kakashi said, having seen the end.
Overall, Obito's comprehensive strength was still higher, even with Shisui's Armament Haki.
Obito lost because of information and carelessness.
If Kakashi had Obito's strength, he believed he would have a seventy five percent chance of beating Shisui.
Just as Kakashi predicted, Obito fell quickly.
"I lost." Facing the flame coated kunai gleaming black in front of him, Obito admitted defeat.
"Shisui wins," Rin announced, then hurried over to treat them.
As the fight ended, the weight in Shisui's chest finally loosened.
Winning one match meant no punishment.
Obito in Flame Breathing Chakra Mode was stronger than Shisui had imagined. In a normal fight without that setup, Shisui would almost certainly have lost.
I need to train my Breathing Technique harder, Shisui thought.
Even though he won, his sense of urgency only grew.
Obito had Flame Breathing Chakra Mode. Kakashi had Transparent World. Guy had the Eight Gates.
And Armament Haki, while strong, came with limits. With Shisui's current chakra reserves, he could not use it at full power while also maintaining other ninjutsu.
"It's just one loss," Rin said gently, seeing Obito standing there with his head down. "It's nothing. Just work harder next time."
"Ahaha… yeah. Just one battle." Obito forced a strained smile and lifted his head. "I don't mind."
A lie.
He minded so much he almost wanted to cry.
He had talked tough, then lost to Shisui, someone he believed was slightly weaker.
Shame, frustration, regret, all of it detonated inside him at once.
He even wanted to go back in time and slap himself before the fight started.
Why did I act so confident?
But even if he wanted to fall apart, he still had to keep face in front of Rin.
That was his last stubborn pride.
Rin looked at him, hesitated as if she wanted to say more, then chose silence. Sometimes that was kinder.
Obito took several deep breaths, trying to calm down.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
Not at Shisui.
At himself.
At his own carelessness.
"Don't be sad," Kakashi said, patting Obito's shoulder.
Obito blinked, surprised. He had expected Kakashi to mock him.
"Kakashi, you…"
Before Obito could finish, Kakashi continued, perfectly calm.
"If you're sad, just think about the test papers you have to do next. That will make you even sadder."
Obito froze.
Then his face went blank.
"…You bastard."
The gratitude in his chest died instantly, extinguished without mercy.
"You're laughing now," Obito snapped, "but when you lose later, you'll be even more ridiculous."
Kakashi's expression did not change. "If I lose to Guy, that proves nothing. Guy isn't weaker than me."
Obito flushed, feeling like he had been insulted again, but he did not have the confidence to argue back.
Kakashi nodded with satisfaction.
Only humiliation this sharp would carve the lesson into Obito's bones.
Carelessness in training meant punishment.
Carelessness in a real fight meant death.
From now on, no matter who the enemy is, as long as I haven't defeated him, I will never underestimate him again, Obito swore to himself.
He refused to be humiliated like this a second time.
Then Kakashi and Guy walked onto the open ground and took their stances.
"My best friend," Guy said, eyes blazing, "let me feel your growth!"
"It's just a fight," Kakashi replied. "Why do you have to say it like that?"
One minute later, Rin announced the second match officially.
"Youth, burn brightly! Eight Gates, Gate of Opening, open. Gate of Healing, open!"
Guy roared and opened the Fourth Gate, chakra and aura surging violently.
Facing Guy in that state, Kakashi did not dare take a single breath lightly. He focused his Breathing Technique and entered Transparent World at once.
Guy's full power was fast and heavy.
One mistake could decide everything.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
Guy's chakra exploded. He sprinted toward Kakashi, kicking up dust as he moved.
Transparent World let Kakashi read Guy's body movement clearly, and he dodged the first kick with ease.
Kakashi did not counter immediately. Instead, he threw several shuriken, testing Guy's response.
"Leaf Hand Blade!"
Guy condensed chakra into his palm and chopped.
A transparent shock of force split through the air, deflecting the shuriken and slicing down a large tree behind them.
Without slowing, Guy continued his assault.
"Leaf Strong Whirlwind!"
This kick was faster. Stronger.
Boom!!
The trees around Kakashi were kicked down, and the wind pressure sent leaves roaring in every direction.
This time Kakashi used Lightning Release chakra to reinforce his legs and increase speed. He still dodged.
His physique is much stronger, Kakashi judged, comparing it to their last fight. But there hasn't been a qualitative change.
There's a chance to win.
The probing was over.
Kakashi began shifting from pure defense into offense.
If Guy could not open the Fifth Gate, Kakashi believed he still had a good chance.
Kakashi could say losing to Guy proved nothing, but if he could win, he absolutely wanted to.
Ignoring pride, the punishment for losing was unbearable.
Obito would be unbearable.
"My dear friend," Guy said suddenly, "how about we decide this with one move?"
Guy wanted to witness Kakashi's strongest attack at full power. He feared that if they dragged it out, neither of them would have enough chakra or stamina left to use their ultimate techniques.
Kakashi thought for a moment. "Alright."
Not because it was quicker.
Because it benefited him.
With his progress in Thunder Breathing and Lightning Release nature transformation, Kakashi could reinforce most of his body at the cost of higher chakra consumption. If he used Thunderclap Flash in that state, it would be stronger than normal.
Under normal circumstances, Kakashi avoided such a gamble.
But Guy offered the gamble himself.
Kakashi would not be polite.
Guy smiled.
Since he proposed it, he had confidence.
He had trained Golden Skyline relentlessly for months.
The good news was that it had grown more refined, letting him pour more Eight Gates chakra into it.
The bad news was that it was too strong. Using it once would leave those two fingers useless for a day.
Even though he did not use hand seals, a taijutsu shinobi relied heavily on fingers. Guy decided this was the perfect moment to end it.
He took out his nunchaku, wrapped the chain around his index and middle fingers, and placed his right hand at his waist in a sword draw stance.
"Golden Skyline!"
He poured all his strength into those two fingers, gathering chakra into them, then swung as he charged.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle!!
Dazzling yellow lightning enveloped Kakashi. Under its light, Obito and the others could barely make out Kakashi's face.
Kakashi gripped the White Fang short blade. Lightning Release chakra surged through his arm into the weapon, extending into a blade of lightning.
"Thunderclap Flash!"
Boom!
Thunder exploded.
Kakashi burst forward like a true bolt, scorching the ground beneath him.
Boom boom!!
The lightning slash collided with the golden line at extreme speed.
The impact detonated.
The ground cracked.
A violent wind blasted outward.
Rin narrowed her eyes as she watched. The distance between her and that battlefield felt like an endless road.
No matter how many times she witnessed it, Rin still felt awe whenever Kakashi and the others fought with everything they had.
So strong… but not something that can be used casually, Shisui thought, watching the exchange.
Even he was shocked by the power on display.
Right now, the strongest ninjutsu Shisui could use still fell short of that level.
Then the result came.
Bang!
The lightning blade extending from Kakashi's White Fang shattered.
At the same time, blood sprayed across Kakashi's body as he fell hard to the ground.
Guy's two fingers were stained with blood, hanging limply after shattering the lightning slash.
I need to learn Armament Haki soon, Kakashi thought, glancing at the White Fang short blade.
For a moment, he truly believed Guy would shatter it.
Fortunately, he had reinforced it with chakra.
"Guy wins," Rin announced.
From a medic's eyes, Guy's fingers might have been worse than Kakashi's injuries, but Kakashi had fallen first.
That decided the match.
"Guy, you fought well!" Obito's mood snapped from misery to joy in an instant.
He had lost earlier, but now Kakashi, who had mocked him, had also lost.
That made Obito happy.
Subtract the joy and the pain, and he was only half miserable now.
Kakashi was about to say something sharp, then remembered his punishment and forced his mouth closed.
What a difficult week.
Kakashi suddenly felt the punishment he chose for himself was far too harsh.
Obito was confused by Kakashi's silence at first.
Then he remembered.
Kakashi's punishment.
Obito's grin widened immediately, and he was about to gloat when Kakashi turned and walked away.
"Aren't you going to keep training?" Obito called after him.
"Nothing," Kakashi replied flatly. "I'm just going to ask Mugetsu sensei for some questions."
Obito's smile froze.
His mood plunged instantly.
From half miserable to seventy five percent miserable.
Shisui initially wanted to postpone the third match by a day. Even after treatment, Guy's fingers had not fully recovered, and that would affect his strength.
"Let's do it today," Guy refused.
"I got information on your Armament Haki too, Shisui. So we're even."
Then he added, grinning, "And I'm not limited to just those two fingers for Golden Skyline."
He flashed a wide smile, two rows of white teeth shining.
To prepare for more situations, Guy had trained his ring finger and pinky as well. They could also use Golden Skyline now.
Not as strong as the index and middle fingers, but still strong enough to matter.
Shisui considered it, then accepted.
Guy's point was fair. Even if Obito had not been his first opponent, Shisui was confident he could still catch Kakashi or Guy off guard with Armament Haki.
Winning was uncertain.
But landing that shock would not be.
As Guy formed the Seal of Confrontation, Shisui took a deep breath.
If Guy were at peak condition, Shisui believed he would have almost no chance.
But with those two fingers not fully recovered, this was his opening.
"Battle start!"
At Rin's command, Shisui focused his Breathing Technique, activated his Sharingan, and flashed forward with Body Flicker.
With Armament Haki and three tomoe, he might be able to gain an advantage in taijutsu.
"Eight Gates, Gate of Pain, open!"
Guy laughed fearlessly and charged forward. He was eager to test Armament Haki's strength.
Bang bang!!
They exchanged blows at extreme speed.
Those two injured fingers seemed to have no effect. Guy's taijutsu remained fluid and heavy, every strike sharp with trained precision.
Shisui was stunned.
Even like this, Guy was holding his own.
Even though it felt like an unfair advantage, Shisui still seized every opportunity. He deliberately targeted Guy's injured fingers whenever he punched, trying to exploit what weakness he could.
But what happened next exceeded Shisui's expectations.
Even with his Sharingan, he could not find an opening.
Shisui immediately changed his approach.
Fighting Guy, someone who trained only taijutsu, with taijutsu was insulting Guy's effort.
It was underestimating a man who trained day and night.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Shisui condensed chakra in his throat and released a rapid stream of small fireballs.
Guy had Rock Breathing full concentration and the Fourth Gate. A simple Great Fireball would barely matter, so Shisui chose a technique built on volume and pressure.
Then he mixed methods.
Ninjutsu.
Taijutsu.
Genjutsu.
At one point, he forced Guy into constant dodging.
Kakashi returned with the test papers in hand and nodded.
A balanced shinobi should use every advantage.
But Shisui's experience is still too little, Kakashi thought.
Shisui was impressive, but Kakashi still believed Guy would win.
Shisui's raw strength was lower. Not only because of physical development, but because of life experience.
Kakashi, Obito, and Guy had all pushed through multiple life or death situations to reach their current level.
Obito's Flame Breathing Chakra Mode and Kakashi's Transparent World had both awakened through that kind of desperate pressure.
And Guy's leap in the Eight Gates had also come from that same furnace.
The fight developed exactly as Kakashi expected.
Shisui could gain advantages at moments, but he could not put Guy down.
Then Guy seized an opening and used Golden Skyline again, this time with his ring finger and pinky.
One decisive strike.
Shisui went down.
"Guy wins," Rin announced, declaring the final victor.
"Hahahaha!"
Guy laughed loudly, the sharp pain in his fingers doing nothing to dull his excitement.
"I am Mugetsu sensei's strongest disciple!"
Shisui clenched his fists, unwilling.
That title had once belonged to him for a long time, until Kakashi took it after the Chunin Exams.
"Next, I'll train Armament Haki more," Kakashi said, making his decision.
He would increase his Armament Haki training time and master it as quickly as possible.
Extreme Lightning Release sword arts combined with Armament Haki.
Kakashi refused to believe that still could not break Golden Skyline.
And if it still failed, then he could only ask Mugetsu for guidance.
Obito stared at Guy's smug grin, then at Shisui's unwilling expression and Kakashi's quiet frustration.
Next time, I'm winning everything, Obito swore to himself.
He did not want to be one of the defeated three three months from now.
He wanted to be the one laughing, receiving Rin's blessings, standing on top.
Then his thoughts turned sharp and serious.
How do I beat Guy?
If he wanted the win, Guy was the wall he had to climb.
By coincidence, the three who lost began thinking the same thing.
How to deal with Might Guy.
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