Outside the training ground, the spectators shifted as the battle moved deeper into the forest.
"What an incredible Clone Jutsu," Homura Mitokado said in amazement."It's flawless."
Even he couldn't perform a clone with that level of precision.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze darkened slightly as he exhaled."He has talent. He simply lacked access to higher-level ninjutsu before."
Masahiko had only obtained the Shadow Clone technique recently.
To reach this level of mastery in such a short time was exceedingly rare.
Hiruzen then turned to the two men beside him, smiling faintly."What do you think?"
"For now," Shikaku said calmly, "he's far stronger than Ebisu."
"A normal Clone Jutsu can always be seen through by a jonin," he continued."So he used it to mask the release of a Shadow Clone instead."
"At the same time, the Shadow Clone concealed the movement of the others. Once he entered the forest, he used terrain—trees, blind spots—to reposition and create openings through misdirection."
A trace of approval flickered in Shikaku's eyes."Solid tactics."
"But," Inoichi added, "he'll still expose openings when he attacks. That's where this fight will be decided."
Masahiko and Ebisu were fundamentally different.
Ebisu focused on instruction. Combat was secondary.Masahiko, however, had clearly chosen a combat-oriented path.
Kakashi formed hand seals, creating two Shadow Clones. The three figures drew their blades and split off, charging toward the three most suspicious directions.
Inside the forest, Masahiko sprinted forward.
The sound of pursuit closed in rapidly.
Kakashi's faster than me, he judged instantly.Whether Kakashi was holding back or not didn't matter—overestimating him was safer.
As he ran, Masahiko placed a leather pouch filled with oil onto a tree branch and vanished forward again.
Behind him, Kakashi caught up and prepared to continue—
A kunai flew straight toward him.
An explosive tag fluttered from its handle.
Kakashi's pupils shrank. He dropped instantly—and in that moment noticed something wrong above him.
A trap—!
He completed seals and expelled a torrent of water.
Water Release: Water Encampment Wall!
The next instant—
BOOM!
The explosion detonated overhead. Burning oil splashed downward, igniting everything it touched. The water wall boiled violently, filling the forest with thick mist.
Within the fog, three figures descended from above, blades raised.
Clones?
Kakashi's eyes sharpened. He didn't gamble.
He formed seals—and unleashed a massive fireball upward, engulfing the mist.
Footsteps suddenly sounded from the side.
Too close!
Kakashi cut off the fire, twisted his body, and used Body Flicker—
Only to see a tree transform mid-motion into a man wielding a blade.
The strike clipped his arm—
Poof.
The Kakashi in front of Masahiko vanished.
A Shadow Clone.
At the same time, memories flooded Kakashi's mind.
Masahiko's Shadow Clone had been destroyed as well.
Elsewhere, Kakashi frowned slightly.
That clone had been a decoy—but the memory told him everything.
There had been an ambush waiting in his escape path.
Understanding dawned—and he smiled faintly.
"Explosion for chaos. Clones from three sides. Forcing retreat into a prepared strike…"
"Well done."
His speed surged.
In a flash, Kakashi's blade cut through "Masahiko."
Poof.
Foam scattered through the air.
Masahiko absorbed the memories and exhaled sharply.
The earlier clone hadn't been a Shadow Clone—it was a Water Clone, used purely for deception.
Even so, between the Shadow Clone and earlier exchanges, his stamina was nearly gone.
One chance left.
He didn't retreat far.
Instead, he formed seals.
Three Water Clones emerged and immediately began setting traps under his control.
Water Clones were weak—barely ten percent of the original's strength—but at a perfected level, they were more than sufficient for misdirection and coordination.
Swish.
Kakashi arrived almost instantly.
Masahiko had barely finished setting the second layer.
Too late.
—but enough.
His instincts screamed.
Masahiko grabbed the trunk and used Body Flicker, dropping beneath the tree—
Thwack!
A blade struck wood above him.
Below, the ground split open.
Earth Release.
Cold sweat ran down Masahiko's spine.
He triggered the traps.
Spiked logs shot in from both sides, forcing Kakashi to halt.
At the same time, another Kakashi appeared from behind.
Swish.
Too fast.
Masahiko knew immediately—he couldn't escape.
He formed seals and created a Shadow Clone.
Above them, the three Water Clones rushed in—
Swish swish swish!
A storm of shuriken rained down.
Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!
The Water Clones burst apart instantly.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed.
Water Clones?
Sensing danger, he gripped his blade with one hand, the other hidden behind his back.
Masahiko flashed in, throwing another leather pouch.
From behind, a kunai shot forward.
That again—!
Kakashi reacted instantly, firing a wire-bound kunai into a massive tree and yanking himself backward.
Mid-air, he saw it—
Masahiko and his Shadow Clone, connected by steel wire, palms pressed together.
One hand slammed into the bursting water pouch.
Chakra surged.
The water split into two clones, each grabbing another's wrist.
Four figures linked together were violently swung away by the tension of the wire.
Kakashi landed—
and "Masahiko" immediately began forming seals.
That speed—!
Kakashi recognized the opening movements.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!
He aborted his own seals and retreated—
only for three figures to strike from three directions.
Konoha Style: Dance of the Crescent Moon!
Three arcs of steel fell like crescent moons.
Kakashi slammed his hands together.
A lightning wolf burst outward, tearing through the air.
Lightning Release: Tracking Fang!
The Water Clones shattered instantly. The final attacker was cut down mid-strike.
All clones.
The real body had used Fire Release earlier—
—but—
An explosive tag appeared where the Shadow Clone vanished.
Only one-third of it remained.
Kakashi pushed Lightning Chakra through his body, accelerating further—
A blade flashed behind him, pulling hard on the steel wire.
BOOM!
Fire erupted.
Kakashi countered—but Masahiko's blade slid past his, cutting cleanly across his arm.
As Masahiko spun mid-air for the finishing strike—
Poof.
The Kakashi before him vanished.
Another Shadow Clone.
From a nearby tree, Kakashi smiled, then said coolly,
"Congratulations. You pass."
Masahiko sheathed his blade, swallowed a soldier pill, and leaned heavily against a tree, breathing hard.
…Finally.
Every step, every trap—
It had all been worth it.