Naruto: Kakashi, the Ultimate Shinobi

"Tch, I was underestimated."

Genma Shiranui pulled out a handful of senbon, ready to strike at any time.

The man Hyuga Feiyu had referred to was Qiu Daozhi—an elite of the Akimichi clan, known for his refined taijutsu and monstrous strength. His presence alone made it clear that Hyuga Feiyu did not trust Genma's team to handle the classified intel without oversight.

Qiu Daozhi stood up slowly and said, "This place is too cramped. Let's take it outside."

"Fine by me."

Seeing no objection, the group moved out of the watchtower into a clearing nearby, remaining vigilant despite the informal setting.

Kakashi was speechless. This mission had been labeled a routine escort—why had it escalated into a showdown?

Shaking his head, Kakashi still followed. He was technically part of Genma's team on this mission, so there was no question about staying together.

Once outside, Hyuga Feiyu addressed them with a clear tone, "The rules are simple. If the four of you can defeat Qiu Daozhi, then I'll deem you qualified to carry the information back. But if you can't, he will escort the intel instead. Understood?"

"Tch, understood."

Genma responded without hesitation.

Kakashi glanced at him, surprised. Normally calm and composed, Genma's unusually fiery demeanor stood out. This wasn't the kind of challenge that should provoke such irritation.

But Kakashi wasn't blind. He knew Hyuga Feiyu wasn't trying to provoke them—he was just safeguarding high-level intel.

Given that, Kakashi reasoned Genma should've understood it too. After all, he was once personally mentored by Minato-sensei and held in high regard by the Fourth Hokage.

So why this recklessness?

"Don't interfere, the three of you. I'll take him on alone."

Genma's statement caught the others off guard. Was he serious? A one-on-one? While Genma was competent, his abilities were still at the level of a seasoned chunin—no match for an elite jonin.

But Kakashi saw the burning determination in Genma's eyes and understood—this was about pride. Genma had no intention of letting their team be dismissed so easily.

Kakashi sighed internally. This guy's ego is intense. Just a little shade thrown by Hyuga Feiyu, and he's ready to go toe-to-toe with a jonin to make a point.

With a silent agreement, the rest of the squad stepped back, allowing Genma the space he demanded.

Qiu Daozhi frowned. "You want to face me alone? Isn't that a bit arrogant?"

"Hmph. I won't know until I try!"

Genma held the senbon tightly. His voice was bold, but tension was visible in his stance. He knew he was outclassed, but he needed to gauge just how large the gap truly was.

He had a point to prove. Their team had been underestimated, and as the acting captain, he wasn't about to let that slide.

Truthfully, Genma was well aware that Kakashi was the better choice. As the only jonin among them, Kakashi's odds of winning were high. But Genma had been chosen to lead this mission for a reason—his experience with information relay missions made him the more situationally aware leader. This wasn't his first time on this kind of assignment, though it was the first time he'd led a team without a superior backing him.

As the leader, he couldn't allow them to be looked down upon.

"Well then," Qiu Daozhi cracked his knuckles. "If you insist, I'll oblige. But don't blame me if you get hurt."

True to his clan's nature, Qiu Daozhi wasn't eager to injure a comrade, even if annoyed by the perceived challenge.

A cold wind swept through the clearing, stirring dead leaves across the dirt.

"Ninja Art: Partial Expansion Jutsu—Both Arms!"

Qiu Dao struck first. His chakra surged into both arms, ballooning them instantly with dense, chakra-enhanced muscle. He clasped his giant hands together and brought them down like a thunderclap.

So fast! Genma's thoughts raced. But he moved smoothly, launching a flurry of senbon directly at Qiu Dao's hands, aiming for joints and pressure points.

Clink! The senbon bounced harmlessly off the chakra-imbued flesh. The Akimichi clan's expansion technique wrapped their bodies in dense chakra—senbon were virtually useless.

But Genma had expected that. Even before the needles hit, his fingers flashed into seals.

"Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!"

A dome-shaped earthen wall erupted between them, blocking the massive palms—if only for a moment. Qiu Dao's hands crashed through the stone like paper.

The power behind his blow was monstrous!

Genma hadn't expected his jutsu to hold for long, and had already retreated the moment he completed it. Still, had he hesitated for even a second, he would've been flattened.

Wiping the sweat that wasn't there, Genma scowled.

The gap is massive…

That single exchange shook him. Yet, even now, pride wouldn't let him back down. He would fight until he physically couldn't.

Kakashi sighed softly. He already knew how this would end.

Genma was outmatched. Qiu Daozhi was on a completely different level. Still, Genma's eyes showed no sign of surrender. Kakashi prepared to intervene the moment the tide turned dangerous—he wouldn't let Genma suffer real injury. The mission's timeline was too important.

"Earth Style: Pursuit Fang—Senbon Storm!"

The ground cracked beneath Genma. From the dirt, dozens of clay senbon formed, launching at Qiu Dao in a wide scatter.

Qiu Dao grunted and drew his chakra inward.

"Ninja Art: Human Boulder!"

His body suddenly ballooned. Arms and legs vanished into the expanding mass, followed by his head. In seconds, he transformed into a giant spinning sphere of flesh.

The clay senbon bounced off him harmlessly as the meatball rolled forward at frightening speed.

Genma turned to evade—but his foot clipped a stone hidden under the leaves. He stumbled.

His pupils shrank. Too late!

"Daozhi! Stop!"

Hyuga Feiyu's shout was urgent. If Genma were seriously injured, it would reflect terribly on both Qiu Daozhi and Feiyu—Anbu under the Hokage's direct command could not be harmed this way.

But it was no use. Spinning as he was, Qiu Dao couldn't see or hear. He could only sense vague chakra positions.

This is bad! everyone thought at once.

No—there was one who didn't panic.

"Tsuchi no Jutsu—Doryūheki!"

A second earth wall surged from the side—thicker, taller, and perfectly timed.