Naruto : Konoha Light

In the evening, students who had yet to return home gathered in small groups, making their way towards the back of the mountain.

The challenge issued by Kakashi Hatake was a rare source of excitement in their otherwise routine school life.

"Did you hear? Kakashi officially applied for graduation today!"

"What? So he's a real ninja now?"

"That's not the big deal! What's crazy is that he's breaking records—no one's ever graduated this early before!"

"He's a total monster. I doubt anyone will ever surpass this achievement."

Listening to the murmuring around him, Obito felt a strange sense of disbelief.

Just yesterday, Kakashi had still been one of their classmates. And now—he had already graduated.

"So this… is talent?" Obito muttered, feeling a pang of frustration. Having someone like Kakashi in his class was an undeniable blow to his confidence.

"Don't let it get to you," Zhihui said, patting Obito's shoulder. "Look at me. I awakened the Sharingan and have been training for years, but I still can't catch up to Shimizu, no matter what I do! Haha!"

Obito forced a weak smile. "If even the Sharingan isn't enough, then what am I supposed to do? That's just depressing."

Might Guy, however, was beaming with excitement. "I can't wait to see who wins!"

"Of course it'll be Shimizu," Obito answered without hesitation.

But this time, the people around them had differing opinions.

"I wouldn't be so sure. You guys heard, right? Kakashi already learned an A-rank jutsu!"

Obito frowned. "I was in his class—I know exactly what he can do. He even told me himself that before this fight, the best he had learned was the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

The student who had spoken earlier widened his eyes. "Whoa! So Kakashi already knew such a powerful technique before he even entered the Academy?"

Obito, now feeling even more frustrated, quickly corrected him. "That's not what I meant! I'm saying that even if Kakashi has learned an A-rank jutsu, he still doesn't stand a chance against Shimizu!"

But the other student just waved his hand dismissively. "That's only because Kakashi was careless last time. If he takes this fight seriously, it won't be the same result."

As he watched the student act like he knew Kakashi better than him, Obito could only sigh in exasperation.

Meanwhile, Shimizu was already standing in the clearing, calmly waiting.

"Asuma," he said, "you think I can finish this in just a few seconds?"

Asuma scoffed. "You always say that… and yet..." He trailed off, clearly recalling something he didn't want to remember.

Seeing the disbelief written all over Asuma's face, Shimizu could only shake his head. "You guys don't understand his mindset. He applied for early graduation and challenged me because he wants to prove himself—to show that he isn't just his father's son. That kind of conviction isn't easily shaken, even with genjutsu."

Asuma hesitated before sighing. "Yeah… Sakumo was too kindhearted. I used to really admire him."

Shimizu didn't comment, but his gaze remained steady as he looked ahead.

"He's here."

Kakashi arrived, but something about him felt different. The short sword on his back was unmistakable.

"Sakumo's blade…" Shimizu thought, immediately understanding what it meant.

But to everyone else, Kakashi's biggest change wasn't his weapon—it was his expression. Cold. Emotionless. Like a block of ice.

Kakashi stared at Shimizu and spoke in a flat tone. "Thank you for accepting my challenge."

"You don't need to thank me," Shimizu replied with a small smile. "Fighting someone with your talent is an opportunity for me as well."

They exchanged no more words. After forming the Seal of Confrontation, Kakashi immediately unsheathed his short sword and lunged forward.

Body Flicker Technique.

Gathering chakra to his feet, Kakashi moved at an incredible speed, closing the distance in an instant.

Shimizu, however, had already begun forming hand seals at a blinding pace, his hands moving too fast for most onlookers to follow.

Genjutsu: Mist Phantom Technique.

Kakashi's steps faltered slightly as illusions flickered around him.

"He's caught!" Asuma exclaimed, a grin forming.

But a second later, Kakashi pushed forward again at full speed.

"He resisted it?"

Shimizu wasn't surprised. "At this moment, his conviction is stronger than ever. Genjutsu alone won't be enough to stop him."

With no hesitation, Shimizu clenched his right fist. The fight was now at close range.

"So this is Sakumo's swordsmanship…" he thought, watching Kakashi's movements carefully.

The short sword gleamed as it slashed toward him. Lightning crackled along its edge.

"Lightning chakra flow? A mix of ninjutsu and kenjutsu?"

Without missing a beat, Shimizu met the attack head-on with his fist.

CLANG!

The impact sent a shockwave through the air. The sheer force bent Kakashi's blade slightly, sending him skidding backward.

But the moment his feet touched the ground, he immediately shifted into a defensive stance.

"Tch… my combat experience is still lacking," Kakashi thought, realizing he had been thrown off balance too easily.

Shimizu landed gracefully, watching him closely.

"He's adapting quickly… if I only rely on taijutsu, this will take too long."

Reaching into his pouch, he retrieved a handful of shuriken.

Kakashi's eyes narrowed. He knew how dangerous Shimizu's throwing skills were.

The next instant, the air was filled with a storm of shuriken flying toward him.

Kakashi dodged swiftly, but then—

CLINK!

The shuriken he had avoided were suddenly yanked back midair by chakra strings.

"They're coming back!?"

As Kakashi moved to block, he saw something even more alarming—Shimizu wasn't just using the chakra strings to control the weapons.

His other hand was already forming a fist, ready to strike.

"He can do both at once?!"

Kakashi gritted his teeth.

"If he can do it… then so can I."

Lightning crackled from his left hand. At the same time, he adjusted his grip on his sword with his right.

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"Come at me, Shimizu!"