*October 8th, Year 48*
In the training grounds, tension was palpable. Kakashi Hatake held his sword with quiet assurance, while Shikai, kunai in hand, stood in a low guard. The silence of the scene was broken only by the rustling of leaves in the wind.
From the first movement, Kakashi launched himself with blinding speed. His sword sliced through the air in a diagonal arc. Shikai blocked with his kunai, but the force of the impact sent him sliding backward, his feet digging slightly into the ground.
Kakashi pivoted swiftly and followed up with a leg sweep. Shikai leaped back, jumped, and threw a shuriken into the air. In the same motion, he used the momentum to attack from the side with his kunai, aiming for Kakashi's ribs. The latter parried with his sword and countered by spinning around, sweeping his weapon horizontally.
The metallic sound of clashing blades echoed, each strike swift and precise.
Shikai used a *substitution jutsu* just before a vertical strike hit him, appearing a few meters away. He threw a kunai towards Kakashi. Then another, which the latter easily dodged, the kunais embedding themselves in the ground.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
"Do you plan to plant the ground like a gardener?"
Shikai didn't respond, dodging another assault from Kakashi. He slid under a swift attack, propelling another kunai towards the ground. Kakashi, without slowing down, executed a series of rapid strikes with his sword, forcing Shikai to retreat.
Kakashi's movements became more intense. He attacked with a power that would have disarmed an ordinary ninja. Shikai blocked as best he could, his arms beginning to tremble under the pressure. He performed a backflip to break free and threw two shurikens in a crossing trajectory.
Kakashi deflected the shurikens with a fluid motion, his sword drawing a bright circle in front of him. But as he was occupied, Shikai leaped to the side, planting another kunai behind him.
"Not bad," murmured Kakashi, seeing the pattern form. "But you're way too predictable."
Kakashi knew that Shikai had the Hiraishin, and the fact that he was placing kunais everywhere was putting him on edge.
He lunged again, this time with a lateral strike aimed at cutting Shikai at the waist. Shikai deflected the blow with his kunai, but Kakashi's strength sent sparks flying and knocked Shikai to his knees.
Suddenly, Shikai dodged by rolling to the side, using the momentum to deliver a powerful kick to Kakashi's face.
"And that was less predictable, huh?"
Shikai straightened up, slightly breathless but with a determined look, sarcasm in his words.
"Not bad at all," murmured Kakashi, a smile forming beneath his mask. He surged forward with his superior speed, testing the young Senju's physical limits.
*Water Dragon Bullet Technique*
A jet of water propelled itself rapidly towards Kakashi, who had to retreat. With a swift gesture, he performed a series of hand seals.
"*Doton: Doryuheki!*"
A wall of earth emerged between him and Shikai. The latter, anticipating a surprise attack, took a step back, his eyes scanning every corner.
Suddenly, Kakashi emerged from behind the wall with his sword, lunging straight towards Shikai. The latter barely dodged by rolling to the side and, in the same motion, formed a one-handed mudra.
*Kage Mane no Jutsu!*
"How...?"
Shikai's shadow extended rapidly, attempting to grasp Kakashi's. But the latter, even though he was shocked by the ease and method with which the young Nara used this technique, leaped into the air, escaping the grasp thanks to his reactivity honed during the Third Great Ninja War. When he landed, he instantly followed up with a *Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu*. A massive fireball surged towards his opponent.
'Kakashi is indeed a fraud, but his power is not something I can scoff at at my level.'
*Suiton: Suijinheki!*
Invoking a wall of water at the last moment to counter the flames. Steam rose, enveloping the area in a dense fog.
In this confusion, Shikai used "*Kage Nui no Jutsu*" to send out shadow spikes, aiming to distract the talented ANBU. But the latter, having activated his Sharingan with three tomoe, dodged with incredible precision.
"Impressive, Shikai," said Kakashi, a hint of admiration in his voice. "You're not doing the Yondaime's legacy any dishonor. With each fight, you improve more and more."
Shikai gritted his teeth, quickly analyzing the situation.
"Kakashi-senpai, where did you get that Sharingan? The rumor is that you stole it!"
Kakashi disappeared underground. Shikai immediately went on the defensive, but a second later, Kakashi emerged behind him. The shock of a sword strike rang out as Shikai blocked with his kunai, but a powerful kick to the back of his neck sent him flying backward by brute force.
"Stay on your guard instead of spouting nonsense, kid."
Giving him no respite, three clones appeared around Shikai. In perfect synchronization, they attacked, combining ninjutsu and Taijutsu techniques.
The heat of a massive fire attack made the air tremble, while the ground around Shikai cracked under the impact of a pillar of earth erupting from the clones. Shikai, overwhelmed, made a desperate leap to avoid the assault, taking refuge at the top of a tree. But then, a kunai with an explosive scroll was launched towards him. He performed a backflip, barely evading it.
*Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu*
As he prepared to use a water barrier to counter the flaming attacks, a piercing whistle drew his attention. A bluish glow illuminated the air, and Shikai felt a surge of adrenaline, the air crackling with electricity.
'He wants to kill me, doesn't he?'
"*Chidori!*" Kakashi cried, his iconic technique illuminating his hand.
Kakashi charged at blinding speed, leaving Shikai with almost no options. He tried to form a seal to seal the technique, but the *Chidori*'s speed exceeded his expectations.
"I have no other choice!"
Shikai, though exhausted, quickly analyzed the situation. His survival instinct took over. In a split second, he executed his S-rank technique, the one he had named *Yellow Flash*. His eyes shone with a golden light as a bolt of lightning coursed through his body.