Chapter 136: Hoshikawa vs. Kakashi
"Hoshikawa !" Kurenai Yuhi jogged up to Hoshikawa , shook her fist playfully, and said, "You have to get revenge for me!"
"Don't worry," Hoshikawa said with a laugh. "I'll beat him until he begs for mercy!"
"That's what I like to hear!" Kurenai's lips curled up in a smile, and her eyes curved into crescents.
"..." Kakashi Hatake was speechless. Is it appropriate to say something like that right in front of me?
"Kakashi, let me heal that for you," Hoshikawa said, noticing the blood on his arm from Kurenai's water needles.
"Thanks," Kakashi said, not refusing as he held out his arm. The third round was over, and only three competitors were left in the fourth round: him, Hoshikawa , and Might Guy. They were all strong, and any one of them could be his next opponent. There was no way Kakashi would be arrogant enough to go into the next match with an injury.
Healing Jutsu!
A pale green chakra glowed from Hoshikawa 's hands. Kakashi instantly felt his wound healing at an incredible speed. He suddenly had a terrifying thought: Wouldn't Hoshikawa be invincible if he could heal himself while fighting?
"Will the rules for the fourth round be the same as before?" Asuma Sarutobi asked after a moment of thought.
"They should be," Shisui Uchiha said. "Someone will probably get a bye."
"Wouldn't that person have a huge advantage?" Shizune asked, looking a bit confused. The first match of the fourth round, no matter who fought whom, wouldn't be an easy victory. It might even result in both sides being seriously injured. In that case, the person with the bye could simply wait for their opponent to be weak.
"You don't need to worry about that," Hoshikawa said with a shake of his head and a smile. "Have you forgotten about my sensei? With her around, even the most serious injuries can be healed in no time."
"Oh, right!" Asuma said, as if waking from a dream.
"How does it feel, Kakashi?" Hoshikawa asked, retracting his hand.
"I'm fine now, no lingering effects at all," Kakashi said, shaking his arm.
"A little injury like that is nothing for Hoshikawa ," Kurenai said, once again acting like Hoshikawa 's number one fan.
"I wonder who will get the bye?" Asuma asked, wanting to change the subject and avoid the lovey-dovey talk.
"I hope it's Hoshikawa ," Might Guy said with a wide smile. "I want to have a match with Kakashi first."
"..." Kakashi's face was a mask of pure rejection. He wasn't afraid of losing; he just didn't want to have a moment like Asuma did, watching Might Guy and Might Duy hug and cry.
"We'll find out soon," Hoshikawa said, not bothered either way. He wanted to fight both of them to upgrade his traits. With Shisui as a benchmark, he figured both Kakashi and Guy could help him with that. It was perfect.
"Good luck, Kakashi!" Asuma reached out and patted his shoulder. Kakashi thought, It's my turn to be comforted now, just as I expected.
"Don't disgrace Team 3!" Obito Uchiha said with a sincere expression. He didn't care who won, as long as it wasn't Hoshikawa .
"..." Rin Nohara pursed her lips, looking conflicted. Frankly, she hoped Hoshikawa would win, but it felt wrong to say it out loud, so she stayed silent.
"Hoshikawa ," Kurenai said playfully. "Go beat him up for me."
"Let's go," Hoshikawa said, glancing at Kakashi and walking to the center of the arena.
"That kid has a bit of bad luck," Tsunade said in the stands, shaking her head. If things went as expected, Hoshikawa would have to fight two matches in a row. She wasn't sure if his chakra would hold up.
"But his luck in gambling is usually so good," Kushina Uzumaki said with a regretful look.
"..." Tsunade's expression froze. A possibility dawned on her: Did I drain all the kid's luck?
"Minato, who do you think will win?" Kushina asked, turning to Minato.
"It's hard to say," Minato said, giving a vague answer after a moment of consideration. He was Kakashi's sensei, so he couldn't openly support Hoshikawa . Based on what he'd seen, he felt the match was a toss-up; either one could win.
"I think Hoshikawa has the better chance," Sakumo Hatake said with a light chuckle.
"Huh?" Kushina looked surprised. "Why?" She was shocked that Sakumo, as Kakashi's father, wasn't supporting his own son.
"A feeling," Sakumo said after a brief thought.
"Oh?" Kushina looked puzzled.
"It's starting," Tsunade reminded them. Kushina and the others stopped talking and turned their attention to Hoshikawa and Kakashi.
"Begin!" Inoichi Yamanaka said before retreating to the side of the arena.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!
Hoshikawa stood still, formed a hand sign, and instantly unleashed a massive water dragon.
Body Flicker Jutsu!
Kakashi's body vanished. A flash of light from his short sword appeared as it pierced toward Hoshikawa 's heart.
CLANG!
Hoshikawa easily blocked the short sword.
Chidori Blade!
Kakashi had expected this. Chakra surged into his blade. In an instant, a screeching sound like a thousand birds erupted. A brilliant lightning glow followed the short sword, tearing through the air as it rapidly spread out.
Body Flicker Jutsu!
Hoshikawa retreated without hesitation. As soon as he created distance, he used Dance of the Crescent Moon. Three Hoshikawa s charged toward Kakashi. In an instant, a flurry of intertwined blades filled the air.
Chidori Stream!
The lightning from his short sword spread backward, enveloping Kakashi. He gripped his sword tightly and swung wildly, parrying. The sound of blades clashing echoed throughout the arena.
Two of Hoshikawa 's shadow clones were the first to disperse from the shock of the electricity. He frowned slightly, ignoring the memories being sent back to him, and clapped his hands together.
Fox's Mind Technique!
Kakashi, his concentration at a peak, immediately felt something was off. Although he quickly dispelled the genjutsu, it still gave Hoshikawa a window of opportunity. The blades were upon him. Kakashi barely managed to raise his short sword to block Hoshikawa 's Raijin no Ken. But because of his haste, he couldn't withstand the immense force. He was sent flying backward.
Water Release: Water Bullet!
Hoshikawa raised his hand, and several water bullets, like projectiles, flew out. Kakashi, still in mid-air, formed hand signs.
Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!
An earth wall rose in front of him, and engraved on it were three dog heads. Kakashi rolled to a stop, landing safely. He looked up just as the earth wall began to shake violently.
CRASH!
A huge fireball followed, breaking through the wall.
Chidori Blade!
Kakashi raised his short sword and sliced with all his might. The lightning instantly cut the fireball in half. He let out a breath as he looked at Hoshikawa not far away.
Suddenly, he felt his body stiffen, unable to move.
Konoha Style: Willow!
Hoshikawa moved toward him at incredible speed. His Raijin no Ken trembled in the air, creating a dazzling array of blurred sword images. An intense sense of danger washed over him! Kakashi dispelled the genjutsu and quickly gathered brilliant lightning chakra on his body. The screeching sound of a thousand birds echoed again. In the dazzling lightning, a cold flash of metal appeared before him.
Kakashi felt a sharp pain in his left arm as Hoshikawa 's Raijin no Ken pierced through. But in the next second, the lightning on his body spread out wildly. Hoshikawa was forced to retreat.
Kakashi ignored the pain in his arm, took out his short sword, and followed him. The swordsmanship of the White Fang of the Leaf was unleashed. Hoshikawa countered with his Konoha Style, but it was clearly inferior, and he was quickly on the defensive. Feeling that the time was right, he used the Body Flicker Jutsu to create distance.
He had been practicing his swordsmanship trait. Whether it was successful or not, he would only know after the match. Kakashi was about to give chase when he suddenly found himself bound by a tree.
Genjutsu: Release!
Realizing he was under a genjutsu, Kakashi quickly dispelled it. The tree vanished, replaced by an overwhelming torrent of water.
Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!
Under Hoshikawa 's control, the water rose like a huge wave and rushed toward Kakashi.
Body Flicker Jutsu!
Kakashi leaped up, stepping on the surface of the water to reach the air.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!
Hoshikawa continued to form hand signs. The surface of the water rose, and a water dragon shot into the air. Kakashi's heart sank. In this environment, Water Release jutsu gained a huge power boost, so he had to close the distance.
His mind worked quickly, and a brilliant lightning glow erupted from his body once more. With the boost from Chidori Stream, his speed increased even more. In an instant, he dodged the water dragon and appeared in front of Hoshikawa . He raised his short sword and swung with all his might. The blade hit Hoshikawa easily.
Kakashi was stunned. Just then, with a puff of smoke, Hoshikawa 's body vanished. It was a shadow clone! Kakashi's face immediately became serious, and his eyes scanned his surroundings. Suddenly, he felt the water's surface ripple. He reacted quickly, instinctively trying to jump away, but it was too late.
Rasengan!
Hoshikawa leaped out of the water, a blue orb of chakra in his hand, and slammed it into Kakashi. Even with his Chidori Stream, it wasn't as defensive as the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. The Rasengan hit Kakashi in the abdomen, tearing his clothes. Hoshikawa held back just enough, then kicked him away.
Kakashi landed on the ground, his head spinning. He shook his head and looked at the wound on his abdomen, knowing Hoshikawa had held back.
"I yield," Kakashi said, making a firm decision.
[D-Rank Trait 'Thunder Sword's' effect has been upgraded.]
[Lightning Release talent and Swordsmanship talent have been increased by 100% on top of the original.]
Hoshikawa raised an eyebrow. The goal was achieved.
...............
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