Rin's jaw dropped as she watched the combination unfold. She'd known Hanekawa trained constantly, but seeing those Elemental Techniques woven together like that—the precision, the timing, the sheer destructive power—it was something else entirely.
"So awesome!" she breathed.
Kakashi's expression remained neutral, but his eyes tracked every movement with laser focus. He'd heard about Hanekawa taking down Kushimaru, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, but hearing about it and witnessing his capabilities firsthand were two different things. The kid wasn't just strong in one area. Illusions, swordsmanship, water jutsu—and apparently everything else too. No weaknesses. That made sparring with him increasingly awkward.
Kakashi was already running through scenarios in his head. As an assassination-type ninja, closing distance was everything. But if Hanekawa could unleash jutsu that fast, getting close would be nearly impossible. Lightning Style might work, but—
"As expected of Hanekawa! Easy victory!"
Kurenai pumped her fist, grinning with obvious pride. She'd called this one.
"Incredible!" Might Guy practically vibrated with excitement, his eyes shining. "My lifelong rival is just too strong!"
Guy only knew taijutsu. Hanekawa knew everything and used it all flawlessly. The thought of fighting someone that skilled made his blood sing.
A notification flickered across Hanekawa's vision:
[C-Rank Talent Entry: "Prodigy of Flame" upgraded]
[Fire Style Talent increased by 150% from original baseline]
Hanekawa nodded to himself. Obito's Fire Style was genuinely impressive for his age—well beyond most chunin level. But that was the thing about Obito: he'd clearly had outside help. Contact with Madara, probably. Otherwise, his improvement wouldn't have been so dramatic.
The upgraded entry would work the same as his water talent now—a 150% bonus. It wouldn't directly amplify Fire Style jutsu power, but it would make learning and mastering new techniques exponentially faster. The real payoff would be cutting the time needed to unlock the A-Rank "Fire Style Jonin" entry.
Hanekawa came back to the present to find Obito still sprawled on the ground. Nobody had moved to help him. Kakashi was lost in thought, Kurenai was beaming, Guy was practically vibrating with excitement, and Rin looked shocked.
He walked over and knelt down, letting soft green chakra flow from his hands. Obito's injuries were minor—mostly just the electrical shock that had knocked him out. A few seconds of healing and the kid's eyes fluttered open, dazed.
Reality crashed back. The humiliation of being completely outmatched. In front of Rin, no less.
"I don't need your help!" Obito snapped, jerking away and scrambling to his feet. He practically fled toward the tents, moving as fast as his pride would allow.
"Obito!" Rin called after him, but he was already gone.
"My turn! Hanekawa!"
A green blur appeared where Obito had been lying.
Might Guy stood there, practically glowing with enthusiasm, ready to go.
Hanekawa didn't hesitate. "Bring it on."
He was curious whether Guy's C-Rank "No Regrets in Youth" entry could be upgraded. Only one way to find out.
"Great!" Guy's eyes blazed. "Here I come!"
Hanekawa kept his expression calm and neutral—the perfect picture of readiness.
"Konoha Tornado!"
Guy rushed forward with a roar, stomped the ground, and launched into a spinning kick that came at Hanekawa like a whirlwind.
Hanekawa formed seals. Lightning crackled across his skin as the Chidori Flow activated.
Guy recognized it immediately—he and Kakashi sparred constantly, so he knew Kakashi's signature technique well. Chakra surged through his right leg, coating it in protective energy.
The lightning struck. It left only a faint mark.
Hanekawa responded with a mirror kick.
BOOM.
Air exploded outward in a shockwave. Hanekawa didn't budge. Guy staggered back two steps.
"Still so much power!" Guy grinned and rushed forward again. "Konoha Great Tornado!"
He planted one hand on the ground and spun, his leg coming around in a devastating arc.
Lightning Style Body.
Hanekawa had already gauged Guy's strength through that last exchange. The kid had improved dramatically since the Chunin Exams—almost jonin-level in pure taijutsu now. But that was taijutsu only. Hanekawa could wear him down with five-element ninjutsu without breaking a sweat.
But that would be disrespectful. Guy deserved better than that.
So instead, Hanekawa activated the Lightning Style Body. His speed, defense, and attack power all doubled instantly.
He clenched his fist and punched.
The collision was thunderous. Guy's face twisted in shock as the force numbed his entire leg. His body flew backward like a cannonball, skidding across the ground.
Hanekawa didn't pursue. He just stood there, waiting.
Kakashi's pupils contracted. He knew Guy's strength intimately—half a point stronger than his own. So what the hell was Hanekawa doing to him?
The Lightning Style Body was an upgrade Hanekawa had developed based on the Chidori Flow. Two years ago at the Chunin Exams, it had been impressive. But two years of constant training, combined with his Lightning Style Chakra Mode practice, had strengthened the foundation exponentially. The bonus had scaled up with it.
And then there was the Yin Seal. His body was always operating at peak efficiency.
The next exchange proved it. Guy threw everything at him—Konoha Goriki Cyclone, Konoha Bad Rock Rise, Geki Konoha Kongo Cyclone—one after another in rapid succession.
Same result every time. Hanekawa took the hits, then sent Guy flying.
Kakashi's eyes widened as the pattern became clear. Hanekawa had been holding back against Obito. If Guy was getting knocked around like this, Obito would have been unconscious after the first punch.
Which made sense. Obito relied on the Sharingan and Fire Style. His taijutsu was sloppy at best. Most Uchiha had that problem—they leaned too hard on the Sharingan, which could perfectly track any physical attack.
But Hanekawa and Guy weren't ordinary taijutsu users.
Rin watched in stunned silence. Both of them were stronger than she'd expected. But Hanekawa was the real shock. He'd just finished demonstrating five-element ninjutsu mastery against Obito without using a single taijutsu move. Now he was doing this.
She felt a strange sense of relief that Obito had left. He wouldn't have to watch this.
"I surrender!" Guy called out after being knocked back again, grinning despite the soreness spreading through his entire body.
"You're not using the Eight Gates?" Hanekawa raised an eyebrow.
"To beat you, I'd have to open at least six gates. Too much strain, and we've got a mission tomorrow." Guy shook his head, still smiling. "This was just sparring."
"Fair point."
Hanekawa couldn't help but smile back. Guy had his head on straight when it mattered.
Two lines of text appeared:
[C-Rank Talent Entry: "No Regrets in Youth" upgraded]
[Physical Skills Talent increased by 150% from original baseline]
Perfect. Hanekawa hadn't trained taijutsu much lately, but ninjutsu counted as half-physical skill and would get the bonus. More importantly, learning Lightning Style Chakra Mode would be significantly faster now.
"Kakashi, want to spar?"
Hanekawa looked at Kakashi with a slight smile. One opponent was one opponent, three was three. Might as well see if he could upgrade the C-Rank "Thunder Sword" entry.
Kakashi paused, then asked carefully, "Do you need to rest?"
Hanekawa had just fought two consecutive matches and used a ton of jutsu. His chakra should be nearly depleted.
"No need."
Hanekawa pulled down his forehead protector, revealing the diamond seal on his forehead. "I have the Yin Seal."
Kakashi's eyes went wide.
He'd known Hanekawa had gone to the Hidden Mist battlefield, but they hadn't crossed paths since. He had no idea the kid had already mastered the Yin Seal.
An S-Rank jutsu.
Kakashi had learned about it from Minato and knew the basics from Tsunade's reputation. With that seal, Hanekawa would never run out of chakra.
Kakashi's scalp tingled. How do you fight someone who was good at five-element ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, and swordsmanship, had lightning-fast hand seals, and unlimited chakra?
It suddenly made perfect sense why Kushimaru had died.
At least they weren't enemies.
Kakashi walked forward and took his position opposite Hanekawa. They formed the Opposition Seal together.
"Be careful," Hanekawa said, already forming seals.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed as the ground nearby turned to mud. A massive dragon head emerged, spitting mud bullets.
Earth Dragon Bullet Technique. Kakashi recognized it instantly—he was decent with earth jutsu himself.
He reacted fast, raising an earth wall.
But Hanekawa was already moving. He leaned back, gathered chakra in his throat, and unleashed a beam of flame.
The fire and mud collided mid-air, creating a massive explosion of flame and force.
Compound ninjutsu?
Kakashi's mind reeled. That was Sarutobi Hiruzen's signature technique—Earth Dragon Flame Style. He'd never seen anyone else use it.
BOOM.
The earth wall shattered. The scorching heat and the weight of the mud bomb created a sense of immediate danger.
Kakashi didn't hesitate. Lightning spread across his body—Chidori Flow—isolating him from the heat.
He flickered away just as the fire bomb detonated, creating a crater several meters deep.
Kakashi swallowed hard. And that was just the opening move.
He thought about it carefully. Hanekawa had used two jutsu—one earth, one fire. A compound technique. But the hand seal speed...
Kakashi prided himself on fast seals. He could throw up an Earth Flow Wall in under a second. Hanekawa had done two jutsu in roughly the same time.
His hand seal speed is twice mine.
Kakashi's expression shifted as he realized Hanekawa was no longer in front of him.
The next second, hands grabbed his feet.
Kakashi looked down to see Hanekawa pulling him into the earth.
Earth Flow Cut!
Kakashi slapped his hands and split the ground, escaping before he got buried. He jumped back, but Hanekawa didn't press the advantage.
A frustration gnawed at Kakashi. But they were just sparring, so he pushed forward.
"Chidori Senbon!"
Lightning gathered in his right hand with a sharp birdsong sound. He swung it forward, and the lightning transformed into countless needle-like projectiles.
Hanekawa formed seals. An earth wall rose.
It held for a moment before the senbon pierced through.
Water Formation Wall appeared just in time, blocking the remaining projectiles.
Then came the sound of cutting wind.
Kakashi was already moving, his dagger flashing toward Hanekawa's throat.
CLANG.
The Thunder and Fire Sword blocked it. The force pushed Kakashi back half a step.
"Konoha Style: Ryanoo!"
Hanekawa's body blurred. Countless sword lights appeared.
Illusion: Release!
Kakashi dispelled the genjutsu and regained control of his body just in time. His daggers came up to defend.
But he couldn't block everything. A cold flash of light—the Thunder and Fire Sword, wrapped in crackling lightning, appeared right in front of his face.
"I'm no match for you," Kakashi said quietly, lowering his weapons.
Two notifications appeared:
[C-Rank Talent Entry: "Thunder Sword" upgraded]
[Lightning Style Talent and Sword Skill Talent increased by 150% from original baseline]
[D-Rank Talent Entry: "Earth is Real Earth" upgraded]
[Earth Style Talent increased by 100% from original baseline]
Hanekawa blinked. Two upgrades in one fight?
That was definitely a pleasant surprise.