Chapter 26: Kakashi Steps Up Confidently! Acquiring Chidori!
The explosions from the battle in the Forest of Death hadn't gone unnoticed by the village's ninjas.
At that moment, in the Root organization base...
A man dressed in a white robe, with white bandages wrapped around his head, and leaning on a cane, wore a sinister expression as he glared at the ANBU member in front of him.
"Do you plan to continue blocking my way?"
The man's voice was cold and menacing.
This man was none other than one of Konoha's high-ranking officials and the leader of Root—Danzo Shimura!
"Lord Danzo!"
The ANBU ninja replied firmly, "This is a direct order from Lord Hokage. You are not to leave the base until he returns. If you attempt to act, we will be forced to stop you!"
Behind the ANBU ninja, three of his teammates also turned their eyes toward Danzo, making their stance clear.
"How dare you!"
"To be so disrespectful toward Lord Danzo!"
"You ANBU have grown far too bold!"
Several masked Root ninjas shouted angrily, but Danzo remained silent. The tension between the ANBU and Root operatives reached a boiling point as they faced off, ready to clash.
Danzo's eyes grew cold.
It seems Sarutobi is determined to stand his ground this time.
"Stand down!"
Danzo finally commanded his subordinates.
Attacking the village's ANBU without a valid reason was a major taboo. If Sarutobi caught wind of any inappropriate actions, even Danzo would be in trouble.
Besides, Danzo's probing had already served its purpose. Sarutobi's decisive stance was clear—something had indeed gone wrong with Orochimaru. Otherwise, Sarutobi wouldn't have placed such immediate restrictions on him.
After a short pause, Danzo returned to his chambers, his expression dark.
If Orochimaru was in trouble, it would be difficult for him to avoid being implicated as well. He needed to think of a way to clean up this mess quickly.
A few minutes later, a Root operative entered the room.
"Lord Danzo!"
The operative knelt on one knee.
"Kai,"
Danzo said, pulling a scroll from within his robes and handing it to the ninja. "Take the secret passage and head to the location marked on this scroll. Once you arrive, deliver this to Orochimaru."
"Yes, Lord Danzo!"
The Root ninja took the scroll and swiftly disappeared.
"Orochimaru..."
Danzo murmured as he watched the figure leave. His expression flickered with a complicated emotion.
Meanwhile…
Orochimaru staggered as he escaped through a secret exit. His back was still bleeding profusely from the deep wound that nearly exposed bone, leaving him in a miserable state.
"That... was the Flying Thunder God Technique!"
Orochimaru's cold eyes glinted with shock.
After the initial surprise, he quickly pieced together what had happened. That blinding speed, faster than any ordinary Body Flicker, could only be the Flying Thunder God Technique—the same technique used by the Fourth Hokage!
"Another user of the Flying Thunder God in the village… and a member of ANBU, no less?"
Orochimaru found it hard to believe.
The Flying Thunder God Technique was notorious for being one of the most difficult jutsu in existence, an absolute nightmare to master. Throughout history, only two ninjas had truly perfected it.
And now...
There was a third?
And they were hidden within ANBU?
"What a troublesome ANBU member..."
Orochimaru's gaze shifted toward a nearby bush.
In the next moment, a masked ANBU ninja slowly emerged from the undergrowth.
This was none other than Kakashi Hatake, who had been lying in wait for some time!
"Here we go..."
From the shadows, a grin of excitement crept across Kazuya's face.
Thankfully, he hadn't missed it!
Kakashi vs. Orochimaru!
A legendary moment was about to unfold!
This was the moment when Orochimaru officially became Kakashi's greatest fear—an anxiety that would persist for the next ten years, until the Chūnin Exams.
Sigh...
You're just a Jonin, Kakashi. Why do you keep trying to mess with Kage-level opponents?
Each time, you rush in headfirst—are you tired of living?
If Kakashi wasn't so popular and good-looking, and if he didn't have the luck of a protagonist, he would've been killed off long ago!
But then again...
If Kazuya had Kakashi's natural talent, he would probably be just as reckless.
In the clearing...
Kakashi slowly approached Orochimaru, sparks of electricity crackling in his right hand as lightning burst to life.
His pace quickened, and then—
In an instant, he charged forward.
"Chidori!!!"
This was Kakashi's full-powered strike!
His fighting spirit soared!
Confidently, Kakashi went all in!
And yet…
In the next moment!
Kakashi was swiftly countered! Orochimaru easily dodged his Chidori strike, and with a swift movement, slashed Kakashi's mask with a kunai.
The scarlet Sharingan beneath was completely exposed.
"Why…?"
Kakashi's face twisted in shock, his mind filled with self-doubt.
He lost.
How could he have lost so decisively? The gap between him and Orochimaru was so vast it filled him with fear.
At this moment…
Observing from the shadows, Kazuya saw several orbs of golden light flying towards him.
[You have gained 200 Chakra points]
[You have gained 100 Chakra points]
[You have gained 100 battle experience points]
[You have gained 50 Lightning Release aptitude points]
[You have acquired the jutsu: Chidori]
[You have gained 1000 Chidori skill experience points]
[Your Chidori has leveled up: Current Level: 2 (0/1000)]
…
There it was!
S-Rank jutsu: Chidori!
Kakashi's signature technique—finally his!
Beneath his mask, Kazuya's smile grew more pronounced.
Today's gains had been bountiful!
With Chidori and the Shadow Clone Shuriken Technique in his arsenal, he now possessed some of the most powerful jutsu.
His Lightning Release aptitude was: [Level 4 (800/1000)].
He was on the verge of reaching Level 5!
At that level, his mastery of Chidori would likely surpass even the original Kakashi's.
This… was incredibly satisfying.
Not far off, Orochimaru, having cut through Kakashi's mask, turned to stare at the exposed Sharingan with a cold smile.
"Your eye… it's not bad," Orochimaru said with a sinister grin.
"But!"
"I don't need a counterfeit!"
His tone was mocking as his serpent-like eyes gleamed with disdain.
The contempt in his voice made it clear—he saw Kakashi's transplanted Sharingan as nothing more than a poor imitation.