Kakashi Dies of Embarrassment

"Hmm? Hahaha! Am I really this strong now?"

Hearing Imperial Neji's words, the corners of Naruto's mouth stretched almost to his ears.

"So I already have the strength to become a Kage! I'm awesome, huh?"

He said, winking at Sakura.

A few wrinkles appeared on Sakura's smooth forehead.

"You're pretty impressive, kid. If I didn't use my full strength, it'd be tough to beat you." Tsunade praised.

"Naruto, you could easily defeat me now. How could you not be strong?" Kakashi rolled his eyes.

"What about Kakashi-sensei? What level is your strength at?" Naruto asked with a wide grin.

"Close to the upper tier of elite Jonin." Imperial Neji said, then frowned and added, "Hatake Kakashi, who became an elite Jonin at age 12, holds the record for Konoha's fastest Jonin promotion. Achieving such a feat with only the village's ninja education system shows his talent is no less than our Kakashi-senpai."

"But… his growth afterward nearly stalled, unable to even reach Kage level… such a pity."

"Hahaha… becoming an elite Jonin at 12 was just a fluke, a fluke. Kage level is for greats like Tsunade-sama. I'm still far off… hehe… far off…"

Kakashi scratched his head, smiling awkwardly.

His smile was a bit bitter.

"If you had preserved your pure Yang energy well, by this age, you'd at least be at Kage level. But alas, you squandered it."

Imperial Neji lowered his eyes, glancing at Kakashi's listless face and dead-fish eyes, then shook his head and sighed.

"What's pure Yang energy? Can preserving it make you stronger?"

Naruto was curious about the new term.

Tsunade, as a medic, also showed a strange expression.

"Pure Yang energy… in martial arts, it usually refers to a man's essence. Your Kakashi here has wasted too much of it." Imperial Neji said.

The moment those words landed, everyone from Team Seven froze. Then, they all turned odd looks toward Kakashi.

"No! Don't look at me like that! This! It's all a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding! I don't even have a girlfriend—how could I do something like that…?"

Kakashi waved his hands, trying to explain.

"Come on, Kakashi, do you think we're all three-year-olds? As a man, I understand your needs… but everything has limits!"

With a complex expression, Shikaku patted Kakashi's shoulder lightly, hesitant to continue.

"Hey, don't get the wrong idea! How could I do something like that?!"

Kakashi was on the verge of tears. He was an honorable elite Jonin, the copy ninja who replicated thousands of jutsu, Konoha's handsome man! If he needed it, why would he resort to that?

"Kakashi-sensei, stop dodging. If you were fine, you wouldn't look so drained. In medical terms, that's a symptom of too much slacking off!" Sakura sneered.

"Kakashi… throw away those Icha Icha Paradise books." Tsunade advised.

"Grandma Tsunade's right, Kakashi-sensei! You can't keep reading those dirty books! You need to rise up! For yourself! And for Konoha!" Naruto chimed in.

"Everyone…"

Kakashi still wanted to explain.

But everyone kept lecturing him relentlessly.

Kakashi could only let out a loud yell and vanish.

"He ran! Kakashi-sensei ran! Does he not plan to change?" Naruto said, eyes wide.

"Haaa… Icha Icha Paradise, once you're hooked, it's hard to quit. Poor Kakashi…" Shikaku sighed.

"Uncle Shikaku, the way you talk, it's like you're familiar with it. Have you… read it too?"

Sakura shot a sharp look at Shikaku.

"Me? How could I? Do I need to? Don't look at me like that! I just heard about it! Just heard!"

Shikaku waved his hands, sweat beading on his face.

Tsunade just shook her head.

"If there's nothing else, Lee and I will take our leave." Imperial Neji spoke up again.

He hadn't forgotten his mission: gathering information about this world and reporting it to Ryuji.

Over the past few days, he'd been doing just that, learning much and growing to dislike Konoha's people in this world.

"Wait, Neji-kun, you haven't told us—what's a Six Paths-level powerhouse, and what about Lord Ryuji's final strength?"

Shikaku quickly spoke, halting Imperial Neji's steps.

"Six Paths-level powerhouse?"

He muttered the phrase, then looked up at the sky and whispered, "The so-called Six Paths… it's a realm unattainable by ordinary ninja. Bijuu are like infants before them, powerless to resist. A single attack can destroy a nation, even a small planet. Capable of wiping out the entire ninja world in a day with unstoppable might—that… that's a Six Paths-level powerhouse!"

"Hiss…"

Hearing this, the Konoha group gasped, their hearts racing.

Imperial Neji's description challenged their understanding.

Tsunade muttered, "A powerhouse like that… calling them a god wouldn't be an exaggeration, would it?"

"You could see it that way." Imperial Neji nodded.

"Bijuu like infants… one attack destroying a nation, one day wiping out the ninja world, even planets… monsters like that… really exist in this world?"

Shikaku whispered, his eyes full of doubt.

"Of course. The Emperor of the Shinobi Empire—is he such a powerhouse?"

"Absolutely. His Majesty the Emperor's strength is invincible, supreme! He is the Martial Sovereign, master of thousands of martial arts!"

"Calling him Six Paths-level might even be an insult."

Imperial Neji said, his face full of longing.

"So awesome! What about big brother Naruto and that arrogant Sasuke? What's their strength like?" Naruto asked eagerly.

"Both are Six Paths-level." Imperial Neji said.

"Great! So cool!" Naruto's eyes sparkled with the same longing.

"Big brother Naruto is that amazing—I can't shame him! I've made up my mind! Starting tomorrow, I'll train even harder!"

"That's the spirit, Naruto! Let's ignite our youth and strive for greater heights!" Imperial Lee, seeing Naruto's enthusiasm, shouted.

"Let's fight together!"

"Youth leaves no room! Youth leaves no regrets! No need to wait for tomorrow to train! Naruto! Let's act now!" Imperial Lee yelled.

"Let's train!" Naruto shouted back.

"Sakura! Join us!"

Imperial Lee extended a hand to Sakura.