Naruto: Kakashi, the Ultimate Shinobi

"Shuili, don't act on impulse. This kid doesn't seem like an ordinary ninja. Let's attack together—we can't afford to get careless and lose here."

"Cut." Shuili snorted disdainfully but didn't argue further.

Although Shuili was confident, he knew they had to end this quickly. If Ryugasaki's battle wrapped up before theirs, the situation could spiral out of control.

More importantly, their Chūnin subordinates were the core strength of their faction. If too many fell here, they wouldn't have the manpower to maintain control of the village. The burden couldn't rest on just the two of them.

Seeing that the two finally got serious, Kakashi decided it was time to show some true ability. His greatest strength wasn't taijutsu, nor the kenjutsu he had recently picked up—it was ninjutsu.

He hadn't earned the nickname "Copy Ninja" for nothing. Although he hadn't yet copied thousands of techniques, he had mastered over a hundred.

Of course, just knowing a technique doesn't mean one can wield it effectively. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi—the "Professor" of ninjutsu—never claimed to be a master of all techniques, only that he knew them.

Such ninjutsu were like tools in a box—not all useful in combat. Energy and training time were limited. Even geniuses like Minato Namikaze or Uchiha Itachi relied on a small core of battle-ready techniques.

There were no invincible jutsu—only invincible shinobi.

Kakashi held to the same belief. His signature jutsu, Chidori, was one he had created himself.

Chidori had many derivatives. In the future, Sasuke would create several variations from it, including the fearsome Kirin—considered one of the most devastating lightning-release techniques.

As the original creator, Kakashi had refined Chidori into Raikiri—Lightning Cutter—a higher-tier version. Still, even Raikiri, classified as an S-rank technique, felt insufficient in Kakashi's eyes.

Compared to the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken—a technique capable of obliterating multiple enemies with a single blast—Raikiri lacked destructive scale. Raikiri might pierce, but it didn't devastate.

Thinking of the powerful jutsu that would emerge in the future, Raikiri seemed modest. Only with Kamui-enhanced Raikiri might it match up—but Kamui wasn't accessible to him yet.

These thoughts passed through Kakashi's mind in a flash. He knew he still had far to go. Compared to future prodigies like Naruto and Sasuke, he needed to push harder.

With a flick, he tossed a kunai, crackling with lightning.

Shuili and Shanchuan's expressions sharpened. They immediately formed hand seals.

"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Spear!"

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

The two had trained together for years and had seamless coordination. Their simultaneous ninjutsu didn't combine by nature, but their synchronization gave the attack real force.

"Combo assault?" Kakashi murmured.

A massive earthen spike erupted from the ground, skewering Kakashi through the torso. The great fireball exploded against his body, engulfing him in flames.

Before a sound escaped his lips, his form was reduced to burning ash.

"Haha! I thought he'd be trouble. Guess he wasn't all that—he's probably charred to nothing by now."

Shuili laughed, shedding the anxiety he'd felt earlier.

"Shuili, something's wrong," Shanchuan said grimly, not sharing the relief.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Look!"

Following his partner's gaze, Shuili saw it—a charred wooden log lay where Kakashi had stood.

"A substitution jutsu?! But… we didn't even see him weave signs!" Shuili exclaimed.

"If you can't even recognize a basic substitution technique in combat, it's a miracle you're a Jōnin," Kakashi's voice came from behind them.

They whirled around, but Kakashi was already mid-attack.

"This is how ninjutsu should be used!"

Hands blurred into seals—

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

The fireball that erupted from Kakashi's mouth dwarfed Shuili's earlier attempt. Its heat rippled the air itself.

The difference in chakra quality determined the strength of the jutsu—even identical techniques would vary wildly in power depending on the user.

And Kakashi's chakra—concentrated, honed, and precise—was far superior to either of his opponents. He was a genius, after all.

"Damn it! How can this kid have such ridiculous firepower?" Shuili cursed.

"Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!"

Shanchuan, unable to dodge in time, raised a thick stone wall just in time to absorb the blast.

"Well done, Shanchuan," Shuili said, clearly relieved.

But Shanchuan remained tense. That kind of power… this young ninja clearly had elite-level strength. Fighting him head-on would be far from easy.

Kakashi, for his part, hadn't expected to end it in one shot—it was a test.

Now he had a better grasp: Shuili likely specialized in fire techniques, while Shanchuan leaned toward Earth Style. Of course, as Jōnin, they could easily have multiple elemental affinities.

Still, with no water sources nearby, fire-style jutsu wouldn't be easily countered. And Earth Style? That was where Lightning Release excelled.

Kakashi's smirk returned—this was getting interesting.

"Shuili, take this seriously. This kid might be stronger than either of us," Shanchuan warned.

"Tch… fine."

Shuili had already dropped his cocky attitude. After two exchanges, he knew Kakashi was no pushover.

"Shuili, use that jutsu!"

"What? That one?" Shuili looked surprised.

"We don't have time to stall. We don't know how Ryugasaki is faring—we need to wrap this up."

After a pause, Shuili nodded. "Alright."

The two exchanged glances, then burst forward together.

Four fists lashed toward Kakashi. Despite his youth, Kakashi's taijutsu skills were solid—enough to spar with Jōnin.

After several quick exchanges, Shuili suddenly withdrew. Kakashi sensed something was off—but he couldn't disengage from Shanchuan's relentless pressure.

"Shanchuan, ready!" Shuili shouted.

Shanchuan leapt back, tossing three shuriken toward Kakashi.

Kakashi deflected them with his blade—but that moment was all Shuili needed.

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

A swirling dragon of fire surged forth from Shuili's mouth.

Shanchuan's hands flew into a seal next.

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

Kakashi's eyes widened—the wind would amplify the fire!

It was a combined technique—an elemental synergy that magnified destructive power exponentially.

"Fire-Enhanced Wind Style: Blazing Dragon Gale—!"