Naruto : Konoha Light

Kakashi adjusted his stance, his expression calm but resolute. "If you can do it, then I can do the same." He stepped forward, his movements steady, and the crowd erupted in an uproar.

"Is this real talent? A skill of this level can actually be learned?!"

"Both of them are monsters! They do the impossible like it's nothing!"

"Wait a minute... that's an A-rank technique! But why isn't Kakashi using an A-rank technique to counter it?"

"You don't understand. The Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu equally distributes chakra among the clones. If he can't defeat his opponent before exhausting his clones, he loses by default!"

On the battlefield, Kakashi brandished his short sword, parrying before lunging toward Shimizu, his hand crackling with lightning chakra.

But to his disbelief, a fist tore through the lightning, striking him hard and sending him flying.

"Cough!" Kakashi choked, struggling to get up, pain wracking his body. Normally, his opponent should have suffered even worse injuries.

But he couldn't feel relieved—because the surrounding whispers had already reached his ears.

"A rookie is still a rookie. Did he forget how terrifying Shimizu was at the start?"

"Trading blows with Shimizu? That's not a good strategy!"

"Don't be so harsh. Shimizu rarely trades wounds with others. The rookie wouldn't know that."

Kakashi's heart sank as he saw Shimizu approaching, still looking composed.

"You haven't even used your full strength yet?" Shimizu asked casually.

Kakashi took a deep breath. "I might not have another choice!" He quickly formed hand seals.

The Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu replicated his current state completely. In other words, the worse his condition, the weaker his clones would be.

Despite the risks, he had no choice but to bet everything on this technique!

Boom!

A thick cloud of smoke exploded, and when it cleared, 60 to 70 identical Kakashis stood in formation.

If his chakra reserves were greater, he could have created over a thousand clones. But even 60 to 70 were enough to shock the onlookers.

"Shimizu, this is my final attack!" The dozens of Kakashis spoke in unison, their voices echoing through the forest.

Shimizu smiled, clapping his hands together. "Good spirit! Looks like I should get serious too."

Demonic Illusion: Fox's Heart Technique!

But Kakashi charged forward like a tiger descending from the mountain, unaffected.

"Unfortunately, illusions don't work on shadow clones!"

"No, this is enough!"

Shimizu smirked and suddenly rushed into the crowd of clones on his own initiative.

Seeing this, Kakashi's real body immediately realized something was wrong.

"Wait… that Genjutsu wasn't meant to confuse me—it was meant to locate my real body!"

Realizing the danger, he quickly ordered his clones to shift formation, trying to shield himself.

But he had only one-seventieth of his original chakra left—there was no way he could take on Shimizu head-on!

Shimizu tore through the formation like an unstoppable force. The clones, despite their independent thoughts, hesitated for a moment under conflicting orders from Kakashi, creating a split-second opening.

To the spectators, it looked like Shimizu was punching straight through Kakashi's army.

Kakashi gritted his teeth. With no other options, he ordered his clones to surround and conceal his real body completely.

"Hiding your real position?" Shimizu thought to himself. Then, his eyes sharpened. "Wait… could he be trying to copy my movements? Without a Sharingan, he's attempting my technique just by observing?"

A grin spread across Shimizu's face. "Interesting. But I'll break your confidence completely!"

He pushed forward with explosive speed.

Boom!

Kakashi's clones began vanishing one by one.

And then—

In that instant, Kakashi swung his short sword—

Only for his palm to be struck directly.

Bang!

Blood splattered as Kakashi was sent flying once more. His sword was knocked far away, clattering onto the ground.

The crowd held their breath, their eyes unable to keep up with the intense exchange.

"Is it over?"

"Who won?"

As the dust settled, Kakashi struggled to get up. His right arm hung at an unnatural angle.

Shimizu, though still standing, had blood dripping from his fingertips.

It looked like a mutual injury, but everyone knew—Kakashi had suffered far worse.

"You learn fast," Shimizu said lightly, as if his own injury didn't matter.

"I don't know why you haven't used substitution jutsu… but right now, we can't perform any more hand seals. That means this battle is down to pure swordsmanship and taijutsu!"

Kakashi gritted his teeth, gripping his short sword tightly. He felt an almost desperate excitement. "I'll prove—"

Boom!

Before he could finish, he was sent flying even faster than before.

His sword? It had been blown away by a sphere of chakra.

Kakashi coughed, forcing himself up again—only to see the spiraling chakra orb spinning in Shimizu's left hand. His eyes widened in disbelief.

"A one-handed technique? And why have I never seen this jutsu before?"

Shimizu smiled. "You wouldn't have seen it. After all, I created this technique myself. It's a no-seal A-rank jutsu, on par with your Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu in difficulty."

The crowd fell silent for a moment—

Then erupted.

"What?! Shimizu also has an A-rank technique?"

"Kakashi learned his from others, but Shimizu created his own! And it doesn't even require hand seals!"

"This is insane! While we're struggling with the Three Basic Clone Techniques, Shimizu is out here developing A-rank ninjutsu!"

The excitement was overwhelming. They had just witnessed history—the birth of a genius.

Kakashi, usually the center of attention, now seemed overshadowed. He was like a star in the night sky, but Shimizu was the sun itself.

Kakashi's gaze darkened.

Since last night, he had been desperate to prove himself.

But now, he had lost.

He wasn't just weaker than the school leader—his pride had been crushed.

Lying there, unable to move, he muttered to himself as the sunset cast its fading glow over him.

"Son of worthless… is still just worthless."