The massive three-headed giant hound roared wildly, its crimson eyes gleaming with rage.
In front of it stood two humans—a man and a woman—minuscule in comparison.
Humans may be small creatures, but with their intelligence and skill, they've taken down countless colossal foes.
"Ready, Terumi Mei?"
"All set."
"Then let's go."
With a flicker, Kakashi and Terumi Mei vanished from sight.
The six eyes of the three-headed hound tracked their movement, but Kakashi's speed was blindingly fast—it lost sight of him instantly.
"Damn it! Where did that human go?"
"Hey mutt! Over here!"
Terumi Mei suddenly soared into the air, leveling with the hound's heads.
Hands forming seals!
"Katon: Gōenka no Jutsu!"
A searing red flame burst from Terumi Mei's vermilion lips—intense and dazzling.
The hound snorted. "Hah! You call that a flame? That's child's play!"
"Katon: Jigoku no Homura!"
A torrent of crimson fire spewed from the three-headed dog's mouth, easily twice the size of Mei's.
The Hellhound's fire swallowed Mei's flames, scattering glowing embers in all directions.
The inferno surged forward, bearing down on Mei.
"Suiton: Suijinheki!"
A curtain of water erupted around Mei, the clash of elements crackling through the air.
Steam billowed skyward, blurring the battlefield.
At that instant—
Kakashi appeared beneath the hound, his White Fang blade drawn.
"Hakkō Chakura Tō: Mangetsu no Yaiba!"
A white crescent of light sliced upward, aiming for a preexisting wound on the beast's abdomen.
Closer—closer—
Boom!
A massive paw swatted the blade aside.
"Foolish human! You think I wouldn't anticipate your trick? I've been watching you."
Another claw followed, crashing toward Kakashi.
Its sheer force threatened to shatter bones—even with the resilience of the Eight Gates-enhanced body.
Kakashi reacted instantly, vanishing from the impact zone.
Unseen by the beast, a three-pronged kunai embedded itself in the ground.
Boom!
The paw crashed down but missed.
Kakashi reappeared beside Terumi Mei.
"Tch, these humans are annoyingly fast," the hound grumbled.
Mei glanced at Kakashi and smirked. "Your plan didn't work. That beast's not only strong—it's got solid perception too. You won't get close unnoticed."
Kakashi smiled lightly.
"Is that so? I think the tide has already turned."
Mei blinked. She saw no sign of victory.
"What do you mean? It's still standing!"
Kakashi didn't respond—instead, his hands flew through a sequence of seals.
Blue lightning surged from his right hand, the piercing cry of birds echoing.
The hound turned warily toward the light.
That jutsu—
"Chidori? What's the plan, Kakashi?" Mei asked. "That's close-range ninjutsu. You can't reach it!"
Kakashi replied calmly, "I said—the battle's already decided."
He vanished.
"What?"
Mei's eyes widened in disbelief.
He didn't use Body Flicker.
It wasn't speed or a kekkei genkai.
What was it?
Before she could process it, Kakashi reappeared—not beside her—but directly beneath the hound.
Chirp!
Chidori's shriek echoed again as Kakashi whispered:
"Chidori!"
"What?!"
The hound was stunned.
When?!
How?!
Too late.
The crackling lightning slammed into the wound on its belly.
"Aaaagh!"
A howl of agony erupted.
Blood spilled onto the ground.
Kakashi's Sharingan flared, and the blue energy dissipated slowly from his hand.
"Chidori!"
Electricity surged around him like a living aura.
He looked like a thunder god incarnate.
The hound trembled—its entire body numb. The pain was searing, but the paralysis worse.
It crashed to the ground, defeated.
Mei was stunned.
How…?
In just one moment—
That overwhelming beast was brought down by Kakashi alone?
He turned, smiling.
"Told you—the battle's over."
"That was…space-time ninjutsu?" Mei asked, breathless.
Kakashi shrugged.
"Didn't expect you to master the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique," Mei whispered, awe in her voice.
Her view of Kakashi shifted completely.
Just how strong was he?
Mei couldn't find the words.
Kakashi ignored her reaction and walked up to the fallen beast.
The three-headed dog lay still, wounded but conscious.
"Damn you, human… You destroyed my kin. I accept defeat. Kill me if you must."
Kakashi sighed.
"I wasn't the one who killed them. The ones responsible are my enemies, too. You don't need to die. Leave this island peacefully, and I'll let you go."
"Spare me your human pity!"
Kakashi frowned. No reasoning with this one…
At that moment, Pakkun dropped down beside him.
"Kakashi. Let me try."
"You?" Kakashi raised a brow, then nodded. "Fine. He's yours."
He turned away, unconcerned. The beast wouldn't recover quickly—and maybe Pakkun, as a fellow canine, could reach it.
Kakashi walked to the embedded kunai, pulled it free, and sealed it back into his wrist scroll.
"Terumi Mei, shall we find your teammates?"
"Of course."
Just then, Shisui arrived, carrying Ao on his back.
"Silver! We finally found you—!"
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