"Finishing the written part of the Chūnin Exam and immediately moving on to a combat assessment? Just how rushed is the Fourth Hokage?"
Yun muttered as he glanced across the training ground at the slouching Kakashi. The man's half-lidded "dead fish eyes" made him look half-asleep. He lazily glanced up at Yun.
"You're seriously showing up in that condition? You're underestimating me, aren't you?"
Kakashi shook his head slightly. "The exam hasn't started yet. And for someone like you with that kind of power, this test is nothing more than a formality."
As he spoke, Kakashi lifted his forehead protector, revealing his left Sharingan eye. The three tomoe slowly began to spin.
"You've already used that power. You know how much chakra it drains. For a simple exam, surely even you wouldn't activate the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
Yun just smiled. 'You run out of chakra after one shot and faint after two. But I'm not like you…'
That said, Yun did consider that his Kamui was faster than Obito's at long range. For a mere exam, that should suffice.
At that moment, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, who was personally observing the test, spoke up: "It's just a sparring exam. There's no need to activate your Mangekyō Sharingan, its chakra cost is too high."
With that, Minato raised a hand.
Yun and Kakashi formed the confrontation seal.
Swish!
In an instant, Yun used a Body Flicker Technique, appearing behind Kakashi and pressing a kunai against his neck.
"You're too relaxed. It's over."
Kakashi responded in a low voice, "You're the one who's underestimating this. You didn't even activate your Three Tomoe Sharingan."
Poof!
A cloud of smoke burst open, Kakashi had disappeared.
Then…
"Earth Realease: Headhunter Jutsu."
Swish!
Just as movement came from beneath his feet, Yun vanished again.
Kakashi emerged from underground, only to see Yun staring at him with fully activated Three Tomoe Sharingan. Four thin steel wires shimmered faintly in the air.
"Fire Realease: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
Flames surged, traveling along the wires like fiery dragons, rushing toward Kakashi.
"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"
Kakashi swiftly formed hand signs. A large mass of water surged from a nearby pool, forming a defensive wall.
Sizzle...
Steam filled the air, and Kakashi's Sharingan darted around, scanning his surroundings.
'Not good. In this mist, my single Sharingan doesn't give me an edge.'
"Wind Realease: Great Breakthrough."
Kakashi unleashed a C-rank wind technique. Since the mist wasn't infused with chakra like Hidden Mist Jutsu, it dispersed quickly.
And then,
Swish!
A flash of steel swept dangerously close to Kakashi's face.
"You react quickly."
Kakashi leapt back and raised a kunai: "You're not slow either. You're nearly on par with Shisui's Body Flicker."
Clang!
Blade clashed with kunai, sparks flying.
Yun retreated and formed rapid hand seals.
"Fire Realease Phoenix Fire Jutsu!"
Six fireballs shot out, each guided with chakra to arc around Kakashi in a scattered formation.
Kakashi, quick to respond, began weaving signs.
"Earth Realease: Earth-Style Wall!"
Boom!
The fireballs slammed into a large defensive earth wall, intricately carved with four snarling dog heads. Yun's eyelid twitched slightly.
"Huff, huff…"
Kakashi, panting heavily, wiped the sweat from his brow. Yun snarked: "Out of chakra already? But you had to keep the dog heads for style?"
With that, Yun leapt off the earthen wall and slashed down with his long blade.
Boom!
The force of the strike sent Kakashi flying.
Yun didn't stop, he chased after him.
Chirp chirp
A thousand chirping birds seemed to erupt from nowhere, but then the sound abruptly vanished. Kakashi stood, lightning flickering from his hand.
The upgraded version of Chidori, Raikiri!
Swish!
Boosted by lightning, Kakashi's speed surged dramatically. In a flash, he appeared before Yun, driving his electrified hand toward his shoulder.
If this wasn't an exam, that strike would've gone for the heart.
Splat!
The electric blade pierced Yun's shoulder, yet something felt off.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. That didn't feel like piercing flesh…
'A Shadow Clone?!'
'When?'
'Was it after he used Phoenix Fire and landed on the Earth Wall?'
"You figured it out?"
As the clone dispersed into smoke, Yun's voice rang out. His real form came crashing down with his long blade.
Clang!
Blade met kunai again. Kakashi's still-active Raikiri surged toward Yun.
"How?!"
The strike passed through Yun's body, without a single drop of blood.
But the sword had clearly connected, and the kick that followed had real force. Kakashi was sent flying again.
Landing roughly, he looked up at Yun in shock. "Not real? Then why…?"
Suddenly, five identical Uchiha Yun appeared, surrounding him. Same clothes, same weapons.
'But that last strike… the blade and the kick felt real. So how did my Raikiri pass right through?'
'No way… wait!'
In an instant, Kakashi remembered, three years ago, that masked man and Shisui's battle in Kamui space. Shisui's technique then, was the same as what Yun just used.
'A blend of Body Flicker and Sharingan Genjutsu…?'
Getting to his feet, Kakashi said grimly, "So that's how it is… Shisui's real trademark wasn't just his Body Flicker, it was the combination with Sharingan illusions. Only then was he truly 'Shunshin no Shisui.'"
Yun chuckled. "Oh? You figured it out. But in such a short time… have you found a way to counter it?"
Like Shadow Clones, but not Shadow Clones. All five Yuns spoke at once:
"Before you now, I am both real and not. Illusory, yet each strike lands true."
Kakashi frowned. "You're right. I let my guard down, thinking it was just your Three Tomoe Sharingan. But one Sharingan eye isn't enough to keep up with your dual Mangekyō, even if you haven't used them fully yet."
As he spoke, Kakashi formed a seal and summoned a Shadow Clone.
"Huff, huff..."
Still panting heavily, Kakashi's hand again sparked with lightning. "Even if I can't tell which one is real, every strike still lands. But…"
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
p@treon.com/DaoistJinzu