There were thousands of shinobi in Konoha, but only a handful had names that spread far and wide. Among them, Hatake Kakashi's reputation was unmatched. On missions outside the village, many shinobi who encountered him would rather avoid conflict altogether.
It was no surprise. With over a thousand jutsu copied, coupled with a sharp analytical mind, Kakashi's combat style was something truly impossible to guard against.
Even if one anticipated that Kakashi would inevitably use some clever tactic to create an opening or a distraction, they would still fall into his traps. After all, he had the Sharingan—with just a glance, he could weave a genjutsu in an instant.
At this moment, Aoyama had no idea where Kakashi was hiding. He only saw his summoned Titan, Kongō, wielding a massive axe and chasing after the eight barking ninja hounds. To Aoyama, the ninken were good for tracking, but in real combat, they seemed almost useless compared to the summoning beasts of the Three Great Sages.
Gamabunta, Manda, and Katsuyu—each of them could dominate a battlefield. The ninken? Barely more than trackers.
But then—
Bang!
One of the dogs suddenly dispelled its Transformation Technique, revealing its true form: Hatake Kakashi himself.
Kongō froze in surprise, momentarily forgetting to swing his axe. In that instant, thin steel wires tightened around his legs, binding him.
Aoyama's eyes narrowed. When did this happen? There were eight dogs a moment ago—so where did the eighth go? And when had Kakashi mixed in a Shadow Clone and Transformation Technique? He couldn't analyze it fast enough, but there was no time to think. If he didn't act now, Kongō would be grievously wounded.
Kakashi pressed a kunai against Kongō's throat, slicing just enough for blood to seep out. At the same time, the other seven hounds latched onto Kongō's limbs, preventing him from breaking free.
Seeing Aoyama rush forward, Kakashi's eyes sharpened. His three-tomoe Sharingan spun, releasing a genjutsu.
"Now!" he commanded in a low voice.
It wasn't a complex illusion—just enough to stagger Aoyama's mind for a split second. When he came back to his senses, he instinctively tried to open the Eight Gates. But before he could—pain shot up his leg.
From beneath the ground, a dog burst out, biting his trouser leg and dragging him down.
"This is—"
"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"
So that's where the eighth dog had gone. But… how could a dog even perform ninjutsu?!
Aoyama's body was instantly dragged into the earth, leaving only his head exposed. The hot breath of the ninken puffed against his face, heavy and oppressive.
Kakashi stood with a stern expression. "Aoyama, it looks like the match is already decided. Neither you nor your summon can move anymore."
"Now, surrender. For the sake of our past comradeship, I won't kill you. But I will take you back to Konoha's prison, where the Third Hokage will decide your fate."
"So stop resisting. Besides…" Kakashi's eyes flickered. "Didn't you notice? Hayate is hidden nearby. Two against one—you have no chance. Give up, if you want to live."
Aoyama clenched his teeth. Damn it. When it came to underhanded tactics, he could never outplay Kakashi. If not for the Monster Book and the ability to summon Titans, this battle would've been a one-sided beating.
But fortunately… he wasn't just anyone. He was a transmigrator with an invincible cheat. All it would take was the lightest tap of his finger, and he could summon a second Titan onto the battlefield.
The fight was far from over.