chapter 130 part 1
Chapter 130: Itachi, I Have a Woman Who Can Deal With You
Uchiha Ren took a full minute to accept the fact that he had become part of "Team Seven."
But this Team Seven was a bit too overpowered.
There was Neji Hyuga, the genius taijutsu ninja of the Hyuga clan.
Yakumo Kurama, the genius genjutsu ninja of the Kurama clan.
And Uchiha Ren, who had already awakened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
When had Kakashi ever led such a stacked team?
However, the mandatory team-building exercise was still unavoidable.
The traditional rite of passage handed down from the Third Hokage's era—the bell test.
Kakashi pulled out two bells. "Before the sun sets, you need to take these bells from my hand. If you succeed, the team will be formally established. If not, you'll be disbanded on the spot!"
Young Neji Hyuga and Yakumo Kurama, who had not yet fully awakened her true abilities, were a bit bewildered. Neither of them knew what to do to snatch the bells from a Jonin.
Looking at Uchiha Ren, he wore an indifferent expression, standing to the side and fiddling with a black feather, a complete contrast to his two young companions.
The bell test was, on the surface, an impossible mission, yet it was also the easiest to pass.
One only needed to demonstrate a spirit of cherishing comrades and teamwork, and the test would be considered a success.
Unfortunately, Neji and Yakumo Kurama truly believed they needed to defeat Kakashi. The two of them anxiously scrambled for a plan, terrified of losing this chance to graduate from the Ninja Academy early.
Five minutes later, Yakumo Kurama was still discussing strategy with Neji Hyuga.
Nearby, Kakashi lay on a tree branch, reading his novel. He glanced at Uchiha Ren, who was also resting under the tree. "Aren't you going to devise a battle plan with them?"
"What battle plan could three Genin possibly devise to defeat you?" Uchiha Ren tossed the feather in his hand into the air and caught it again. "I surrender. Just disband us."
"..." Kakashi was taken aback by Uchiha Ren's straightforwardness. If he were to really disband the team, he would be reluctant.
After Rin, Uchiha Obito, and Minato had successively departed, Kakashi, who had spent many years in the Anbu, felt the warmth of camaraderie from Uchiha Ren for the first time.
When faced with the siege of the S-rank powerhouse Kakuzu, Uchiha Ren could have escaped on his own, but instead, he risked his life for Kakashi.
For a Genin to have such resolve, to sacrifice himself to rescue a comrade when facing a powerful Akatsuki member...
Even Obito's character couldn't compare to Uchiha Ren's, could it?
Just as Kakashi was lost in that memory, a figure suddenly appeared below the large tree!
Neji Hyuga threw two kunai at Kakashi on the tree! The kunai were aimed with deadly precision at Kakashi's eyes!
"Ruthless!"
Uchiha Ren exclaimed as Neji Hyuga leaped high, kicking toward the tree trunk where Kakashi had just begun to dodge.
Kakashi's body flickered, easily avoiding the fierce kick. But Neji's attack didn't stop there. Using the momentum from his missed kick, he spun in mid-air, his other leg sweeping toward Kakashi like a whirlwind. This kick carried immense power, creating a sharp whoosh through the air.
Kakashi leaped backward, landing on another branch. He looked at Neji, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes.
However, Neji didn't pause for even a second. His hands quickly formed seals as he shouted, "Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven!"
A powerful surge of chakra instantly erupted from his body, forming a rapidly spinning shield that enveloped him entirely.
Then, Neji charged toward Kakashi like a cannonball. When the spinning chakra shield touched the tree branches, it shredded them instantly, sending splinters flying everywhere!
"He can already use Revolving Heaven?" Uchiha Ren was extremely surprised.
What he didn't know was that Revolving Heaven was a special technique Neji Hyuga had diligently mastered during the time Uchiha Ren was away from Konoha.
Kakashi also frowned. He hadn't expected Neji to be able to use such a jutsu at his young age. He quickly jumped down from the branch as Neji's attack shredded it to pieces.
Before Kakashi could steady himself after landing, Neji attacked again!
He canceled Revolving Heaven, stomped violently on the ground, and instantly appeared before Kakashi, unleashing the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist.
Neji's hands danced like nimble snakes, each strike aimed precisely at Kakashi's chakra points.
Kakashi continuously dodged. Although his movements seemed relaxed, he was forced to retreat again and again.
Neji's Gentle Fist grew faster and faster. His eyes were filled with determination, dead set on snatching the bells from Kakashi's hand.
Seizing an opportunity, he thrust both hands forward forcefully. A powerful surge of chakra rushed from his arms toward Kakashi!
Kakashi quickly formed seals, chanting, "Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!" His body instantly sank, disappearing into the ground.
Neji's chakra attack missed, hitting a nearby tree trunk and leaving a deep crater.
Just as Neji was searching for Kakashi, he emerged from the ground behind him, reaching out to grab Neji, intending to pull him into the pit created by his Earth Style jutsu.
As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Neji twisted his body, dodging Kakashi's hand, then launched a sweeping kick at him.
Kakashi jumped up to dodge. Neji immediately followed with a carp-like flip to his feet and charged at Kakashi again.
His hands continuously changed positions as he shouted, "Eight Trigrams! Three Palms!"
The young Neji could only manage the Eight Trigrams Three Palms, but even that was enough to make everyone present marvel at the boy's talent.
After so many years, Neji Hyuga had to be the most talented person in the Hyuga clan, right?
Neji's three palms struck Kakashi's body at extreme speed. The moment his palms made contact, he felt a solid impact, and a surge of joy filled his heart. He thought he had finally landed a successful hit on Kakashi and that victory was within reach.
So, taking advantage of Kakashi's chakra supposedly being sealed, he reached out without hesitation to grab the bells!
However, just as Neji's hand was about to touch the bells, there was a loud "poof." Kakashi's body instantly turned into a puff of white smoke and vanished without a trace.
Neji stood stunned, his face a mask of confusion and utter disbelief.
He widened his eyes, staring blankly at the empty space before him, and mumbled to himself, "What kind of jutsu is this? I clearly felt the impact!"
At this moment, Uchiha Ren, who was standing to the side, looked at Neji and shook his head slightly before explaining, "That's an advanced version of the Clone Jutsu, a Shadow Clone. It not only creates a clone identical to the user, but the clone also has a physical form you can touch."