With Sage Mode active, Hikaru's strength had fully crossed into elite jōnin territory.
More than raw power, his sensory range, reaction speed, and physical fundamentals had all undergone a dramatic leap. He wasn't quite at the level of a pseudo-Kage yet—but the distance no longer felt insurmountable.
Reaching that level would still be extremely difficult for him at this stage.
But Hikaru wasn't worried.
After all, he had his "cheat."
The system drastically shortened the time needed to understand, digest, and stabilize power. What Hikaru needed now wasn't more growth—it was experience, honing his instincts until his combat awareness fully matched his strength.
As much as he despised ANBU, he had to admit one thing:
without years of relentless missions in that hell, he would never have reached this point.
Facing the Sand Village ANBU before him, Hikaru was already pushing close to his current limit—yet the man still made him raise an eyebrow.
"Fast reactions. Sharp technique usage. Definitely a jōnin…"
Hikaru's gaze lingered on the sand swirling around his opponent.
"…and especially this."
He recognized the jutsu.
If he wasn't mistaken, this was Magnet Release—Gold Dust.
A rare bloodline limit.
In Hikaru's memory, very few people could use it. The one who had brought it to its peak was the Third Kazekage, later killed by Sasori. After him came the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa—and his wife Karura. Even Gaara's ability ultimately originated from Karura.
So who was this man?
And more importantly—
why did he look so familiar?
Beneath the cracked ANBU mask was a young blond man, handsome features softened by a gentle, almost melancholy expression. The more Hikaru looked at him, the stronger the sense of déjà vu became.
Then it clicked.
"…Magnet Release," Hikaru said calmly.
"You're Yashamaru, from Sunagakure's Special Pursuit Unit."
"..."
Yashamaru didn't respond.
Instead, he seized the moment Hikaru spoke and flicked several kunai into the air.
They stopped mid-flight—then hovered.
That confirmed it.
This was Gaara's uncle.
"So you're choosing silence?" Hikaru sighed lightly, almost regretfully.
His voice was warm, as if speaking to an old acquaintance—yet the words that followed were anything but.
"Then take that silence with you… to hell."
In an instant, Hikaru vanished.
It wasn't movement—it was closer to teleportation.
He reappeared beside Yashamaru, blade thrusting toward his neck in a motion so fast it was nearly impossible to perceive, yet flawlessly smooth.
Yashamaru couldn't keep up with the speed—but he didn't freeze either.
His body swayed like a willow branch, narrowly avoiding the fatal strike. At the same time, the floating kunai shot forward like lightning.
Hikaru evaded with minimal motion.
Steel clashed against steel, sparks bursting briefly into the air.
"Hmm?"
Hikaru's brow twitched.
In Sage Mode, his perception was razor-sharp. Even the slightest irregularity couldn't escape him.
His blade… felt off.
"Interesting."
He kept attacking as if unaware.
Yashamaru was completely overwhelmed by Hikaru's speed, forced to rely on a single kunai to desperately block each strike.
By now, Kakashi had arrived.
Before coming over, he'd knocked out the two captured Sand ninja to ensure they couldn't escape. Now he remained hidden, watching.
Through his Sharingan, what he saw shocked him.
Hikaru's chakra quality was terrifying—dense, refined, and powerful beyond normal standards. His speed was even more absurd.
Even with the Sharingan, Kakashi knew he couldn't keep up.
He's… this strong?
Why didn't I notice him back at the Academy?
Yet something puzzled him.
Hikaru's chakra quantity was clearly limited.
Age? Kakashi wondered.
Back on the battlefield, the outcome was obvious—Yashamaru was losing.
Then suddenly, Yashamaru used Body Flicker to retreat and formed a seal before Hikaru could close in.
"You've lost," Yashamaru said evenly.
"You're strong—but this is where it ends."
"Oh?" Hikaru smiled.
"I'm curious where that confidence comes from."
"You'll see."
Yashamaru's chakra surged.
Hikaru's expression shifted.
His blade betrayed him—twisting violently and stabbing toward his own abdomen.
The kunai plunged in.
Blood spilled.
Yashamaru smiled faintly.
From his perspective, the fight was over.
Kakashi, however, saw the truth through his Sharingan.
Hikaru had noticed everything.
The figure that was stabbed was nothing more than a substitution and shadow clone.
The real Hikaru had already vanished—waiting.
"I told you," Yashamaru said softly, lowering his hands.
"Please rest in peace."
"Thank you," a gentle voice whispered behind him.
"But aren't you saying that a little too early?"
Yashamaru's pupils shrank.
He raised his kunai instinctively—
Too late.
A blade, silent and merciless, pierced straight through his chest.
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