CHAPTER 176
The instant lightning wrapped around Kakashi's legs, his retreating body slammed against the ground with tremendous force.
Boom!
Instead of continuing to retreat...
He burst forward at an even greater speed.
"So fast!"
Guy's eyes locked firmly onto the silver haired figure surrounded by crackling white lightning.
Kakashi's current speed...
Was already approaching the level Guy could reach after opening the Third Gate.
"So this is the preparatory stage for Lightning Fang: Crash."
Guy immediately understood.
The technique Kakashi was using now was exactly the same body enhancement method Sakumo Hatake had displayed while fighting the Third Tsuchikage, ÅŒnoki.
It was a Lightning Release technique that stimulated the body's muscles and nerves with lightning Chakra, greatly increasing physical performance.
The difference was...
Kakashi had concentrated the stimulation primarily in his legs.
The result was astonishing explosive speed.
"As expected..."
"With White Fang-sama still personally guiding him..."
"Kakashi has become even stronger."
Guy silently compared the scene with the memories from his previous life.
In the original timeline, Kakashi had indeed used Lightning Release to stimulate his body and improve his Taijutsu.
However...
It had never developed into such a complete and efficient combat system.
The difference between growing up with his father...
And losing him prematurely...
Was clearly displayed before Guy's eyes.
Seeing Kakashi draw a kunai...
Guy also stopped holding back.
With a smooth motion, he pulled the alloy nunchaku from behind his back.
"Dragon's Roar!"
As his low voice echoed out...
A golden dragon shaped phantom instantly coiled around his body.
The spinning nunchaku created countless overlapping afterimages that formed a seamless defensive barrier.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The cold edge of Kakashi's kunai continuously collided against the golden defensive net.
Brilliant sparks erupted in every direction.
Suddenly...
A sharp streak of silver slipped through one tiny opening between the spinning nunchaku.
The blade narrowly brushed past Guy's chin.
It missed by only the slightest margin.
This wasn't because Guy had deliberately gone easy.
Nor was it because he had underestimated Kakashi.
He had genuinely come close to being struck.
The Dragon's Roar technique excelled at precisely intercepting incoming attacks.
At the same time...
Guy still hadn't opened any of the Eight Gates.
Relying solely on his ordinary reaction speed...
He couldn't perfectly match Kakashi's rhythm after his body had been strengthened by Lightning Release.
Fortunately...
Dragon's Roar wasn't his only defensive technique.
"Golden Bell Body Protection!"
With a single thought...
Chakra surged outward from every part of his body.
Hum!
An ancient golden bell instantly materialized around him.
It completely enveloped his entire body without leaving a single blind spot.
Clang!
Kakashi's following kunai thrust struck heavily against the golden bell.
A deep metallic chime echoed across the training ground.
However...
The blade could no longer advance even a single centimetre.
"...!"
The surrounding spectators immediately erupted once more.
"What is that golden bell?!"
"Is that some kind of Ninjutsu?"
"It actually blocks attacks from every direction!"
"Even Kakashi's kunai couldn't pierce it!"
"Isn't that practically absolute defense?!"
"Could that strange weapon really produce such an incredible technique?"
Discussions immediately spread throughout the crowd.
Nearby...
Ebisu and Genma couldn't help showing faintly proud expressions.
Already shocked?
If everyone here discovered that Guy hadn't even displayed one tenth of his true strength yet...
Their jaws would probably drop onto the ground.
However...
As the two quietly exchanged glances...
A trace of melancholy appeared in both their eyes.
As Guy's teammates...
Neither of them had ever stopped training.
Every day...
They secretly worked hard to become stronger.
Yet...
The gap separating them from Guy only continued growing larger.
If this continued...
Would they still be qualified to fight alongside him in the future?
For a brief moment...
Both of them fell silent.
Meanwhile...
Kakashi's expression also gradually changed.
His brows slowly furrowed beneath his mask.
"So even a kunai can't break through Guy's defense..."
That meant...
He needed an even stronger attack.
The next instant...
Kakashi slowly raised his right hand.
His fingers spread apart slightly.
"Chiiiiirp!!!"
The piercing cry of countless birds suddenly echoed throughout the training ground.
Violent blue lightning rapidly condensed within his palm.
The Lightning Release Chakra became increasingly concentrated.
A terrifying aura of destruction spread in every direction.
However...
The dazzling blue lightning lasted only an instant.
Then...
It quietly dispersed.
The entire process happened so quickly that almost nobody noticed it.
Only Guy...
Who had never once taken his eyes off Kakashi...
Clearly saw everything.
Kakashi quietly lowered his hand.
His breathing became slightly heavier.
The white lightning surrounding his body also gradually faded away.
"...Eh?"
Guy blinked.
He dismissed the Golden Bell Body Protection before looking at Kakashi in confusion.
"Why did you stop?"
Kakashi slowly shook his head.
A helpless smile appeared beneath his mask.
"Forget it."
"I can't beat you."
"That golden bell technique is simply too troublesome."
After pausing briefly...
He looked directly into Guy's eyes.
"And..."
"You haven't even opened the First Gate yet."
"..."
Guy awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
He had been completely exposed.
However...
Guy had also clearly noticed something.
When Kakashi dispersed the lightning in his hand...
There had been a trace of hesitation deep within his eyes.
Guy immediately understood.
Kakashi still possessed an even stronger trump card.
Chidori.
An A Rank Lightning Release assassination technique.
A high speed thrust that required extraordinary Chakra shape transformation and nature transformation.
Its piercing power was astonishing.
Combined with Kakashi's current Lightning Release body enhancement...
Almost any ordinary Chunin would be killed instantly.
Even most Jonin...
Could die from a direct hit if they weren't careful.
The reason Kakashi hadn't used it...
Was simple.
First...
Chidori's destructive power was simply too great.
During a spar...
He couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't seriously injure Guy.
Second...
After their exchange just now...
Kakashi had already reached his own conclusion.
Guy's overall strength clearly surpassed his.
Even after stimulating his body with Lightning Release...
Guy still hadn't opened the Eight Gates.
Using only that strange golden bell...
He had already completely neutralized Kakashi's offense.
If Guy actually opened the Eight Gates...
Kakashi doubted he would even have enough time to use Chidori before losing.
And perhaps...
There was one final reason.
One that Kakashi would never admit aloud.
If he pushed Guy too far...
Who knew whether this shameless fellow would use the One Thousand Years of Death again?
Kakashi absolutely refused to suffer the same fate as Obito.
The embarrassment alone would be enough to haunt him forever.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
A series of gentle applause suddenly interrupted everyone's thoughts.
Before anyone realized it...
Minato Namikaze had already arrived.
A warm smile rested naturally upon his face as he lightly applauded.
"Sensei?"
"When did you get here?"
Kakashi, Obito, and Rin all looked surprised.
Minato smiled gently.
"I heard someone saying that Obito finally awakened his Sharingan."
"So I came to have a look."
His eyes settled upon Obito.
The smile on his face became even warmer.
"Obito."
"You did very well."
"Hehe..."
Obito scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
His face was overflowing with pride.
Without realizing it...
His newly awakened One Tomoe Sharingan emerged once again.
The single tomoe slowly rotated.
Minato smiled.
"Come over to my house for dinner tonight."
"We'll celebrate your awakening properly."
"And..."
His gaze quietly drifted toward the dark cloth wrapped around Obito's waist.
He sighed helplessly.
"I'll ask Kushina to mend your trousers."
Obito's face immediately became scarlet.
He instinctively covered his backside again before nodding vigorously.
"Yes!"
"Thank you, Sensei!"
Only then did Minato shift his attention toward Guy.
His eyes were filled with appreciation.
"So..."
"You're Might Guy."
"Sakumo-san has mentioned you many times."
"Seeing you today..."
"You're even more impressive than I imagined."
He smiled before extending another invitation.
"You should come for dinner tonight as well."
"Me?"
Guy pointed toward himself with surprise.
"Not only you."
Minato looked toward Ebisu and Genma with the same gentle smile.
"You two should come too."
Before either of them could answer...
Rin happily added from the side,
"Kushina-san's cooking is delicious."
"You'll definitely enjoy it."
Guy, Ebisu, and Genma exchanged glances.
Then...
The three of them respectfully bowed together.
"Thank you very much, Minato-sama!"
Minato smiled.
"Good."
"Then we'll see everyone tonight."
He casually waved before beginning to leave.
After taking only a few steps...
He suddenly remembered something.
Turning back with an amused smile, he said,
"Oh, right."
"Obito..."
"Don't forget to return the steaming cloth to the mess hall afterward."
"And remember to wash it thoroughly."
Obito's face instantly became even redder.
Only then did everyone finally realize something.
The dark cloth wrapped around Obito's waist...
Was actually the large steaming cloth used by the kitchen to steam dango.
Many of the surrounding Shinobi silently reached the same conclusion.
For at least the next several days...
They were definitely not eating dango.
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