Kapitel 30: Chapter 30: Convincing Others with Virtue

"So, if you have any special needs, you should go find Obito," Soraki said, pointing to Obito beside him.

"Uh~ the atmosphere seems a bit awkward," Soraki remarked after noticing that both Obito and Kakashi were staring at him as if he were an alien—dumbfounded and with vacant expressions.

"Ahem," Soraki pretended to cough twice, bringing Obito and Kakashi back to reality. "Could you two stop being so dirty-minded? Hurry up and disappear from my sight; you're disgusting," Soraki said, waving his hand with a look of disgust and aversion.

Obito and Kakashi felt a herd of galloping horses running through their minds. Dude, we didn't say anything or think anything; you're the one grossing yourself out with your wild imagination.

Kakashi coughed twice to draw Soraki's attention back to himself. "You're Soraki, right? I'm Hatake Kakashi. I came here today to spar with you," Kakashi quickly stated his purpose. Otherwise, seeing how Soraki was being so unreasonable, he might not be able to clearly express his intentions.

After listening to Kakashi's words, Soraki unexpectedly nodded seriously. "Oh, so you're here to fight me!"

Kakashi nodded; that was basically it. He thought Soraki was strong and wanted to test himself against him.

"Look at me," Soraki pointed at himself and said.

What's wrong with you? You look fine! Kakashi followed Soraki's gesture. His complexion was rosy; there were no injuries or signs of illness.

"Do I look like someone who idly fights with others?" Soraki's next words took a 180-degree turn.

"As a young person with ideals, goals, and morals, would I randomly fight with others?" Soraki looked at Kakashi and Obito, continuing eloquently, "We should convince others with virtue. Like me—untempted by wealth, unmoved by poverty, unyielding to force. So I refuse."

Soraki placed himself on the moral high ground, assuming the role of a moral exemplar, giving Obito and Kakashi a half-hour lecture on ideology and ethics, speaking so passionately that his saliva flew everywhere.

"Do you understand?" Soraki finally asked, using this question to conclude his motivational speech.

Seeing the bewildered eyes of Obito and Kakashi, Soraki smiled inwardly. At your age, although youths in the ninja world mature early, I can outsmart you with my intellect. You still want to challenge me? Maybe in your next life, Soraki thought.

However, Soraki didn't realize that his narcissistic display had turned him into a symbol of foolishness in Kakashi and Obito's eyes.

Kakashi even cursed inwardly: Damn it, you talked for half an hour about convincing others with virtue and claimed to practice what you preach.

Kakashi remembered that during class this morning, Soraki didn't display any signs of convincing others with virtue. He had directly rushed over and broken the arms of Uchiha Hin and Uchiha Mio, who had provoked him.

Damn, how much did you actually practice what you preach? Kakashi looked at Soraki, who seemed completely unaware, and felt that his worldview was a bit distorted. He even wanted to ask where Soraki got the confidence to be so shameless.

Kakashi felt it would be better to act directly; otherwise, given Soraki's thick skin, he might be able to talk all day.

"Enough talk. I'm making a move," Kakashi said.

As soon as he finished speaking, Kakashi swiftly leaped forward, delivering a high side kick toward Soraki.

"I..." Kakashi guessed correctly; if he didn't act, Soraki would definitely keep talking all day. However, Kakashi didn't wait for Soraki to use his "Talk no Jutsu" and had already made his move.

When a scholar meets a soldier, reasoning becomes pointless.

That's how Soraki felt now. Fortunately, he had just rested for half an hour, and with the additional delay, his physical strength had mostly recovered. Although his chakra hadn't replenished, he could manage without using ninjutsu.

Soraki leaned back, dodging Kakashi's sweeping kick, and quickly jumped back to widen the distance.

"You know that I was nearly exhausted this morning; I don't have the energy to fight you now. Besides, it's noon. How about we go back? Each of us can go home and find our own mothers. What do you think?" Soraki suggested.

But Kakashi paid him no mind.

Kakashi advanced swiftly, moving straight toward Soraki. Forming his hand into a blade, he executed a vertical chop—a typical kenjutsu move.

At the critical moment, Soraki sidestepped, narrowly avoiding Kakashi's hand strike, which almost grazed the tip of his nose.

"Damn," Soraki broke into a cold sweat. He was nearly taken down by Kakashi in one move. Luckily, he dodged; otherwise, he would have been humiliated. He had forgotten that Kakashi's kenjutsu was impressive—even at this age, it was the inherited sword technique of Konoha's White Fang.

Soraki retreated again to evade Kakashi's attack.

"Constantly retreating won't help," Kakashi remarked.

"Is that so?" Soraki muttered. He stopped moving backward, sidestepped another one of Kakashi's punches, then planted his foot firmly and delivered a high side kick aimed at Kakashi's head.

Kakashi ducked and stepped back, evading Soraki's attack.

"Now it's my turn," Soraki declared, quickly closing the gap. In a single step, he was right in front of Kakashi. Clenching his left fist, he rapidly threw four straight punches.

Soraki recalled this combination from watching boxing matches in his previous life, though he had never used it before—this was his first attempt.

Just as Soraki anticipated, Kakashi crossed his arms in front of him, firmly guarding his head.

Soraki's straight punches, though fast, had a short range and lacked significant power. Rather than scrambling to dodge, it was better to block them head-on.

Swiftly pivoting, Soraki swung his right arm in a large arc, delivering a powerful right hook that traced a semicircle toward Kakashi. This was the true attack following the feints.

The earlier punches were a setup; this was the decisive blow. Although such a move wouldn't typically be used in real combat—where one-hit kills are preferred—in a spar between youths, it was quite effective.

Soraki mused.

Soraki's right hook was both swift and forceful. Kakashi had no time to dodge and could only raise his left arm to shield his head from the incoming punch.

Bang!

It was evident that under Soraki's heavy blow, Kakashi's own arm slammed into his head, and he was sent flying by the impact.

However, Kakashi was still Kakashi—even as a youth. In mid-air, he quickly regained his composure despite the massive impact. Performing a side flip, he landed steadily on the ground, then immediately jumped back to increase the distance between himself and Soraki.