บท 14: Kakashi vs Kakkō
Kakashi sighs. He sighs. He doesn't know if it is relief or not but he relishes the feeling of forcefully removing his hand from the man's chest. The man falls to his knees first, then falls flat on his face. Blood is everywhere, and it overrides his sense of smell. He hears a thud a second after the Shinobi had already dropped to the ground. It's a woman that looks to still be embedded by the blade. Kakashi only gives it a small stare before his attention returns back to the man. That is none of his business, so he feels no responsibility.
He pulls a Kunai from his pouch and ignores the flaring pain in his hand. He didn't strike the heart. He had been going fast and struck as soon as he came upon the scene and the pain in his hand when he first activated Lightning caused enough pain to throw off his aim. Still, his strike was in a good spot and he would most likely bleed out.
But he wouldn't leave a thing to chance.
A white light from above falls upon him and forced his attention upward toward the sky. It's some sort of machine with rotating blades and he sees that a person is sticking out of it, staring at him. He wonders what it is.
"The news is here?!" Midoriya gapes. They shouldn't be here. Even if Blade was dealt with Stain still wasn't, or maybe he was. Midoriya hadn't seen him since his attack.
Kakashi recognizes the voice and turns to see Midoriya; the dead last. Honestly, he's surprised to see him. Midoriya must've noticed his gaze because they locked eyes soon afterwards.
"Y-you killed him..."
"Obviously. What are you doing here?"
"Why did you kill him?!" Midoriya demands. He's getting angrier by the second.
"Because, I wanted to."
Midoriya was taken aback. "Y-You wanted to?"
"Yea," he points to the annoying thing flashing a light down upon him from above. "What's that thing? Huh?" He looks down when his instincts direct him too. He sees a puddle of mud where the body of that man was supposed to be. He shouldn't have been able to dodge that. He had come out of nowhere. He shouldn't have had time. He didn't have time, but he could have sensed his approach. He didn't try to hide it at all. It didn't cross his anger filled mind.
His eyes swivel, looking, daring that man to jump from the shadows. Kakashi was going to take him down. His death was inevitable.
"Kakashi, what is going on?" Todoroki demands, pushing himself off the ground. He has to ignore the pain now. The man was still not defeated.
Kakashi doesn't answer. His body keeps swiveling. He can't afford to be distracted. The only man as dangerous as him had his sights set on him. There was no room for error.
~I've been waiting for you, brat~
All three of them hear the man as if he's right beside them. Kakashi tenses up violently and then remains stationary. He'll make himself dizzy going around in circles and he has to keep his calm. Shinobi could show no weakness.
He could follow that rule, right?
~I was surprised, though. You're a Jounin and yet, less careful than I thought~
"There's no point in hiding in a Genjutsu. My eye can see through it."
~I'm not hiding, I just want to talk. I know you'll attack me once you see me. And honestly, I'll do the same. But I want to know the name of the kid who's given me the most fun of any opponent I've ever fought."
'Genjutsu... hiding? Why can I hear him like he's everywhere when he's nowhere?' Midoriya could feel chills running through his body. He had no idea what was going on right now, but the feeling he got put fear through his heart.
Beside him, Todoroki stood, getting paler and paler. The feeling was getting to him more and more, but why? Was it because he felt that feeling before? Was that it?
"It's Kakashi."
"Kakashi, huh? Well, then my name is Kakkō. So, then Kakashi, let's get started!"
From Kakashi's point of view, Kakkō had simply rushed at him, but Midoriya and Todoroki felt that rush of anxiety run away, alleviating the pressure in the alleyway. And they saw a flash, then a spark as blade met kunai.
Kakashi could finally put a name to the face that were in his nightmares. He sneers, he can't stand being so close to this smirking man. But he holds ground, not because he is afraid to attack, but because he knows he cannot be reckless. His earlier actions screamed that. He didn't act like a ninja. He acted like Obito, rushing in without thinking. If he'd hidden his presence, he wouldn't have to be in a full blown battle.
'I have to be careful. I've already used a Chidori and Obito's eye is constantly draining my chakra. Combine that with my hand then my body is at less than 50%. Not good for a full battle.'
But he still has the tools to end this quickly. He just needs time to set it up, and a single opening.
Finally, Kakkō sweeps his blade of of Kakashi, sparks flying, and he brings his other to start his attack. Kakashi lets it get close before using the armor on his forearms to block the steel. He flicks his wrist and grabs ahold of Kakkō's before bringing his leg up. As he predicts, Kakkō blocks with his other forearm, but Kakashi keeps going, using his foot to push the arm out of the way and smashing his other foot into his nose.
He stumbles surprised, briefly, and Kakashi sees his leg come up. He reads where it will land. His chest will take the impact. He's forced to let go of Kakkō's wrist and try to maneuver himself to dodge with no baring on the ground but the corner of his eyes catch that same arm rearing his way, blade out.
His Sharingan blares.
His instincts scream.
And he dodges.
He lands on his feet after flipping through the air but holds his neck as he feels burning. He can feel a warm liquid running down his hand and a quick glance shows him it's his own blood. But it's on the side of his neck, and it isn't deep enough to kill him. But he's still losing a good amount of blood.
'Shit! He clipped me!'
"Where are you going?! The fighting's just began!" Kakkō yells excitedly, rushing forward.
He doesn't reach Kakashi as he disappears in a black blur, but Kakkō follows after him doing the same.
All throughout the alleyway, the two Shinobi clash in blur. With each clash getting stronger and faster than the last. But Kakashi is on the backfoot. Without the Sharingan, he knows he wouldn't be able to fully predict his opponents movements with all his injuries. He can't properly sense with his nose, not with this fast of an opponent and his hand was causing him to lose focus. The more he used it, the more it hurt.
They clash once more and Kakashi has to maneuver himself to land safely on the side of the building, using his chakra to stick there. But he can't rest, Kakkō is already rushing him, probably having jumped off the building across from him. Kakashi quickly reaches into his pouch and throws small balls that explode when the reach Kakkō.
'Smoke!' He thinks having slowed himself down and covered up, thinking it was a real bomb. Suddenly, he can't believe his eyes. A large fireball is coming at him, pushing away the smoke.
A single handsign forced chakra to circulate in his body at incredible speeds.
'Earth Style: Mobile Core!'
Cement breaks underneath him and earth forces itself upon the surface and in the air, pushing him out of the fire's way. But it begins collapsing because the Jutsu slams into it instead and Kakkō nearly falls off the tall foothold as it breaks apart. But he can't focus on that when he's sees Kakashi moving fast!
In a second, he was forced to duck, saving himself from being beheaded. 'That brat... and that white streak of light! That blade!"
As if in slow motion, he sees Kakashi turning back to him before he disappears in a blur once more. He appears in front of him and strikes with his father's famous blade, but Kakkō is able to stick his own blades up to deflect it. But the strike is too strong, and with no foothold, he's sent flying back.
He lands shoulder first on the side of a building but he has to catch himself fast. Despite the pain, as he rolls, he finds a second to catch himself, sticking one of his blades deep into the cement building. While he doesn't stop, it's slowing him down.
But that only last for a second.
Like a pinball, Kakashi hits near the top of the building before shooting down and smashing his foot into Kakkō's gut, sending him crashing to the ground and rolling across it, unable to balance himself.
'That... runt...' Kakkō slowly starts getting to his feet. 'Why is he so damn fast all of a sudden?' Then he feels it. 'His chakra is running quickly all over his body! I should've felt this before! This is the result of a soldier pill! He must've taken one when he threw those smoke bombs!'
Even though he knew that now, he still had no way of dealing with it. He'd used all of his pills before he'd meet the kid back in their world. He didn't have anymore. So he couldn't meet the kid's strength.
'But he'll tire himself out. His chakra coils aren't as developed as an adult's. The pill's effect will last shorter on him. Then, victory will be easy.'
'What is this battle?' Todoroki has thought he'd seen all of what Kakashi was capable of during their fight. He knew he was holding back during the others but even his too? 'This thundering reminds me when All Might fought that Nomu thing. But... can they really be that strong?'
A cough took him away from the battle and he saw that it was burning, coughing up a bit of blood. "Burnin!" He yells, running at her. He's worried. Still, he can't believe he forgot that she was here at all. "Are you ok?" He ask once he's at her side, crouching in front of her.
She croaks. "I'm... still alive... if that... helps."
He's relieved. "It helps. Do you think I can move you?" The battle was too unpredictable to not move her to somewhere safer.
"I... don't know."
"I'll try. Hey, Midoriya! Come help me-"
The words die in his throat when he sees Midoriya crouched over a hero, crying.
"...Midoriya?"
"I-I could save him. He died in front of my eyes. I-I wanted to be a hero that saved everyone."
His eyes soften. "No one can save everyone, Midoriya. Even now, someone out there in the world needs saving, and there's no one around to save them. Because someone can't be everywhere at once. It's impossible."
"...Not if they're right in front of me. If I can see them, then I want to protect them, no matter what." Midoriya forced himself up, his body being powered up by his quirk and Todoroki can feel it even stronger than before. "I'm going to go help Kakashi. Get Tenya and her away from here. They are the only ones still alive, I think."
"I don't think this is a battle we can involve ourselves in. I told you before that Kakashi was holding back. We don't stand a chance trying to help him, that man will just target us and force Kakashi to make mistakes."
"Do you know what he told me? He said that the only way to beat him was to have the will to kill him. He said that heroes were weak for not having that will, but I think he's wrong about us. I don't think I need to try and kill him to beat him. I think I can beat him without killing him. That's what I believe."
He sighs. "I know I won't be able to stop you, but I'll ask anyway. Is there a chance you'll listen to what I have to say?"
The electricity intensifies. "No, I'm sorry. I really am, but I can't let him win. I can't let him disrespect us heroes." The look Midoriya sends him forces him to pause. It's a look filled with hope. "Even if I'm outmatched, somehow, I know I'll win. And I won't give that idea up."
Todoroki chuckles, remembering something similar happening during their fight. "Fine, then. Leave them to me and get a move on. I'll take care of them, you have my word!"
Midoriya nods in thanks and leaps away.
Todoroki crouched back down and puts his arm underneath Burnin. He has to pause again, however. Not because of Midoriya, though. Because he feels a pressure he is vaguely familiar with. When he turns to the source, he sees the glowing eyes of Stain from the darkness. He curses.
How could he forget? Stain was still a problem.
Slowly, he released Burnin and stood up, preparing himself for battle.
X
Kakashi rushes as fast as he can and reaches his target in seconds. He tries a punch that is slapped away but uses that momentum to bounce off the ground and push out his feet. He forces a block and hears him reeling from it. It isn't much, not like he expected. He can feel himself getting weaker. The effects of the pill were wearing off. He didn't want it to, but he couldn't say he was exactly surprised. These past couple of days were filled with him burning through his chakra with only a few hours for it to rest. His coils were deeply scarred at this point, he was sure. It sure as hell hurt when he used his chakra.
Still, he had to keep fighting. He still had a target to defeat.
The second his feet hit the ground, he's gone again. This time he uses the Body Flicker and appears behind Kakkō, aiming a kick. He ducks and tire swiftly to try and slice him open. Kakashi is able to see the movements and uses the Body Flicker to get away once more.
He's glad for the soldier pill. It's the only reason his chakra hadn't dipped at all despite him using techniques that used a ton of chakra in quick succession. But that meant he hadn't a whole bunch of time to wait around. Clearly, the man must've realized he'd used a soldier pill. They've clashed enough for Kakashi to remember the way his chakra felt running through those coils even without the Sharingan, and knew any Jounin worth their title could do the same. This man was worthy of the title, Kakashi had a hard time defeating him every single time they met. It was never easy. He didn't expect it to be.
He lands in a crouch a couple of meters away. He needs to close the distance. He might be a Ninjutsu type first and foremost, but he knew his coils couldn't keep handling the strain and sooner or later he was going to be in immense pain. He just had a choice of deciding if it would come during or after the effects of the pill. That meant getting in close and finishing this. The man was a little better than him at that regard. Well, maybe he could beat him at full strength since he now possessed the Sharingan but that was a different story. Now, he would most likely lose if he kept at it. The element of surprise was long gone, he ruined that for himself, and his supplies weren't nearly enough to create something complex enough to where he would be comfortable putting it against another Jounin. The open area didn't make that any easier as well.
Then, an idea comes to his head. Perhaps he was thinking about this backwards. What if he were to, instead, use the man's defensive mind to his advantage. Clearly, the man wanted to waste as much of time as possible to let the effect wear off. A tactic anyone with half sense would be able to figure out and yet genius at the same time. He would win if the effects wore off before he could deliver a final blow. That meant he had to push, and push hard.
Kakashi saw the man's eyes flicker to his fast moving hands as they went to practiced seals he'd known for most of his Shinobi career. The man looked to be put off by his chakra output, not that Kakashi blamed him. Even at full strength, he probably could pull it off. Probably. He was a genius after all.
He felt the chakra gather though his coils intensely. It burned. But he could get over that. He had a very high amount of pain tolerance.
'Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!'
A single breath and a burst of chakra allowed him to release a torrent of flames that shot through the air even faster than bullets. A wall of dirt came up to Kakkō's defense and just as Kakashi predicted, it wasn't enough to keep him safe and forced the ninja back. It was just as he wanted it to be. He gathered strength in his legs and pounced off the ground, chasing. He wouldn't let the man get away. He had more time and his chakra activity was still going strong. His hands sped through seals.
X
Kakkō could barely stay anywhere he'd manage to land. He hasn't known this kid could pull of so many chakra natures. Especially, not this quickly in rapid succession.
Fire, he could only run from. Sometimes, the barrier he could erect were strong enough to handle the flames but they caused a smokescreen that had gotten him killed so many times that he'd forgone trying to block it entirely.
Water was blockable, but made any earth it touched after that virtually useless to come to his defense. Mud was too slow for the attacks Kakashi kept dealing out and cement slowed it down enough.
With Lightning, all he could do was pray it wasn't that fast fucking Jutsu. He had never been able to dodge it and lightning nullified his attacks. He could only run from it.
Earth was probably the easiest to deal with. He was better than Kakashi at using earth Jutsu and he'll of a lot more effective with it. He could even take control over his structures and use them for himself. He could see the best made it a point to not use it unless necessary. Which didn't bode well for him, but at least gave him something he didn't need to worry about.
The kid didn't have wind. He was lucky. Even if he was a brat, wielding all five elements would prove disastrous for him. Though he should've known he wouldn't have wind as it was the least common element for someone to possess.
He skids across the ground, his bones rattling. He ignored the weird feeling and leaps up to dodge multiple Kunai aimed for every weak point on his body. Skill wasn't the word he would use for Kakashi. This boy was something entirely. He barely let himself land on the side of the building before launching off and flexing his chakra. If this kid was planning to overwhelm his defense then he would simply have to keep adapting his strategy.
The boy saw his approach and his hands never stopped moving.
'Water Style: Water Bullet!'
He could admit if something were fast, and this technique fit that to the t. But it was predictable. He could dodge it, and he did. He shifted his body only slightly, and watched as the bullet slid past him. When his eyes moved back to where Kakashi was supposed to be, he wasn't there anymore.
He panicked, eyes shooting in every direction but to no avail. Then he felt a chakra signature above him, but it was too late for him to do anything about it. Kakashi slams his foot down onto his back and sends him crashing down into the ground. There's nothing to break his fall but the ground and the fall hurt more than the initial strike. Still, it would take more to defeat him.
But he wasn't even allowed fully on his feet. His eyes capture two Kunai with explosive tags attached to them, coming his way. He dodged the first and catches the second. Spinning, he throws it back from where it came.
Just like he had, Kakashi let's it fly past his head and they clash as the explosions go off. This time, he isn't using just a Kunai, but that blade. It was something about that blade that always made him want to destroy it. Maybe it had some sort of value to the brat.
He breaks the clash first, unwilling to let it continue, and drags his blade in the ground to kick up debris. The brat was probably unbothered by it. Lightning sparked dangerously and the debris was destroyed in a second. His eyes widen and Kakashi breaks through the smoke. But he isn't as fast as Kakkō would've thought. When he looks at those hands he can see that Kakashi isn't using that technique.
He grins.
His foot taps the ground and surprises the young Jounin. A pillar of earth takes him off the ground and shoots him up. The grin is wiped off his face when small fireballs get closer the longer time goes on. He turns and runs, and somehow, they are following after him. He has to swerve and duck to dodge the fireballs as the land in positions he occupied previously.
His instincts scream and he looks up to see pillars of water shooting down. He crouches and slaps the ground. "Earth Style: Mud Wall!" A wall from the earth below shoots up in front of him just before the water smashes down.
The wall holds true and as the dust settles he can see that the pillars are... sticking to the ground? He suddenly hears the cackling of lightning but is too slow to do anything about it. A glimpse of the pillar shows him lightning traveling down it before touching down onto the ground.
He can't suppress the scream that nearly breaks his voice box. The pain was like a knife cutting through every inch of his body at once. Finally, the lightning fizzled out just as quickly as it appeared, leaving his quite exhausted and sore. His own chakra has helped but not by much in taking some of the pain. His instincts flared again, but his leaning body wouldn't give him the strength to move and he felt heat coming closer and closer before an explosion rocked him and black danced in his vision.
X
Kakashi let in quick breaths. They were controlled though, he was just tired. Using multiple elements was something every Jounin could do. It was a requirement. But back to back, was exhausting to his chakra reserves. Still, this has to be near the end. He'd just bombarded the man. At some point, even he couldn't stop himself. A dangerous thought that he would have to come back to later no doubt. He was lucky his opponent was just as beat up as he was when he arrived.
The structure he had been using to his structure began to shake then crumble after a few warning seconds. He let himself fall with the debris, clinging on to one of the larger ones while keeping an eye down below.
He saw a green, unfamiliar spark. Then recognized Midoriya from his face as the older boy came right for him. He wondered how he found him but didn't question it openly when Midoriya reached him and grabbed ahold of him.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm helping you. Come on." He looked worried but still gestured to his back. Kakashi could tell what he wanted him to do and obliged. His body was getting weaker and weaker and a safe way down would work out best for him. Though he would have to find a way to keep this from getting out.
Finally, he let himself be dragged onto Midoriya's back before gripping his shoulders tightly, using a bit of chakra for more hold. Just in case. While bumpy, he was lead down properly and away from the falling debris as it hit the ground in the distance.
Quickly, he removed himself from Midoriya and fell onto his butt because he was moving faster than his aching body would allow. When Midoriya's worried face turned to him, he was already getting up.
"Get out of here. I don't need your help."
"Yes you do. You're hurt badly and you don't look like you've healed when you were fighting the rest of us. It's too dangerous to fight alone!"
"You aren't help. You'll get in my way. I don't have time to protect you while I'm fighting."
Kakashi couldn't believe his eyes. Midoriya's eyes had lit up in determination he'd only seen from one person. Obito. It was a childish determination. A determination that would allow one to push onward through anything.
"You won't have to protect me. I'll fight by your side. We'll fight together."
Kakashi couldn't find words to get out, nor could he think of anything to say. He didn't have anything. He was just surprised. He never expected to see that look in anyone else. The rumbling of the ground shook him from his thoughts and he looks down at it, surprised.
"What's going on?" Midoriya questions, staring as well.
Kakashi probably knows. No, he does. But it shouldn't be possible. His Sharingan could see chakra. It wasn't a clear image, whether that was because of him or not he didn't know, but he could discern how much chakra the man had. Certainly, he shouldn't have enough to have an effect like this. He shouldn't feel the effects of anything this man did. And yet, he could. Was the man using the remains of his chakra in a last ditch assault? Maybe. Most likely. That didn't mean it would bode well for him.
Especially if Midoriya was intent on fighting with him.
The ground starts shifting and moving. It cracks and splits and he notices chakra is gathering in one area where the ground is going to. He can't help but wonder what in the hell is going on, but prepares himself for the worst but hoping that he can still be in a favorable position.
"Can you fight?" He asks, eyes plainly wondering his skin for Midoriya to purposely see.
Midoriya looks down and touches his side, where a long scar was ran through, like someone had nearly sliced him in half. It probably wasn't from Kakkō. He wouldn't have missed by so much. He doubted Midoriya was fast enough and skilled enough to last ten seconds against the older Shinobi.
"I'm fine. I didn't lose a bunch of blood, but it does sting."
After taking another silent glance, Kakashi knows that he'll just have to accept that as an answer for now. If Midoriya wanted to fight by his side then so be it. His instincts as a killer and a Shinobi wanted him to use Midoriya to get closer and possible expose a weak spot but a better part of him(Thinking of Obito)stopped him from actually going through with it. It was probably his guilt that made him not want to do things Obito would frown upon, but even he knew someone like Midoriya didn't deserve such treatment. It was plain wrong.
He decides that giving Midoriya a quick rundown would help him in the long run. Not only in cooperation fighting, but in keeping Midoriya alive himself.
"Before this begins, listen. If he hadn't realized already, his abilities utilize the earth beneath him. Anything you can imagine, he can create. I'm his only weakness. Using my lightning I can-"
"Lightning? So, it is lightning then!" His green eyes were lit up in excitement.
Dammit! How did he slip up like that? He already knew they classified his technique as electricity.
"But I don't understand your quirk at all. You have water, fire, lightning and earth, just like him."
"You've studied our fight?" Something he should've accounted for but actually had no way of hiding. He needed to use the full extent of his power.
"To the best I could." He answers sheppishly, running the back of his head. "Honestly, the way you guys move is confusing me too. You're so fast. It's really hard to keep up, but I know I can complement you." He grew serious. "I won't pry about you two, and I know you're still hiding things but what's happening now is more important. Can you still use those quirks of yours?"
"Yea," he answers with a silent nod, pushing away of what he would do with Midoriya now that he knew this much. The idea of killing him already came and went but he still had that urge.
"While you're constantly attacking him with a barrage I'll get close and attack him during the brief periods where you aren't attacking."
Kakashi looked at him like he had two heads. "That is the stupidest plan I've ever heard of. You aren't fast enough to keep up with him, you should know that. Haven't you been fighting him before I arrived."
"I know I'm outclassed pretty badly, but that's the thing. If he sees we're working together he'll know that either we are attacking closely together, or I'm staying back blasting away using my fingers while you fight."
"And you're saying those ideas are less efficient than this one."
"If you consider the condition he should be in, then yes, I believe so."
"So, you're assuming he'll be injured enough for you to keep up with him. If so, that's a sure way to get yourself killed. He's..." Kakashi tried to find the right words to say without revealing that they were Shinobi, though to anyone it was probably a bit obvious but not quite on the nose. "...like me. Even when exhausted, he is still skilled in many other areas and is capable of deceit. You don't know him enough. He could be pretending to be too injured to strike back only to kill you."
"And as a hero, I'm fully willing to take that risk. I might not know him like you do. But I want to beat him myself. I want him to know that I can beat him without killing him."
Even if he had the determination, Kakashi couldn't help but find that idea stupid. Kakkō had to be killed, even if he wasn't Obito's killer, he was too dangerous to just be left around. All he knew was that he wouldn't leak anything about their world, but other than that, he didn't know what havoc he could cause. Dismantling this city, proved that he was an active threat.
"You'll need to have the will to kill him if you want to beat him. It's the only-"
"No. I don't think that's true." The look he gives Kakashi is serious and one that cannot be changed. "And I won't let anyone kill him."
"I'm killing him, Midoriya. He's mine." Kakashi won't back down. He hadn't in a long time from anything, and this was no different if a bit more so. Kakkō was his to deal with and nothing else.
The stare down they had was broken when the moving ground snapped even more as it began to move up. It was like the center was a magnet, forcing all the earth in. Buildings long abandoned began to fall and crumble and no longer was this battle just in the alleyway. Spider like cracks made their way onto several nearby streets and pipes bursted, forcing water above surface.
The earth was shaping and forming something that tower high above any buildings that had been up prior.
"Well, this is new." He remarks as a he could finally figure out what was in front of him. An earth golem, a really big one.
He could smell Midoriya's fear but even so felt the boy powering up to his max, muttering something about 8%. Kakashi didn't give it another thought and refocused his attention on the problem at hand. Lightning cackled and a spilt second last before his Chidori was fully functional.
This was about to be one hell of a battle.
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