บท 28: Disgusting Strategy

Fundamentally, ninjas must mask their presence and hide. Kakashi knew this, so he allowed the squad to disperse and hide.

But… Why the heck is Naruto not hiding but instead standing so openly!?!?

"ALRIGHT! Let's face off fair and square!" Naruto yelled and relayed his intentions to 1v1 Kakashi.

"AH?" Kakashi tilted his head in confusion. He wondered if Naruto had even learned anything in the academy. If there's an enemy, would he just go up to them and say: "hey, let us fight fairly!?"

"Here I come!!" Naruto rushed up again with another charge.

But, Kakashi lowered his hands into his ninja bag, making Naruto hesitate and stop right before he entered the engagement range.

"I'll teach you the first Shinobi Battle Jutsu… Taijutsu!" Kakashi slowly grabbed something in his pocket and pulled it out. This move made Naruto wonder if Kakashi is going to use a weapon to showcase Taijutsu–a hand-to-hand combat technique.

It's then that Kakashi finally pulled out the book that's very familiar to Yasui! It's the Shinobi Love Master vol. 4! This was his newly released book, dating back to a year ago.

Naruto couldn't help but ask why there was a book in Kakashi's hand. Which, Kakashi replied that he was interested in what is going to happen next in the book. He also stated that it didn't matter if he was reading or not while he battled with Naruto and the others.

"Kek! I'm going to rip you apart!!" Naruto rushed forward and began battling Kakashi in Taijutsu.

Be it aimed at his head, body, or legs, Kakashi easily blocked and dodged all of Naruto's moves.

As they battled, Naruto didn't realize that one of his Kunais had fallen out of his ninja bag, stabbing into the ground.

Naruto was a little inexperienced with his Taijutsu, especially because he did not really train at all in this aspect. So, when Kakashi stepped back, Naruto went for a straight punch, trying to get Kakashi's stomach.

"Huh?" Naruto realized that Kakashi had disappeared, and his fist landed in thin air.

"A Ninja shouldn't let the enemy take them from behind, fool." Kakashi appeared behind naruto in a squat and made a Tiger hand sign.

Sasuke–who was hiding in the trees–wondered if their sensei is going to use a fire-style ninjutsu skill to attack Naruto. If so, that's going way too overboard.

Before Naruto could react, Kakashi made his move and aimed his tiger seal right into Naruto's butt: "Leaf Village Secret Ultimate Taijutsu! ONE THOUSAND YEARS OF DEATH!!"

"AHHHHHHH" Naruto screamed and flew into the air.

Sasuke leaned on the tree that he was hiding in, and he felt that Naruto and Kakashi are idiots. They were fooling around too much.

Naruto fell into a nearby stream, and Kakashi once again opened his book.

The surrounding became quiet for a bit, but… Kakashi suddenly felt shivers going down his spine.

"Like you said, KAKASHI SENSEI!! Don't let your enemies get behind you!! ONE THOUSAND YEARS OF DEATH!!!" Yasui appeared behind Kakshi and attacked with the Ultimate Taijutsu skill that Kakashi just used!

"When!?" Kakashi was taken off guard, and he immediately stopped reading and jumped onto the river!

"Damn!" Yasui cursed after almost succeeding in using this technique on Kakashi. He had prepared so well too!

"Was it that kunai–?" Kakashi surveyed the ground for the Kunai that Naruto dropped, and indeed, it had disappeared. He hadn't even seen Yasui turn into a Kunai and enter Naruto's ninja bag. So, he looked at Yasui for the answer. Was this all planned out by the two, or is it something else?

"Haha! I'll tell you, Kakashi sensei. While Naruto was sleeping under my blanket, I created a shadow clone to replace me while I transformed into a Kunai. This whole time, Naruto had been carrying me without knowing." Yasui chuckled. He failed, but it was fun to try it anyways.

As he said this, a shadow clone came out from the forest and dispersed, sending his chakra back to him.

"Woah! Yasui, I didn't even know that you did that! I also didn't know that you mastered the shadow clone jutsu!" Naruto came out of the river and said as he inhaled air. He recalled that Yasui had also looked at the forbidden scroll, so it wasn't weird that Yasui knew that shadow clone technique.

Sasuke saw this whole thing played out and finally realized that Yasui had been holding back all those times in the academy! He is clearly smarter, and he could've contended for first place in class, but he did not. This line of thinking made Sasuke wonder how strong Yasui actually is in battle. One thing is for sure, and it's that he's very skilled in coming up with strategies.

"I see." Kakashi opened his book again and came back onto land. He analyzed that Yasui did indeed have a good plan, but it failed since he did it without telling his teammates. If Sasuke had worked with them and distracted him, this attack might've worked.

He took out his book again and began to read, thinking that this is the end of their tactics.

"Heh, Kakashi sensei. I'll remind you again. Don't turn your back on your enemies!" Yasui smirked after seeing Kakashi walk on land.

"Hm?" Kakashi wondered what Yasui meant. Clearly, he didn't hold them in high regard.

"Haha! Now for my favorite multi-shadow clone jutsu!!" Naruto took this cue and realized that Yasui figured out his plan. Immediately, seven shadow clones jumped from the river and charged at Kakashi, aiming for the bells on his waist!

Not a clone, but multiple shadow clones!? Kakashi was immediately in awe. Two of his students had already learned the shadow clone technique… multi shadow clones too.

"Huh!?" Kakashi was once again stunned when five Yasuis tackled him from behind, gripping his body, arms, and legs! Both of them know the multi-shadow clone jutsu!?

"Wow! That's not bad!" Sasuke watched in amazement when this combo happened. Adrenaline rushed into his body, making him want to make a move also.

Yasui had taken the chance and created his five shadow clones, letting them join in on the battle with Kakashi and Naruto. This was a diversion tactic that he came up with. No matter with direction Kakashi turned to, his back will always be open to the enemy!

Kakashi realized that he underestimated the two of them once again! He had put his guard down too much!

Naruto's shadow clones also jumped on Kakashi, further immobilizing him. Naruto's real body then aimed at Kakashi's head, trying to give him a sucker punch!

Yasui also rushed in from behind, aiming for the bells on Kakashi's waist.

WOOSH

Naruto sucker-punched Yasui's clone as Kakashi disappeared.

This also shocked Yasui. He didn't think that Kakashi would still be able to use the substitution technique after being immobilized by both his and Naruto's clones.

"Hey! You're Kakashi, right!? You transformed into Yasui!" Naruto mistook the technique and his clones began attacking Yasui's clone like an idiot.

Feeling a little helpless, Yasui deactivated his shadow clones, and he retreated out of the shadow clone battlefield.

Naruto also saw his blunder and deactivated his shadow clones. Of course, a few of his clones managed to punch him in the face during the scuffle.

It was then that he saw a bell on the floor!! Thinking that it was his luck, he went to grab it… only to be caught in a trap and get tried up on the tree.