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The faint rustling of leaves filled the air as twilight descended upon the training grounds. Shadows lengthened, and the cool breeze carried with it the scent of damp earth and freshly cut grass. The atmosphere was calm but charged with tension, remnants of the earlier spar between Rong Lin and Kakashi lingering in the air.
Every year, numerous prodigies emerged from the various ninja villages, but how many truly lived up to their reputations and reached greatness?
"Two interesting youngsters..." In the Hokage's office within the Hokage Tower, Hiruzen Sarutobi gazed into the crystal ball before him, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Rong Lin had long anticipated that the Third Hokage might spy on him through the crystal ball. As long as his deepest secrets remained undiscovered, he didn't mind being observed—in fact, he almost welcomed it. If anything, he hoped the Hokage would take notice of his potential and provide him with more resources. Without a clan to rely on, Rong Lin had to carve his own path forward.
What better option was there than earning the Hokage's favor when one lacked familial support?
"Are you surprised by my speed and strength?"
Kakashi remained silent, his face darkening further, but Rong Lin could easily guess what was going through his mind.
"Hearing is believing, seeing is truth. It seems even after graduating, there's still much for you to learn, Kakashi."
Rong Lin's words struck like a sharp nail piercing Kakashi's pride. His breathing grew heavier, and his grip on the kunai tightened to the point where his knuckles turned white.
Without uttering another word, Kakashi resumed his usual taciturn demeanor. Clutching the kunai tightly, he launched another attack. Midway through his charge, several shuriken flew out from his left hand. With ease, Rong Lin raised his kunai and deflected them all, the metallic clangs ringing in their ears. But while Rong Lin was occupied with deflecting the projectiles, Kakashi's speed surged unexpectedly.
The kunai pierced Rong Lin's body—but instead of blood, a puff of smoke erupted, revealing nothing more than a log.
"Substitution Technique!!"
Kakashi's pupils dilated in shock.
"Whirlwind Lightning Kick!!"
From behind, Rong Lin's leg arced in a wide half-circle, landing squarely on Kakashi—or so it seemed. However, Rong Lin wasn't celebrating just yet, because once again, his kick connected only with a wooden log.
Victory gleamed momentarily in Kakashi's eyes.
"Whirlwind Bind."
But Kakashi was about to be sorely disappointed. Had Rong Lin fallen for such an obvious trap without any follow-up precautions, it would have been a waste of his nearly thirty-year-old adult intellect. While Rong Lin himself could use the Substitution Technique, Kakashi—having graduated with top marks—was equally adept at employing basic ninjutsu. After all, what kind of genius wouldn't master something so fundamental?
What Kakashi hadn't anticipated, however, was that Rong Lin's descending foot twisted at an exaggerated angle, locking onto his arm. Using the momentum, Rong Lin's body followed through seamlessly.
"Bang!!"
With his arm trapped, Kakashi's body was forced downward by the sheer force of Rong Lin's overhead strike. Swiftly disarming him, Rong Lin looked down at the reluctant boy and sighed. "It's unfortunate, but you've lost. Here, this is yours."
Releasing Kakashi, Rong Lin tossed the kunai onto the ground and stretched his limbs, emitting a series of popping sounds from his joints. Muttering under his breath, he said:
"Even though my bones are flexible, making moves like that still feels uncomfortable."
Without the backing of a clan or village, Rong Lin had largely relied on self-exploration to hone his taijutsu skills. Along the way, he'd incorporated techniques from his past life, such as yoga and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
This allowed his arms and legs to twist at unnatural angles, giving him complete control over Kakashi during their exchange.
Though unconventional, these methods caught Kakashi completely off guard. Fortunately, Rong Lin didn't delve too deeply into these obscure practices. Many forms of taijutsu could achieve similar results—for instance, Orochimaru's rather unsettling abilities.
Just thinking about tongues stretching out several meters like snakes made Rong Lin shudder involuntarily.
Hopefully, this guy won't end up stalking me like Guy does, he thought, glancing at Kakashi, whose gaze had grown distant. Shaking his head, Rong Lin returned to his unfinished training. To be honest, Kakashi's loss was somewhat frustrating. They hadn't even exchanged any offensive ninjutsu during their bout. Still, a loss was a loss, and excuses wouldn't change that.
"You possess the strength to apply for early graduation. Why do you remain in school?"
Despite his defeat, Kakashi quickly accepted reality. Like Guy, he now regarded Rong Lin as both a rival to surpass and a target to defeat. Yet one question lingered in his mind: why hadn't someone of Rong Lin's caliber applied for early graduation?
Uninterrupted by the conversation, Rong Lin continued his frog jumps. He shot Kakashi a look that screamed "you're an idiot." "Why should I apply for early graduation?"
"Think about it—you have the entire Hatake clan and the legendary White Fang supporting you, yet you still face hostility everywhere. What chance does someone like me, who has no backing whatsoever, stand? Would applying for early graduation mean anything for me?"
"Even if I were to graduate early, it wouldn't be now."
Joining mid-term teams only to endure scornful glares wasn't part of Rong Lin's plan. Even if he did decide to graduate early, he'd wait until the advanced class finished so he could join a balanced team.
"..."
I didn't rely on my clan's help, Kakashi wanted to shout in defense. But the words died in his throat. Even if he spoke them aloud, who would believe him?
Without clan support, how did you receive your education? Forget the academy—your presence there was merely ceremonial. You graduated in a single year, mastering knowledge others spent years learning before they even stepped foot inside the school gates. Doesn't that count as clan support?
And then there was Sakumo's guidance. Though it could be considered father-to-son teaching, you're still part of the Hatake family, aren't you?
"999..."
"1000..."
Finally completing his training regimen for the day, Rong Lin stopped. Kakashi hadn't left; he simply watched silently, his gaze never wavering from Rong Lin's every move.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Rong Lin prepared to head home. On the way, he planned to buy groceries and treat himself to a hearty meal.
"You know, you can always return to school. Over time, you'll realize there's still plenty to learn. Until next time, Kakashi."
At five years old, even a prodigy like Kakashi had many areas of immaturity—his mentality foremost among them. Unless, of course, you were someone like Rong Lin, who outwardly appeared six but inwardly carried the mindset of a thirty-year-old. Of course, exceptions existed—children who endured harsh circumstances often matured faster than their peers. But Kakashi? Not likely. That perpetual deadpan expression and those perpetually droopy eyes were clear indicators that he was merely a step above his peers.
In the training field, Kakashi silently watched Rong Lin depart, his unwavering gaze trailing the figure until it disappeared entirely.