Clang! Clang! Clang!
Realising that straight taijutsu wasn't cutting it and that Aizen still held the upper hand, Kakashi's fingers blurred into a rapid sequence of hand signs. With a puff of smoke, two shadow clones materialised at his sides.
Now a trio, the three Kakashi moved in perfect sync: flanking, feinting, closing in with relentless pressure.
One clone darted in from the left, aiming for Aizen's head with a swift strike. The second circled behind, targeting his blind spot. The original Kakashi surged forward, launching a heavy kick straight at Aizen's chest.
But Aizen didn't flinch.
Without hesitation, he twisted his body mid-turn, disregarding the attacks to his throat and chest, and intercepted Kakashi's kunai with his own in a flash of sparks.
"Tch… How did he track me?" Kakashi's brows furrowed. Still, he didn't break his flow. His stance shifted fluidly, preparing another angle of assault.
Attack after attack rained down, but none landed. Aizen met each blow with calm precision, parrying with almost surgical efficiency.
To a bystander, it looked like Aizen was in full control.
But inwardly, Aizen thought differently.
"So this is Kakashi Hatake..."
Every movement Kakashi made was honed from hard work, trial, error, and instinct.
Aizen felt it with every exchange. Kakashi wasn't just fighting—he was adapting and learning.
Unlike himself, who had the experience of a swordsman from another world, Kakashi was building his skillset from scratch.
And somehow, he was still keeping up.
Aizen's eyes narrowed, tracking every motion. Kakashi Hatake wasn't just skilled; he was relentless.
"But I won't lose. Not here. Not to him."
With a breath, Aizen clapped his hands together, fingers weaving into a sharp sequence of hand seals.
Puff!
A burst of smoke erupted beside him. From it stepped a clone—identical, confident, and already in motion.
Kakashi spotted the movement instantly.
He darted forward, kunai flashing, expecting the usual—an easy cut through a harmless illusion.
But—
Clang!
His blade was stopped mid-swing.
His eyes widened a fraction.
"A shadow clone…" Kakashi muttered.
Unlike a regular clone, this one was solid.
Before he could react—
"Got you."
A voice whispered from behind.
Kakashi froze, feeling the cold press of a kunai at his neck.
With a swirl of smoke, the clone dispersed, leaving the battlefield.
Kakashi's gaze shifted slightly, understanding now that the real Aizen had circled behind him.
He sighed and nodded. "Yeah…"
He had been outplayed.
---
"Here. Take this."
Aizen held out a neatly wrapped rice ball.
Kakashi blinked, a little surprised, before accepting it with a quiet, "Thanks." He hesitated for a moment, then took a bite.
The two sat cross-legged beside a calm lake. The breeze carried the soft ripple of water across the surface. Birds chirped in the distance. It was a rare peaceful day.
The academy was closed, and the two had agreed to train together. Aizen, knowing they'd be pushing hard, had come prepared with lunch.
Kakashi chewed slowly, still thinking about their last spar. "When did you learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu?"
"Just a few days ago," Aizen replied casually, watching the clouds pass overhead. "I figured… I won't be attending the academy much anymore."
Kakashi turned to him with a raised eyebrow. He understood immediately.
"You're planning to send a clone to class instead."
"Exactly." Aizen smirked slightly. "That way I can spend more time actually improving."
Kakashi nodded. The idea made sense. Honestly, he was surprised he hadn't thought of it himself.
"You should learn it too," Aizen added. "That way we can train together more often."
"…Yeah." Kakashi looked down at the half-eaten rice ball in his hand, his thoughts drifting back to his earlier loss. He had to close that gap.
"Alright," he said firmly, finishing the last bite. "Teach me."
Aizen stood up without hesitation. "Let's start now."
He wasn't surprised Kakashi had asked to be taught. Shadow Clone wasn't a secret jutsu. Plenty of shinobi in the village knew it, including Sakumo. If it had been some clan-exclusive or forbidden technique, Kakashi wouldn't have even brought it up.
Kakashi followed him to a nearby clearing, brushing some leaves aside with his foot.
Aizen brought his hands up slowly, showing the seal. "Watch carefully."
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
With a soft puff of smoke, a perfect copy of Aizen appeared beside him—standing tall, solid, and identical down to the expression in his eyes.
Kakashi nodded, mimicking the seal movements carefully. His chakra surged, focused, and a second later—
Puff!
A clone emerged beside him. It held its form, but both boys could tell it wasn't fully stable.
The clone suddenly threw a punch. Kakashi reacted instantly, countering with his own. They exchanged a few sharp blows—quick, clean—but then the clone flickered and dispersed in a cloud of smoke.
Kakashi exhaled. "It's solid… but I'll need to work on the chakra distribution."
"Still, not bad for your first try." Aizen grinned. "By tomorrow, you'll have it down."
Kakashi smirked, already running the hand signs again in his mind.
"Then from tomorrow, we both send clones to class."
**********
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