novelsmap Chapter 417 417: The Copy Ninja’s Shadow
Chapter 417 417: The Copy Ninja’s Shadow
Naruto came home looking like he'd gone ten rounds in bar fight clothes wrinkled, dirt on his sleeves, and faint bruising along his cheek.
No way Sakura did that.
After years of "hands-on mentoring" from Akio, Naruto's durability was ridiculous. Skill aside, the kid could take a beating like a champ. Protect the vitals, brace properly, even if Sakura unloaded on him, she wouldn't leave more than superficial damage.
This?
He'd clearly fought Sasuke again.
Akio's earlier kick had been solid. Considering how hard those two collided… that "accidental" kiss probably knocked the wind out of both of them.
Naruto glared at him.
"Great-Grandpa… that was you, wasn't it?"
Akio blinked.
The brat's IQ had actually improved over the years.
"I didn't make lunch."
"That's not what I meant hey! Why is one of your eyes open?!"
Just like that, Naruto's attention derailed completely.
Akio folded his arms.
Yep. False alarm. Still the same Naruto.
At lunch, Tsukika didn't let a single clue slip. Perfect teamwork.
She'd witnessed enough of Akio "setting up" Naruto over the years to know better than to interfere. Even though she hadn't seen the spiritually hazardous moment earlier, Naruto's unlucky expression said plenty.
No need to enlighten "big brother."
After all, tattletales never prosper.
Once lunch ended, Naruto bolted back to the Academy, buzzing about who his jonin instructor would be. The earlier incident? Already fading from memory.
Akio nodded thoughtfully.
"Guess he's not losing sleep over who got his first kiss."
"Great-Grandpa," Tsukika asked, "who's his teacher? Are we going to watch this afternoon?"
Akio winked his right eye.
"Kakashi. And no, we're not."
Not together, anyway.
Before noon fully passed, Akio slipped away to the Academy entrance. He had a theory to test.
"This is the moment of truth."
He hadn't wasted the past three years. He'd carefully laid groundwork to maximize Witness Points from Naruto's storyline.
From graduation through the Chūnin Exams, he remembered the broad strokes clearly. Some events might not unfold naturally anymore thanks to his interference, but that just meant he had to get creative.
After this morning's gains, he'd accumulated 500 Witness Points enough to max another skill. But evolution required time, and he wasn't about to miss what he sensed would be a harvest season.
"If the Chūnin Exams go the way I'm planning… that's another 500 minimum. Then I unlock two more dimensions at once."
His long-term power path was clear.
Once his left eye stabilized, he'd stand at SSS+ tier. In raw strength, only Kaguya Ōtsutsuki would surpass him. At his level would be only the still-living Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki and Hamura Ōtsutsuki.
To reach Kaguya's tier?
He'd likely need to unlock all eight dimensional spaces.
Six more to go.
Was he desperate for more power? Not exactly.
But leaving skills unmaxed on his status panel felt like leaving a game at 99% completion.
Unacceptable.
Down the road, Kakashi approached casually, a small orange paperback in hand.
Akio smirked. Make-Out Paradise. Of course.
"Right on time," Akio called. "You're the first jonin here."
Kakashi scratched his head.
"I try not to be late all the time. Are you waiting for me?"
"I need a favor. Step over here."
They moved around the corner of the building.
Kakashi barely had time to react before Akio's hand landed on his shoulder and a powerful gravitational pull dragged him into the Eight Trigrams Space.
"Senpai?! What are you doing?!"
"Relax. Just an experiment. Sit back and watch."
Outside
Akio transformed.
In the dimensional space, Kakashi stared at the perfect copy of himself, headband angled over the left eye, posture lazy, aura identical.
A terrible feeling settled in.
Late afternoon.
Every other squad had already left with their instructors.
Only Team Seven remained.
The classroom door slid open.
"Sorry I'm late."
The chalkboard eraser trap fell.
"Ha! Got him!" Naruto cheered
But "Kakashi" flicked the eraser aside effortlessly.
He looked at the three of them, visible eye curving into a crescent smile.
"My first impression of you three? I like you. A lot."
Silence.
Naruto blinked.
Sakura froze.
Even Sasuke stiffened.
Inside the dimensional space, the real Kakashi covered his face.
Oh no.
Akio's logic was simple.
If maximum Witness Points required significant changes, then flip the script.
If Kakashi originally said he disliked them, say the opposite.
If he showed indifference, show enthusiasm.
But the real test wasn't the acting.
It was whether the system would recognize the deviation.
Earlier, manipulating Asuma and Kurenai's team assemblies had already netted him 20 points.
This was bigger.
On the rooftop.
Akio still disguised spoke calmly.
"You three are my subordinates from now on. Naruto knows me best, but I'll introduce myself properly."
Naruto frowned.
He did know Kakashi. The student of Minato had visited their house often.
But something felt… off.
"Kakashi… uh… why are you covering your left eye?"
"You'll call me Kakashi-sensei now."
Akio lifted the headband.
A crimson Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan gleamed beneath.
Sasuke's eyes widened.
"That's, how do you have the Sharingan? And Mangekyō?"
Akio glanced at him.
"Name's Kakashi Hatake. Twenty-six. Unmarried. Though I do have someone pursuing me."
He gave a dramatic pause.
"I've copied over a thousand jutsu with this eye. Some call me the Copy Ninja."
The rooftop went quiet.
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a strange look of mutual understanding.
Akio coughed lightly.
"No need for introductions. I already know everything about you."
Right then
The notification appeared.
*Witnessed and significantly altered a major storyline event: Formation of Team Seven. Reward: 10 (5) Witness Points.
Akio nearly grinned out loud.
It worked.
"This system really is gullible."
He pointed a thumb toward himself, visible eye curving again.
"Remember it well, Copy Ninja Kakashi!"
He paused for flair.
"…Or you can call me Konoha's premier technician."