Chapter 41: Tetsuya's Fluid Technique, Infinite Dolls

Tetsuya and Kakashi stood facing each other, tension crackling in the air. Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke watched with bated breath, curious about the unique skills Tetsuya possessed that warranted a separate assessment from Kakashi.

"Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Genjutsu—Kakashi-sensei, you certainly don't take things lightly," Tetsuya commented, his tone light but his eyes sharp. "Your reputation as Konoha's top technician is well-earned."

Kakashi remained silent, slipping his beloved book, "Icha Icha Paradise," into his pocket. Sasuke noted how tense Kakashi's entire body was, a clear sign he was ready to strike at any moment. The seriousness of the situation hit home when Kakashi removed his forehead protector, revealing his Sharingan.

"The Sharingan? Isn't that a bit much for an assessment?" Tetsuya asked, genuinely surprised. "Are you sure this is necessary?"

"My instincts tell me I need to go all out," Kakashi replied, his expression grave.

Sasuke was stunned. "How does he have a Sharingan?" he wondered, the question echoing in his mind.

Tetsuya sighed, realizing he needed to be serious as well. With a swift motion, he reached into his ninja pouch, producing three kunai. They flew towards Kakashi in a blur. Simultaneously, his left hand formed seals at an incredible speed, almost too fast for Kakashi's Sharingan to track.

"Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!" Tetsuya's three kunai multiplied into dozens, filling the air with deadly projectiles.

Kakashi barely managed to replace himself with a log, which was promptly turned into a pincushion.

"A substitution jutsu, of course," Tetsuya muttered, not surprised. "But where is he now?"

A gust of wind was his answer as Kakashi appeared behind him, launching a close-range attack. The speed was unlike anything Kakashi had shown when sparring with Naruto.

Tetsuya spun on his heel, initiating the Eight Trigrams Palms. He delivered a backhand strike at a precise angle, catching Kakashi off guard. The blow landed squarely on Kakashi's chest, causing him to stumble back.

Kakashi quickly recovered, and the two engaged in a fierce taijutsu exchange. Tetsuya's movements were a seamless blend of power and precision, each strike designed to exploit weaknesses.

Kakashi found himself struggling. "His style... it's reminiscent of the Hyuga's Gentle Fist, but with a lethal twist," he thought, dodging a particularly vicious strike. Even with the Sharingan, predicting Tetsuya's moves was no easy task. He took a few hits, each one perfectly placed to disrupt his rhythm.

"Where did you learn this taijutsu?" Kakashi asked, curiosity getting the better of him as he rubbed his aching chest.

"It's my own creation," Tetsuya replied with a grin. "A mix of various styles and my own innovations. You can call it Tetsuya-ryu."

"Tetsuya-ryu..." Kakashi echoed, impressed. "To have your own style at your age... remarkable."

Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura were in awe. They had never seen taijutsu like this. Tetsuya was clearly on a different level.

Realizing taijutsu wasn't going to cut it, Kakashi quickly formed a series of hand seals. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" he shouted, expelling a massive fireball towards Tetsuya.

Tetsuya countered with his own jutsu. "Water Style: Water Wall!" A torrent of water rose from the ground, clashing with the fireball and creating a cloud of steam.

Kakashi's Sharingan spun rapidly, trying to penetrate the steam. "Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" Tetsuya's voice rang out, and a colossal water dragon emerged from the mist, roaring towards Kakashi.

Kakashi retreated, forming seals rapidly. "Earth Style: Earth Wall!" A series of earth walls rose to block the water dragon, but it broke through each one until finally dissipating against the last wall, turning the battlefield into a muddy mess.

"I don't like fighting chakra monsters like you," Kakashi sighed, envious. His mismatched Sharingan consumed chakra constantly, putting him at a disadvantage.

"Sorry, Kakashi-sensei, but this is my win," Tetsuya declared, appearing behind Kakashi with a kunai to his neck.

"Yeah, it's over," Kakashi conceded, his voice calm.

But the Kakashi in Tetsuya's grasp turned out to be a Shadow Clone, vanishing in a puff of smoke. The real Kakashi stood behind Tetsuya, a kunai aimed at his back.

"Boom!" Tetsuya's body exploded into smoke as well, revealing he had used the same trick.

Another Tetsuya emerged behind Kakashi, this time for real. "Got you," he said, grinning.

Kakashi was genuinely impressed. "You even mastered the Shadow Clone nesting doll tactic. Well done, Tetsuya."

The trio watching couldn't believe what they had just witnessed. Tetsuya's prowess was undeniable. They realized they still had much to learn, and Tetsuya was a step above.

In the end, Tetsuya proved his worth, leaving Kakashi with a new level of respect for his student. The potential within Tetsuya was vast, and it was clear he was destined for greatness.