Naruto: Drinking Makes You Stronger

"Puff!"

A dark purple slash streaked across Kakashi's cheek, drawing a thin line of blood.

The slash didn't stop there—it continued flying through the air, slicing toward a towering tree nearby.

"Aahhhhhhh!"

The massive tree was cleaved cleanly in two. After a brief pause, it cracked neatly down the middle and collapsed with a resounding crash.

The exposed surface of the cut was unnervingly smooth, without a single wrinkle or imperfection.

It was clear how sharp that slash was.

"Boom!"

The tree hit the ground, sending a plume of dust into the air. The sheer power of the strike left everyone stunned.

"Wait, is that… a flying slash?!"

Shisui, who was about to intervene and stop Leo, froze mid-step, nearly biting his tongue in disbelief. His face was filled with shock.

But the evidence was undeniable—the wound on Kakashi's cheek and the neatly severed tree weren't illusions.

"This… this is…?!"

Kakashi wiped the blood from his cheek. His usually composed face now showed only shock and confusion.

A flying slash?

Kakashi's expression turned grim, as though he had just seen a ghost.

"Whoosh!"

Before Kakashi could fully grasp what had happened, Leo appeared in front of him in a blur.

A powerful kick struck Kakashi's abdomen.

"Ugh!"

Kakashi groaned, clutching his stomach as he collapsed to the ground, unable to fight back.

"Huh—"

The cold edge of a dark purple blade pressed against his neck.

"You two!" Leo shouted to Shisui and Anbu, his voice a mix of drunkenness and confidence. "This little spy has been caught! You'd better surrender, or I'll cut him down!"

The weight of the situation—or perhaps the sword—pressed down on Kakashi, making him feel as if a mountain rested on his shoulders.

"What is this sword…?"

Kakashi glanced at the weapon pressed against his neck, his face filled with astonishment.

The dark purple blade gleamed with a red zigzag pattern, exuding an ominous aura. It felt heavier than anything Kakashi had ever encountered.

Even the short blade of White Fang, left behind by his late father, seemed to pale in comparison to this mysterious weapon.

Leo's continued rambling snapped Kakashi out of his thoughts.

"You, Leo! I'm Kakashi!" Kakashi shouted, his voice tinged with frustration.

Leo blinked, his drunken expression faltering for a moment.

"Kakashi?" he muttered, tilting his head and squinting at the figure beneath his blade.

The adrenaline from earlier had sobered him slightly, allowing him to finally take a proper look.

After a few moments of scrutiny, recognition dawned on Leo's face.

"Oh, it's you, Kakashi! The guy I taught a lesson to before, huh?"

Kakashi felt a brief moment of relief.

At least Leo finally recognized him.

"Leo, let me go," Kakashi said, his voice strained. His current position—lying on the ground with a blade at his neck—was beyond humiliating.

But instead of letting him go, Leo pressed the blade closer.

"Kakashi! You traitor!" Leo bellowed. "How dare you betray the village and become a spy!"

"I…" Kakashi's voice faltered.

What part of me looks like a spy to you?!

"Listen here," Leo said, his tone turning oddly magnanimous. "Since you're a former student of our academy, I'll cut you a deal. Give me a few bottles of good wine, and I'll plead on your behalf to let you rejoin the village."

Leo's confident tone made it sound as though he was Hokage himself.

"I…"

Kakashi's face turned red, unable to find the words to retort.

"What? You don't want to?" Leo frowned, pressing the blade even closer to Kakashi's neck.

The cold steel sent a shiver through Kakashi's body.

"Leo! I'm not a spy! I'm a Konoha ninja!" Kakashi shouted, his voice desperate.

"Who are you trying to fool?!" Leo shot back. "You came to Konoha Ninja School to capture me. Isn't that what spies do?!"

Leo gestured to the school's logo with exaggerated pride.

Kakashi felt his eye twitch.

You recognized the school logo but didn't notice my Konoha forehead protector?!

"Leo, he's really not a spy," Kurenai said gently, stepping in to calm the situation.

"Kakashi and his team are here to… uh, maintain the 'exam order,'" Shisui added hesitantly, avoiding the true reason for their presence—to keep Leo from causing chaos while drunk.

"Is that so?"

Leo glanced at Kakashi, still suspicious.

"Yes!" Kakashi shouted, pointing to his forehead protector.

Leo finally noticed the Konoha insignia.

"Ah, was this a misunderstanding?" Leo muttered, scratching his head awkwardly.

"I'll have to fix this…"

Even as he spoke, the blade remained at Kakashi's neck.

"Ah, I see now!"

With a dramatic flourish, Leo sheathed his blade and pulled Kakashi to his feet, patting him on the shoulder.

"Hahaha! I knew you couldn't be a spy, Kakashi!" Leo said with a grin.

Kakashi's eye twitched.

"I…"

Kakashi gave up trying to reason with Leo and dusted himself off. The stares of the onlookers made his cheeks burn with embarrassment.

"Whoosh!"

Without another word, Kakashi leapt away, unwilling to face any more humiliation.

"Hey! You still owe me that wine!" Leo shouted after him.

Kakashi stumbled mid-air, nearly losing his footing.

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