Two days later, a new bounty notice was posted on the underground black market's bulletin board.
Target: Veigar Koshima, Konoha-nin.
Bounty: 30,000,000 ryō.
The bounty caught the attention of every assassin, rogue ninja, and intelligence operative from the hidden villages lurking in the underworld.
When they saw the name Veigar Koshima, paired with his youthful yet strikingly handsome face, and that long string of zeroes after the number three, their reactions were a mix of gleeful anticipation and stunned disbelief.
But once their eyes moved down to the summary beneath the photo, detailing his performance in the field and a record that could blind with brilliance, an eerie silence fell over them all.
Veigar Koshima, age 10, born in the 33rd year of Konoha's founding. One of the village's hidden prodigies. Specializes in Wind Release and kenjutsu. Confirmed to have mastered at least one S-rank Wind Release jutsu of extraordinary destructive power.
Combat Record: In the recent campaign against Sunagakure, Veigar eliminated elite jonin Tanjiro and wiped out a force of nearly sixty Sand Puppet Masters in a single blow using an unknown Wind Release technique. His total confirmed kills exceeded 100 enemy shinobi, securing Konoha's decisive victory in the battle.
This entry snuffed out the burning ambition in many hearts who had hoped to claim Veigar's head.
Because his strength was simply not something they could contend with.
The money was tempting, but only if you lived long enough to spend it.
Soon, Veigar's bounty had spread across the entire shinobi world, landing on the desks of every village leader.
Veigar Koshima wasn't just a name anymore. He was a phenomenon. "Famed throughout the shinobi world" would hardly be an exaggeration.
While the world reeled from Konoha's emergence of such a terrifying genius, the boy himself was resting on Mount Kikyo, where he had just reunited with Minato Namikaze, returning from a mission.
From Minato, Veigar learned about the bounty placed on his head by the underground market—thirty million ryō.
Veigar was slightly surprised.
But that was the extent of it. He didn't dwell on it.
As he put it: "Better to spend that energy getting stronger than worrying about people chasing after me."
"Veigar! I'm coming for you!"
On Mount Kikyo, Kakashi, having just completed the mission alongside Minato, immediately sought Veigar out for a rematch, determined to fulfill a promise he'd once made.
"Let's do this."
Veigar responded with measured seriousness, locking eyes with Kakashi.
Hatake Style: Fang Thrust!
Without holding back, Kakashi surged forward, his ninjatō wreathed in Lightning Release chakra, aiming straight for Veigar.
Ittō-ryū: Iai Slash.
Meeting the attack head-on, Veigar responded with his signature kenjutsu technique.
As the clash of steel echoed across the field, Minato stood beside Obito, observing the duel. His eyes were fixed on Veigar, a deep shock stirring within him.
From Veigar's battlefield feats, Minato had already deduced that he had mastered the Flying Raijin Technique, a theory Veigar himself had later confirmed.
But watching him now, as he outmaneuvered Kakashi with ease, Minato realized something even more astonishing:
Veigar's current strength had already surpassed that of elite jonin.
In fact, if he went all-out, he could defeat even the strongest of them.
Such power placed him in the realm known as Kage-level, a title reserved for those who rival the might of a village leader.
Outmatched in the sword exchange, Kakashi disengaged and sheathed his blade.
"Veigar, now I'll show you the jutsu I've developed myself."
It wasn't that Kakashi's inherited kenjutsu was lacking, but rather, that his raw strength couldn't match Veigar's. That's why he'd lost in a pure swordfight.
"I'm ready."
Veigar, already guessing what Kakashi had in store, began forming a chakra sphere in his palm.
"Chidori!"
As Kakashi finished his hand seals, a sharp cry accompanied the buildup of Lightning Release chakra in his hand.
Chiiiiirrrrrp...
The high-pitched screech echoed across the mountainside, sounding like a thousand birds in flight, hence the technique's name: Chidori, One Thousand Birds. A jutsu Kakashi had crafted with his own hands.
"Here I come!"
With a shout, Kakashi charged toward Veigar.
"Bring it!"
Veigar rushed forward as well, Rasengan blazing in his palm.
"Chidori!"
"Rasengan!"
The two jutsu collided in a brilliant flash of energy. Obito's eyes widened, struggling to keep up with the clash. A single thought echoed in his mind:
If I were to face either of them… would I even stand a chance?
"Obito! Don't lose focus, the match is ending."
Minato's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Y-yes, Sensei!"
Boom!
The Rasengan and Chidori collided with explosive force. Kakashi was flung backwards.
The result was obvious.
"I lost..."
Lying on the ground, Kakashi stared up at Veigar, his voice soft with resignation.
For a boy who had always stood at the top among his peers, the blow struck deep. It felt as if something had shattered inside him, his pride, his unchallenged dominance.
He recalled the first time he met Veigar.
"So… what drew me to Veigar back then… was it that his talent outshone even mine?"
Veigar, standing across from him, was unaware of what was going on in Kakashi's mind.
"This time… I finally beat you, Kakashi."
A genuine smile spread across Veigar's face.
Since their days in the Academy, they had fought three times: one loss, one draw, and now, finally, a victory. The score was even, and Veigar felt a rare sense of emotional balance.
Shff.
"You okay, Kakashi?"
Minato reappeared beside his student, concern in his voice.
"I'm fine, Sensei."
"Next time, I'll win."
For someone who had always been a symbol of excellence among his generation, Kakashi's defeat had awoken something within him.
That spark was something Obito often showed: the unyielding will to win.
Minato let out a small breath of relief. He had worried the loss might crush Kakashi's spirit.
But seeing the renewed fire in his student's eyes, a thought crossed his mind:
"Maybe… this loss was exactly what Kakashi needed."
-------
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over to my Patreon ——— patreon(.)com/PrimalDemon [remove the parentheses ( )]