159 Naruto Mobile Game

"Score 3:1! The last match of the losers bracket, Hatake Kakashi versus Yakushi Kabuto!"

"Hatake Kakashi wins!"

He took off his headphones, and the noisy sound of the venue surged into his ears in an instant. Kabuto went blank.

Looking at the word "defeat" before it disappeared from the phone screen, an indescribable feeling suddenly welled up in his heart.

He lost. The Unlimited Class Tournament was over.

No— the tournament wasn't over, it was just that, for him, this match was over.

Kabuto slowly stood up and saw Kakashi already standing up there on the stage, as if waiting for him.

His steps paused, and he hesitated.

The result of this match was different from what he had imagined at the beginning, but the process was exactly the same.

It was just that what he had imagined was— he had already beaten Uchiha Itachi, so what if the last opponent was Hatake Kakashi?

The real opponent in his eyes was only that person who didn't even need to take part in the losers bracket, standing together with Kuroda at the commentary desk, analyzing that match they had just finished, one sentence at a time.

"We can see that both players had their operations completely maxed out, but unfortunately Yakushi Kabuto was still one move short."

"That's what the Unlimited Class Tournament is like. Operation and game sense are only the least noteworthy basics."

"Because what you have, others also have."

"What decides who keeps winning? What do we look at? It's condition, it's the spirit of never giving up no matter what, and unwavering will."

"In other words, it's confidence."

"I will win, I won't make mistakes, I will seize every opportunity, I will completely control the entire match including my opponent — this is confidence!"

"Obviously, in this regard, no one can compare to Hatake Kakashi. He has successfully taken the other ticket to the grand finals!"

Kuroda's words made many spectators feel emotional, and they spontaneously offered applause to the players.

And Deva Pain quietly turned and left.

...

At this moment in the center of the stage, Kakashi had said something to Kabuto, then turned and went back to the passage.

Kabuto stood there stunned for a moment, his expression seemingly complicated. He didn't look back at the spectators, even though he could feel a burning gaze fixed on him.

Yes, it had always been like this. It was the same in the previous matches.

Every time he entered and exited, there was always someone watching him, silently, like a mother watching over a child fighting in battle.

He didn't react and disappeared directly.

...

When he opened his eyes again, Kabuto appeared in a quiet forest. This was near Otogakure.

He moved his feet, preparing to return to Otogakure.

I'm sorry, Orochimaru-sama, I failed your trust. I still lost...

Kabuto was rehearsing what he would say in his mind, but as he thought, he stopped wanting to think about it at all.

He walked to a lake, and looking at his slightly blurred reflection in the water, his expression became dazed.

"Are you afraid? You no longer have that fiercely competitive will you had when you fought me in the preliminaries."

That was what Kakashi had said to him.

Kabuto couldn't help but ask himself why. He had always wanted to win, and hadn't he already fought all the way to the last match of the fifth round?

He was just one step away from the grand finals. As long as he won one more, he would be champion.

But… he still lost.

So he really panicked, huh— coward.

Kabuto thought. He knew the director was in the spectators' seats and could guess she had learned the truth about back then, but why didn't you go look for her?

Kabuto questioned himself again, but soon he gave a bitter smile, arriving at a conclusion he himself would scold himself for.

He couldn't accept it.

He still couldn't accept that matter, and along with it, he resisted meeting the director.

Even though he clearly knew that after the Unlimited Class Tournament ended, all the spectators at the venue would return to their original places— even though this might be the last chance.

He thought of Kakashi, that man whose eyes were filled with intense fighting spirit.

He sighed inwardly. As expected, I lost to you...

...

"Alright, welcome back. Now the winners bracket and losers bracket matches of the offline finals have all concluded."

"The winner of the winners bracket, Deva Path! And Hatake Kakashi, who fought his way out of the losers bracket!"

"These two are about to begin their peak showdown!"

"This is the championship match of the Unlimited Class Tournament. The two of them have already locked in champion and runner-up respectively."

"But exactly how those placements will be arranged will be entirely up to them to decide!"

"Audience members, the grand finals begin!"

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

On the big screen at the venue, photos of Deva Path and Kakashi appeared on the left and right. The two each struck a pose— either wild or cool.

Between them there was a three-minute countdown. As time ticked gently, it was as if a soft melody echoed in the hearts of the spectators.

"Kakashi should be fine, right?"

"Relax, he's an elite."

"Is he? But Naruto already told me— he likes being late, likes messing with students, and likes reading Jiraiya-sensei's books. He's like a delinquent jonin."

"...Alright, he has indeed degenerated."

In the stands, facing Kushina's questioning gaze, Minato covered his face, thinking, Kakashi, your teacher really can't help you this time.

Beside them, Rin's expression was also hard to describe.

Naruto was whispering with Sasuke, but no one knew what they said— suddenly the two began arguing.

Rin had to lean in and grab one with each hand to pull them apart. Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly felt emotional.

Just like Obito and Kakashi...

"Here we go, here we go!"

"bo7? No, they're playing seven games in the grand finals? Isn't that too many? Can ninjas handle it?"

"You think everyone is you, ninja ladle!"

"Hey hey hey, betting is open, betting is open. Who are you backing? The boss or Hatake Kakashi?"

"The boss, I guess."

"But betting on the boss doesn't earn much. Seems like everyone has confidence in the boss."

On the Akatsuki side, the group was also very enthusiastic. As they chatted, they naturally started discussing who to bet on.

Kakuzu was the professional here. He analyzed for everyone, and finally came to a conclusion.

High odds earn more, low odds earn less.

"Obviously!" x2

Deidara and Hidan rolled their eyes at the same time. Kakuzu didn't care, because he had never planned to bet from the start.

Unless it was guaranteed profit like a monthly card, otherwise expecting him to spend money? Absolutely impossible!

"Itachi, who do you think has the better chance of winning?" Kisame looked at Itachi, who had returned as a competing player.

Everyone else was also curious, but Itachi's expression was blank. He didn't answer and didn't react at all.

Because… he didn't know.

"Tobi, what do you think?" Sasori suddenly spoke, drawing attention to Tobi.

Of course Obito had already returned— otherwise would he still stay at the venue to watch? That wouldn't fit his style at all.

Seeing Deidara and the others all looking at him, Obito folded his arms and struck a thinking pose.

"Nagato's advantage is experience several times that of other players. In terms of familiarity with ninjas, no one can surpass him."

"As for Kakashi, that guy's on-the-spot analysis and adaptability are the strongest. In that regard, he's no worse than the Fourth Hokage. His intellect is not inferior to Konoha's Nara clan, and in terms of ninjutsu mastery, isn't he called the Copy Ninja? He can probably match Nagato. Being able to use the Sharingan to its fullest with a non-bloodline body, he's a true genius. Ordinary people absolutely cannot be compared to him. His real match play is the ceiling of Ninja Mobile Game operation."

The Akatsuki members: ...

Seeing that none of them said a word and only silently stared at him, Obito suddenly realized and scratched his head, laughing awkwardly in a goofy tone.

"Yah-ho-ho-ho~ although that's how it is, it's not necessarily like that, right? Because that ninja, that thing, you know? The result still depends on the actual result, hahaha!"

After listening— which was basically the same as not listening— the group had identical reactions: all dead eyes.

What on earth… are you talking about?