Chapter 11: Malice

"Even though we used a scheme, this hit‑for‑hit approach is unacceptable; if the one fighting you were not me but the enemy, you'd already be dead now."

Qimu Chao walked up to Kakashi, reached out his hand, and pulled him up from the ground.

"I know, but earlier we were just sparring, weren't we?"

Kakashi exhaled, speaking with a hint of ease.

Obviously, injuring Qimu Chao in this bout made him quite pleased.

"Did you know it was a sparring match yet you still went that hard?"

Hearing Kakashi's words, Qimu Chao grew even angrier: "If you weren't my younger brother, I would have taken a swing at you just now."

"Because I knew that strike wouldn't affect you much; even Phoenix Fairy Fire combined with Five‑Colored Thread never did anything to you before, and just now it only caught you off guard. I don't believe you'd die from a technique you invented yourself."

It seemed the year's pressure vanished; Kakashi squinted and smiled: "I've also evaluated the power of Five‑Colored Thread. If you had kept slashing instead of using Five‑Colored Thread to block my attacks, I wouldn't have resorted to this method."

"That's as far as your talent goes."

He sneered; a surge of electric current flashed across Qimu Chao's left arm, and he forced the wound to heal using Electric Current Propulsion.

Then he placed his hand on Kakashi's shoulder, activating his Electric Current Propulsion to stimulate cells, forcibly healing the five wounds across Kakashi's chest.

"Hm? What's this? A new technique you developed?"

Kakashi felt the wound's change, looking at Qimu Chao in disbelief: "Cell activation? Isn't that a common method for medical ninjas?"

"A newly developed technique… barely qualifies, it's a half‑finished product; once fully developed, I'll give it to you."

Hearing Kakashi's question, Qimu Chao thought briefly and replied: "This only stops the bleeding and heals the surface; the interior is still unhealed. I'll take you to a hospital later so the doctors can treat you."

"Oh."

After saying all that, Qimu Chao looked around at the destruction from their brotherly duel—sawdust, broken stones, kunai, throwing knives, charred earth—and laughed: "You've improved a lot compared to a year ago."

"Don't use that tone, okay? We're the same age! A year ago we were just starting training; back then we hadn't mastered any techniques, so we couldn't compare to now!"

Hearing Qimu Chao's adult‑like tone, Kakashi couldn't help but roll his eyes and then retorted.

"Ha ha."

Qimu Chao let out a light chuckle; physically they're the same age, but mentally they're different: "Let's go. It's getting dark; we'll head to the hospital first, then home. By the way, Dad should be back today, right?"

At the hospital, a doctor used medical ninjutsu to treat Kakashi's wound that Qimu Chao had forcibly healed; after leaving, night had already fallen completely.

The two brothers walked along the road, Kakashi looking listless; the earlier sparring had drained both his chakra and stamina, and using Shadow Clone Jutsu also taxed his spirit.

On the way home, Qimu Chao kept pondering the technique's development.

Kakashi's earlier question, combined with today's battle, gave him some ideas.

Kakashi can't stay in Konoha Village forever; once he becomes a full‑fledged ninja, he'll have to face real enemies.

When that time comes, what if he meets an opponent he can't defeat head‑on and can't outrun?

Family is his greatest bond in this world; having lived two lives, this is his first time with family, so he'll never let any trouble befall them.

His father, Qimu Shuomao, appears to be among the top in the Ninja World, so he isn't worried about any issues with his father.

His mother, QiMu ChunNai, was once a ninja; after marrying his father she retired, no longer holding a ninja post, and usually stays in Konoha Village, so there shouldn't be any problems.

But Kakashi…

If I could grant him Magnetic Field Rotation, or develop the ultimate boundless qi technique from the War God worldview that lets ordinary people wield Magnetic Field Rotation, that would be nice, but I haven't even mastered Magnetic Field Rotation myself, let alone give it to others.

Perhaps if I reached a higher Magnetic Field realm I could try, but for now it seems impossible.

So what I need to do now is develop a skill that can boost various attributes and combat power.

Come to think of it, A Kai's family's Eight Gates technique would fit, but the Eight Gates have huge side effects, and ordinary people don't seem suited to use them.

I need to think this through…

While thinking that, Qimu Chao suddenly felt something was off.

Someone triggered his Magnetic Field Sense, a gaze filled with malice.

Such a phenomenon never occurred before; this is a residential area where several ninja clans of Konoha Village live, everyone knows each other, and my relations with them are good—why the sudden occurrence?

Is this malice aimed at me or at Kakashi?

With that thought, Qimu Chao placed his hand on Kakashi's shoulder, fully activating Magnetic Field Sense, like the Byakugan inherited by the Hyuga Clan; all vibrations, heat and energy waves around him couldn't escape his perception.

"Hm?"

Kakashi saw Qimu Chao's action, puzzled; just as he was about to ask, he noticed Qimu Chao close his eyes and furrow his brows.

Seeing his brother like that, he didn't speak, kept his previous stride, and kept walking forward.

Only after turning the corner did the malice fade, and Qimu Chao opened his eyes.

"What just happened, brother?"

Seeing Qimu Chao's serious expression, Kakashi asked.

"Is it an outside invasion?"

Qimu Chao furrowed his brows; if it were merely ninjas from another village entering Konoha Village on a mission, he'd simply inform the village.

But the guy now exuding such strong malice toward the two brothers inevitably brings to mind the enemy his father mentioned.

If we hadn't encountered him, fine; but now that we have, we must eliminate him, or I can't rest!

With that in mind, he told Kakashi: "You go home first; when Dad returns, tell him what's happening. I suspect ninjas from another village are covertly causing trouble here; go scout ahead."

"Bro…"

"Don't worry, it'll be fine."

Before Kakashi could finish his sentence, Qimu Chao flashed a confident smile.

Confidence in his own strength.

Ninjas undertaking missions in other villages are likely Jonin.

Becoming Jonin means they're each village's elite; facing absolute strongmen from other ninja villages, can Qimu Chao just crush them?

Absolutely, easily.