Shikamaru stared intently at the figure before him. If his memory served him right, this was Toneri Otsutsuki, an enemy who had appeared several years after the Fourth Great Ninja War. Back then, Naruto hadn't even become Hokage yet. It was during that time the Otsutsuki clan, originating from the moon, had plotted to destroy the world. And this man, Toneri, had been their most terrifying adversary. By stealing Hanabi Hyuga's Byakugan, he had awakened the dreadful Tenseigan.
This adversary should have been left isolated on the moon. It seemed the chaos ripping through time had pulled Toneri from the past into the present as well.
The situation is getting worse and worse, Shikamaru thought grimly. At this rate, who knows who else might appear!
With someone like Toneri Otsutsuki now present, Konoha's current forces attempting to stop him... it seemed utterly impossible. After all, this was a member of the Otsutsuki clan, wielding power nearly comparable to the Sage of Six Paths himself.
"Notify Naruto immediately!" Shikamaru ordered, glancing back at the Anbu operative behind him.
Hearing the command, the Anbu member vanished instantly.
"This enemy won't be easy to handle," Choji commented gravely from the side. He too was aware of just how formidable Toneri Otsutsuki was. Although Konoha had many Jōnin now, virtually none possessed the combat strength to truly challenge an Otsutsuki.
"We just need to hold out until Naruto gets back!" Shikamaru declared. "As long as Naruto returns, Konoha will be safe!"
Though he spoke with conviction, the words felt more like an attempt to reassure himself. Realistically, who in Konoha right now possessed the strength to stop this menace? The answer was stark: no one.
Numbers! Against an opponent like this, sheer numbers were meaningless. It was likely impossible to stop him without someone paying the ultimate price.
As Shikamaru wrestled with this grim reality, a hand suddenly clapped onto his shoulder from behind.
"While it might be your generation's turn to protect Konoha now," a familiar voice boomed, "us old-timers aren't dead yet! Let us handle this."
Might Guy stepped forward from behind Shikamaru. This was the man who had once nearly kicked the world into its finale. Although activating the final of the Eight Gates had almost cost him his life, thanks to Naruto's intervention, Guy was still full of vigor, his physical condition perhaps even surpassing Rock Lee's. However, during these peaceful times, Might Guy's main role had become training the young students at the Ninja Academy in Taijutsu.
The many anxious Konoha shinobi watched as the teacher, usually seen brimming with explosive passion at the Academy, suddenly stepped forward. Alone, he walked towards the terrifying enemy, Otsutsuki Toneri.
"What is Master Guy planning to do?" one young ninja murmured.
"Master Guy is a Jōnin, sure, but he's mainly strong in Taijutsu. His Ninjutsu is nothing compared to a typical ninja!" another added worriedly.
"Lord Shikamaru! Lord Sai! What are they doing? Why are they just watching?!"
At that moment, however, some of the older Konoha shinobi simply smiled faintly.
"In your eyes, Master Guy might just seem like an over-enthusiastic fool," one veteran said calmly. "A Jōnin coasting towards retirement, teaching Taijutsu to the Genin."
"But the Might Guy of the past," another chimed in, "was once the only shinobi capable of standing against Sasuke Uchiha!"
Hearing this, all the new-generation Konoha Genin froze. This ridiculously passionate teacher... was the only one... who could fight Sasuke Uchiha?
Sasuke Uchiha? His name needed no introduction. After everything that had transpired, there wasn't a ninja in Konoha who didn't know of him. Even the youngest generation understood exactly what kind of existence Sasuke represented – a near-invincible force in both the past and present shinobi world.
This teacher, with his thick eyebrows and intensely passionate personality that often made him seem rather foolish, could actually fight a monster like Sasuke?
"Really? Is that true? Master Might Guy doesn't look that strong!" a skeptical Genin whispered.
"Are they just saying that to make us feel less scared?" another wondered aloud.
"Master Guy's Taijutsu lessons are good, but his strength couldn't possibly be that incredible..."
Even as they spoke, Might Guy suddenly exploded into action.
An explosive burst of Taijutsu speed!
In an instant, his velocity reached such an extreme that the new-generation shinobi were left stunned.
"So fast!"
With a sudden strike, Might Guy unleashed a fundamental Taijutsu move: the Konoha Whirlwind!
CRACK!
The force of the blow sent ripples spreading outwards, and the subsequent shockwaves buffeted the nearby shinobi, making it hard for them to even keep their footing. Feeling the powerful gust, the younger ninja finally realized this was no joke.
Might Guy! The teacher responsible for instructing kids in Taijutsu at the Academy possessed terrifying strength. He was... he was practically a monster!
BAM!
With another powerful kick, Might Guy sent Toneri flying backward.
The next second, Toneri stabilized himself mid-air, eyes fixed on the man before him. "Impressive power. To hone your body to this degree without relying on chakra... you are a peculiar human."
Might Guy's current strength wasn't the same as when he had fought Madara. Thanks to Naruto's intervention, his body had fully recovered, almost as if he had gained a special resistance to aging. As a result, the current Might Guy was still practically in his prime. And over the years, he hadn't just been teaching kids Taijutsu; he had relentlessly continued to forge his own physique.
In terms of pure Taijutsu... Guy! He was likely not far behind even Sasuke. To be comparable to Sasuke in sheer physical combat prowess – you probably couldn't find another person like that in the entire shinobi world.
"...Master Guy... he's gotten even stronger!" Shikamaru's face showed clear surprise. He had seen Guy fight once about five years ago, but even then, Guy's power hadn't reached this level. Sending Toneri flying with a single kick – Toneri, an existence on the level of the Sage of Six Paths!
"Human strength rivaling that of a celestial being!" Sai murmured, filled with admiration. "Master Guy surpasses even us."
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"ORA ORA ORA ORA!" With a furious cry, Guy unleashed a relentless barrage of fists. Under the insane assault, Toneri found himself forced purely onto the defensive, dodging frantically. There was absolutely no opening to counterattack.
To completely overwhelm his opponent right from the start – such monstrous power! Toneri's expression began to shift, a flicker of concern crossing his features.
At the same time, using the Flying Thunder God formation, Konoha shinobi swiftly reached Naruto's location. The sealing of the Seven-Tails had just been completed. Upon hearing the news that Otsutsuki Toneri had appeared in Konoha, Naruto immediately leaped into the sky, streaking towards the village at high speed.
Mid-air, Naruto's brow furrowed deeply. Sasuke, is this the situation you were most worried about?
The temporal chaos bringing shinobi from the past to the present... the most concerning among them were undoubtedly these members of the Otsutsuki clan. Indra and Ashura weren't the primary threats. The real danger lay with beings like Toneri.
Or even...
"Kaguya Otsutsuki!" Naruto's eyes glinted with gravity. He wondered if Kaguya Otsutsuki might also appear. Two years ago, Kaguya, having become a normal human, had died. But if the Kaguya from the past were to arrive now, seeking to gather the Tailed Beasts' power once more and become the Progenitor of Chakra... that would undoubtedly pose another immense trial for the shinobi world.
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