The next morning, Kakashi had just woken up and was stumbling toward the bathroom with sleep still clinging to his face like a stubborn leech.
Suddenly, a figure with big, earnest eyes, bushy eyebrows, and a hairstyle resembling a watermelon poked his head through the open window.
Kakashi's left hand spasmed in surprise.
"Hey, Kakashi! Let's have a youthful showdown—it's been too long!" Guy shouted with enough enthusiasm to power a small village.
Then his expression froze.
After three years… it had returned.
The dragon had raised its head again.
And this time… it was more majestic than ever.
Kakashi sighed and, without a word, walked outside to meet Guy face-to-face.
Guy hesitated, then solemnly untied the white belt and unzipped the green jumpsuit at the waist.
Both of them leaned in with an air of grim scientific inquiry.
Kakashi tapped Guy on the shoulder with a look that said, "I'm sorry for your loss."
Guy burst into tears immediately. "Let's fight, Kakashi!"
"I refuse," Kakashi said flatly, still too half-asleep to deal with existential crises—especially Guy's.
Guy zipped up and gave Kakashi a concerned look. "I heard you just got back from a mission. Are you hurt anywhere?"
That actually caught Kakashi off guard. His heart warmed slightly. So that's why he's here this early… worried about me. That's… actually kind of sweet.
Guy scratched his head, inspecting Kakashi.
"You seem alright... So let's have a duel of burning youth!"
Kakashi gave him a long-suffering look.
"Sure. What's life without a bit of cardiac stress first thing in the morning?"
"Yosh! Then let's settle it the right way!"
Guy pointed dramatically at Hokage Rock in the distance. "We'll race to the top. First one there wins!"
"Classic Guy," Kakashi muttered.
"That's the spirit, Kakashi! Feel the youth!"
"Yeah yeah, warm up the defibrillators."
Guy picked up a stone from the ground and raised it.
"Ready?!"
"Engine started, tragic decisions engaged," Kakashi said, giving an okay sign.
Whoosh!
As the rock dropped, both of them launched forward like missiles.
"OH!!"
"HAHAHA~!"
Guy and Kakashi tore through the village streets, leaving buildings and civilians blinking in their wake.
"You are truly my eternal rival, Kakashi! Today, we settle this!"
"Sure, just don't sue me when you sprain a hamstring."
They reached the base of Hokage Rock and began sprinting vertically up the stone faces like a pair of caffeinated mountain goats.
"KAKASHI!"
"GUY!"
"AHHHH!"
They reached the top. In the end, Kakashi edged Guy out—barely.
Guy collapsed, panting. "You beat me… again! So now—10,000 push-ups!"
"Kakashi…" Guy blinked, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Yeah?" Kakashi replied, already dreading the next sentence.
"I want you to learn the Eight Inner Gates from me!"
"…Wait, wasn't I the one who was supposed to say that?"
Guy stared blankly. "Oh. Right."
"Well, since you're already fired up, I might as well. Let's do it."
Guy's face lit up like a bonfire. "YES! But first, breakfast!"
"Race you to the bun shop."
After they'd eaten, the two arrived at Training Ground 7.
"Alright, Kakashi," Guy began seriously. "I will now impart to you the knowledge of the Eight Inner Gates!"
Kakashi nodded. "Go on, oh sensei of tight spandex."
Guy, ignoring the sarcasm, launched into his explanation.
"The Eight Inner Gates Formation—the body's own limiter system. Chakra flows through the body's meridians. These gates: the Gate of Opening, Gate of Rest, Life, Pain, Limit, View, Wonder, and Death—regulate and restrict that flow."
"Releasing them gives explosive chakra boosts, at the cost of damaging the body. Open all eight, and you gain strength beyond Kage-level... at the cost of your life."
Guy paused.
"This isn't just a technique—it's a vow. You only open the Eighth Gate when you're ready to give everything… to protect someone you love."
Kakashi's usual smirk faded. "Understood."
He knew these words weren't just theoretical. They were sacred. Guarded by Guy's father, and now passed to him.
Guy continued, "Opening the first four gates can increase your speed and power dramatically. By the Fifth Gate, you'll be breaking the sound barrier. But beyond that… you need conviction."
"Let's start with the First Gate: the Gate of Opening."
Guy gave him a look. "If anything I said doesn't make sense, I can—"
"I got it."
"…Really?"
"Yes."
"…You're a genius, and I kind of hate you."
And so, training began.
"First—10,000 push-ups!"
Kakashi and Guy dropped to the ground. In seconds, they were moving so fast they blurred.
"Next—5,000 high kicks!"
"10,000 sit-ups!"
The sun dipped lower as the pair trained furiously. By the time it was evening, they were drenched in sweat, muscles trembling, but eyes alight.
Kakashi sat back, breathing hard.
The raw emotion pent up in his chest turned into burning momentum, like his entire body had become one big, sarcastic combustion engine.
"One more to go."
"Yosh!" Guy gave a gleaming thumbs-up. "You're killing it, Kakashi!"
Kakashi forced himself up. "Time to open the first gate."
He closed his eyes and focused.
Five minutes later—
"First Gate: Gate of Opening—Open!"
A surge of energy exploded around him, rippling the air.
Guy's jaw dropped. "You… did it on the first try?! That took me years! What are you, a taijutsu savant hiding in a broody ninja's body?!"
Kakashi smirked. "What can I say? I'm full of surprises. Also, trauma—it's a hell of a motivator."
He remembered his original self—so dependent on Sharingan and Chidori, never pushing physical limits. But Kakashi had seen what was coming. Madara. Kaguya. Enemies on a whole different level.
He needed more than ninjutsu.
"Guy, let's spar."
"Ohhhh YEAH!"
"First Gate, Gate of Opening—Open!"
"Take this! Konoha's Dynamic Whirlwind!"
Kakashi blocked Guy's spinning kick, sliding back as dust exploded around them.
He darted left and right, raising dust clouds to obscure Guy's vision. This was a pure taijutsu battle—no clones, no tricks, just fists.
But Guy wasn't phased. He blitzed through the dust like a missile.
He jabbed at Kakashi's face and followed with a storm of kicks, the air crackling from the force.
Kakashi grunted and blocked rapidly, forced into a defensive stance.
Alright, I'm stuck in his rhythm. Time to break it.
He leapt back, then circled to disrupt Guy's momentum.
But Guy went full afterimage mode—his body a blur, sprinting around Kakashi at blinding speed.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed.
Then suddenly—bam!
Guy appeared below him and slammed a kick into Kakashi's side.
"Got you!"
Kakashi grunted as he was launched into the air.
Guy followed with three aerial kicks, then spun up like a drill.
"Konoha Great Rift!"
Boom!
Kakashi slammed into the ground, bouncing several times before stopping. His body ached. His pride? Slightly more.
But his eyes lit up with respect.
Now this… this is power. This is what I need.
Gritting his teeth, he got back up and charged again.
They fought until Kakashi's Gate closed from exhaustion.
"That's it for today," he panted. "I'm cooked. Barbecue?"
Guy beamed. "You're welcome, Kakashi. But there's no need for thanks—this is youth!"
"Right," Kakashi muttered, "youth that just nearly kicked my organs out of alignment."
"Haha! Race you to the restaurant!"
Guy slapped him hard on the back.
Kakashi flinched.
"...Never change, Guy."