"Thank you for saving our lives."
Might Duy bowed deeply to Yuzuru, flanked by Might Guy, Genma Shiranui, and Ebisu.
If not for Yuzuru, he would've had to pay with his life to save Guy this time.
At the same time, Duy felt deep respect for him.
He had just sensed the powerful life force emanating from Yuzuru's body.
Despite a lifetime of training, Duy still found himself falling short.
To have forged such a strong physique—how much pain had he endured?
But Yuzuru, after sealing away the Executioner's Blade, the Thunder Blade: Kiba, and the bodies of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, simply smiled and said, "Don't be so quick to thank me."
"Now that the Seven Ninja Swordsmen are dealt with, it's time for our battle."
"Don't forget, Kumo and Konoha are enemies now."
The relief that had just settled in Guy and the others instantly vanished.
Even the Seven Ninja Swordsmen couldn't match Yuzuru. What chance did they have?
Even Duy's expression turned grim.
He had the confidence to open the Eight Gates and go all out against the swordsmen.
But against Yuzuru? Even if he opened the Gate of Death, he couldn't guarantee enough time for Guy, Genma, and Ebisu to escape.
Kakashi glanced at Yuzuru and said hesitantly, "Yuzuru-senpai, could you let them go this time?"
Yuzuru shook his head. "Kakashi, we must be sincere and supportive to friends. But toward enemies, we must exterminate the roots and never show mercy."
Kakashi's eyes lit up. "Yuzuru-senpai, if they became our friends, then… they wouldn't have to die, right?"
Yuzuru smiled. "That depends on your ability."
He didn't hold any deep grudge against Duy and Guy. Whether he killed them or not came down to their allegiance.
If Kakashi could really persuade them to join Kumo, he wouldn't mind letting them live.
With Yuzuru's permission, Kakashi turned to Guy and said, "Guy, come to Kumo with us. That way, Yuzuru-senpai won't have to fight you."
Seeing his lifelong rival and friend, Guy scratched the back of his head. "That doesn't feel quite right…"
Kakashi pressed on. "What's so wrong about it? What's left in Konoha that's worth your loyalty?"
"My father gave everything for Konoha, and in the end, he was discarded by the Hokage, nearly hunted down by his own people."
"Come to the Cloud Village. My father always said you'd grow strong. I don't want to see you die here."
Guy was touched by the sincerity in Kakashi's gaze.
One side was his friend, the other his village.
There was no need to hesitate.
Guy looked toward his father and shouted, "Dad, let's become rogue ninjas! I want to stay with Kakashi!"
Seeing the hope in his son's eyes, Duy didn't hesitate at all. "Son, whatever decision you make, I support you!"
As the "eternal Genin," Duy had always been looked down upon in Konoha, treated as a weirdo.
Mocked, suppressed, insulted…
Even Guy was dragged down by it—he wasn't even allowed to join the Anbu.
Besides Guy, Duy had no other family left in Konoha.
So abandoning the village brought him no emotional burden at all.
Seeing his father's support, Guy couldn't help but tear up. His nose started running, and tears streamed down.
"Dad!"
"Guy!"
They hugged each other tightly, their blinding white teeth gleaming with intensity.
After a moment, Guy ran to Kakashi's side, his voice filled with excitement. "Kakashi! We can be together again! Ready to face my challenge?"
From the side, Obito complained, "Bushy Brows! Sparring with Kakashi is part of my daily routine! You can only come after me!"
Guy retorted, "Youth knows no retreat! I won't back down that easily!"
"Wait… what was your name again?"
"Obito! Obito! I'm Uchiha Obito, remember that!"
"Right… Uchiha… um…"
Annoyed by the bickering between Guy and Obito, Kakashi rubbed his temples in frustration.
Why did it feel like he was stuck in a love triangle?
With both Obito and Guy fighting over sparring time, he'd need to schedule everything properly. Getting caught in between would be a nightmare.
Watching the three of them go back and forth, Yuzuru let a rare smile curl at the edge of his lips.
These three together… things were going to be interesting.
"Duy, let's go."
Duy tossed his Konoha forehead protector to the ground and nodded. " Alright."
Once they were gone, Ebisu and Genma remained frozen in place.
After a long while, Ebisu adjusted his sunglasses and asked, "So what just happened…?"
Genma gritted his teeth. "We got ignored!"
Sure, surviving was great and all, but they couldn't bring themselves to feel happy.
Yuzuru had completely treated them like air.
"Genma… are we really that useless?"
Ebisu began to doubt himself.
Yuzuru had initially declared he would kill them, but after Duy and Guy defected, he just left—never even sparing them a glance.
The message was loud and clear.
"Power isn't the only measure of a person's worth." Genma bit down on a senbon and began gathering fallen comrades' bodies. "Even if we're ordinary, we can still give it everything we've got."
Back in the academy, he once believed he was special and destined to make a name for himself.
But after becoming a shinobi, he realized just how naive he'd been.
Especially today, after witnessing someone like Yuzuru...
Accepting his limitations and doing his best was enough.
———
———
Kumogakure.
Seeing Might Duy and Might Guy return with Yuzuru, the Third Raikage's face immediately lit up with joy.
Every time Yuzuru left the village, he brought back a new surprise. This time was no exception.
Even though this father and son duo looked a little… unconventional.
The Raikage was certain—these two definitely had something special about them!