"Whoa… something huge seems to be happening in the village…"
"Yeah… should we go check it out?"
"That direction—it's the Hokage Tower, right? We—"
Just as several ANBU elites hesitated, a lazy voice drifted down from the treetops.
"The mission says stay put. So stay put. No one goes anywhere."
Up in the branches, Kakashi shifted his posture, lying a bit more comfortably.
Even with his beloved Icha Icha Paradise open in front of him, he couldn't focus anymore.
His single exposed eye kept drifting toward the center of the village.
The Hokage Tower.
He could feel it—
Violent clashes were erupting over there.
As for why?
He knew that too.
"I wonder… just how far that Uchiha kid can really go…"
He murmured to himself, Kai—no, Kai's figure surfacing in his mind.
For a boy barely ten years old, Kakashi had already rated him absurdly high.
And yet every time they crossed paths, Kai still shattered expectations.
Because of that, once Kakashi realized what might happen tonight, he'd immediately volunteered to stay behind and guard Naruto.
Didn't even take shifts.
Whoosh.
At that moment, a green blur suddenly appeared beside him.
Kakashi frowned.
"…Guy? Wasn't he supposed to be out on a mission? Why's he back?"
"And if he runs into that Uchiha kid…"
"…That's bad."
Kakashi snapped his book shut and hesitated for only a second—
Then turned and chased after the green figure.
Hokage Tower Plaza.
"With Konoha's Azure Beast here, who dares disrespect the Hokage?!"
A thunderous shout rang out as a figure wreathed in green light leapt high into the air.
Like a falling meteor, he slammed down into the plaza.
Might Guy.
Konoha's Azure Beast.
"Guy's taijutsu talent is far beyond even his father, Might Duy."
"If he opens the Eight Gates… maybe…"
The Third Hokage's eyes lit up the instant he saw him.
His previously hunched back straightened.
Even the keys he'd been holding out subconsciously pulled back into his sleeve.
To be honest—
If there was any chance to stop this, he would never willingly hand over Konoha's financial authority.
Danzō and the advisors were his people.
But the Uchiha?
They were outsiders. Completely.
Boom!
The green comet finally struck the ground, carving out a massive crater.
Might Guy glanced back first, making sure the Third Hokage was unharmed, then let out a relieved breath.
Only then did he turn toward the Uchiha clan.
Green aura blazing around him.
"Come on, fiery Uchiha!"
"Let's fight like real men!"
Bang bang!
He slapped his palms together, joints cracking sharply.
"Might Guy?"
The usually silent Fugaku stepped forward at once, positioning himself in front of Kai and speaking in a low voice:
"This man's father… once kicked four members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to death."
"They say he used an extremely terrifying taijutsu."
Faced with the unknown, Fugaku could no longer let his child stand at the front.
Shua—
Almost at the same time, the Uchiha clan members instinctively stepped forward.
Crimson eyes connected into a single sea.
Anyone who'd been on missions knew how dangerous Might Guy was.
But—
Kai glanced at his clansmen and paused.
"…Does it feel like there are more tomoe in their Sharingan than before?"
Just moments ago, most had only one tomoe.
Now, two-tomoe eyes were far more common.
"Is it because they just witnessed Danzō's eyes?"
The thought flickered past and vanished.
Kai's focus snapped back to Guy.
Green jumpsuit. Bowl cut. Thick eyebrows. A dazzling, toothy grin that practically radiated light.
Yep.
That was Might Guy.
You just didn't see him around the village very often.
"Huff."
Kai took a shallow breath, gently pushing Fugaku aside.
"Relax, fa— fa— father. Leave this to me."
Others might step in—
But Might Guy?
Absolutely not.
As Konoha's taijutsu master, a man with almost no ninjutsu—
His entire arsenal boiled down to one thing:
The Eight Gates.
How could Kai possibly let that go?
"Ahem… you're—Might Guy, right?"
"Yo! Uchiha prodigy Kai!"
Guy's voice boomed with enthusiasm, shaking leaves from nearby trees.
"My burning youth won't allow me to miss a single hot-blooded battle!"
"Let's stake —our youth—on this fight!"
Still as fired up as ever.
He raised his fists, ready to charge.
Guy had seen Kai before—
After all, the spectacle of the Uchiha brothers chasing dogs, and being chased by dogs, had once rocked the village.
But now that they stood opposed, there was no point in reminiscing.
"Guy-senpai," Kai lifted his gaze, voice calm.
"Have you ever… risked your life for yourself?"
The words landed softly.
Guy froze.
His raised fist hung awkwardly in midair.
"…Huh?"
He couldn't bring himself to strike a Konoha child who wasn't even defending himself.
Even if that child was currently doing something dangerously close to a coup.
"'Huh' what, Guy-senpai…"
Three minutes later.
[Conversation target: Might Guy.]
[Analyzing available copyable traits…]
[Eight Gates (Gold)]
[Eight Gates · Morning Peacock (Purple)]
[Leaf Whirlwind (Green)]
[Leaf Great Whirlwind (Green)]
[Leaf Strong Whirlwind (Green)]
[Dynamic Entry · Leaf Adamantine Whirlwind (Green)]
...
"…Good lord."
Kai clicked his tongue, torn.
"This wall of green—Even Shisui would have to applaud."
He'd thought Guy's techniques were simple.
Turns out—taijutsu had plenty of variations.
Still, one thing was clear.
When it came to fellow villagers, Guy had an absurd amount of patience.
Even with both sides on edge, even with violence already erupting—
He was still willing to talk to a young ninja.
Ten minutes later.
[Copy successful. Congratulations, Host has obtained superior trait: Eight—]
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