Chapter 19: Guy and Chen (Part 1)
In the original story, it was after witnessing Chen's Dragon God of Leaf that Rock Lee desperately pleaded for Chen to teach him the technique.
Guy and Lee are practically mirror images of each other—neither capable of using ninjutsu or genjutsu. In a world where ninjutsu is considered everything, they were both once labeled useless.
But they made taijutsu their sole pursuit, training relentlessly day after day for even the tiniest breakthrough, just to prove that pure taijutsu alone can make one a great shinobi.
Now, Guy stands on the brink of becoming that very kind of hero—someone who has earned the world's respect through nothing but taijutsu. How could he give up so easily now?
Nan understood the kind of man Guy was—the type who would chase his dream even if it meant dying for it. So he knew Guy would stop at nothing to try and get Chen to pass on his secret technique.
But Chen wasn't the type to easily accept disciples either. A confrontation between the two was inevitable—and there would be a second, a third, and more.
And Nan? He could observe from the sidelines with his Sharingan, gradually learning all the secrets behind Chen 's taijutsu.
To some, it might seem like Nan was simply using Guy. But in truth, it was a win-win: Nan was giving Guy the rare chance to connect with a true master of taijutsu.
Even if, in the end, Chen still refused to teach Guy, Nan could learn the technique first and pass it on to him later.
As for Chen , it wasn't a loss for him either. His nearly-lost legacy would finally have successors—it wouldn't die with him. No one came out of this empty-handed.
Just as Nan had predicted, the next day Guy dragged him back to Chen 's grave—and once again, they found Chen there.
Guy, still feeling guilty about yesterday's misunderstanding, gave a sincere apology. He had thought Chen—long presumed dead—was an imposter, and had acted disrespectfully out of ignorance.
Then, bowing deeply, Guy made a heartfelt plea:
"Please… pass down your ultimate technique—the Dragon God of Leaf—to me!"
But Chen had long since given up on taking another disciple after his only one died. At Guy's request, he waved it off and turned to leave without a word.
Panicking, Guy called out again:
"Please, Master Chen! I'm no good at ninjutsu or genjutsu—taijutsu is all I have!
Even so, I want to prove that with everything I've got—if I train hard enough—I can become a ninja worthy of respect!"
Chen's steps halted. Those words… he had heard them before.
He turned and asked flatly:
"You still want to be a ninja despite not knowing ninjutsu?"
"Yes, Master Chen!" Guy replied with unwavering conviction.
"As the strongest taijutsu ninja, I know you of all people would understand my dream. Please—believe in me!"
Guy's voice rang with firm resolve.
But to his surprise, Chen suddenly erupted in fury:
"You fool! How can you call yourself a ninja if you can't even use ninjutsu?
I'll beat some sense into you right now—show you just how stupid that dream of yours really is!"
For a brief moment, Guy's figure overlapped with that of Chen's late student—the only one he ever took in, who had once said the exact same thing. Moved by those words, Chen had accepted him… only for it to end in tragedy.
He blamed himself for his disciple's death. Overcome by emotion, he lashed out—projecting all his guilt and pain onto Guy. He wasn't trying to test him—he was trying to shatter his dream.
Guy hadn't expected Chen to suddenly attack. But unlike Lee in the original story, this Guy had been through real battlefields, baptized in blood—he wasn't so easily overwhelmed.
He fought back immediately.
Unfortunately, Chen was simply too strong—and fighting in anger, he held nothing back. Within moments, Guy was overwhelmed and sent crashing to the ground.
Nan, watching from the side, had originally been thrilled. The moment they started fighting, he'd activated his Sharingan, hoping to steal a few techniques.
But this time, Guy lost even faster than before, collapsing before Nan could analyze anything.
Unlike last time—when Chen had held back at first—this time he went all in, his aim being to crush Guy's will.
Standing over him, Chen coldly said:
"You, who can't even use ninjutsu… with skills like that, give up. You'll never be a real ninja."
"Why…?" Guy looked up, confused and hurt.
Why would someone he admired so deeply say something so heartless?
But Chen gave no further explanation.
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
Guy could only watch helplessly as Master Chen walked away once more.
In the days that followed, Guy returned to Chen's grave every single day—rain or shine, he would be there, waiting patiently.
Each time, Chen would ignore him completely, taking only his rice ball before silently leaving.
From the sidelines, Nan grew increasingly frustrated.
"Come on, you two! Just fight already! If you don't, how am I supposed to copy anything?"
That's when Nan realized a flaw in his plan: both Guy and Chen had more patience than he expected.
Guy kept asking to be taught and was rejected again and again, yet refused to give up.
Chen, despite being bothered daily, didn't try to drive him away. He simply let things be.
But this stalemate couldn't go on. Nan knew that if he didn't take action soon, Guy might get called away on a mission, and who knew when he'd return? That would delay Nan's progress—and if that happened, he might lose to Kakashi.
That was unacceptable.
He had to add fuel to the fire.
So he went to Guy and said:
"Since Master Chen clearly has no intention of teaching you, there's no point forcing him.
But that doesn't mean you can't learn it on your own.
Just like last time—use your full power to push him into using his ultimate technique.
Watch it enough times, and maybe you'll figure it out yourself."
Sure enough, Guy was convinced. He decided to try Nan's approach the very next day.
When Chen arrived once again at his grave, he wasn't surprised to see that stubborn kid still waiting.
But this time, something was different.
Guy didn't bow. He didn't beg.
Instead, he stepped forward and took a fighting stance, shouting with fierce determination:
"Master Chen! I won't ask you to teach me the Dragon God of Leaf anymore!
I'll risk my life and use everything I have to force it out of you.
I will uncover its secrets with my own strength!"
Without another word, Guy launched the first strike.
Chen was furious.
"This cocky brat… fine!
You want to see the Dragon God of Leaf?
I'll show it to you—with full force!"
Once again, he unleashed the Dragon God of Leaf, the roaring dragon-shaped vortex tearing through the earth as wind and stone scattered in all directions.
Guy responded by opening the Gate of Pain, bracing himself against the ferocious attack.
This time, he was prepared.
Instead of being instantly overwhelmed like before, he managed to hold his own, exchanging blows with Chen in a fast-paced taijutsu battle.
But Guy soon realized the Dragon God of Leaf wasn't just a powerful offensive technique—it also had exceptional defensive capabilities.
Chen's entire body was enveloped in a spiraling, tornado-like aura that deflected nearly every strike.
The airflow around him was impenetrable.
Guy couldn't break through. And the strain of maintaining the Inner Gates was starting to wear him down.
Still, he wasn't discouraged this time. He stayed calm, kept observing.
And he noticed something—a pattern.
"This Dragon God of Leaf… it's just like a tornado…
But what's a tornado's weakness again…?"
Before he could finish the thought, his strength gave out.
The energy from the Eight Gates faded, and Guy lost the speed needed to keep up.
In the next moment, he was caught again by the full force of the Dragon God of Leaf and blasted backward, crashing to the ground—unconscious.
This time, their fight had lasted much longer, which allowed Nan to observe and analyze even more of Chen's taijutsu techniques.
If they went one more round like this, Nan believed he might be able to fully decipher the Dragon God of Leaf.
Guy hadn't been able to find the technique's weakness.
But Nan, watching through the Sharingan, had seen it clearly.
The Dragon God of Leaf's weak point is the eye of the storm—
that calm center where the airflow is thinnest and most vulnerable.
If I told Guy this and he challenged Chen again… could he finally break through?
As Chen looked down at the fallen Guy, a hint of hesitation flickered in his heart.
Though he seemed cold, part of him felt pity.
But he still held firm to his belief: a ninja who can't use ninjutsu shouldn't be a ninja at all.
"He couldn't see through the Dragon God of Leaf. Maybe now he'll finally give up.
He won't come back tomorrow…"
With a sigh, Chen turned and walked away.