"Oh, isn't that Shinji?"
On a street in Konoha, Shinji had just walked out of a shop when he heard a voice greeting him.
Shinji turned his head to look, momentarily stunned. "Captain Kakashi?"
Looking at Kakashi, whose demeanor was different from before, Shinji almost thought he was seeing a ghost.
"Nah, I'm not in Anbu anymore, so don't call me captain." Kakashi waved his hand, holding an orange-covered book.
This is… Icha Icha Paradise?
Shinji curiously glanced at the book in Kakashi's hand.
Noticing Shinji's gaze, Kakashi somewhat awkwardly put the book back into his ninja tool pouch.
"Yo! Kakashi, you're actually here."
As the atmosphere between the two became a bit strange, a loud voice rang out behind Kakashi.
Shinji noticed that the moment this voice sounded, Kakashi seemed to deflate.
This is… who has such great magic?
Shinji looked over, only to see a mushroom-headed figure dressed entirely in green, grinning and placing a hand on Kakashi's shoulder.
The mushroom-head, feeling the gaze, looked over and gave Shinji a thumbs-up, saying, "Hello, energetic young man! My name is Guy!"
Shinji felt his eyes flash, then he reacted. This was actually Guy, who almost caused the ending.
"Hello, Guy-senpai." Shinji quickly nodded in greeting.
"Young man, it seems you are also someone with a direction." Guy patted Shinji's shoulder, saying cheerfully.
???
Shinji looked at Kakashi with some confusion after hearing this.
Kakashi could only helplessly say, "Don't mind his words, Shinji."
"You're Shinji?" Guy, completely ignoring Kakashi's words, asked Shinji curiously.
"Yes, Guy-senpai." Shinji nodded.
"Come and fight me!" Guy directly challenged Shinji.
"Hey, Guy, Shinji is just a Chunin."
Kakashi was a bit speechless, when did a Jonin issue a challenge to a Chunin?
"No, Kakashi-senpai, I accept." Shinji, upon hearing Guy's invitation, nodded and agreed.
"Huh?" Kakashi was stunned, looking at Shinji in disbelief.
Was he crazy or had the world changed?
Shinji said with a gentle smile, "I'll be applying for the Jonin examination soon, so I'll spar with Guy-senpai first to see if I can gain some experience."
From the moment Guy appeared, Shinji had learned Guy's information through the system panel. Unlike other ninja's information, Guy's data was overly simple. But Shinji could feel that the threat Guy posed to him was not much different from Kakashi's.
Perhaps it was because the Eight Inner Gates only showed its true power after the Gate of Death erupted.
Guy was very happy with Shinji's agreement and turned to complain to Kakashi, "Kakashi, you should learn from Shinji. Lately, every time I challenge you, you don't accept."
After his initial surprise, Kakashi returned to his calm demeanor. He responded to Guy's questioning with an unruffled expression, "I do. Isn't rock-paper-scissors also a challenge?"
Rock-paper-scissors…
Shinji's lips twitched a little. So Kakashi had already become like this at that time?
As expected of Jiraiya, he induced Kakashi's true nature in such a short time.
Shinji invited Kakashi and Guy, "Kakashi-senpai and Guy-senpai, then let's go to my usual training ground."
"No problem, let's go, go, go!" Guy grabbed Kakashi's hand and immediately followed Shinji's steps.
Kakashi, being dragged with a look of utter resignation, helplessly said, "Why do your challenges have to involve me?"
"Kakashi, youth must charge forward without hesitation!" Guy completely ignored Kakashi's complaints and sped up, rushing forward.
—
On the Training Ground.
Naruto, Shikamaru, and others stood together.
Naruto, who was watching his teacher and another ninja dressed in strange green attire, suddenly felt a gaze. He turned his head and saw the masked man who had come with them staring at him.
Naruto asked with some confusion, "Mister, why are you looking at me?"
At Naruto's question, Kakashi finally came back to his senses. He shook his head, and said indifferently, "Nothing, just reminded me of an old acquaintance."
After speaking, Kakashi no longer paid attention to Naruto and looked at Shinji and Guy in the arena.
Even though Shinji was currently Hiruzen's disciple, Kakashi still didn't think he could last long against Guy.
Yes, not about winning or losing, but about how long he could last against Guy.
In the arena, Guy gave Shinji a thumbs-up and spoke cheerfully, "Shinji! Please guide me."
"Guy-senpai, please guide me."
Shinji nodded, then immediately condensed Chakra and adopted his starting stance. His arms were crossed in front of him, and a faint golden Chakra appeared.
The fight with Guy was naturally primarily focused on Taijutsu. As for Ninjutsu...
If he could quickly perform hand seals to use them, it would be okay. Otherwise what he had told Sasuke earlier would be his actual situation today.
How could a teacher be lectured in front of his own students?
"Oh, my feeling was correct after all. Shinji, you are also a Taijutsu-type ninja." Guy looked at Shinji's stance and said excitedly.
Then, he turned sideways and extended his right palm towards Shinji.
"Then take this."
As soon as his words fell, Guy suddenly rushed towards Shinji and delivered his first kick.
Leaf Great Whirlwind!
Guy was so fast that Naruto and the others in the arena could barely see it, the whirlwind kick directly aimed at Shinji.
"Hey, Guy, you're going too far!" Kakashi shouted at Guy with a serious expression.
With Guy going all out from the start, Kakashi didn't think Shinji could take that kick.
"Mister, please don't talk." Naruto said with a serious expression without turning his head, while carefully looking towards Shinji's direction.
Seeing Guy's unstoppable whirlwind kick, Shinji did not dodge. He adjusted his breathing, and Chakra instantly covered his entire body, forming a flowing shield. He used the opportunity to grab Guy's incoming kick.
Then Shinji's entire body spun, using the rotation to deflect the force of Guy's kick and throw him out.
"Amazing Taijutsu!"
Guy's eyes lit up upon seeing this method of deflecting force.
"To be able to so easily neutralize my Great Whirlwind, let's see if you can take this move."
Violent — Leaf Adamantine-Strength Whirlwind!
As soon as his words fell, a layer of blue Chakra appeared on Guy's foot, rapidly kicking towards Shinji.
"So fast!"
Shinji's eyes narrowed. This kick had even greater power than the previous spinning kick.
Egoless State.
Shinji took a deep breath, compressing his Chakra to the cellular level, entering the absolute domain of the Eternal Fist.