"Of course, grabbing your opponent's attacking wrist also counts as a win."
"Oh!" Guy's eyes lit up. This match sounded interesting!
"This is a contest of observation and reaction speed!"
"Come on! The Blue Beast of Konoha, accept my challenge!"
"If I lose, I'll do 500 handstand laps around Konoha!"
Kakashi didn't find this proposal strange at all. Instead, he added, "If I lose, I'll do five thousand sword swings!"
Their eyes met, each seeing the determination in the other.
Kakashi gave the order, "Begin!"
The two figures instantly closed the distance.
They quickly exchanged blows, rapidly shifting their movements in a flurry of hand-to-hand combat. Both moved nimbly around the training ground, constantly adjusting their positions to gain an advantageous angle. They had to guard their own necks while simultaneously watching for any opening from their opponent, considering when to deliberately reveal a flaw to bait them in and snatch their outstretched wrist.
The two rivals continued their struggle, darting across the field. One moment they were on the offensive, the next they were neutralizing each other's moves. The constant repositioning and changes in direction were a tremendous challenge to both their stamina and their intellect. Neither could gain a clear advantage over the other.
After taking a deep breath, Kakashi tried a new method of using Lightning Release to accelerate his body.
Crackle…
A flicker of electricity surrounded him. Kakashi's speed suddenly surged. In an instant, he was behind Guy. Before Guy could react, Kakashi's hand was already on the back of his neck.
Guy's expression froze, and he stopped moving. Then, his voice filled with excitement, he asked, "What was that just now?! How did you get so fast?!"
Kakashi showed no sign of smugness; he knew he still had plenty of room for improvement. Besides, Guy hadn't even opened the Eight Inner Gates.
"It's a special form of lightning stimulation."
While Lightning Release techniques were not uncommon among ninja, their specific applications varied greatly from person to person. The pioneers in this field were the Raikage's clan from the Hidden Cloud Village. The Lightning Release Chakra Mode mastered by the Raikage's clan not only boosted their speed but also provided a defensive armor.
The lightning stimulation method inherited from the White Fang allowed the user's power and speed to skyrocket for a short time. With a blade in hand, one could break through an enemy's defense and deliver a fatal blow in the blink of an eye. The results of today's first experiment exceeded Kakashi's expectations.
How could he better integrate this explosive skill with his existing Earth and Lightning Release techniques…
Hearing Kakashi's explanation, Guy was happy for him. To find a suitable training path so soon after losing his Sharingan was a tremendous accomplishment for anyone.
"Excellent, Kakashi! The Blue Beast of Konoha has been defeated this time! But in our next match, I'll definitely win it back!"
"Now then, it's time to carry out the penalty: five hundred handstand laps!"
Heh!
Guy flipped into the air and landed upside down on his hands.
"Kakashi, I'm off! See you next time!"
Guy's shout snapped Kakashi out of his thoughts. "Be careful on your way, Guy! Come by again when you have time!"
Guy easily supported himself on one hand, freeing the other to give Kakashi a thumbs-up.
"Don't worry, my eternal friend and rival!"
"Youth is all about striving and sweating!"
"One-two, one-two, one-two..."
And with that, Guy quickly disappeared from Kakashi's sight. Over this period, Kakashi had grown to understand and respect Guy even more. Inspired, after a short rest following their match, he immediately began practicing new ways to combine his ninjutsu and swordsmanship.
The Uchiha Clan's compound.
Although the bid for the Fifth Hokage had ended in failure, everyone noticed that their clan head showed no trace of disappointment. In fact, he wore a smile. This put many of the initially worried clan members at ease, and the atmosphere was free of dejection. After all, if their own leader wasn't bothered by such a minor setback, what did the others have to worry about? It wasn't as if they were short on money, or that their lives were worse than before.
A group of Uchiha who had just returned from a mission were sparring in the training grounds to pass the time. A few of the former combat instructors were giving advice to the others.
"Katsura, you should consider getting into combat instruction."
"When our Uchiha clan has its own academy, you can be a teacher."
"It's not a bad gig. The students will really respect you."
"If you don't like it, no harm done. You can at least give it a try."
Naruto was waiting in the plaza for Kawasaki. He'd heard Kawasaki had gone to speak with Tsunade and hadn't been seen since. He decided he might as well go check on Sasuke first.
At that moment, many Uchiha were there, sparring and honing their skills. Since the clan had its own newly built hospital, with the powerful Lady Tsunade herself in residence, everyone felt secure. Because of this, they didn't hold back in their spars, striking with full force.
Naruto, who had never seen such a sight before, was having his eyes opened. He recalled when he and Sasuke had fought alongside top-tier shinobi. By comparison, everything they had learned at the Academy seemed like childish games.
It was said that the Uchiha training grounds were divided into inner and outer sections, though there were no official rules. The inner area, closer to Kawasaki's residence, was rarely used by others.
Since Kawasaki was still nowhere to be seen after a while, Naruto decided to head further in. According to Sasuke, he was planning to defeat his brother, Itachi, today in a major upset. They were probably sparring in the inner grounds. Considering his good relationship with Kawasaki, there was practically nowhere in the compound he couldn't go.
As he walked, he spotted someone who didn't belong to the Uchiha clan training there. This person had short, rounded, orange hair.
Seeing the hairstyle made Naruto self-conscious, and he touched his own long, blond hair. He remembered Kawasaki once casually mentioning, "Remember, a buzz cut would look terrible on you. Don't ever get one."
He hadn't understood why at the time, but he had taken the advice and kept his hair a bit longer. It was only now, looking at this guy, that he realized... hmm, a buzz cut really did look awkward...
But who was this person? And why were they here?
Since the day of his rebirth, Yahiko had been gradually adapting to this strange yet familiar body. When he awoke, fifteen long years had passed since his death. And during that time, his body had been further modified by his dear friends, Nagato and Konan.
For now, he was unsure how he would catch up to his friends' growth in power. But deep down, he was determined not to be a burden to anyone.