Shedding his white physician's coat, Kei changed into his loose, comfortable training clothes and stepped out into the wide dirt courtyard behind the clinic. Might Guy was already stretching, performing a vigorous series of squats while Kakashi stood nearby, speaking to him in low, urgent tones.
Even without his eyes, Kei knew exactly what was happening. Kakashi was frantically warning the Green Beast to keep his guard up and ignore everything the doctor said.
Kei only smiled. Kakashi's misunderstanding of him ran far too deep.
If a doctor were to look deep into Might Guy's mind, they would find that his defining trait wasn't his endless positivity, his fiery passion, or even his iron resolve. It was his absolute, uncorrupted purity.
Konoha's Green Beast was a true believer. He held absolute faith in his own path, convinced that the springtime of youth and relentless hard work could conquer any obstacle. A man with a spirit forged from that kind of pure, unyielding steel was incredibly difficult to break using standard manipulation.
That was exactly why Kei hadn't challenged Guy with the intention of tearing down his worldview today. Attempting to shatter Guy's ideology in a single afternoon was an impossible task.
His immediate goal was simply to test his own physical limits against Konoha's premier taijutsu master, while quietly laying the foundation for a genuine friendship. Kei always enjoyed making friends. The more friends a man gathered, the fewer enemies he had to worry about.
"Kei! Here I come!"
Kei was about to offer a polite greeting, but Guy was practically vibrating with impatience. The moment the words left his mouth, Guy vanished, leaving behind nothing but a blur of green spandex and kicked-up dust.
Kei instantly dropped into a fluid defensive stance. In close-quarters combat, losing the initiative usually meant losing the fight.
Thud!
Flesh met bone as Kei brought his palms up to catch a devastating straight punch. A dull, heavy shockwave echoed through the courtyard.
He is incredibly fast! Kei thought, a sharp thrill running through him.
Guy's strike was blindingly quick and carried the weight of a boulder. If Kei hadn't possessed his hyper-sensitive awareness, that single, opening blow would have easily thrown him off balance.
Before Kei could even pivot, Guy's follow-up strikes arrived in a relentless, punishing flurry. Kei shifted his weight and countered.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The two men clashed fiercely, trading lightning-fast blows as they danced back and forth across the open dirt.
Standing on the sidelines, Kakashi watched the brawl with his arms crossed. He stared intently at the blind doctor. In truth, Kakashi wasn't remotely afraid of Kei's fists; he was terrified of Kei's mouth. He knew exactly how much damage that warm, smiling voice could inflict.
Kei ignored Kakashi's glaring suspicion. At this exact moment, he didn't have the luxury of paying attention to the audience.
Unlike the flowing, redirecting nature of the Hyuga's Gentle Fist, the Strong Fist relied entirely on bone-crushing speed and absolute ferocity. If a shinobi's physical conditioning wasn't flawless, they would be torn apart by Guy's overwhelming pace.
Fortunately, the Body Revitalization Jutsu Kei had been channeling through his system for the past three months had significantly enhanced his muscle density and reflexes. Despite Guy's terrifying speed, Kei quickly found the rhythm and adapted to the onslaught.
The brawl raged on. From the outside, Kei appeared graceful and relaxed, flowing around the strikes. But in reality, every block and parry sent a jarring ache up his arms.
The moment the spar began, Guy had completely shed his loud, comical demeanor. His focus was razor-sharp, and every movement carried the crushing, natural presence of a true martial arts master.
After a rapid sequence of jabs forced Kei into a narrow corner, Guy instantly shifted his momentum. "Leaf Hurricane!"
Spinning like a green tornado, Guy launched a devastating, high-speed flying kick directly at Kei's chest.
Kei chose not to dodge. This spar wasn't about securing a victory; it was about testing the absolute limits of his new body. He flooded his chakra pathways, braced his stance, and met the brutal kick head-on with an open-palm strike.
With another deep, booming thud, the sheer force of the collision sent both men skidding backward, their boots carving deep trenches into the dry earth.
Feeling a deep, burning ache in his forearms, Kei shook his hands out and smiled. "Guy, your taijutsu is truly spectacular."
Guy landed lightly on his feet. He looked at the doctor, his expression serious, before rubbing the back of his neck. "I had a massive advantage. You couldn't use your Byakugan to read my movements."
A second later, Guy's eyes went wide. Realizing how insensitive the comment sounded to a blind man, he bowed frantically. "Ah! I am so sorry! I didn't mean anything disrespectful by that!"
"It is perfectly fine, I am quite used to it," Kei laughed softly, offering a warm, forgiving smile. "We are friends, are we not? True friends do not concern themselves with such minor slip-ups."
"Kei, you are absolutely right!" Guy beamed, visibly thrilled by the easy forgiveness. "Men who burn with the passion of youth should naturally be the greatest of friends!"
Standing near the edge of the courtyard, Kakashi ground his teeth. He knew exactly what was happening. Guy had completely forgotten all of the warnings in the heat of the spar.
Kakashi knew this routine all too well. The blind man had told him the exact same thing in the hospital—that they should be friends. And look how that had ended. Kakashi was now sworn to a shadow syndicate, dragged into treason because he couldn't find it in his heart to walk away.
Unable to watch his best friend fall into the same trap, Kakashi stepped forward. "Are you two here to fight, or to chat? If you are done sparring, let's call it a day."
"Do not be so anxious, Kakashi," Kei said smoothly, turning his head toward the silver-haired ninja. "Even the most passionate battles require a healthy balance of exertion and rest, don't you agree?"
Kakashi's hostility was glaring, but Kei didn't mind. He had already won the moment Kakashi allowed the spar to happen.
In his past life, Kei had once spent three grueling years treating a profoundly stubborn patient, trying a hundred different approaches before finally achieving a breakthrough. He was more than prepared to play the long game with Might Guy.
Guy didn't necessarily need to put on a porcelain mask and join the Avengers Alliance. Just as the loud, vibrant shinobi was unsuited for the dark, silent work of the ANBU, he was likely unsuited for Kei's syndicate. But not being an Avenger didn't mean Guy couldn't be pointed at the right enemies when the time came.
Ignoring Kakashi's glare, Kei turned his smile back to the Green Beast. "Guy, I want to see your true strength in this next round. You possess a legendary hidden technique, do you not?"
Guy didn't hesitate. "Of course I do!"
"Then show it to me," Kei challenged softly, settling back into his stance. "That first exchange was merely a warm-up."
Guy opened his mouth to shout his agreement, but he suddenly hesitated, shaking his head.
"What is wrong? Are you looking down on me?" Kei asked, deliberately prodding the man's pride. "Do you believe a blind civilian isn't worthy of facing your ultimate move?"
"No, no! Not at all!" Guy waved his hands frantically. "I do not look down on you! I consider you a dear friend! And it is exactly because you are my friend that I shouldn't use that technique against you."
Kei's smile softened into something deeply genuine. He was pleased Guy felt that way. But he needed to push the man just a little further.
"Guy. It is precisely because we are friends that you must not hold back," Kei said, taking a slow step forward, his voice ringing with absolute sincerity.
"Does a man who truly believes in the fiery passion of youth hesitate when a comrade challenges him?"
Guy shifted his weight, clearly torn. "But... I am genuinely worried I might hurt you."
"Even though we have only known each other for a short time," Kei said, his dead eyes 'looking' directly into Guy's, "I believe in you, Guy. Just as I believe in myself."
"So please, show me your ultimate technique. Do not worry about my safety. I have recently learned a method that can withstand it."
"You... you believe in me?"
Guy stared at the blind doctor. Slowly, he clenched his fists, his knuckles popping in the quiet courtyard.
He didn't know why, but seeing the unwavering trust in Kei's warm smile, Guy felt a sudden, overwhelming surge of emotion. He felt that he simply could not betray the profound faith this man had placed in him.
Forgive me, Kakashi, Guy apologized silently in his heart. But I must answer his passion!