Seeing that the person he assumed to be Kakashi remained still, and mistaking those around him for enemies, Guy was just about to explain. However, when he caught sight of Itachi's incredible speed, his eyes gleamed with excitement, and he decided not to clarify.
Having been locked away for over half a year, with only push-ups to keep him occupied and no opportunities to spar, he felt this was a significant loss.
Now, facing an opponent whose speed seemed on par with his own, Guy couldn't help but feel thrilled at the challenge.
Even though he had never seen or met this person before.
In a flash, the two exchanged blows. Guy's direct kick collided with Itachi's fist, leaving a slight discomfort in Guy's leg.
This made him realize that Itachi's strength was formidable.
Given that a fist is naturally shorter than a leg, and a punch typically isn't as powerful as a kick, the fact that Itachi could withstand the impact showed his resilience. However, Itachi also felt a bit of recoil from the encounter.
Neither of them had any intention of stopping. Mere fractions of a second later, their fists and feet clashed again.
Fist against fist—Guy's punch was solid and firm. When Itachi went for a hard counter, a sharp pain coursed through his hand, but he gritted his teeth and said nothing.
Retracting his fist, Itachi launched a hook with his other hand.
Noticing Itachi's move, Guy mirrored his actions.
Since he specialized in taijutsu, encountering someone who fought solely with taijutsu made him so ecstatic that he almost wanted to cry with joy. The pure exhilaration made him feel like shouting to release his pent-up excitement. This feeling was too satisfying!
...
He vaguely remembered over half a year ago when he had collapsed from exhaustion, unable to even graze his opponent's clothing.
That unparalleled speed in forming hand signs, the substitution technique faster than his reactions, and those crows... They were nothing short of his nightmare.
Finally having the chance for a face-to-face confrontation, he was interrupted by a giant figure.
Someone who could take his punches head-on… and then there were those bizarre flames...
...
After yet another punch collided, Itachi's fist faltered slightly. His honest thought was, How the hell is his fist so tough?
It was like punching solid stone or iron.
Compared to Itachi, whose lips twitched involuntarily, Guy remained calm and composed.
Unwilling to admit defeat, Itachi, whose fist had just recovered slightly, swung again toward Guy's face.
Seeing Itachi rely on punches, Guy refrained from using his signature kicks.
The primary reason was the close distance. While kicks were more powerful, they were slower in tight quarters.
Itachi's speed was so great that even a slight mistake would leave Guy vulnerable to a hit.
Itachi wasn't the type to give him time to prepare for a proper kick—unless he backed away and restarted his charge.
But Guy worried that if he backed off, Itachi might lose interest in sparring with him.
After all, they were just warming up, and his blood was only beginning to boil.
"Who are you?"
Seeing that the two weren't fighting too aggressively—despite their blinding speed, they were clearly in control—a woman stepped forward instead of stopping them. She stood before Kakashi, curiosity evident on her face.
The white-haired man before her had sharp eyebrows, starry eyes, and slightly messy white hair that framed his smooth forehead. Though his face was partially covered by a mask, his handsome and striking features were still evident.
...
Asuma hadn't come, which left her slightly disappointed. However, she was intrigued by the person who had rescued them—especially this cold yet dashing man.
He was from the same village, yet she had never seen him before. Her curiosity piqued, and with nothing better to do, she decided to ask him a question.
"You're strong. I thought I was the only one in Konoha who trained so hard in taijutsu…"
After exchanging a few more blows, Itachi's fists began to feel numb. He couldn't help but reflect that his physical conditioning still had some room for improvement.
Itachi looked at Guy, standing calmly just five meters away, and couldn't help but feel a wave of admiration.
Just as Itachi was about to continue the fight—a rare and exhilarating moment of fist-to-fist combat—he heard Guy begin his trademark, over-the-top flattery.
Shaking his numb, bruised hands with some effort, Itachi felt the discomfort gradually fade.
"..."
Facing the man who stood before him like a towering mountain, Itachi found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
When watching Naruto (the anime), Itachi used to think that Konoha's Guy only knew ninjutsu. However, as he watched further, he realized: in Konoha, only Guy truly mastered taijutsu.
For a moment, his mind wandered.
Guy, noticing his new sparring partner suddenly go quiet, felt a bit frustrated. Was it something he said?
To Guy, anyone who shared his love for taijutsu—especially someone from the same village with similar dreams—was automatically a brother-in-arms, closer to him than any other type of ninja.
He'd hoped to take this opportunity to get to know Itachi better. After all, if they became rivals, it would mean more sparring opportunities in Konoha!
When Kakashi inevitably avoided a challenge, this new friend could step in instead.
Guy glanced at Kakashi, only to find himself slightly disappointed; the person in front of him wasn't someone he recognized.
Just another ninja with a similar build and style...
Still, meeting this passionate new comrade was an unexpected joy.
"Forget it. Let's go. Fighting here isn't ideal."
Noticing Guy glancing around curiously, and seeing the growing crowd of onlookers, Itachi's fighting spirit subsided, and he spoke up.
"All right…"
Guy had been eager to resume the fight, but hearing Itachi's words, he finally noticed the surrounding situation. His fiery enthusiasm began to cool.
His respect for Itachi deepened.
The fact that Itachi could observe their surroundings even during battle meant he wasn't fighting at full strength.
What's more, Guy realized that while Itachi's speed and physicality were impressive, his techniques were slightly flawed, and his raw strength hadn't been fully developed. It was clear he had potential in taijutsu, but wasn't solely focused on it.
This only reinforced Guy's belief that Itachi's overall power might be far greater than his own.
"What's your name?"
As Itachi turned to leave, Guy quickly closed the distance in two steps, instinctively reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder. But Itachi, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, nimbly avoided the gesture.
Guy didn't seem embarrassed, though; his thick skin made up for the awkwardness.
"Asura. You don't need to introduce yourself. I already know you're Might Guy, the Taijutsu Master, and Konoha's Blue Beast."
Noticing Guy about to launch into one of his enthusiastic introductions, Itachi preemptively cut him off.
Hearing Itachi's words, Guy's already flushed face turned an even deeper shade of red.
This guy is even harder to get along with than Kakashi!
He didn't even let Guy introduce himself properly to make a strong impression and build camaraderie.
Depriving him of that moment—so unfair!
Once again, Guy found himself thinking that Kakashi was the only one who truly understood him.
Guy gazed wistfully at Asura's retreating back, his thoughts drifting to Kakashi…
"What's your name? I'm Might Guy, Konoha's Blue Beast! Thank you for coming all this way to save us!"
When they got closer to Kakashi, Guy finally shouted the introduction he'd been holding back. He was partly addressing Kakashi, but it was also for Itachi's benefit.
He hoped this burst of passion and youth would leave an impression on them both.
"Asura…"
Kakashi, hearing Guy's loud proclamation, didn't respond.
By now, he was completely used to Guy's dramatic antics.
But when Kakashi spoke the name "Asura," Guy's face changed immediately.
The calm, composed tone was so familiar…
That unshakable composure was something only his best friend Kakashi possessed!