Click.
Might Guy, now clad in his signature green jumpsuit, walked out of his house with a steamed bun in his mouth. The slightly warm sunlight bathed his face, making even the perpetually energetic Guy let out a muffled groan of satisfaction as he stretched.
The flowers lining the street were already in full, vibrant bloom. Just a glance could lift one's spirits considerably.
"Indeed, morning is the absolute prime time for youth to bloom!"
Might Guy took a deep breath, stuffed the remaining bun into his mouth in two quick bites, and exclaimed loudly, though his words were slightly muffled, "Facing Konoha's morning sun, let sweat and flower petals dance together!"
With that, he took off, kicking up a cloud of dust as he ran towards the commercial district. However, halfway there, he noticed more and more people walking in the opposite direction. The originally wide, open road began to feel somewhat congested.
"Huh?"
Might Guy stopped, scratching his head in confusion. He gave a light jump, landing on a higher vantage point. Shading his eyes with his hand against the sun, he looked towards the flow of people on other distant streets.
The hurried crowds converged like tides of ants, moving in groups of three or five towards the village entrance.
"What's going on?"
Seeing this, even Might Guy couldn't help but feel curious. But after a moment's hesitation, he continued on, walking against the current of people towards the Hyūga clan compound.
In truth, time had flown by since he last saw Kumokawa. Two months had passed in the blink of an eye.
During this period, Konoha remained peaceful and harmonious within its walls. The general populace remained oblivious to the conflicts brewing at the Land of Fire's borders.
It wasn't until the village leadership announced that Kumogakure was coming to Konoha to sign a peace treaty that the people were suddenly shocked, then overjoyed—thrilled that their Third Hokage had quietly pulled off such a significant feat.
"Peace treaty" sounded nice, but wasn't it essentially them coming to cling to Konoha's leg for support?
Faced with the submission of a former enemy from the Great Shinobi Wars, all of Konoha's citizens felt a shared sense of pride. This was the reason for the commotion today.
However, a small-time Chūnin like Might Guy, with no political connections, naturally had no idea what had transpired at the borders. Engrossed in his daily training, he also remained unaware of the news about Kumogakure's impending visit.
All he knew was that his training partner, Hyūga Kumokawa, had completely vanished for these past two months.
Every time he went to the Hyūga compound looking for Kumokawa, he was always stopped by a branch family member with a complicated expression. Their attitude was unusually, even excessively, polite as they informed him that Hyūga Kumokawa was in seclusion for training and to come back in two months.
Every time he went to the Hyūga compound looking for Kumokawa, he was always stopped by a branch family member with a complicated expression. Their attitude was unusually, even excessively, polite as they informed him that Hyūga Kumokawa was in seclusion for training and to come back in two months.
'Seclusion for training?
How can you train in taijutsu by locking yourself away?'
Might Guy knew very well Kumokawa's dedication and discipline, which were no less than his own. So, his first reaction upon hearing this was that the guy was lying to him.
But the complex expression on that Hyūga branch member's face didn't seem like an act. This made Guy wonder if something had happened within the Hyūga clan.
Now, two months had passed since that day.
"Kumokawa should finally be open for visitors today."
With Kakashi joining the ANBU and constantly swamped, and Hyūga Kumokawa, his only training partner, absent, Might Guy had been feeling cooped up training alone these past two months.
Seeing the agreed-upon time had arrived, he was naturally eager to find him.
When Might Guy arrived at the Hyūga compound, the person on guard duty today happened to be the very same branch family member Kumokawa had taught a lesson to last time.
This time, not only did the man not stop him or give him the cold shoulder, he politely let him through.
'His attitude changed! It really changed!
Kumokawa must have done something big in secret!'
"KU—MO—KA—WA!!"
Might Guy sprinted towards Hyūga Kumokawa's residence, his face alight with excitement. "Don't pretend you can't hear me, you jerk! Let's see how much you've improved these past two months! I'll definitely make you say 'As expected of Guy-senpai' today!"
Previously, Hyūga Kumokawa's residence always had a barrier up. Now, it was gone.
In his excitement, Might Guy even forgot about formalities. Seeing the door was ajar, he took it as an invitation and walked right in.
But the moment he stepped inside, it was as if he passed through a thin film. The hair on his body stood on end.
It wasn't due to any sense of killing intent. Instead, the air seemed saturated with invisible electric charges, causing the fine hairs on his skin to rise slightly.
"This is…"
Feeling the faint tingling sensation on his skin, Might Guy paused, frowning. He moved cautiously towards Kumokawa's training room. The closer he got, the stronger the feeling became.
Finally pushing the door open, what met his eyes was slightly blurred air.
Zzzt! Zzzt!
All conductive equipment had been removed from the room. Sitting cross-legged in the center, Hyūga Kumokawa's bare, well-defined upper torso was visible. Tiny blue electric arcs danced across his skin and the air around him, like countless small blue serpents extending their slender forms.
Hearing Might Guy enter, the meditating Hyūga Kumokawa slowly opened his eyes. A blue light flickered briefly in the depths of his pure white irises.
Under Might Guy's astonished gaze, the electric arcs surrounding Kumokawa began to retract, like a tamed nest of serpents gradually merging back into his body.
"Guy-senpai, here for training?" Hyūga Kumokawa asked.
"..."
Hearing this, Might Guy snapped back to reality, staring dumbfounded at Kumokawa's physique. The power contained within was almost palpable.
"Kumokawa… you're using Lightning Release chakra to temper your body?" His expression shifted to one of utter disbelief, and the words burst out before he could stop himself. "Are you insane?"
That Lightning Release chakra could be used for body tempering wasn't a secret in the shinobi world. Kumogakure was the most proficient at it.
The Third Raikage held the titles "Strongest Shield" and "Strongest Spear." The Fourth Raikage was famously known as the "Blue Lightning" for his speed.
But not just anyone could use Lightning Release chakra for body tempering. Mastering both nature and shape transformation of Lightning Release chakra alone was a hurdle for many. It also required a complete understanding of one's own complex chakra network system.
Why were most Lightning Release jutsu long-range?
Why were there so few Lightning Release techniques suitable for Chūnin and Genin to learn?
It was because Lightning Release chakra wasn't stable like Earth Release. It was arguably the most volatile of the five basic nature transformations.
To use a ninjutsu, chakra must circulate through the body's meridian system. Fiery Lightning Release chakra was notoriously difficult to control. The slightest error during the process could seriously damage one's body…
With this thought, Might Guy froze again, suddenly realizing that Hyūga Kumokawa, with his Byakugan capable of seeing the internal meridian system, might actually be the ideal candidate for this form of body tempering.
"This…"
For a moment, he stood there with his mouth agape, unable to speak, lost in brief silence.
One could easily imagine that with Lightning Release chakra tempering his physique, Hyūga Kumokawa's future progress with the Eight Gates would be meteoric.
And this path of cultivation was one that he, a man with almost no talent for ninjutsu, could never hope to tread.
However, this fleeting sense of frustration was quickly drowned out by the boiling passion and fighting spirit in his heart.
The look in Might Guy's eyes as he regarded Hyūga Kumokawa shifted repeatedly, finally settling into the same gaze he usually reserved for Kakashi.
"Kumokawa." His eyes blazed as he gave a thumbs-up, grinning to reveal his gleaming white teeth, his tone earnest. "Congratulations."
There was no trace of jealousy or bitterness in his words, only sincere joy for his friend—and for himself.
Joy for Hyūga Kumokawa's progress, and joy for gaining another true rival.
Yes.
In this moment, Hyūga Kumokawa was no longer, in Might Guy's heart, a fellow outcast seeking warmth, nor a pitiable junior to be nurtured and assisted.
He had become, like that guy Kakashi, a truly respected rival and treasured friend.