Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Might Guy
Kakashi had been sent by Hiruzen to guide Naruto's training while also serving as a protector for the Jinchuriki. With nearly half of the village's Elite Ninjas now investigating the mysterious figure who had stolen Kekkei Genkai, Kakashi was undoubtedly the best choice to protect Naruto.
As for Might Guy, their meeting had been purely coincidental.
---
One morning.
Naruto stood in front of a steamed bun shop. With lightning speed, he grabbed an entire tray of freshly steamed buns, not caring whether the owner minded. He tossed down what he thought was enough money and left.
The owner, his face turning green with frustration, stared at the money on the counter, unsure whether to pick it up or not. While the buns had been touched by the 'demon fox,' the amount of money Naruto had left was no small sum.
As Naruto walked through the village, he could feel the villagers' malice growing increasingly twisted. However, he no longer heard the usual whispers or murmurs. After all, speaking out might not only attract the 'demon fox's' attention but also draw the ire of the Uchiha-led Konoha Military Police Force.
Perhaps it was this pent-up frustration, this mix of hatred and fear, that made their malice grow even more distorted.
Naruto, however, had stopped actively provoking the villagers. He had been excited for the first couple of days, but the novelty quickly wore off.
Would you find a bunch of unresponsive, ugly dolls interesting?
Those who only knew fear and cowering didn't even spark his desire to destroy them.
'That old bastard had ruined one of my few sources of amusement.'
"Ah... this village is really beyond saving-"
Naruto couldn't help but let out a mournful sigh as he bit into a bun and headed toward Training Ground 3.
"Hey, young man, daydreaming while walking is a good way to get hurt."
A robust voice suddenly rang out in front of him, pulling Naruto's scattered thoughts back to reality.
Naruto's eyes immediately caught a flash of green. Focusing his gaze, he saw a pair of muscular legs encased in green spandex.
His eyes traveled upward, landing on a face with thick eyebrows and a strong, chiseled jawline.
'The Green Beast of Konoha, Might Guy?'
The distinctive appearance made Guy instantly recognizable.
"Young man, why the long face during such a vibrant Youth?"
Guy flashed Naruto his signature smile, his teeth gleaming so brightly they were almost blinding.
"Uh-" Naruto was stunned for a while, and asked in confusion: "Green Spandex Uncle, what are you doing?"
"Me?" Guy pointed a thumbs-up at himself, "I am burning my Youth."
Naruto broke out in a cold sweat, 'This guy was exactly like the descriptions in the original work.'
"Uh... so you're training, then?"
"Hahaha, sweating and burning my youth… that's my way of training."
Guy suddenly burst into laughter.
"..."
"What are they doing?"
"I don't know. That guy in green looks like a Ninja."
"Huh? What kind of Ninja dresses like that?"
"No wonder they can communicate with each other."
The surrounding villagers began to murmur. Naruto remained unfazed, but Guy started to feel a bit self-conscious.
"Haha, young man, sorry for the trouble. If there's nothing else, I'll continue burning my youth. As punishment, I'll do another hundred laps around the village on my hands!"
'This Might Guy really was a bit eccentric.'
Before Naruto could respond, Guy had already dashed past him.
"Uncle, wait!"
Seeing that Might Guy was about to run off, Naruto quickly called out to him.
"Young man, is there something else?"
Guy stopped in his tracks… or rather, on his hands, and turned around.
"..."
Even after all this time, Naruto still couldn't quite get used to this posture.
"Since you want to apologize, how about teaching me Taijutsu instead?"
"?"
Guy looked at Naruto in surprise, hardly believing what he had just heard, "You want to learn Taijutsu from me?"
Naruto smiled and asked again, "Uncle, you should be a Taijutsu Master, right?"
"Hahaha, of course! I'm one of the few Taijutsu-specialized Jonin in Konoha."
"Is this what Youth is all about?"
Suddenly, tears streamed down Guy's face as he laughed.
'I never expected that a young boy in Konoha would be inspired by my burning Youth. This was true passion! My flames could indeed ignite others as well. It was so moving.'
"..."
Naruto had never felt so speechless in all his time since crossing over, 'How did this guy go from laughing to crying in seconds?'
"Uncle, can I learn Taijutsu from you?" Naruto asked again.
"Hahaha, of course! But if you want to learn Taijutsu, you have to start with building stamina. Let's see how much Youth you have in you!"
Guy wiped away his tears and gave Naruto a thumbs-up. "Keep up with me! Let me see your Youth!"
After saying that, Guy charged forward, his excitement making his hand movements even faster.
Naruto followed suit, copying Might Guy's movements and flipping onto his hands to follow.
"Huh?"
After running a short distance, Guy turned to see if Naruto was keeping up. To his surprise, he found Naruto following him, also on his hands. He had only expected Naruto to run normally, but this...
Naruto noticed Might Guy's astonished expression and flashed a bright, gleaming smile.
"Uncle, I can go even faster!"
Naruto suddenly increased the speed of his hand movements, and his overall pace surged as he overtook Guy.
Tears once again streamed down Might Guy's face.
"This is what Youth is all about!"
"But I won't give up! "
And so, the two figures, one large, one small, began circling the village on their hands.
Even Kakashi, who had been secretly following Naruto, was left dumbfounded by the sight. For a moment, he thought he saw his late teacher, Minato, with a bowl cut.
---
Naturally, Guy became Naruto's physical training instructor.
Naruto wasn't aiming to learn the Eight Gates. After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi would never allow him to learn such a dangerous Taijutsu.
'After a month of persistence, that old bastard had only taught me one C-rank Wind Release Technique, likely to keep my power in check and ensure I remained manageable in the future.'
'What a hypocritical old bastard. He had hoarded so much of the Uzumaki Clan's wealth and knowledge, yet he couldn't even spare a few Ninjutsu for me.'
'Hmph, old bastard Hiruzen, you're digging your own grave.'
Naruto snorted in his heart. He was actually very interested in the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Techniques, but he had no way to learn them.
Naruto repeatedly unleashed Wind Release: Great Breakthrough on the trees in the forest, practicing how to release the Ninjutsu directly from his hands, just like his Wind Release: Finger Gun. Otherwise, even without hand seals, using his mouth to release the technique wouldn't have the same surprise effect.
But as he trained, his mind wandered, 'Where could I learn Sealing Techniques? No matter what, Sealing Techniques were a hallmark of the Naruto World. There's no way I would miss it out.'
As he practiced and pondered, Naruto suddenly remembered something, 'When it came to the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Techniques, who in this world could possibly know more than the Uzumaki themselves?'
'If I remembered correctly, I had chakra from Kushina and Minato sealed within me. I should discuss it with Kurama when I got back tonight.'
"Hahaha, Naruto, Kakashi, I'm here!"
At this time, a hearty, booming laugh rang out, and a bowl-cut head appeared in their line of sight. It was Might Guy.
Kakashi, without looking up, simply raised a hand in greeting, already immersed in the grand endeavor of exploring the origins of life.
Naruto, on the other hand, let out a loud laugh and charged toward Guy, raising his elbow, which gleamed with a cold light.
"Hahaha, Uncle Guy, let's burn our Youth together."
"I can elbow you all day!"