The Blue Beast of the Hidden Leaf Disappeared...

[Neji Hyuga: "Why wasn't I in the footage?"]

[Konohamaru Sarutobi: "You couldn't have ended up looking like a porcupine, could you? Hahaha..."]

[Ebisu: "Konohamaru, you idiot! How could you talk to someone like that? Apologize!"]

[Konohamaru Sarutobi: "Ow, that hurt... Sorry, I was just kidding."]

[Neji Hyuga: "I have the Byakugan and Rotation, at least. How could I possibly have ended up looking like a porcupine...?"]

[Tokuma Hyuga: "Exactly. Do you think we're idiots? How could someone with the Byakugan end up looking like a porcupine??"]

[Obito Uchiha: "."]

The footage continued.

"Are you all right, Guy?"

Kakashi asked, his face full of concern.

"Yeah, just my right arm and a few ribs are broken, that's all..."

Might Guy responded with a chuckle.

"Even Taijutsu, the only thing we could count on, is useless. What do we do now?" Kakashi frowned deeply.

Madara floated in the sky, looking down at them.

There was no doubt about it.

Madara was far too powerful, and everyone felt disheartened.

"Wait, Kakashi. It's too early to say Taijutsu won't work!" Might Guy shook his head, cutting them off.

"But..." Kakashi trailed off.

"Our youth hasn't faded yet. Don't give up hope!!"

Might Guy said firmly, interrupting them again.

[Madara Uchiha: "How foolish and naive. You have nowhere left to turn!!"]

[Uchiha Izuna: "That's my brother for you, always so resourceful!!!"]

[Fourth Kazekage Rasa: "How utterly devious..."]

[Sarada Uchiha: "That presence is terrifying. I've read about this part of history in the library..."]

[Boruto Uzumaki: "But there's nothing about it in the textbooks at all, is there?"]

[Shikadai Nara: "Idiot, there must be some important events they wanted to hide, so they never made them public..."]

[Boruto Uzumaki: "Oh, is that how it is?"]

[Zabuza Momochi: "Of course kids who grew up in peacetime wouldn't understand..."]

The footage continued.

"It's true that wishes don't always come true... But if you don't even have a wish, how can you do what you want to do?"

Guy stared intently at Madara Uchiha high in the sky.

"Just like when I challenged you..."

Hearing Might Guy's words,

Kakashi recalled a scene from their childhood.

"I'm not just putting on a brave front..."

"Are you...?"

Kakashi stared at Might Guy's back, his pupils contracting sharply.

"The Blue Beast of the Hidden Leaf disappears today... The time has come to become a red beast!"

Might Guy's voice was solemn and resolute.

In the smoke below,

The billowing smoke obscured all hope; not even a path could be seen.

"Might Guy, are you planning to use the Eight Gates?" Kakashi's voice trembled.

"Guy, you can't! Think carefully. No one here wants you to do this!"

Minato anxiously interrupted Might Guy.

"Your father surely wouldn't either..."

"No, this is my wish!" Might Guy's voice was utterly resolute.

He had already prepared himself to die.

Who said there was no way forward?

If he carved out a path himself, wouldn't that be a way forward?

Wasn't there always a way out?

"Guy Sensei, do you really think the time has come for that...?" Rock Lee's face was full of concern.

"Rock Lee, don't look like that... This time, just stand back and watch with a smile!"

Might Guy shook his head and unbuttoned his clothes.

Rock Lee recalled what Might Guy had taught him.

Their experiences were very similar.

Might Guy had been a dead last since childhood, unable to do anything.

He couldn't use Genjutsu or Ninjutsu; the only thing he was good at was Taijutsu.

[Sunagakure Anbu: "What kind of person can only use Taijutsu?"]

[Fourth Kazekage Rasa: "Indeed, someone who can only use Taijutsu hardly counts as a ninja, does he?"]

[Boruto Uzumaki: "This is the first time I've seen a ninja who can't use Ninjutsu..."]

[Ōnoki: "You're all too young. You have no idea how terrifying the Eight Gates Formation is!!!"]

[Hozuki Suigetsu: "Heh, are you saying he can beat Madara Uchiha by opening the Eight Gates?"]

[Karin Uzumaki: "I'm having a little trouble believing it too..."]

[Juzo Biwa: "A bunch of arrogant brats. I'm warning you, you'd better not judge by appearances!!!"]

[Suikazan Fuguki: "I can still see that attack from back then as clearly as if it were yesterday..."]

[Jinin Akebino: "If the Eight Gates Formation isn't broken, I'll eat it!!!"]

[Munashi Jinpachi: "With the Eight Gates open, Might Guy will probably be even fiercer than his father..."]

[Raiga Kurosuki: "Back then, the shockwaves from the Eight Gates Formation alone could shatter the surrounding mountaintops..."]

[Boruto Uzumaki: "Was it really that extreme? Why don't I believe it...?"]

[Mitsuki: "Boruto, this is the Eight Gates Formation, after all. It's a Ninjutsu on the list of forbidden techniques..."]

The footage continued.

Rock Lee's voice was somewhat choked,

Guy gave everyone a thumbs-up and chuckled.

Back then,

His father had made the same gesture.

Surrounded by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, he had fought to carve out a path...

In the blink of an eye, that responsibility had fallen on Rock Lee's shoulders.

Was it his turn now?

The scene gradually shifted.

The sound of chattering voices rang out.

Inside the Ninja Academy,

All the parents crowded around the roster, checking whether their children had been admitted.

"No, it's not there. My name isn't there at all..."

Might Guy scanned the admissions list again and again, his eyes gradually dimming.

The other children around him cheered with delight when they saw they had been accepted.

Might Guy felt even more dejected.

"Son, look carefully!" Might Duy said firmly.

But soon,

He froze.

His son was crying, his voice choked with sobs:

"I'm sorry, Dad. I'm so useless. My name isn't on there at all..."

"Keep looking, Guy. You've put in the effort. There's no way your efforts won't be rewarded!"

Might Duy argued with his son.

"On a path filled with sweat, you'll surely find your name!"

"Okay, I know!"

Seeing this, Might Guy continued searching for his name.

Even though he didn't understand the point of doing so...

The other parents watched the scene helplessly,

But out of politeness,

Everyone chose to be respectful and didn't laugh at Might Guy.

The children, however, didn't think that way.

"This guy just doesn't know when to give up!" Genma Shiranui shook his head.

"I can hardly bear to watch..." Ebisu adjusted his sunglasses.

Might Guy heard the children's taunts, and his eyes showed a hint of displeasure.

He searched the list over and over, but still couldn't find his name...

Might Guy was utterly disappointed.

"I'm sorry... I'm so useless..."

"Don't give up, don't look away. You'll definitely find it!"

The music played intermittently, like a music box.

Watching the other children enter the Ninja Academy,

While he could only run desperately around the rear training ground...

He was dragging a long banner behind him:

"If I can run 500 laps around the training ground, I can fill a vacancy on the admissions list!"

Sweat poured off Might Guy as he ran lap after lap around the track.

(This book isn't going down the conspiracy theory route!!!)