Chiba vs. Might Guy

Watermelon hair, thick eyebrows, a green jumpsuit... It really was Guy! Looking at his outline, he really did resemble Rock Lee a little. No, rather, Rock Lee resembled him? Seriously, I'd transmigrated into Naruto! I was truly living in the Naruto World! As Chiba walked into the arena and secured Hirohiko's Ninja Tool Pouch behind his waist, those feelings welled up in him again—the feeling that he had truly transmigrated into the Naruto World.

Meanwhile, Might Guy on the other side was muttering something. Chiba vaguely caught, "If I don't pass the Chunin Exams, I'll run a thousand laps around the Training Ground, do a thousand push-ups..." There was a long string of things after that, but Chiba did not hear them clearly.

Nine-year-old Guy... He probably hadn't learned the Eight Gates yet, right? Dai should still be alive, shouldn't he? Chiba glanced at the second floor, but did not see anyone dressed in a green jumpsuit.

Not here? Chiba pondered as he looked at Might Guy before him. After hesitating for a moment, he ultimately lowered the hand that had been about to remove his Weighted Training Gear.

Against the current Guy, he should be fine without taking off the Weighted Training Gear.

"Begin!"

At that moment, the Chunin Exam Proctor announced the start of the match! "Ooh! Konoha Whirlwind!" An upper kick carrying the force of a whirlwind shot straight toward Chiba's cheek.

Chiba's pupils contracted slightly, surprise appearing on his face.

When? When had he rushed over here?

Even as shock flashed through his mind, Guy's Konoha Whirlwind had already reached him. Chiba only had time to raise an arm and block.

"Thud!"

A dull impact of flesh against flesh rang out.

So heavy!

The force behind that kick!

Chiba gritted his teeth, his blocking arm going numb.

Guy's Konoha Whirlwind had such incredible force. It was completely different from mine—far more powerful!

Chiba had already made the comparison in his mind.

At the same time, Might Guy was equally astonished when his side kick was blocked head-on. He's two years younger than me, yet he can block my Konoha Whirlwind! This is the taijutsu I developed to defeat Kakashi! Kakashi was right. Maybe this person's taijutsu is even stronger than mine.

I can't lose, Might Guy! I have to pass the Chunin Exams!

Still in midair, Might Guy's Konoha Whirlwind swept to a halt, stirring up a gust that fluttered both his and Chiba's hair. At the instant the wind rose, Might Guy's other foot kicked upward from below, shooting toward Chiba's chin.

Chiba frowned and pressed down with his other hand to block it.

"Smack!"

Hand and foot collided with a crisp sound.

Might Guy flipped backward, planted his reversed hands on the ground, and used the strength in his waist to drive the force in his legs. Bracing himself with his hands, he suddenly broke through Chiba's guard and snapped a kick upward at high speed, straight for Chiba's chin.

I underestimated him too much!

Regret flashed through Chiba's heart. The instant Guy's foot broke through his guard, he sprang backward, dodging the flipping kick. He retreated several more steps in succession, while Might Guy also performed several backward handstand flips to widen the distance between them.

Once the distance had opened, Chiba moved his hand toward his Weighted Training Gear.

I have to take it off. Otherwise, I'll lose!

After that brief exchange, Chiba understood that he had miscalculated. Guy's strength—even though he had not yet learned the Eight Gates—was still formidable. After all, before learning the Eight Gates, he had already been an outstanding ninja! And a ninja who specialized in taijutsu at that.

However, just as Chiba's hand reached for his Weighted Training Gear, Might Guy's assault arrived.

"Ooh-dah!"

With a flying kick, Might Guy charged at him amid a fierce howl of wind.

No time! Chiba made his judgment instantly, changing his motion to remove the weights into a cross-armed guard.

"Thud!"

The kick landed solidly on Chiba's arms, numbing them again. At the same time, Might Guy twisted in midair and delivered a heavy spinning back kick.

"Smack!"

Chiba shifted both hands slightly, blocking the fierce spinning kick.

That force! Chiba was astonished once more. His hands went numb and weak, and the kick drove both of his hands straight into his own face.

Then his whole body seemed to turn weightless from the force of the blow. Chiba was kicked flying, slamming hard into a statue before slowly sliding down.

"Such powerful taijutsu!" Kushina Uzumaki said in astonishment. Might Guy had far exceeded her expectations. Chiba himself excelled at taijutsu, and she had heard of this Might Guy—a Genin from the Ninja Academy who was poor at ninjutsu and genjutsu but exceptionally skilled in taijutsu.

She had been quite surprised when she first heard about him. After all, ninja who were inept at both ninjutsu and genjutsu and relied solely on taijutsu were exceedingly rare, no less rare than certain uncommon Kekkei Genkai. Minato had mentioned this to her as well, saying that the child was formidable and even Kakashi's rival. Still, she had never thought this child could pose any threat to Chiba. Yet after one barrage of attacks, Chiba had been beaten so badly that he could not even fight back.

This truly was far beyond her expectations.

As Minato Namikaze watched Might Guy land lightly in the arena and let out another whistle of "Ooh-dah," he thought, This is good too. If Guy wins, Chiba won't have to face Hyuga Yukyō... Though I feel a little sorry for Kushina, I really hope Guy wins this match.

"This Taki Chiba... he looks rather ordinary. Did he really defeat Kakashi?" Tsunade had watched Chiba's movements closely. The Sannin had exceptionally high standards. Though Chiba's reactions had been timely and his blocks skillful, he was far too inferior in speed and strength. He was completely on the defensive, taking blow after blow. In terms of strength, he was vastly inferior to Might Guy.

And he specialized in taijutsu. That performance would have been quite impressive among ordinary people, but among those called "geniuses," it seemed mediocre and disappointing. It was not even the kind of performance a "genius" should have.

Jiraiya glanced at Tsunade but said nothing.

Sigh, I don't understand it either. Compared to the other two geniuses, this Chiba is far too mediocre and disappointing. Aside from... uh, being absolutely genius-level when it comes to eating, everything else...

Orochimaru, however, frowned slightly. This Taki Chiba... his movements seem a little uncoordinated. There's a sense of disharmony to them.

It's like his reactions are faster than his movements. He reacts, but his body can't keep up... Is it just an illusion? On the other side of the second floor.

"Chiba..." Yukina watched Chiba slide down, a rare trace of worry appearing on her face.

Clearly, she was very worried about this match.

"Don't worry. Chiba hasn't used his full strength yet. No, he hasn't even used fifty percent of it! He hasn't activated Gate of Life Mode either, has he?" Hirohiko's Sharingan appeared in his eyes as he patted Yukina on the shoulder.

After the battle with Kakashi, Chiba had come clean to Hirohiko. This was not something he could hide forever, and Chiba knew Hirohiko was trustworthy, so he had told him everything. Hirohiko had promised to keep it secret, and Gate of Life Mode had become a shared secret among the three of them. Chiba had not expected that, after that, he would feel as if the three of them had grown closer.

That was right, Gate of Life Mode had not even been activated yet! Chiba had not used his full strength! The worry on Yukina's face immediately vanished.

Chiba was not someone who would lose so easily!

No! Chiba could not lose! Yukina's gaze became firm again as she watched Chiba slowly rise in the arena.

Chiba... You're still wearing your Weighted Training Gear, aren't you...

Hirohiko quietly rubbed his forehead.

That guy was definitely being overconfident.