Counterattack

Chiba lightly wiped his face and rose from the ground. Looking down, he saw faint bloodstains on his hand.

That had been one heavy kick!

"He's so weak. Guy's definitely going to win," people outside the arena began whispering.

"Yeah, he doesn't have any ability to fight back at all."

"He's the genius who graduated early from the Academy, right? I heard he's good at taijutsu too. What a letdown."

"Huh? I heard his name is Taki Chiba. He's that traitor's son."

"A traitor's son? Yeah, my parents hate him too."

"Of course they do! He's the son of a traitor to the village, with traitor's blood in his veins. Maybe he'll become a traitor too someday! It's good that Guy beats him here! Otherwise, if he betrays the village later, the village's losses will be even greater!"

"Yeah!"

At once, everyone began agreeing, until someone suddenly shouted first.

"Go, Guy! Beat him flat!"

"Go, Guy! You have to win!"

"We're all rooting for you, Guy!"

The entire arena was filled with cheers for Guy.

"Kushina, calm down!" Minato Namikaze hurriedly grabbed his lover's hand. He had already seen the anger mark on Kushina Uzumaki's forehead, as well as her red hair beginning to rise.

The hand he held was already bulging with veins. If he had not stopped her, every one of those people would have had a lump on their heads.

"Minato, don't stop me. Those little brats..." Kushina Uzumaki's face was full of fury.

"Enough. We all know Chiba is a good child." Minato Namikaze looked at Kushina Uzumaki, his face becoming unusually serious.

Yet in his mind, he recalled Chiba's spar with Kakashi. During their final standoff, and when Chiba had used the Substitution Technique to turn the tables, Chiba's gaze had briefly flicked toward Kushina, Hirohiko, and Yukina.

The movement had been tiny, but Minato had caught it.

It was precisely after looking at them that the faint hesitation in Chiba's eyes had vanished, replaced by determination.

And in the end, he had defeated Kakashi.

This child is most likely fighting for Kushina and the others, not for a chance to take the Chunin Exams!

That had been Minato Namikaze's judgment then, and it remained his impression of Chiba now.

"Minato..." Seeing Minato Namikaze's expression and gaze, Kushina Uzumaki slowly unclenched her fists, all her anger gone.

Minato Namikaze nodded and said, "Don't mind them. We all know Chiba is a good child."

"Mm. He's my finest disciple. He absolutely won't lose. He won't lose before that time comes." Kushina Uzumaki nodded and looked toward the arena.

In the arena,

Chiba's gaze shifted slightly. He had clearly been distracted by the sudden cheers, but he immediately turned his eyes back and paid them no mind.

Might Guy was initially stunned, surprise appearing on his face. He clearly had not expected so many people to cheer him on.

He slowly turned around.

The entire arena instantly fell silent, and black lines seemed to drop across everyone's foreheads.

Might Guy stretched out one hand toward them, curling his four fingers and raising his thumb. One eye was squeezed shut, and he wore a toothy grin at the corner of his mouth. His gleaming white teeth even flashed.

"Thank you for your support!"

Then tears streamed from both his open and closed eyes, falling in thick sheets, though he maintained his smile. Before long, snot was running from his nose too.

The entire arena naturally went cold. Everyone half-lidded their eyes.

Is this guy all right? I feel so embarrassed...

A flock of crows flew through everyone's minds.

That really is Guy! Then, while I have the chance, let's take them off! Chiba swiftly removed the Weighted Training Gear from his hands and feet.

Boom!

The Weighted Training Gear hit the ground, smashing two small pits into the floor as two plumes of dust slowly rose.

Everyone's attention was immediately drawn over. Might Guy turned back as well, his eyes widening slightly. He was wearing weighted gear! This Taki Chiba... is that Weighted Training Gear? Hey, hey, it made small craters just by falling naturally. You've got to be kidding me! Was a person really wearing that?

Everyone in the arena was shocked.

Just as I thought...

Hirohiko raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? Weighted Training Gear? No wonder." Orochimaru smiled, somewhat sinisterly, as the doubt in his heart was resolved.

So that's how it is. This Taki Chiba could keep up in terms of reactions, but his movements could not. It wasn't an illusion; he was wearing Weighted Training Gear. It had restricted his speed, after all. Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged glances.

Weighted Training Gear?

Chiba bounced twice and let out a breath.

That feels much easier. Then, it's time to counterattack! This is Might Guy, after all! I can't let my guard down anymore! Chiba touched his face. It still ached faintly. This counts as a lesson!

As the dust around the two small pits dispersed, Might Guy wiped away his tears, sniffed back his snot, and took a stance. "I didn't expect you to be wearing Weighted Training Gear and hiding your true strength. Then let us burn our youth together and go all out!"

Chiba's eye twitched.

Burn our youth...

So he had developed that way of speaking even at such a young age.

"I'm coming!"

Chiba did not waste words. He charged at Might Guy with incredible speed, and Might Guy rushed forward as well. Both excelled at taijutsu and were extremely fast. Chiba launched a flying kick straight at Might Guy's face.

So fast!

Might Guy only saw a blur before Chiba's foot was already coming at him.

Unbelievable! Once he took off the weights, his speed increased this much!

There's no time! I can only block it! Might Guy's reactions were not slow either. He raised both hands to guard.

Bang! With a dull thud, Might Guy's forward momentum was abruptly stopped by the flying kick, though he had blocked Chiba's leg.

Such strength! Might Guy gritted his teeth, but a toothy grin spread across his lips, and his teeth flashed.

Youth! At that moment, Chiba twisted in midair and sent a backspin kick at Guy's cheek with extreme speed.

So fast!

That was the only thought that flashed through Might Guy's mind as he shifted his hands to block.

Bang!

Chiba's backspin kick struck Might Guy's arms hard and was blocked, but Might Guy staggered from the blow and lost his balance.

In terms of speed, he's faster! Might Guy made his judgment at once.

In terms of strength, I'm weaker than him! That was Chiba's judgment.

"Hey! That move just now!"

"Yeah... wasn't it exactly the same move Guy used against him earlier?"

"Is he copying Guy?"

A buzz rose through the arena as the examinees began whispering, their voices growing louder and louder.

Chiba landed and sent a high side kick toward the side of the off-balance Might Guy's face. Might Guy was still staggering. Although he saw Chiba's side kick, it was difficult for him to evade it, and he was even more shocked inwardly.

That's... my Konoha Whirlwind! Bang!

Chiba's foot struck Might Guy's arms. At the critical moment, Might Guy stomped hard on the ground, steadying his stagger, and raised his arms to block!

I blocked it! Might Guy rejoiced inwardly. Now for the counterattack! In the next moment, shock appeared on his face.

How could this be? As the thought crossed his mind, he felt an enormous force coming through his arms. He could not block it at all!

Monster Strength burst forth!

Bang!

Might Guy's arm slammed into his own cheek, and Chiba's kick sent him flying. With a boom, he crashed into the wall. Rubble rained down as the wall was instantly smashed into a shallow, human-shaped crater.

Even the people on the second floor felt a faint tremor.

The increasingly loud discussion came to an abrupt halt.

The entire arena... fell silent!