Shame

Training grounds, After Sora Uchiha and the others entered, the place was already packed. Everyone was still too enthusiastic about Minato.

Kurenai Yuhi tried to push to the front but failed, overwhelmed by the stench of sweat from the male ninjas. With no other option, she decided to sit at a vantage point to watch from a distance.

"Ahhh, damn it! We came too late! It's all Rin's fault for taking too long to pick out clothes," Kurenai Yuhi said, raising her fist in frustration.

Rin looked innocent, blinking her eyes. "But, I remember Kurenai was the one agonizing over whether to choose the red outfit or the white one."

"Uh, that's because Rin said both looked good, which is why I was hesitating..." Kurenai Yuhi's voice trailed off, her rebuttal lacking conviction.

"Heh heh, Kurenai is always so ahead of herself, trying to shift the blame," Anko Mitarashi teased the flustered Kurenai Yuhi with a chuckle.

"Anko!" Kurenai Yuhi roared, embarrassed and angry.

The crowd burst into laughter, momentarily forgetting their annoyance at not securing good seats.

"Kakashi! Prepare for my 87th challenge!"

In the training grounds, a youthful boy with a bowl cut, tight pants, and clad head-to-toe in jutsu pointed his finger sharply, his eyes brimming with youthful passion.

Opposite him stood a white-haired boy in a ninja outfit, wearing a mask.

Kakashi glanced at him and said nonchalantly, "What are we competing in?"

"These two are at it again..." Obito sat on the steps, sighing as he watched the two being circled by the crowd below.

Sora Uchiha watched the two conspicuous figures below with great interest, finding it highly amusing. Influenced by Might Guy, even the usually composed Kakashi seemed to be becoming more spirited.

"I remember last time... they were competing in who could eat more. I heard they ate fifty bowls of ramen together at Ichiraku Ramen," Kurenai Yuhi tilted her head, pondering for a moment, a smile on her lips.

"There are so many people here, I wonder what they're competing in this time?" Rin covered her mouth lightly, her eyes curving.

"Heh heh, looks like we have some entertainment," Anko Mitarashi widened her eyes.

Sora Uchiha silently observed the two, also curious. Their competition topics were always bizarre, ranging from pots and pans to anything imaginable, with very few actual ninja-style contests.

Might Guy's face flushed. Feeling the gazes around him and thinking about the upcoming competition, even he, with his "Explosion of Youth," felt a sense of shame.

"There are so many people here, let's... let's compete in who has a higher sense of shame!" he stammered out the topic of this competition.

Kakashi's expression gradually turned serious. Even for him, competing in something like shame in front of so many people was too embarrassing!

"Are you scared?" Might Guy, seeing his silence, became excited. He proudly wiped his nose. "It's okay if you're scared, I'll count this one as my win!"

Kakashi's gaze gradually sharpened. He said solemnly, "Alright. You go first."

Might Guy froze, then his eyes also sharpened. "I see. Even in front of so many people, you've accepted my challenge? As expected of my rival, I acknowledge your resolve!"

Then, he took a step forward, roared, and drew everyone's attention. In reality, everyone was already watching them, so the action was purely superfluous.

"Everyone, look at me!" Might Guy roared towards the sky.

"I have an announcement!"

"I, Might Guy! Haven't bathed in a whole month!!!"

Instantly, the entire place fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone fell into silence, looking at the boy in the tight suit with complex expressions, silently developing a sense of awe.

A month without bathing, and announcing it in front of everyone—this guy... was terrifying!

"Hahaki Guy, you scoundrel, are you dragging me down with you even with this self-exposure?" Kakashi muttered.

Even though Might Guy was the one who hadn't bathed, why did he feel like he was the one being embarrassed?

"Your... your turn!" Might Guy shouted with his eyes closed. Feeling the strange glances from those around him, he felt as if ants were crawling all over him! His heart felt like it was about to explode!

Kakashi slowly nodded and said in a deep voice, "This time, you win."

I... I won?

?

When I use this symbol, it's not that I have a problem, it's that you have a problem.

Might Guy was completely stunned, asking blankly, "What?"

"I said," Kakashi said in a deep voice, "for the 47th match, you win. Currently, I've won 24 times, and you've won 23 times. I have a slight advantage."

"That's not right," Might Guy panicked. "You forfeit? How can you forfeit before we even start? Did you not intend to compete from the beginning?"

Kakashi smiled slightly, revealing a "you fell into my trap" look. "Of course. How could I possibly embarrass myself in front of so many people?"

Might Guy fell silent. Feeling the playful gazes of the surrounding crowd, he felt a chill run down his spine.

He had won, but why did it feel so awful?

He really shouldn't have agreed to this shame competition.

"Haha! Look at Guy, his face is red like a monkey's butt," Kurenai Yuhi burst into laughter, pointing at Might Guy below, happy as a child.

Sora Uchiha couldn't help but chuckle. Kakashi hadn't intended to win from the start, and he still managed to make Might Guy feel terrible.

He's a bit of a dark horse.

"No!" Might Guy suddenly roared. "Kakashi, you can't forfeit! You have to reveal your embarrassing past too!"

"No," Kakashi said calmly.

"Ahhhh!" Might Guy roared in frustration, "Kakashi, accept my 48th challenge! This time, we'll spar using taijutsu!"

With that, he swung a fist towards Kakashi's forehead!

Kakashi's eyes narrowed, and he immediately created distance, dodging the punch.

Might Guy struck a dumbbell-posing stance. "First Gate, the Gate of Opening, OPEN!"

In an instant, green chakra erupted from his body.

Everyone was startled and quickly backed away, clearing space for the two to duel.

Kakashi's expression shifted slightly. "Whoa, whoa, are you serious?" he asked, silently observing his surroundings, planning to use anything he could.

The battle between the two was about to erupt.

Whoosh--!

A whistling sound cut through the air as a kunai dropped from the sky, embedding itself between Might Guy and Kakashi.

"Am I late?"

The next moment, a figure instantly appeared between them—yellow hair, a combat suit, and a kunai entrance.

Minato Namikaze had arrived.

"Minato's entrance is always so cool," Sora Uchiha couldn't help but exclaim.

Only Sasuke in white could compare to him in that regard.

Suddenly, he sensed something and looked towards the corner of the training grounds.

It was... empty.

"Was that a mistake?" he wondered softly, having felt like he was being watched just now.

Shaking his head, he dismissed it.

In the shadows of the training grounds, a figure let out a heavy sigh of relief.

"That guy has incredibly sharp senses."