Peaceful Days Were About to End

"Guy, since you say I'm a genius, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart."

"Don't let my usual laziness fool you. I've been working hard in other ways too. You can't dismiss my efforts with a single word like 'genius.'"

"The same goes for Kakashi. Go take a look at Training Ground 11, and you'll understand!"

At this point, Guy had yet to realize that Kakashi was working hard at his training as well. Aoba decided to let Guy discover it early, so the two best friends could forge their bond ahead of time... ahem.

As soon as school ended, Guy hurried toward Training Ground 11.

Unlike in the original story, where Guy had accidentally discovered Kakashi practicing one-handed rock climbing during a break, this time Guy had come looking for him on purpose.

But even though Guy had run all the way there, Kakashi had arrived first and already finished warming up.

Kakashi noticed Guy's arrival too, but he merely gave him an indifferent glance before beginning his training for the day.

Seeing Kakashi train, Guy was deeply shaken. He finally understood what Aoba had meant.

That was right. How could a single word like genius erase all their hard work?

But if even geniuses worked this hard, did someone like him, who wasn't a genius, still have any chance of surpassing them?!

"That boy is Kakashi?"

When Might Duy came to pick Guy up and saw him running this way, he followed after him and witnessed everything before them as well.

"You care a lot about his performance, don't you?"

Guy lowered his head, feeling somewhat dejected. But when he saw the earnest look in his father's eyes, he made up his mind.

"If I can run five thousand laps around the track, I'll challenge Kakashi!"

"Well said, son."

Seeing Guy regain his confidence, Might Duy happily pulled him into an embrace.

The next day.

When Aoba saw Guy endlessly running laps around the track while Might Duy followed behind him with a small megaphone, constantly shouting encouragement, he knew it had worked.

The path that had deviated from its course had finally been set back on track, and Aoba let out a faint sigh of relief.

Without Guy's salvation, he was truly afraid Kakashi would turn dark, and the entire plot afterward would fall apart.

After school that afternoon, Aoba walked Kurenai home. He held two skewers of fish balls Nadeshiko had given him, eating them as he made his way home.

"Hey."

Aoba stuffed the last fish ball into his mouth and turned his head.

"You've been following me since school. Are you planning to follow me home too?"

A silver-haired figure slowly emerged from the shadows at the mouth of the alley. It was Hatake Kakashi.

Kakashi no longer had his usual dead-fish eyes. Instead, his gaze was exceptionally sharp as he stared straight at Aoba, seemingly ready to strike at any moment.

"So you noticed me long ago."

"Hey, don't sound so arrogant. Just because you have Hatake Style Kenjutsu doesn't mean my family can't have a Sensory Technique." Aoba turned around and casually tossed away the bamboo skewer in his hand. "Go on. Why were you following me?"

"Why did you make Guy come after me?"

"Tch, you're making it sound like Guy was sent by someone else to test me."

Kakashi ignored his teasing and went straight to the point. "Why are you hiding your strength? What exactly are you after?"

Aoba found it both amusing and speechless.

Why did every single one of them love forcing assumptions onto others?

He asked in return, "I'm hiding my strength? How could you tell? Because I beat Asuma, or because I beat Guy?"

"Kakashi, don't force your ninja way onto others. To you, becoming a powerful ninja is your goal. But to me, becoming a ninja was merely a choice forced upon me. I made my thoughts clear long ago."

"My parents died in the Second Shinobi World War. I don't want to follow in their footsteps. Graduate, then find some easygoing department, collect a steady paycheck, marry a reasonably decent wife, and study food—that's my entire dream."

"I don't want to cause trouble, and I don't want others causing trouble for me!"

Those words were half true and half false, but they also revealed his genuine feelings.

Kakashi fell silent. With his mask on, no one could see his expression.

Perhaps Aoba's words had moved him, or perhaps he simply didn't believe them at all.

Seeing that he said nothing, Aoba couldn't be bothered to waste any more breath. He turned and prepared to leave.

"Wait..."

Kakashi spoke instinctively, wanting to stop him, only to discover in horror that his body couldn't move at all. It was as though invisible chains had bound him, leaving him unable even to twitch a finger.

Genjutsu?

When had he been caught?

A storm of shock surged through his heart. From beginning to end, he hadn't seen the other side form a single hand seal, nor had he sensed any chakra movement at all!

As he stood there in shock, Aoba had already vanished from before his eyes.

A hand gently settled onto his shoulder.

So fast!!!

Aoba stood beside Kakashi, one hand resting on his shoulder. His calm voice sounded beside Kakashi's ear. "Enough. I don't want to repeat myself a second time. Understand?"

A bead of cold sweat slowly slid down Kakashi's temple.

The genjutsu was released, and control over his body returned. Yet the lingering warmth on his shoulder and those calm words by his ear branded themselves into his heart.

After that, life finally became much more peaceful.

Guy remained as hot-blooded as ever, but most importantly, he no longer bothered Aoba. Whenever Aoba was in a good mood, he would even offer a small suggestion to increase the difficulty of Guy's training.

For example, swimming while carrying weights, standing beneath a waterfall while holding a massive boulder, or running around the village.

The way people around him looked at Aoba changed. For a while, even Kurenai spoke to him less often.

Aoba was happy to have some peace and quiet. Aside from slacking off at school, he would visit the Forest of Death every so often to update his menu.

As for Akimichi Kota, that guy could always follow the scent to Aoba whenever he set up a campfire.

If Aoba hadn't known for certain that Kota was from the Akimichi Clan, he would have thought the guy belonged to the Inuzuka Clan. His nose was practically like a dog's.

Fortunately, Aoba wasn't stingy. Having a dining companion wasn't bad either.

Time passed quickly.

Before long, another batch of new students enrolled, and Aoba's group advanced to their second year.

Under Aoba's influence, Guy also completed the feat of running five thousand laps around Konohagakure while doing a handstand ahead of time.

On the day he completed his goal, Might Guy and Might Duy once again embraced with tears streaming down their faces in celebration, completely disregarding the mental well-being of those around them.

Even Aoba, standing far away by the classroom window, couldn't stop his toes from curling.

Burning with passion, Guy charged into the Ninja Academy, ready to issue Kakashi his long-overdue challenge.

However, just as Guy rushed in front of Kakashi and prepared to challenge him, Kakashi took out a form from his ninja tool pouch and calmly handed it to the teacher.

It was an application for early graduation.

Guy was somewhat stunned, and the surrounding students could hardly believe it either.

Only then did Aoba remember. His days had been too comfortable, and he had forgotten that Kakashi graduated early.

Aoba's smile faded as well. Kakashi might not have realized it yet, but life at the Ninja Academy could be one of the few happiest periods of his childhood.

And there was one more thing: once Kakashi graduated, first place in their grade would become his.