Another Youthful Challenge

Shin-chan continued his training with Kakashi today.

The two walked toward the Training Ground as the Sunset poured over the rooftops of Konoha like spilled honey, dyeing the entire street a warm orange.

Kakashi walked in front, while Shin-chan followed behind, clutching the Wooden Sword he had grown accustomed to using.

"Kakashi."

"Hm?"

"The Silver Haired Uncle seems really busy lately."

"Yeah." Kakashi's footsteps faltered for a moment before he continued walking forward.

"He doesn't come to teach us anymore."

"Father, he..." Kakashi fell silent for two seconds, "has taken on a lot of missions."

Shin-chan nodded, not asking any further.

Suddenly, Kakashi spoke up.

"The new kid in our class."

Shin-chan blinked: "Adai?"

"Yeah." Kakashi paused, "Keep an eye on him."

Shin-chan tilted his head: "Why?"

Kakashi didn't answer; he just glanced behind them, then withdrew his gaze and silently quickened his pace.

Shin-chan was stunned for a moment, then hurried to keep up.

"Kakashi?"

"It's nothing." Kakashi walked quickly, "Let's go."

Shin-chan followed behind, feeling a bit confused.

After walking for a while, he suddenly turned his head to look back.

There was no one on the street, save for a few ordinary pedestrians.

Wait!

Shin-chan narrowed his eyes.

Behind that utility pole over there, something seemed to be moving.

It was green.

And it was shaking.

Shin-chan stopped and tilted his head to look in that direction.

The green thing shrank back further, but the utility pole was so thin that it couldn't hide it at all.

Shin-chan waved his hand: "Might Guy."

There was no movement from behind the utility pole.

"I see you."

Still no movement.

Shin-chan cupped his hands around his mouth.

"Might Guy, come out!"

A head finally poked out from behind the utility pole.

"Shin-chan, how did you find me?" Might Guy jumped out from behind the pole, his face full of shock, "I hid so well; I clearly didn't make a sound, I even held my breath, and I tried my best to control my heartbeat."

Shin-chan looked at him and remained silent for two seconds.

"That green bodysuit of yours is too conspicuous."

Might Guy looked down at himself: "But this is the green of youth!"

"Yeah." Shin-chan nodded, "That's why I could see you from a street away."

Might Guy scratched his head, not knowing what to say.

"Besides," Shin-chan continued, "the utility pole you were hiding behind isn't even as wide as you are."

Might Guy turned to look at the thin utility pole, then back at his own physique: "So that's it; I didn't consider that thoroughly."

Shin-chan walked over and asked curiously: "Why are you following us?"

Might Guy immediately clenched his fists, his expression becoming exceptionally serious.

"I'm here to find Kakashi."

"What do you want with him?"

"A challenge!" Might Guy's voice rose an octave, "After my last defeat, I went through Hell-like Special Training: one thousand Push-ups, one thousand Sit-ups, one thousand Squats, and a ten-kilometer Long-distance running every single day."

Shin-chan's mouth opened slightly in surprise: "Every day?"

"Every day!" A flame seemed to rise behind Might Guy. "My Youth Is Burning, My Sweat Is Boiling, My Muscles Are Shouting. The me of today is no longer the me of last time."

Might Guy took a deep breath and looked in the direction Kakashi had just walked.

"Kakashi, I want to challenge you to a Youthful Duel!"

The next second, Might Guy froze.

Kakashi had already walked far away, leaving only a shrinking silhouette. That Silver White Head swayed at the end of the street, turned the corner, and disappeared, as if he hadn't heard a word.

Might Guy's mouth hung open, still frozen in his shouting stance.

Shin-chan walked up beside him and looked in the same direction.

"He left."

"I saw."

"Are you going to chase him?"

Might Guy snapped back to reality and took off running. "Kakashi, wait for me!"

The Green Figure Charged Up, moving as fast as a gust of wind.

Shin-chan stood in place, watching the two figures getting further and further away, and shook his head. "Children are such a hassle."

After saying that, he slowly followed after them.

At the Training Ground, Kakashi had already taken his position and started warming up.

Might Guy rushed in, panting heavily.

"Kakashi... why... why didn't you... wait for me?"

Kakashi glanced at him. "Why should I wait?"

Might Guy was choked for words.

Shin-chan sauntered in, found a spot nearby to sit down, and rested his chin on his hands to watch them.

"Guy said he wants to challenge you."

Kakashi's movements paused for a moment.

"No."

"Why?" Might Guy was anxious.

"It's troublesome."

"But I went through Hell-like Special Training, doing one thousand every day..."

"I know," Kakashi interrupted him, "but it's still troublesome."

Might Guy did not give up.

He chased Kakashi around in three circles, constantly shouting, "Let's have a Youthful Duel," "I really worked hard," and "Just once, please?"

Kakashi finally stopped.

"You're annoying."

Might Guy's eyes lit up.

"You agree?"

"No."

"You stopped just now, so that means you agree."

"It doesn't."

"Yes, it does, yes, it does."

Kakashi looked at him, his brow furrowed.

Might Guy just stood there in front of him, keeping his thumb held high.

The two stared at each other for five seconds.

Ten seconds.

Fifteen seconds.

Kakashi sighed.

"Last time."

Might Guy froze for a moment, then jumped into the air, rushed to the center of the field, and set his Stance.

"That's great!"

Kakashi walked over as well and stood firm.

"Begin."

Might Guy took a deep breath and Charged Up.

One punch.

Kakashi dodged to the side.

A kick.

Kakashi took a step back.

Continuous Attack.

Kakashi used Left Dodge Right Evade, not striking back a single time.

Might Guy threw over a dozen strikes, but he didn't even touch the corner of his clothes.

"Hoo... hoo..." Might Guy panted heavily, but his eyes remained burning with intensity. "Again!"

Saying this, he charged forward once more.

This time, Kakashi moved.

With just a simple Side Step and a Side Throw.

Might Guy collapsed onto the ground.

"It's over." Kakashi withdrew his hand.

Might Guy lay on the ground, panting for a long time before slowly climbing to his feet and brushing the dirt off his body.

"Today's failure is the nourishment for my youth. As punishment, I will run five hundred laps around Konoha!"

Shin-chan sat to the side, his mouth slowly hanging open.

"Five... five hundred laps? Wouldn't that take until tomorrow morning?"

He looked at Might Guy's retreating back, then looked at Kakashi.

"Did you punish him?"

"No."

"Then why is he running?"

Kakashi was silent for two seconds.

"I don't know."

In the distance, Might Guy's voice drifted over.

"Youth, this is youth! Five hundred laps, burn it up!"

"I don't get him." Kakashi looked at the Red Figure sitting to the side. "Come on, Shin-chan, it's our turn."

Shin-chan nodded.

The two of them settled into their Stance.

Under the Sunset, two small figures began to spar.

In the distance, a Green Figure was still running.

One lap, two laps, three laps...

Running while shouting loudly.

"Youth!"

The voice drifted over, intermittent and faint.