My Anime-Level Volume Had to Be Just as Big!

The loser had to run 500 laps as punishment; the winner got 500 laps as a reward.

Mait Guy clearly didn't care whether he won or lost.

Kazuhiko nodded solemnly, affirming Guy's greatness:

"You really are Konoha's strongest Taijutsu ninja. When it comes to that, Jonin Guy is a bona fide genius!"

Guy didn't know what to make of Kazuhiko's words.

He'd been a bottom-of-the-class nobody his whole life.

He'd almost failed to get into the Ninja Academy, and people had always mocked him as a fool who could only do Taijutsu.

A Uchiha Clan ninja is calling me a genius?

Is he making fun of me?

Kakashi was just as confused. His gaze at Kazuhiko was full of questions.

Do you even know what "genius" means?

But then he thought about Kazuhiko's file, and it all made sense.

For a Uchiha who was still a Medical Genin at eighteen, Guy really was a one-of-a-kind genius.

"Hahaha! It makes me happy to hear you say that, but I'm no genius. I'm just a fool who believes that 'hard work can surpass genius!'"

Meeting Kazuhiko's sincere gaze, Guy sheepishly rubbed his head. He was very modest.

As far as he was concerned, there was only one true genius: Kakashi.

Kazuhiko smiled.

"Not just any ninja can run 500 laps around the village. Jonin Guy might be a fool when it comes to ninjutsu, but in Taijutsu, you're the real genius."

As far as Guy was concerned, even a fool ought to be able to run 500 laps around the village.

But for an ordinary person, training like Guy did was practically suicide.

"Hahaha..."

Guy planted his hands on his hips and laughed triumphantly.

"Kakashi, did you hear that? Turns out I'm a genius too! Hahaha..."

Guy gazed into the distance, suddenly overcome with tears.

"That's it! Today, I'm doing an extra thousand push-ups and a thousand sit-ups to celebrate the Uchiha Clan recognizing me!"

[Your affinity with Might Guy has increased significantly]

Watching the tears pour from Guy's eyes, Kazuhiko was genuinely envious.

My anime-level volume had to be just as big!

Kakashi's expression was complicated.

This Uchiha seemed to be sincerely praising Guy.

He knew that hard work didn't always pay off.

Guy had relied on hard work to surpass the many gifted members of other clans from his generation and become Konoha's Blue Beast. In that respect...

Guy was a bona fide Taijutsu genius.

[Kakashi's affinity with you has increased]

Kazuhiko: "Jonin Guy..."

"Just call me Guy! You're the first ninja in Konoha to recognize me as a genius. I don't know your name yet, but from this day on, we're the best of friends!"

Guy's tears dried up in an instant. Aside from his damp Jonin vest, you'd never have guessed his eyes had been streaming just moments earlier.

"My name is Uchiha Kazuhiko, and I just turned eighteen."

Kazuhiko introduced himself, pitching himself to Kakashi and Guy.

This was the perfect chance to rack up some affinity!

"The things I like are..."

Money, cars, houses... He wasn't all that fond of those anymore, apparently.

Kazuhiko stumped himself on the very first part of his introduction.

What did he even like?

Never mind. He'd just say whatever came to mind.

"Girls. What I hate right now is bandages. My dream is to earn everyone's recognition and become Hokage. My tastes run to fishnets and... uh..."

Kazuhiko had hit it off with Guy so quickly that he'd let his tongue run away with him. He hurried to recover.

"I actually have a lot of interests. Mostly developing genjutsu. My motto is, 'I, Huang, stand against gambling, drugs, and all evil.' Right, that's me done."

Kakashi's first thought was:

Who asked you to introduce yourself?

Do you realize we're in a hurry to leave the village on a mission?

Then he was stunned.

Girls, tastes, fishnets...

How could this Uchiha say all that without even blushing?

He's so honest...

[Kakashi's affinity with you has increased]

Kazuhiko: ...

So this really was two old perverts recognizing each other.

Guy, meanwhile, looked solemn and hadn't noticed the most important part of the introduction at all.

"My name is Might Guy, and I'm already seventeen."

"What I like is Taijutsu training; what I hate is getting injured and being unable to train. My dream is to defeat Hatake Kakashi once and for all. My hobby is having duels with Kakashi! That's the youth Kakashi and I share!"

"Kakashi, you feel the same way, don't you? We've both introduced ourselves, so now it's your turn!"

Kakashi's mouth twitched. He took a deep breath.

He swore he'd never thought anything like that.

"Are we still having a duel or not? We're short on time."

"It's not that urgent. I'd really like to hear Jonin Kakashi introduce himself."

Kazuhiko was the one carrying out this mission. If he could earn some affinity, there was no reason for him to hurry.

Kakashi looked at him expressionlessly.

"Kazuhiko, don't forget Lord Hokage's instructions."

Kazuhiko smiled. What perfect timing.

"Besides the secret mission, Lord Hokage gave me another order, so Jonin Kakashi doesn't need to worry about time."

Helping Kakashi through his emotional struggles was a direct order from the Hokage.

Kakashi furrowed his brow slightly but said nothing more.

As an Anbu Ninja, he couldn't question the Hokage's orders.

Guy was very considerate of Kakashi, though. Seeing this, he stopped pressing him to introduce himself.

"In that case, let's have our duel."

The two stood with their hands behind their backs and began playing rock-paper-scissors.

There was no question about the result: Kakashi won.

With the dynamic vision of a Mangekyō Sharingan, Kakashi couldn't possibly lose this sort of "youthful showdown."

"All right, we can head out now."

Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief.

It was finally over.

Guy stared at his fist and instantly burst into tears. Anime-level streams of tears gushed forth.

"Damn it, I still can't do it?"

"Wait. Before we leave, you still haven't claimed your spoils."

"Tell me, Kakashi, what do you want for breakfast today? Kazuhiko, since you're fighting alongside Kakashi, come along too! Sob... I just earned that mission pay..."

At that moment, Kakashi wanted nothing more than to leave as soon as possible.

When he was with Guy, he just couldn't keep up his cold, aloof front.

He wanted to disappear into the darkness, hiding the bloodstains on his hands that could never be washed away.

Midnight Nightmare Rin still haunted Kakashi.

"No need. I've already eaten. It's time to go."

"But I haven't had breakfast yet."

Kazuhiko spoke up at just the right moment, leaving Kakashi utterly defeated.

For some reason, seeing the silver-haired man get the short end of the stick always gave Kazuhiko a visceral thrill.

You naturally evil Senju Old Ghost. Look at what you've done to the Uchiha Clan!

And so, the three of them headed to the Ichiraku Ramen Shop together.

The famous Ichiraku Ramen was familiar to all three of them.

The owner, Teuchi Ichiraku, recognized Kakashi and Guy at a glance.

He even remembered Kazuhiko.

Not many Uchiha in Konoha came to eat "commoner food" like Ichiraku Ramen.

Teuchi Ichiraku smiled at Kazuhiko.

"You again! Are you having the 'Deluxe Fire Style Tonkotsu Spicy Ramen' this time too?"

Last day! If you have any monthly tickets, dear readers, remember to cast them!

Also, thank you to everyone who's kept reading and voting. Thank you for your support, and happy May Day!