Electric-Bulb Therapy

"Just the house special ramen."

When someone else was treating him, it was best to order something cheap, like ramen.

Kazuhiko knew, of course, that he couldn't eat Guy out of house and home. But if both of them ordered the house special and he, the freeloader, went for a deluxe combo, that would be seriously lacking in social graces.

Seeing that Kakashi had no intention of making conversation, Kazuhiko turned to Guy and asked, though he already knew the answer:

"Guy, why do you always set some strange rules before doing something?"

Guy froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Ahahaha! Finally, someone's asked! You really know how to get to the heart of the matter!"

[Might Guy's affection for you has increased]

He did a backflip out of his seat and landed steadily, then leaned in close to Kazuhiko and lowered his voice, as if sharing some earth-shattering secret.

"Since you've asked so earnestly, I'll tell you frankly. But keep it secret from everyone else, okay? The thing is..."

He cleared his throat, put his hands on his hips, and struck a lecturer's pose.

Kazuhiko was speechless. Did this look like someone telling him to keep a secret?

He was practically making sure everyone in the noodle shop could hear him.

"Simply put, it's training by trading victories. Custom rules."

"Listen up. The key to these rules is that when you're about to take on something, you deliberately put yourself in an excessively harsh situation and create a 'shackle.'"

Guy held up five fingers and waved them in front of Kazuhiko.

"For example, if you lose at rock-paper-scissors, you have to run five hundred laps. Behind this hellish rule lies the power to summon a heavenly future—the kind where you can beat Kakashi as long as you run those five hundred laps!"

His eyes gleamed as if he were expounding some great truth.

"In other words, the 'shackle' of those five hundred laps means you'll give it your all even in a simple contest like rock-paper-scissors. That's one benefit. And if you lose, completing those five hundred laps still trains you. That's the ultimate two-pronged plan!"

Why did this give him such a strong Xiao Tian vibe?

Should he get out a little notebook and take notes?

Kazuhiko looked at Guy's earnest face and marveled inwardly.

He'd come up with his own "winning philosophy" on the spot, and he still claimed he wasn't a genius!

"I see. Using a 'shackle' gives you the conviction that you have to win—that's one win. Even if you lose, you can still train yourself—that's another win. And through relentless training, you get one step closer to beating Kakashi—that's a third win!"

Kazuhiko "saw the light" and gave him a decisive thumbs-up.

"I get it. From the moment you set those strange rules for this 'Youth Duel,' Kakashi had already lost!"

"Guy, you actually came up with this Youth Winning Philosophy, where you're either winning or on your way to winning. You really are a genius!"

"I believe that one day, you'll have Kakashi under your heel!"

Guy wrapped his arms tightly around Kazuhiko and burst into tears.

"Kazuhiko, you really... sob..."

[Might Guy's affection for you has greatly increased to: Friendly (Someone finally understands my youth!)]

[Might Guy's independent trait pool unlocked]

[Jonin trait draw chance +1]

Kakashi, who was eating his noodles, felt personally attacked.

What did he mean, "Kakashi had already lost" and "you'll have Kakashi under your heel"?

Had that Uchiha grown a Sharingan or not?

Couldn't he see that Kakashi had already won and was eating his noodles?

Watching the two of them with their arms around each other, Kakashi felt like the third wheel, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

Hey, hey! The bowl of noodles you're eating is the one I won, you jerk!

And you, Guy!

I'm the one having a Youth Duel with you, not that Uchiha named Kazuhiko!

"I finally understand why Kakashi became famous throughout the shinobi world."

Kazuhiko looked at Guy with complete sincerity.

"It's because you've always been chasing after him, pushing him to keep striving and getting stronger!"

"You're the one who never gives up chasing Kakashi, and the whetstone against which his genius is tempered."

"I'm so envious that Kakashi has a partner like you."

Guy kept weeping. The sheer volume of his tears soaked Kazuhiko through.

Who said Guy couldn't use ninjutsu?

How was this not Water Release?

[Guy's affection for you has greatly increased to: Trust (It's rare to find a kindred spirit in life. I'm not alone on the path of youth!)]

[Jonin trait draw chance +1]

Kazuhiko: ...

So he was soaked. Whatever.

If it was for a Jonin trait draw chance...

He was willing.

Kakashi froze.

A flood of memories came to him: the gloom after his father's suicide, the grief when his comrades died, the sorrow of losing his master and his wife...

Through all those painful memories, Guy had always been by his side, pestering him relentlessly and never leaving him.

So the person he'd dismissed as an "idiot" was actually his most precious comrade!

[Kakashi's affection for you has greatly increased to: Friendly (People who don't cherish their comrades really are the worst...)]

[Kakashi's independent trait pool unlocked]

[Jonin trait draw chance +1]

Kazuhiko was very satisfied.

Who said psychological therapy had to be a one-on-one conversation?

Ever heard of electric-bulb therapy?

After the three of them finished their noodles, Guy paid the bill and saw the two of them off as they left the village to carry out their mission.

"I'll see you off here. I should get started on my five hundred laps around the village!"

Guy gave them a thumbs-up and a toothy grin, then set off without a moment's hesitation.

"See you," Kazuhiko said in farewell. "Let's get together again when we're back! Maybe we can train together sometime..."

Guy stopped in his tracks and looked at Kazuhiko, his face full of anticipation.

"Really?"

Kazuhiko had only been making polite small talk before leaving. When it came to social niceties, he always knew exactly what to say.

Training with Guy for real could be fatal!

But faced with Guy's earnest gaze, he could only force himself to say:

"Of course I... mean it. Your father, Might Duy, was a great hero of Konoha, and you're Konoha's Blue Beast of the Hidden Leaf. I've always been curious about your family's Taijutsu training methods."

The air suddenly went quiet.

Guy lowered his head, his body trembling slightly.

Then—

"Waaaaah...!"

He sprang up with a flip, tears streaming down his face, rushed over, and hugged Kazuhiko tightly, pounding him on the back.

"Kazuhiko! You're something else!"

"Even though I consider you a worthy comrade, if you train with me, I'll put you through my absolute best!"

[Might Guy's affection for you has greatly increased]

As Kazuhiko suffered another Water Release attack, Guy's pounding left his back numb.

"Actually, I was just curious and wanted to learn more..."

He truly hadn't meant to train with Guy.

Running five hundred laps around the village at the drop of a hat wasn't really suited to the Uchiha.

Guy was completely caught up in his own emotions, deaf to everything around him, and bawled his eyes out.

Watching the scene, Kakashi's one visible eye widened slightly.

You don't even know how he trains, and you're curious?

He turned his head and looked at Kazuhiko for three seconds, then suddenly thought of something.

This was actually a good thing!

If this Uchiha kept Guy occupied, wouldn't he have no time left to bother him?

Kakashi felt inexplicably relieved.

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