Might Guy's Gift

The sky had yet to brighten.

Nebula Kotetsu rose early once again.

After the alarm clock rang, he sat up and looked at the hazy sky outside the window, feeling the urge to die once more.

What kind of willpower did that guy Might Guy rely on to keep going?

Turning on the bathroom faucet, he splashed a handful of cold water onto his face, finally feeling a bit more awake.

He washed up and got dressed.

At the gates of Konoha, without Obito.

When Nebula Kotetsu arrived here again, what he saw was still the energetic back of Might Guy.

Might Guy, who was doing handstand push-ups, heard footsteps and turned around while still inverted. Seeing the figure of Nebula Kotetsu, he cheered, "Yo~"

"Kotetsu, you arrived right on time."

"Of course." Nebula Kotetsu smiled. "There is a force in the dark that wouldn't let me sleep, forcing me to wake up on time for training."

"Oh?" Might Guy's tone rose. "What kind of force?"

The force of the alarm clock.

Nebula Kotetsu replied, "The force of youth."

"Fantastic!" Might Guy exerted force with his hands, his body sinking slightly before suddenly springing up, transitioning from a handstand to a standing position.

Taking a few steps to stand before Nebula Kotetsu, he said excitedly, "Kotetsu, let us begin our training of youth together."

"Sure." Nebula Kotetsu readily agreed. "Should we start with push-ups or running?"

Might Guy: "Let's start with a warm-up first."

"Come, let's start with five hundred squat jumps."

Nebula Kotetsu: "..."

After a moment of thought, he did not refuse.

He would just pretend his legs were borrowed.

But just as he began to squat, Might Guy suddenly frowned.

"Wait a moment."

Nebula Kotetsu stopped in confusion. "What is it?"

"Something is wrong," Might Guy said. "Your clothes are wrong."

"This kind of fixed-cut clothing is very unfavorable for exercise."

Nebula Kotetsu looked down at his clothes.

They were well-fitted and appropriate; what was the problem?

"Guy, I think they're fine. Just like this..." "Kotetsu, wait here for me for a moment." Might Guy interrupted Nebula Kotetsu's words, then spread his legs and began to sprint into the distance.

"Guy!?"

"Where are you going?"

Nebula Kotetsu shouted, but Might Guy did not answer. His legs, as if equipped with motors, carried him away in a flash.

A bad premonition suddenly surfaced in Nebula Kotetsu's heart.

"Wait!"

"Guy wouldn't go back to... no way..."

Less than five minutes later.

Might Guy returned.

From afar, he waved at Nebula Kotetsu.

"Kotetsu."

"Look what I brought for you!~"

Nebula Kotetsu did not want to answer.

He saw it.

In Might Guy's hand, a piece of green fabric fluttered in the wind like a flag, waving continuously as he ran.

Soon, Might Guy ran closer and came to a screeching halt right in front of Nebula Kotetsu.

He held the green fabric in both hands and excitedly presented it to Nebula Kotetsu.

"Kotetsu."

"I haven't had the chance to properly thank you for yesterday."

"If you hadn't saved that guy Obito, I wouldn't have known what to do."

The ominous premonition in his heart came true; Nebula Kotetsu watched the green fabric before him, his cheek twitching in resistance.

He said awkwardly, "Um... Guy."

"Actually, it was just a small favor."

"There is absolutely no need for any thank-you gifts."

"As comrades in the same village, I was duty-bound to help."

Upon hearing this, Might Guy was deeply moved.

Nebula was truly a fine young man, brimming with youth and the Will of Fire.

He forcefully pushed the green spandex suit into Nebula Kotetsu's hands, his tone brooking no argument: "Nebula!"

"Say no more."

"You must accept it."

"As you said, this isn't a gift of gratitude; it is my recognition of your youth."

Nebula Kotetsu wanted to refuse again, but Might Guy's next words tumbled out.

"It is also a testament to our friendship."

Nebula Kotetsu: "..."

He stood frozen in place for three seconds.

Three seconds later.

"Give it to me."

"I'll put it on right now."

Nebula Kotetsu hesitated no longer, taking the green spandex suit from Might Guy's hands.

With a hint of tragic solemnity and sorrow, he took off his original clothes and donned the highly elastic fabric.

[Ding!]

[Current mission: Youth Spark (Become friends with Might Guy), completed.]

[Please choose: 1. Konoha Strong Fist Whirlwind; 2. Youth Quotes 1000 words; 3. 10x increase in physical reflexes.]

Looking at the panel that popped up before him, Nebula Kotetsu suddenly felt that the clothes on his body might not be so unacceptable after all.

Hmm~ surprisingly, they were actually quite comfortable.

They were breathable and didn't hinder movement.

Aside from the fact that it was a bit too tight in the crotch and needed some tailoring, it was truly excellent for practicing taijutsu.

"How is it, Nebula?" Might Guy looked at him expectantly: "Feels good, right?"

Nebula Kotetsu didn't even dare to look down at his own attire.

"Yeah."

"Guy, I feel... absolutely great."

Might Guy grinned, showing his teeth: "Haha, I knew it."

"This is my secret weapon for taijutsu training; everyone who wears it falls in love with it."

Nebula Kotetsu agreed with that statement.

Because an ordinary person simply wouldn't be able to wear this outfit at all.

Might Guy: "Nebula, stretch out a bit, we're going to run one hundred laps around Konoha together."

Nebula Kotetsu: "Guy, can we find a place with fewer people? I prefer quiet."

Might Guy: "Don't worry. I guarantee there won't be a single soul on the road."

Nebula Kotetsu couldn't argue and had no choice but to agree.

While warming up, he selected his mission reward: 10x increase in physical reflexes.

In an instant, a strange sensation surged through his entire body.

It felt somewhat similar to the taijutsu boost he received from the "Big Slap" technique.

Only this time, it wasn't just his hands that felt agile; Nebula Kotetsu felt an indescribable sense of lightness and nimbleness throughout his entire body.

On the system panel, his Taijutsu Lv0 status quietly shifted to Lv1.

Based on his previous experience, Nebula Kotetsu judged that Lv1 was essentially the highest level one could reach below the rank of Chunin.

If he were to spar with Might Guy now, he certainly wouldn't be defeated as cleanly as he was last time.

[New mission: Green Flame of Youth (Wear the spandex suit gifted by Might Guy and complete one hundred training sessions together).]

[Mission time limit: One year.]

[Mission reward (choose one): Basic Medical Ninjutsu Compendium Lv3, Will of Fire Research Notes Lv3, Body Flicker Lv3.]

As the mission panel refreshed, Nebula Kotetsu's gaze instantly sharpened.

Looking at the Lv3 indicator on the panel, a wave of emotion stirred within his heart.

Lv3.

This was the highest value he had seen since the system panel first activated.

Aside from the chakra enhancement which lacked a specified level, the greatest reward he had obtained previously was the medical ninjutsu boost from Rin Nohara: a Lv2 Mystical Palm Technique.

Now, a Lv3 prompt had actually appeared on Might Guy.

Especially the final reward option—Body Flicker!

Although it was not a powerful ninjutsu with high lethality, it was an incredibly practical technique; whether for dodging danger in the heat of battle or making a desperate final push, it could play a vital role.