Might Guy's Gift

It wasn't even dawn yet.

Nebula Kotetsu had gotten up early again.

After the alarm went off, he sat up and looked at the hazy sky outside the window. Once again, he felt the urge to die.

What kind of willpower had that guy Might Guy relied on to keep this up?

He turned on the bathroom faucet and splashed a handful of cold water onto his face. At last, he began to feel more awake.

He washed up and got dressed.

At Konoha's gate, no cement in sight.

When Nebula Kotetsu arrived there again, he saw Might Guy's energetic back as before.

Might Guy, who was doing handstand push-ups, heard footsteps and turned upside down. Seeing Nebula Kotetsu, he greeted him cheerfully. "Yo~"

"Nebula, you're right on time."

"Of course." Nebula Kotetsu smiled. "Some mysterious force wouldn't let me sleep, so I got up on time to work out."

"Oh?" Might Guy raised his voice. "What force?"

The force of the alarm clock.

"The power of youth," Nebula Kotetsu replied.

"Fantastic!" Might Guy pushed down with both hands, lowering himself slightly before suddenly springing up. He went from a handstand to standing upright.

He hurried over to Nebula Kotetsu, excited. "Nebula, let's begin our youthful training together!"

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

Might Guy said, "Let's warm up first."

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

Nebula Kotetsu: "..."

After thinking it over, he didn't refuse.

He'd just pretend his legs were borrowed.

But just as he started squatting, Might Guy suddenly furrowed his brows.

"Wait a second."

Nebula Kotetsu stopped, puzzled. "What's wrong?"

"Something's not right," Might Guy said. "Your clothes aren't right."

"Clothes with a fixed cut like yours are very unsuitable for training."

Nebula Kotetsu looked down at his clothes.

They fit just fine. What was the problem?

"Guy, I think they're fine. Let's just—"

"Nebula, wait here for a moment." Might Guy cut him off, then took off running.

"Guy?!"

"Where are you going?"

Nebula Kotetsu shouted, but Might Guy didn't answer. His legs went "thud, thud, thud," as if powered by a motor, and he was gone in a flash.

A bad feeling welled up in Nebula Kotetsu's heart.

"Wait a second!"

"Don't tell me Guy went back to... No way..."

Less than five minutes later, Might Guy returned.

From afar, he waved at Nebula Kotetsu.

"Nebula."

"Look what I brought you!~"

Nebula Kotetsu didn't want to answer.

He'd seen it.

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

Might Guy quickly drew near, then came to a sudden stop right in front of Nebula Kotetsu.

He held the green fabric out to Nebula Kotetsu with both hands, looking thrilled.

"Nebula."

"I didn't get a chance to properly thank you for what happened yesterday."

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

His ominous suspicion had come true. Nebula Kotetsu stared at the green fabric before him, his cheek twitching as he resisted the idea.

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

"Really, it was just a small favor."

"There's no need for a gift or anything."

"As fellow villagers, I'd gladly help whenever I can."

Hearing this, Might Guy was deeply moved.

Nebula really was a fine young man, full of youthful spirit and the Will of Fire.

He firmly pushed the green skintight suit in his hands toward Nebula Kotetsu, leaving no room for argument. "Nebula!"

"Don't say another word."

"Please, you must accept it."

"Like you said, this isn't a thank-you gift. It's my recognition of your youth."

Nebula Kotetsu was about to refuse, but Might Guy's next words came tumbling out.

"It's also a testament to our friendship."

Nebula Kotetsu: "..."

He stood there, frozen for three seconds.

Three seconds later...

"Give it to me."

"I'll change into it right now."

Nebula Kotetsu stopped hesitating and took the green skintight suit from Might Guy.

With a hint of tragic resignation and sorrow, he took off his own clothes and put on the stretchy fabric in his hands.

[Ding!]

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

[Choose: 1. Konoha Fist Whirlwind; 2. 1,000 Youth Quotes; 3. Increase physical reaction tenfold.]

Looking at the panel that appeared before him, Nebula Kotetsu suddenly felt that maybe the clothes he was wearing weren't so bad after all.

Mm~ They were surprisingly comfortable, too.

They were breathable and didn't restrict his movements.

Apart from being a little too tight down below and needing some alterations, they really were excellent for training in Taijutsu.

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

Nebula Kotetsu didn't even dare look down at what he was wearing.

"Yeah."

"Guy, I feel... fantastic."

Might Guy grinned, showing all his teeth. "Haha, I told you!"

"This is my secret weapon for training in Taijutsu. Everyone who puts it on falls in love with it."

Nebula Kotetsu agreed.

Because no ordinary person could possibly wear an outfit like this.

Might Guy said, "Nebula, loosen up a little. We'll run a hundred laps around Konoha together."

Nebula Kotetsu said, "Guy, could we find somewhere less crowded? I like peace and quiet."

Might Guy said, "Don't worry. I guarantee there won't be a single person along the way."

Nebula Kotetsu couldn't argue, so he had to agree.

While he warmed up, he chose the quest reward: increase physical reaction tenfold.

In an instant, a strange sensation spread through his body.

The feeling was somewhat similar to the Taijutsu technique boost from "Big Slap."

But this time, it wasn't just his hands that felt more nimble. Nebula Kotetsu felt lighter and more agile all over.

On the status panel, the Taijutsu Lv0 entry quietly changed to Lv1.

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

If he fought Might Guy again now, he definitely wouldn't lose as thoroughly as last time.

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

[Time limit: One year.]

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

As the quests on the panel refreshed, Nebula Kotetsu's gaze sharpened.

His heart stirred as he looked at the Lv3 labels on the panel.

Lv3.

It was the highest number he had seen since the system panel appeared.

Apart from the chakra boost, which didn't have a level listed, his greatest reward had been the Medical Ninjutsu boost he got from Rin Nohara: the Lv2 Mystical Palm Technique.

Now, a Lv3 reward had appeared through Might Guy.

And especially the last reward option—Body Flicker!

Although it wasn't a powerful ninjutsu with massive destructive power, it was extremely useful. Whether dodging danger in battle or going all out, it could play a crucial role.