Crazy Guy Kai!

Ever since I had a younger brother named Uchiha Itachi, my efforts have doubled.

I resumed my tradition of waking up at 4:30 sharp. It was as if I were holding my breath, tireless and unwearied. The thoughts in my mind seemed to be twisted into a single rope, with no other distracting notions to harass me; my heart and eyes were filled with nothing but training.

It was both the cultivation of the body and the tempering of the heart.

I liked this feeling; it was as if I had found myself again.

The sky over Konoha at four-something was still pitch black, but the starlight had already begun to fade. Across the entire dome of the sky, a misty blue blended with a hazy gray-white, dimming the moon behind the clouds.

It was beautiful, yet cold and desolate.

Those who could head out at this hour must also feel lonely.

I exhaled a puff of hot air, stepped out under the starlight, and walked briskly to the spot I had chosen during the day. I stretched my body, preparing to start my run.

My taijutsu had always been a weak point, which I attributed to my matchstick-like physique. Therefore, I planned to start over from physical conditioning, strengthening my frame and building muscle.

A man, after all, should be like this.

Tap, tap, tap!

Just as I was about to start running, I suddenly heard footsteps behind me—rapid and hurried, clearly someone running at a fast pace.

I looked back. Under the moonlight, a figure approached from afar. As he drew closer, I slowly made out his appearance.

A bowl cut, thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a green spandex jumpsuit. His running form was exaggerated, and he was brimming with youth.

Who else could it be but Might Guy?

As he ran, he spouted phrases like, "Crazy Guy! Burning passion!" which were incredibly inspiring.

I stood where I was, watching him approach until he finally stopped in front of me, panting heavily.

The Might Guy of this time was still a youth and hadn't yet developed his signature toothy grin. He looked at me with some surprise: "Yo, who are you?"

"Senior, my name is Uchiha Akatsuki. I'm here to run."

Compared to Guy, I was indeed a newcomer. I held him in high regard—a true powerhouse who was sunny, tenacious, and ambitious, persisting in his efforts for years as if it were a single day.

Might Guy, who relied not on bloodline but on effort to rival the gods, naturally deserved the title of senior.

"Ah, what determination! Then let's race! Let's see if you're good enough to be my opponent!" He was clearly excited, and as soon as he finished speaking, he bolted out. Full of spirit, I picked up my pace to follow him.

Under the faint starlight, two figures sped along the dirt path, moving so fast they left afterimages, kicking up dust in their wake.

I followed him around the lake and the mountain streams for several laps. I didn't know how much time had passed during our wild sprint, but by the time the horizon began to turn a pale, fish-belly white, my stamina began to fail, and I couldn't control my rapid gasping. Guy's speed, however, didn't diminish in the slightest; it even showed signs of increasing.

He truly is the legendary Guy... I gave a bitter smile in my heart and persisted for a few more laps. When a sharp pain began to bloom in my chest and the taste of blood rose in my throat, I slowed my pace and gradually came to a stop.

The day had fully broken.

The morning in Konoha was full of the scent of life. The breakfast shops along the road were steaming with fragrance, people were yawning as they opened their doors to sweep, and children appeared under the morning glow with their schoolbags—some sleepy, some vibrant.

I walked down the street. The morning dew, the scent of flowers, the earth, and the smell of food blended together, clearing my mind and lifting my spirits.

My lungs felt a slight itch, so I coughed twice, wiped the sweat from my forehead with my hand, and walked into the snack street with bright, alert eyes.

Paradise! The Konoha snack street in the morning was paradise!

Once inside, I headed straight for my destination. I hesitated for a long time between Ichiraku Ramen and a dumpling shop, but ultimately chose the steaming hot ramen.

"Old man, I'll have a bowl of ramen, extra chashu!" I sat on the high stool, snapped my chopsticks apart, and prepared to dig in, my heart overflowing with happiness.

"Coming right up!"

Being able to eat a carb bomb first thing in the morning—it just doesn't get better than this!

Hatake Kakashi noticed the child the moment he stepped into the ramen shop.

The red and white crest on his back was particularly eye-catching, and his jet-black, spiky hair was tucked behind his ears, revealing a fair, delicate profile. His dark eyes were misted by the steam, and a bead of crystal-clear sweat had condensed on his forehead. As he ate, his nose twitched, his soft lips bit into the food, and his cheeks puffed out as he chewed—he was quite adorable.

Kakashi paused, his gaze fixed on Uchiha Akatsuki, his mood somewhat subtle.

The young master of the Uchiha clan... likes ramen too?

"One tonkotsu ramen."

I was enjoying my meal and hadn't paid attention to the figure sitting in the corner, though I felt the voice was somewhat familiar.

"Yo, Kakashi, haven't seen you in a while." When the old man said this, I nearly choked on the broth, taking a long time to catch my breath.

Hatake... Kakashi?

I looked up and precisely captured a glimpse of silver hair, my heart instantly tightening.

I gripped my chopsticks, unable to help but sneak a glance at him. It was only a glance, but my heart was already about to jump out of my chest.

Fortunately, Kakashi didn't notice.

After a while, I snuck another glance at him, having already grasped the essence of peeking, and looked a bit more brazenly this time.

Finally, under the guise of clearing away the bowls and chopsticks, I took one last look, unwilling to give up.

And with that final look, I locked eyes with a pair of drooping black pupils.

I'd been caught!

My heartbeat merged into a continuous thrum, blood rushed to my head, and I even forgot to turn my face away, just staring at him blankly.

Before me, the young man's silver hair was messy, a forehead protector bound around his head, and his eyes looked listless, yet the light shining from within them was sharp. Although I couldn't see the face beneath his mask, his exposed brow bone was handsome and his nose bridge high—he was still devastatingly cool.

As I watched, my cheeks began to burn; I was probably blushing.

My mind was in a chaotic mess, my gaze darting around, and I had completely lost the upper hand!

I opened my mouth, wanting to say something, but my throat felt like it had been glued shut; I couldn't even manage a simple, proactive greeting!

Idiot! Idiot Uchiha Akatsuki! Where did your reason and composure go?!

Inside the ramen shop, separated by two seats, I stared at Kakashi, and Kakashi stared at me—one of us meeting the gaze with composure, the other throwing down their armor and fleeing in defeat.

According to the tropes of typical novels, something should happen between us now.

"Kakashi! Let's have a duel of youth!" A resounding voice assaulted my eardrums as Might Guy dove into the ramen shop, intimately draping an arm over Kakashi and instantly blocking my line of sight completely.

"My condition is excellent today!" Guy was noisy and boisterous, as overflowing with youth and boiling with hot-blooded energy as ever.

A savior!

I hurriedly left the money for the meal and took advantage of the chaos to leave my seat.

Kakashi glanced at the Blue Beast of Konoha with a lack of interest, then shifted his eyes back to Uchiha Akatsuki's spot, only to find it already empty.

For some reason, he felt that Uchiha Akatsuki's gaze had been somewhat familiar.

It was just like the way the girls at school looked at him—that green, bashful gaze filled with a certain emotion.

Must have been a mistake.

"Aoi, here you go." Finally arriving at school, I handed the bread bag to Uchiha Aoi; inside were the croissants I'd brought for the little girl. Freshly baked, the aroma was intoxicating.

Sounds of surprise and envy rippled through the surroundings. Her face turned crimson under the watchful eyes of everyone, and then, without a word, she snatched the bag, hurried back to her seat, and curled up while hugging the bread, looking as cute as a little squirrel.

I looked around in confusion and said to a few boys who were whistling, "What's wrong? Do you want some too?"

"Akatsuki, did your morning run go well?" During class, Aoi's voice drifted over from my side. I turned my head to see her eyes sparkling, looking exceptionally cute.

"It went very well. I'll tell you the details after class." I had corrected her habit of talking during class countless times, but to this day, she still hadn't changed.

My hands didn't stop sketching as I flipped through book after book, trying to find practical combat knowledge, as well as various key points and difficulties, to memorize quickly and apply proficiently.

"Isn't this the textbook for the second half of the year? Why are you reading this now?" Aoi leaned in, looking very confused.

"Have you ever heard the saying: 'Life springs from sorrow and calamity, while death comes from ease and pleasure'?" I said with an air of calm, tapping the little girl's head with my pen. "If you trust me, then study along with me."

She blinked her eyes, tilting her head in confusion like a puppy, but she still obediently opened the book and began to chew through the pages one by one.

A child worth teaching!