The thick-browed bowl-cut boy ran with blazing enthusiasm. His garish green jumpsuit was impossible to miss, drawing every eye on the street and making people turn for a second look.
Bystanders glanced over, their expressions odd.
Guy didn't care. He shouted, "Youth never ends! Another hundred laps!"
He trained hard every day, as usual, without the slightest slackening.
Ninjas who specialized in Taijutsu often took longer to come into their own. Talent could accelerate the growth of technique, but physical prowess couldn't defy the natural laws of growth and development. No matter how talented or hardworking a young child was, they were unlikely to achieve explosive results in Taijutsu.
But once Guy matured, he was bound to improve by leaps and bounds. His future was limitless.
He'd been a dead-last who failed the Ninja Academy entrance exam, yet he'd graduated early and even become a Chunin in the same year as Asuma Sarutobi. That was proof enough of his talent.
And kicking half of Six Paths Madara's body away was a feat worthy of the history books.
Konoha's dead-last was the real deal.
Akashi was two years below Might Guy, so they shouldn't have had much reason to cross paths. But as a transmigrator, how could he not befriend Guy? They were from the same village, and it took them less than three days to go from strangers to familiar faces.
He'd even taught Guy the two broadcast-exercise techniques, Rising Sun and Era Calling.
After that, the two of them had become friends.
Akashi intended to win Might Guy over for two reasons. First, when the Uchiha staged their coup, he didn't want Guy siding with the Hokage.
Second—
He'd heard that every transmigrator had to learn the Eight Gates.
Were they really that good?
That's right, the Eight Inner Gates...
Akashi's thoughts began to stir.
Wouldn't Guy, who was training in the Eight Gates, make the perfect test subject for his cell-activation and bodily-regeneration technique?
Maybe it could lessen or even eliminate the strain the Eight Inner Gates put on the body...
As he recalled, there was a guy named Shinnō who'd done just that!
A flash of inspiration crossed his mind. Instead of chasing after Guy, Akashi strolled along with Anko, waiting for him to run another lap.
"Anko, go buy two ice creams." Akashi was in a good mood. He beckoned her over. "My treat."
"Huh? Weren't we going to spar? Why are we taking a break?"
"It's such a nice day. Let's enjoy the sun. We'll train after we finish our ice cream."
"Hmph, then I want the most expensive ones!" Anko put her hands on her hips.
"Sure, whatever you want! But I'll need you to help me with something later." Akashi flashed her a dazzlingly sunny smile.
He's definitely going to make me do something!
Anko grumbled to herself. Whenever he smiled like that, she got the distinct feeling something was off. But the temptation of ice cream was hard to resist. Besides, Akashi was just a little too full of ideas. Surely he couldn't mean any harm?
She dashed into the shop, quickly bought two ice creams loaded with toppings, and handed one to Akashi.
They sat on a bench beside the road and began to eat.
Soft sunlight draped over them like a veil. A pleasant warmth rode in on the refreshing breeze, and the air smelled fresh.
It was so comfortable, it made you want to lie down and take a nap.
Before long, Guy came running down the street again, youthful sweat flying.
"What a shame. Such a talented ninja..."
"He almost surpassed Kakashi..."
"Turns out it's already terminal!"
Akashi deliberately raised his voice, sounding casual but making sure his words carried.
Even Might Guy, focused on running his laps, couldn't help slowing down when he heard the words "surpassed Kakashi." He turned toward the two people eating ice cream, his gaze full of curiosity.
"Oh? Akashi, what a coincidence!" Guy greeted them warmly while jogging in place, lifting his knees high.
"It's been a while, Guy. Anko and I came out for a stroll. I didn't expect to run into you."
After years of practice, Akashi could lie without even blushing.
Guy asked, puzzled, "Were you the one talking just now?"
"I noticed something. Don't worry about it, it's only a small issue. I just happened to spot it by chance..."
Akashi was deliberately vague.
That only made Guy more curious. "An issue? Does it have something to do with me?"
Akashi nodded as if reluctant, then asked with concern, "Have you... felt like anything's wrong with your body lately?"
"My body? No!" Guy clenched his fist, his eyes shining.
He trained methodically, day after day. He felt pain and fatigue, but he'd never thought of them as signs that something was wrong. On the contrary, he felt himself growing stronger by the day.
But Akashi said, "You're sick."
"Sick?"
Guy froze for a moment, then protested, "Impossible. I've always been healthy. I do all this intense training every day, and I'm fine."
Akashi didn't argue. He simply said, "If you're not sick, take a few steps."
"Take... a few steps?"
"Come with me to the training ground. There's more room there." Akashi kept calm, though he was a little worried inside.
He couldn't guarantee that Guy wouldn't be a little slow on the uptake.
Still, there was no harm in trying.
Akashi gave Anko a look, then accompanied Guy to a training ground inside the village.
Only two or three Ninja Academy students were practicing ninjutsu there, so they wouldn't get in the way.
Akashi stopped and stepped closer, putting on a grave expression. "Do you feel it?"
"F-feel what?"
"Where the problem is. Do you feel an area that's more tired, maybe a little sore...?"
Guy didn't catch on. Then he noticed Akashi staring at his lower body and ventured, "My legs?!"
Akashi nodded firmly.
"No way..." Guy wondered, his expression turning troubled.
Under Akashi's steady suggestion, he really did feel sweat on his legs. But that was a normal reaction whenever he ran. Anyone would get tired after hundreds of laps.
Akashi pressed his advantage. "Let's do another test. Lift your leg as high as you can, then stomp down hard. Do that ten times."
With that, Akashi demonstrated with a light stomp.
Guy eyed him skeptically, then copied him, lifting his thigh sharply and bringing it down with tremendous force.
He stomped ten times, each step landing solidly on the ground.
Akashi asked, "Is it numb?"
Guy looked shocked. "It is."
Anko, who'd been giggling as she watched, was startled too. She leaned closer and whispered, "How did he get numb?"
"Obviously, you'd get numb too if you stomped like that."
Akashi pinched her cheek. "Keep eating your ice cream. Don't interrupt."
"Mmph... Then what should I do?"
"Wait for my instructions. You'll get your moment."
The two whispered to each other, while Guy began to question his whole life. He'd never paid attention to that sort of thing before. Sometimes, when he kicked tree trunks or stones too hard during training, the impact left his legs numb. Was that normal, or had he really suffered an internal injury?
Akashi sounded so sure of himself. He didn't seem to be making it up.
"So... what kind of illness is it?"
"Well, it is and it isn't an illness." Akashi shook his head. "You train beyond your limits so often that your body's overloaded. For now, there aren't any obvious effects, but if you keep going, it could get worse. You might even become a vegetable."
"What's a vegetable?" Guy scratched his head.
"It means you can't move at all, and the fire of your youth can never burn again."
Akashi's simple explanation scared Guy pale.
That was exactly the reaction Akashi wanted. Seeing that the moment was right, he cleared his throat and said, "It won't be hard to cure you. I'm researching a bodily-repair technique. I can help you for free."
"That's wonderful!"
Guy exclaimed with delight and thanked him sincerely. "Akashi, you're such a good person!"
Akashi smiled and waved a hand. "No need to thank me. We're old friends. But before I treat you, I need to understand what caused your condition."
"What caused it?" Guy asked, baffled.
Anko, however, wore an expression that said, I knew it.
How could Akashi pass up a willing volunteer? He quickly added, "I suspect your training in some special Taijutsu left you with aftereffects. How about we look for the cause in a real fight?"
At the mention of a real fight, Guy perked up. "Right here?"
"Right here." Akashi smiled at Anko. "What do you think?"
Anko was eating her ice cream, some of it smeared around her mouth. When he suddenly called on her, she answered without thinking, "Sure, sounds good to me."
"Then you're up."
Akashi patted her shoulder, looking as if he were leaving everything to her.
"Okay... Wait! Why me?!" Anko realized what he meant, and the ice cream in her hand splatted onto the ground.
Akashi shrugged. Who else, if not you?
No one knew how powerful Guy's Eight Inner Gates were. If they turned out to be too strong, Akashi would get beaten up. Besides, he needed to observe the fight, so he had no choice but to painfully give up this chance to train her.
"Didn't you want to spar? This is a great opportunity. I'll be right here, and I'll help you."
"How?"
"I'll cheer you on!"
Akashi darted aside, then called out, "Give it your all, Guy!"
Before you continue