Separated by a Pathetic Thick Barrier

Both sides quickly began their training, and the Forest of Death was soon filled with the sounds of intense combat.

A moment later.

Within the forest, several Kyohiko and Guy figures darted about, making it difficult to distinguish the real from the fake for a time.

These were the Hell Clone illusions.

Kurenai Yuhi had mastered them.

Kakashi dispelled the illusions while observing to locate the real body, then swiftly lunged with his blade toward one of them.

The two were locked in a fierce struggle...

Following a metallic clatter, Kakashi immediately turned, preparing to rush to the aid of his rear.

However.

Genma Shiranui, Ebisu, and Kyohiko, who had arrived via Body Flicker, swung their blades in rapid succession.

After a few flashes of movement, Genma Shiranui and Ebisu were "dead."

The outcome was decided.

Kyohiko's speed had increased even further, and the speed he could now control had become terrifying.

With the abilities of Genma Shiranui and Ebisu, they simply could not block Kyohiko's assaults and assassinations; every time, they lost in the exact same way!

What rapid progress!

Kakashi gripped his blade tightly, then loosened his hold.

"Let's take a break."

"Alright."

Kyohiko nodded.

The two teams separated and sat down in different spots.

"Whew! He's too strong!"

After only a few exchanges, Genma Shiranui was already drenched in sweat, the webbing between his thumb and index finger split and bleeding from the impact on his kunai.

He had expected Kyohiko to be strong.

But.

He hadn't imagined the gap between them would be this vast.

Ebisu said bitterly, "We can't win at all!"

Kakashi glanced at the two of them.

"So, you actually thought you could win before?"

Even he hadn't considered victory possible.

"This... well, we did think about it, thinking the gap wouldn't be that big."

Genma Shiranui's face burned.

Before the fight, he had still held a glimmer of hope, believing that since they had Kakashi, their overall strength might surpass the opponent's, and with Kakashi's tactics, they might be able to defeat the opposing squad.

However.

The results were brutal.

They were completely outmatched.

In Genma Shiranui's mind, he recalled the scene of Kyohiko dodging and weaving just moments ago, and he couldn't help but feel a chill.

He had avoided every kunai and shuriken; not a single one had landed.

And that had been his limit.

Even if he had used Explosive Tags, the result likely wouldn't have been any better.

"And if you were lucky, you thought you might be able to beat the three of them?"

Kakashi's gaze was cold.

Genma Shiranui and Ebisu dared not meet Kakashi's eyes.

They had indeed thought exactly that.

In their previous squad, they had always looked down on Guy, failing to recognize his strengths and power.

However.

Many things feel completely different when viewed from a new perspective.

Now, comparing them, the two of them realized clearly—

Guy might not be elegant, but he was far stronger than them!

Kakashi stood up and walked toward Kyohiko.

"Kyohiko, your strength is too great; this kind of training is no longer effective."

As he spoke these words, Kakashi felt a complex mix of emotions.

Kyohiko had improved yet again!

Although he had recently begun using similar training methods and had made some progress himself, it was nowhere near the speed at which his counterpart was advancing.

Such astonishing talent and effort!

Kakashi sighed inwardly.

"..."

Kyohiko rubbed his temples.

He felt it too.

His Grandmaster Body Flicker Technique allowed him to dodge most ninja tool attacks and execute surprise strikes or assassinations; essentially, the skills of Genma Shiranui and Ebisu were no longer enough to restrain him.

Genma Shiranui and Ebisu followed behind in silence.

"You two..."

Kyohiko wanted to offer some words of comfort, but their performance had truly been lackluster.

The two of them were simply too weak...

It was a performance consistent with their current age, and Genma Shiranui could even be considered relatively talented, but compared to the likes of Kakashi and Might Guy, they were simply not up to par.

Especially Ebisu.

If he had helped Genma Shiranui even a little, they wouldn't have been defeated so quickly time and time again.

He hesitated.

In the end, he decided to be direct.

"You need to work harder to become stronger; your current strength is too weak."

"Yes, we are sorry!"

Genma Shiranui and Ebisu apologized immediately.

Kyohiko shook his head.

"You were helping me, so there is no need to apologize to me. However, the current situation is unstable, and war will break out sooner or later. Every bit of strength we gain is an extra layer of security for the future."

"We will double our efforts!"

"Starting tomorrow, let's train together. We will progress and grow stronger as a team."

Kyohiko proposed.

"Is that really okay?"

Genma Shiranui and Ebisu were stunned, filled with both surprise and delight.

"Of course."

And so.

The next day, a new, eye-catching sight appeared within Konoha.

"Run five hundred laps! Whoever can't do it, go do one hundred punches! Aoooo!"

A green figure was sprinting wildly in the lead.

"Huh?"

Genma Shiranui and Ebisu were instantly dumbfounded.

They had agreed to train together, but did it really mean training with Might Guy?

This was not what they had in mind!

"Are you going to quit?"

Kyohiko glanced at the two of them, as well as Kakashi and Kurenai Yuhi.

Their faces turned green.

However.

Quitting now would make them look cowardly and lacking in resolve.

Up ahead--

"Aoooo! My youthful blood is boiling and burning! My eternal rival, let us duel together!"

Kurenai Yuhi covered her face.

Training with Might Guy was truly a test of one's mental fortitude.

But.

"Let's run!"

Seeing Kyohiko run off, Kakashi gritted his teeth and followed.

It had always been Guy who sought him out for duels.

To actually tag along and run together—this was a first in his life!

Kurenai Yuhi had no choice but to follow.

As she ran, she kept her head down, not daring to look up, but she soon discovered that this shame was only temporary.

As long as one got used to it, it was actually fine, provided that...

One didn't run into anyone they knew!

With class break approaching, she panted as she ran past the Ninja Academy behind Kyohiko, but the moment her gaze met the strange looks from inside the schoolyard, she immediately shrank her head back.

There were acquaintances!

Inside the campus, Asuma, who was in the middle of combat training, froze as he looked toward the fence.

The one running crazily alongside Kyohiko and the others...

Was that Kurenai Yuhi?

No!!!

Impossible!

He must have seen it wrong!

Asuma rubbed his eyes, but after several attempts, he confirmed he hadn't made a mistake.

It really was Kurenai Yuhi!

Her aura was completely different now.

"Asuma, what are you looking at? Oh, Kurenai? I heard she's studying under Lady Tsunade now. Man, I'm so envious! Who knows, maybe in the future, she'll become a kunoichi just like Lady Tsunade!"

A classmate nearby sighed with envy.

Asuma was stunned.

Studying under Lady Tsunade?

Kurenai?

Looking outside, Asuma felt a vague sensation—

Between him and Kurenai Yuhi, it seemed as though there was only the wall of the Ninja Academy, but in reality, a pathetic, thick barrier had already formed.

The shame of training was often cast aside bit by bit through constant exertion.

One day, two days...

Until twenty days later, everyone had already grown completely accustomed to it.

Of course.

Even Kyohiko couldn't bring himself to fully adopt Guy's habit of shouting and hollering.

He just wanted to get stronger, not become a weirdo.

On the evening of this day.

Everyone lay on the grass, exhausted to the point of collapse, with only Kurenai Yuhi looking slightly more composed.

Kyohiko sat up.

"Now, do you still think this kind of training is ridiculous?"

"As long as it makes us stronger, there's nothing ridiculous about it."

Kakashi said, expressionless.

Genma Shiranui and Ebisu hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Because their physical foundations were relatively poor, the progress made by him, Ebisu, and Kurenai Yuhi was visible to the naked eye.

This kind of cultivation could truly make one stronger!

"In that case, even if Guy and I aren't around, you cannot slack off. Only daily training yields results, understand?"

Kyohiko warned them earnestly, "Not only that, you must lead everyone else to train as well. Shouldn't good things be shared? Even if you don't share, if everyone is embarrassed, do you still think it's embarrassing?"

"We are going to turn this into a tradition of Konoha, and hold an Extreme Training competition once a year!"

Kyohiko spoke of his vision.

Except for Might Guy, who was burning with passion, the rest were all silent.

Such a scene...

Was truly too terrifying!