The Ninja's Resolve

"It's over."

Only three words, yet at this moment, they brought an extraordinary sense of relief.

Gekko Hayate looked at him, his lips moving.

He wanted to say something.

But nothing came out.

Uzuki Yugao leaned against the tree trunk, slowly sliding down to a sitting position.

She looked down at her trembling hands.

Just a moment ago, she had truly thought she was going to die.

Then this guy had appeared.

Like a green whirlwind.

She looked up at Guy.

Her eyes were a little red.

Just then, a figure rushed out from the woods.

Ikkaku Umino.

He was panting heavily, his face pale.

Seeing the scene in the clearing, he froze.

Gekko Hayate was covered in blood, but he was standing.

Uzuki Yugao was leaning against a tree, but she was alive.

The child lying on the ground, though severely injured, still had a rising and falling chest.

In the distance, a scarred man was embedded in a tree.

Motionless.

Ikkaku Umino's gaze shifted to Guy.

That seven-year-old child.

He was drenched in sweat, his right pant leg charred black.

Ikkaku Umino walked over.

He walked to the tree where the man was embedded.

He took a look.

Chunin.

A rogue Chunin from Iwagakure.

Dead.

He glanced at the three trees that had been snapped in half.

"Just how much power... was that?"

He turned his head to look at Guy.

Guy was looking at him too.

He grinned.

"Teacher Ikkaku, it's over."

Ikkaku Umino was silent for two seconds.

Then he spoke.

"You did this?"

Guy nodded.

"Yeah."

Ikkaku Umino didn't ask again.

He looked at Guy.

That seven-year-old child.

Faint green steam still lingered on his body.

Was that... a special taijutsu?

And the power of that kick...

Ikkaku Umino took a deep breath.

He suddenly remembered what the Third Hokage had said.

"This generation has a few children who are not simple."

It seemed that "not simple" was an understatement.

He looked at Guy.

There was something indescribable in his gaze.

It was shock.

It was admiration.

And a little bit of... awe.

Yes, awe.

A seven-year-old child kicking a Chunin to death.

What kind of concept was that?

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

But in the end, he only said three words.

"Save the others first."

He walked toward the heavily injured child.

Guy stood where he was, watching the back of Ikkaku Umino.

Then he lowered his head and glanced at the system panel.

[Mission Complete: Eliminate the Bandit Group]

[Reward: Monk Points 100, Random Intermediate Gift Pack ×1]

[Open now?]

Guy was in no rush to open it.

He looked up at Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao.

He looked at their faces, still marked by the relief of surviving a disaster.

Then he looked at the child being carried away.

Still alive.

As long as he was alive, that was enough.

He slowly sat down.

His legs finally gave out.

He plopped onto the ground.

Panting.

Ebisu walked over and stood beside him.

He looked down at him.

"Are... are you alright?"

Guy looked up.

He grinned.

Still the same old look.

"I'm fine, youth can still burn."

Ebisu's mouth twitched.

He wanted to say something.

But looking at Guy's pale face, he swallowed the words back.

Genma walked over, bent down, and picked up the toothpick that had fallen to the ground.

He put it back in his mouth.

He looked at Guy.

He was silent for two seconds.

Then he spoke.

"That kick."

He paused.

"Was well done."

Guy smiled.

He gave a thumbs up.

"Of course."

Moonlight shone down on the clearing.

In the distance, Ikkaku Umino was staunching the bleeding for that child.

Nearby, Guy sat on the ground, with Ebisu and Genma standing beside him.

Uzuki Yugao leaned against a tree, slowly pulling herself up.

She walked over to Guy.

She looked down at him.

"Thank you."

Her voice was very soft.

But very sincere.

Guy looked up.

He watched her.

"What are you thanking me for? We're all classmates."

Yugao pursed her lips.

Gekko Hayate walked over as well.

He clutched his chest and coughed twice.

Then he looked at Guy.

"I owe you my life."

Guy waved his hand dismissively.

"Don't get all dramatic; just treat me to a meal later."

Hayate was stunned for a moment.

Then he smiled.

"Alright."

Guy turned his head to look at the scarred face embedded in the tree in the distance.

An Earth Release Chunin.

A rogue ninja.

He had nearly killed his classmates.

But now, he was a dead man.

Guy clenched his fist.

Perhaps it was the resolve of a ninja.

Perhaps it was the identity of his opponent.

Deep down, Guy felt no discomfort after killing for the first time.

He only felt that it wasn't enough.

He had to become stronger.

Next time, he would not let such a thing happen again.

Next time, he would be faster.

Because as long as it was a mission, there was no such thing as absolute safety.

People would die.

Guy had always known this.

He had that resolve.

But what he had to do was ensure he never watched his comrades die right before his eyes!

Ikkaku Umino finished tending to the child's wounds and stood up.

He walked to the center of the clearing and glanced at everyone.

"Mission accomplished."

He paused.

"Everyone, rest in place. Before dawn, clear the battlefield and account for the captives."

He glanced at Guy.

"You, don't move. Get some proper rest."

Guy nodded.

"Yes."

Ikkaku Umino turned and walked toward the woods.

After taking two steps, he turned back around.

He looked at Guy.

Moonlight shone upon that face.

The expression was complex.

"That kick—"

He paused.

"I'll remember it."

Then he vanished into the woods.

Guy sat on the ground, looking in that direction.

He grinned.

So he remembered it, so what?

He would only grow stronger anyway.

Moonlight spilled across the clearing.

Seven people, living, injured, lying there.

And in the distance, that corpse embedded in a tree.

It was very quiet.

But Guy knew.

This was only the beginning.

The war had just begun.