Hokage Office,
The Third Hokage sat at his desk, puffing on his pipe as he worked through the documents in front of him.
Knock! Knock!
At the sound, the Third Hokage didn't even look up. "Come in."
Creak!
The newcomer had silver hair, a black mask, and a Forehead Protector slanted over his left eye. It was Kakashi.
"It's you, Kakashi. Did you complete the mission?"
"Lord Hokage." Kakashi remained respectful in the Third Hokage's presence. He approached, knelt on one knee, and handed over a scroll containing intelligence on the Land of Snow.
"Good. Thanks for your hard work. Go get some rest."
"Yes."
Kakashi then left.
As for Naraku, once he returned to the village, he went straight to Konoha Hospital. After visiting Kushina, he lay down to rest. Several days of travel had left his young body utterly exhausted.
Kakashi could handle reporting the mission by himself. Besides, Naraku didn't want to see the Third Hokage.
Kakashi had just left the Hokage Building and was about to head home and rest when a familiar figure blocked his way.
"Hey! If it isn't Kakashi, my lifelong rival! Let's have a youthful showdown!"
"Uh..." Kakashi rolled his dead-fish eyes in exasperation.
Without saying a word, he turned and left, picking up speed until he was practically fleeing.
"As expected of you, Kakashi! Are you challenging me to a speed contest?"
A fire of youthful passion blazed in Guy's eyes. "I won't lose to you, Kakashi!"
He drove off with both feet, turning into a green blur as he raced after Kakashi.
Before long, thanks to Guy's effort, the gap between them narrowed. Just as he was about to catch up with Kakashi—
Kakashi suddenly turned around. Guy saw him and dug in his heels, stopping as abruptly as a car slamming on the brakes.
"Guy, let's have a real showdown!" Kakashi said with a serious expression.
"Huh? A showdown? Wasn't this supposed to be a speed contest?" Guy looked utterly baffled.
But he would never turn down a contest, no matter what kind it was.
"Yosh! Bring it on, Kakashi!"
"Okay."
The two of them then headed to the village training ground and began their real showdown.
Kakashi hadn't planned on sparring with Guy, but he'd changed his mind.
Feeling his body brimming with chakra, Kakashi smiled. "Guy, this is the real me!"
"Kakashi..."
Kakashi always wore a mask, but Guy still sensed that something was off. The Kakashi before him seemed different from the one he knew.
"Be careful, Guy."
Suddenly, Kakashi spoke—and then Guy couldn't see him anymore. The next moment, the air in front of him shuddered violently, and a dark blur appeared before his eyes.
Guy had no time to think. He drove off with his right leg and launched a Konoha Whirlwind.
Bang!
The air rippled as Kakashi blocked Guy's attack with his arm.
"As expected of you, Guy."
"But this is just the beginning!"
Pale blue chakra appeared on Kakashi's arm. He suddenly exerted his strength, caught Guy's right leg with a reverse grip, and twisted his waist to hurl him away.
As the greatest Taijutsu master, our Emperor Guy wouldn't let himself be thrown aside without a shred of dignity.
He braced himself on one foot and leaned backward, kicking at Kakashi's arm with his left leg.
Kakashi had no choice but to let go. He stepped back, dodging Guy's attack.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique."
In almost no time, Kakashi completed the Hand Seals and spat out a huge fireball.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough."
As the fireball surged forward, Kakashi completed another technique. A powerful gale blew against the fireball.
The wind fanned the flames.
The fireball grew even more ferocious and charged straight at Guy.
A wave of heat washed over him. Guy's gaze turned solemn. He drove off with both legs. "Konoha Strong Whirlwind!"
Guy's legs were like real axes, cleaving the fireball in two. He then dashed toward Kakashi at incredible speed.
"Earth Release: Underworld Swamp!"
Kakashi suddenly shouted and slapped his palm against the ground.
Rumble!
In an instant, the earth all around them began to churn, then turned into a real swamp.
Guy didn't dare let his guard down. Pale blue chakra appeared around his feet. Chakra alone couldn't keep him standing on the swamp, but it could give him a foothold.
With just two long strides, he was already in front of Kakashi. His axe-like leg whipped toward him.
Kakashi couldn't react in time. The kick struck him, sending him flying backward.
Bang!
Suddenly, the Kakashi in midair turned into a puff of smoke, and a piece of wood fell to the ground.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique!"
Kakashi's voice rang out again from a short distance away, accompanied by a gigantic fire dragon.
Crimson flames rolled toward Guy, writhing like a savage dragon.
Guy was a little dumbfounded. He and Kakashi sparred all the time, but Kakashi had never been in this kind of shape before.
"Kakashi, you're pretty fierce today!"
"If that's how it is, then I'll have to get serious too!" A green flame flickered in Guy's eyes.
"Gate of Opening, Gate of Healing, Gate of Life—open!"
Pale green energy appeared around Guy, and his short black hair stood on end despite the still air.
Then Guy turned into a green blur and charged straight at the fire dragon, which seemed to be no obstacle at all.
"This is getting out of hand!" Kakashi cried when he saw Guy emerge from the flames unscathed.
He'd only meant to test his current strength. With all the extra chakra he'd suddenly gained, he'd just used a few more techniques than usual. He hadn't expected Guy to use the Eight Inner Gates.
"If that's how it is, then let's fight!"
Blue arcs of electricity appeared around Kakashi as he used Chidori Current again. Unlike last time, his chakra reserves still hadn't run low.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The two clashed in Taijutsu. Explosive sounds rang across the training ground as two figures, one green and one blue, collided over and over.
"Ha... ha..."
"Ha... ha..."
By dusk, both of them were lying on the ground, gasping for breath.
Kakashi felt incredibly refreshed. Ever since Obito's Sharingan had been implanted in his left eye, he hadn't fought like this.
"Sensei, I think I'm about to find my own path."