Guy

"Hmm, if he really was an Ōtsutsuki, I probably wouldn't have seen through him so easily."

"But if he wasn't, wouldn't that mean I was imagining a plot that didn't exist?"

For a moment, Kakashi felt a little conflicted.

"Your tonkotsu ramen is ready. Please enjoy."

"Arigatou, itadakimasu." Kakashi rubbed his hands together expectantly.

Uncle Teuchi turned around to tidy up briefly. When he looked back and saw that Kakashi was still wearing his mask, he could not help feeling puzzled.

"Young man, how are you going to eat your noodles without taking off your mask?"

Kakashi smiled. "I've already finished. Thank you for the meal."

"Nani?" Uncle Teuchi was stunned and looked toward the bowl in front of Kakashi.

Not only were the noodles gone, even the broth had been drained.

Kakashi merely smiled without speaking. As long as I eat fast enough, none of you will get to see my real face.

"Your cooking is as good as ever," Kakashi praised.

His memories returned to the time when Teacher Minato had brought him, Rin, and Obito here for ramen.

That idiot Obito had insisted on getting the extra-spicy flavor. In the end, he had filled up on noodle soup and barely eaten any noodles...

"Thank you for the compliment." Uncle Teuchi was delighted.

After placing the money on the table, Kakashi left Ichiraku Ramen, leaving behind a lonely figure on the street.

"Yo, Kakashi!"

A familiar voice called out. When Kakashi turned around, he saw a huge watermelon-shaped head.

"I heard you were back in the village, so I rushed right over."

Guy flashed eight gleaming white teeth and gave Kakashi a thumbs-up.

"So, how about a battle of youth with me?"

This idiot.

Kakashi smiled knowingly. "Sure. I just finished eating, so I'll treat it as a way to work off the meal."

Seeing that Kakashi had not refused this time and had agreed so readily, Guy was thrilled.

He threw an arm around Kakashi's shoulders. "As expected of my lifelong rival! Come, let us go to the training ground and shed our sweat!"

Kakashi caught a whiff of Guy's "youthful" scent and shoved him away with a look of disgust.

At a training ground, the two stared each other down like tigers eyeing prey.

Kakashi drew his short sword, White Fang. "I recently learned a new sword technique. This is the perfect chance for you to experience it."

Guy smiled confidently. "As it happens, I've also gained some insight into using weapons recently. Let us settle this once and for all!"

Kakashi truly had no strength left to criticize Guy's choice of words. He raised his short sword and pointed it at Guy, signaling for him to come at him.

Guy somehow pulled out a pair of nunchaku, leaving Kakashi dumbfounded. This guy was not even carrying a ninja tool pouch. Where had he pulled those out from?

Could it be?!

Kakashi thought of one possibility and immediately shuddered. He made up his mind that he absolutely could not let those nunchaku touch him later...

Guy swung the nunchaku in his hands, let out a strange cry, and charged at Kakashi.

Nunchaku were an extremely flexible weapon that could thrust, sweep, chop, and hook, making them extraordinarily versatile.

Furthermore, Guy was already a little faster than Kakashi. One careless mistake and he could be struck.

Kakashi lifted his forehead protector. Without using his Sharingan, he knew he could not match Guy.

Guy's footwork was swift and agile. In the blink of an eye, he appeared to Kakashi's right, his nunchaku whipping toward Kakashi's face like a venomous snake striking with its tongue.

Kakashi held his short sword horizontally and blocked the blow.

However, Guy seemed to have been feinting all along. Borrowing Kakashi's force, he swung the nunchaku, then launched another strike at Kakashi's face at even greater speed.

Countless afterimages of the nunchaku appeared in the air, and Kakashi could not help but smile bitterly.

The fight had barely begun, and he was already struggling to defend himself. Taking a deep breath, he used the sword technique he had newly comprehended.

"Sword Art: Azure Lotus!"

The short sword moved swiftly in Kakashi's hand, carving graceful lines through the air and blocking all of Guy's attacks.

"As expected of Kakashi. Then I'll have to get serious!"

No way, you weren't even serious yet? Kakashi was dumbfounded.

"Konoha Rock Rise!" Guy stepped forward, driving his other elbow toward Kakashi's ribs.

If that blow landed cleanly, Kakashi estimated he would be lying in the hospital for at least a week.

Kakashi held White Fang horizontally, quickly drawing in his other arm to brace the blade, then met Guy's powerful elbow strike head-on.

"Again!"

Guy suddenly withdrew his strength, lowered his center of gravity, and spun around with a kick.

"Konoha Strong Whirlwind!"

The spinning kick landed hard on Kakashi's shoulder. He sucked in a sharp breath and staggered back several steps.

That hurts!

Kakashi bared his teeth. He knew Guy had not used his full strength, but it still hurt like hell!

Having landed a blow, Guy pressed forward again, the nunchaku in his hand thrusting toward Kakashi's chest once more.

Kakashi focused completely and angled his sword to block the strike.

"Hehe, Kakashi, you fell for it!" Guy suddenly grinned.

"(ÒωÓױ)! Nani?!"

Kakashi was startled. He saw that, at some point, Guy had produced another nunchaku in his left hand!

"Taijutsu: Twin Fang Assault!"

The two nunchaku completely sealed off Kakashi from both front and back. They were simply too fast for his short sword to defend against both at once!

The nunchaku struck Kakashi's body, and Guy was overjoyed. He had finally beaten Kakashi once!

"Pfft!"

Yet at that moment, Kakashi's figure suddenly dispersed after being struck.

"Not good, a Shadow Clone!" Guy abruptly realized.

But it was already too late. Kakashi gave an evil grin. "Thousand Years of Death!"

Weak currents of electricity ran through Kakashi's hands as he sent Guy straight to the peak of his life.

"Ah~!" Guy let out a sound whose meaning was hard to discern.

Kakashi stood up with a sinister smile. Though Guy was usually scatterbrained, once he started fighting, his battle IQ soared. That was why Kakashi had always kept a trick in reserve against him.

"As expected... of my... lifelong rival." Guy's voice trembled. "That move... was truly... beyond my expectations."

Seeing Guy's somewhat dejected expression, Kakashi stepped forward and put an arm around his shoulders.

"Well, you hit me once earlier, and I beat you with one move now, so let's call this one a draw," Kakashi said.

Guy instantly put on a cheerful smile. "Yo, that couldn't be better."

"You really are something." Kakashi smiled helplessly. "Come on, let's go to my place. I'll make something else to eat."

"After a fight like that, I'm hungry again."

"Sure, sure!"

Guy agreed immediately. This was the first time his best friend had ever taken the initiative to invite him to his home!

"So what are we eating, Kakashi?"

"What we eat isn't important. What's important is that I need to wash my hands first."

The two figures walked farther and farther away beneath the setting sun, their shadows stretching into two long lines.