Sage Mode and Guy's Advance

Looking at Naruto's bruised and swollen face, Kakashi was somewhat uncertain. Masaka?

Little Naruto's eyes darted away. "Kakashi, don't look. I just accidentally fell and hit myself."

"Wrong." Kakashi shook his head. "You got into a fight—or rather, three little guys beat you up good. Am I right?"

Little Naruto was shocked. "Kakashi, how did you know?"

Kakashi rolled his one visible eye dramatically.

Come on, your wife-picking storyline was such a classic. How could I not know?

This was a fated encounter. Hinata and Tenten had gotten lost, and even the Hyuga guards couldn't find them, yet this kid just happened to run into them.

Over the past year, dropping by after work to ruffle Naruto's hair had become Kakashi's habit. It felt like he had nearly polished the kid's head to a shine.

After bidding Naruto farewell, Kakashi went to a secluded spot outside the village and began training.

"Senjutsu Chakra is formed by merging three kinds of energy: the spiritual energy within the body, Chakra, and Natural Energy from the outside world..."

"Unlike others, I have the advantage of being able to draw Natural Energy into my body."

"That means I can skip the time others need to gather Natural Energy, and I'll also have an easier time mastering Sage Mode."

"After training so hard for so long, I can finally give it a try today."

Expectant, Kakashi sat cross-legged and slowly guided the three energies within his body to merge according to the structure in his memories.

The structure of Senjutsu Chakra was extraordinarily complicated. Kakashi had spent a full three months just understanding it.

"Gather the five elements and use them in reverse; when the work is complete, become Buddha and immortal..."

As Kakashi circulated the Sage Art taught to him by that mysterious presence, the Natural Energy within him behaved as obediently as extensions of his limbs. At his will, it transformed into tiny tendrils that stretched toward his Chakra and spiritual energy.

Sweat dripped from his forehead. Controlling the fusion of three energies was incredibly complicated and tedious, like using his mind to control three versions of himself doing that at once.

Who knew how much time passed before the three energies finally intertwined, gradually blending together until they became an inseparable whole and stabilized.

It worked!

Kakashi opened his eyes. The pupil of his right eye had strangely turned vertical, cold-blooded like a python and enough to send chills down one's spine.

"Mm..." Kakashi touched his head. "Good thing I didn't grow horns. That would've been too embarrassing."

"I'm imitating the Senjutsu Chakra of Ryūchi Cave, but I don't know whether it's a watered-down version. After all, it was only Orochimaru's experiment..."

Kakashi carefully sensed the state of Sage Mode, wanting to see exactly what improvements it brought him.

"My senses have become sharper. I can even hear a young couple near the village currently..."

"Hm? In broad daylight, and out in the wilderness... I've gone off track."

"My Chakra has become thicker than before. Conservatively speaking, the power of my ninjutsu is at least three times what it was."

With ten Kakashis' worth of Chakra and the ability to enter Sage Mode, Kakashi felt he was another step closer to breaking free of the fifty-fifty curse.

"The downside is that I don't know Ryūchi Cave Senjutsu like Inorganic Reincarnation, but the techniques I've created can make up for that weakness for now."

"And thanks to my high degree of control over Natural Energy, perhaps once I become proficient in Sage Mode, I can activate it instantly!"

Thus, Kakashi's daily routine gained another item: after completing missions, he would ruffle Naruto's hair, then run somewhere deserted to transform.

Kakashi returned to the village looking utterly drained, only to see three familiar figures approaching him.

One wore a green jumpsuit and had a huge watermelon-shaped haircut. It was his friend, Guy.

A man and woman stood closer together. The woman had delicate features and a slender figure, wearing a short white robe with only one red sleeve that exposed her long, fair legs. She was Kurenai Yuhi.

The man was Asuma Sarutobi.

"Yo, Kakashi, what's wrong? You look exhausted. Just finish a mission?" Guy greeted him with a smile.

"You idiot, how can ANBU reveal mission intelligence to outsiders, Guy?" Kurenai Yuhi shot Guy an exasperated glare.

"Right, right. Kurenai's right."

Following the principle that whatever his girlfriend said was right, Asuma nodded repeatedly.

"We were just about to head to the dango shop. Want to come with us?"

Guy confidently invited Kakashi. He believed that as long as he asked, his friend would surely give him face.

"Sorry, I don't really like sweets."

Kakashi shook his head and walked straight toward home.

Do you know how much protein transforming alone costs me in a day?

My legs can barely keep me standing. Why would I eat dango? Right now, I just want to go home and lie down.

Of course, it would be even better if I had a good book to pass the time while resting.

At that thought, Kakashi couldn't help screaming wildly in his heart.

Ah, Lord Jiraiya, when are you coming to bring me books?

"That guy... why has he become so withdrawn?" Asuma asked, puzzled.

Guy couldn't figure it out either. Why wouldn't his friend, who cultivated together with him, even give him face for a meal?

"Maybe it's because he's been in ANBU too long. After all..." Kurenai Yuhi sighed. "A place like ANBU can change a person too easily."

"No, I absolutely can't let my lifelong friend become like this. I have to act!" Guy's eyes seemed to blaze with burning fire.

"You?" Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma both glanced sideways, wondering what this fool was planning now.

Hokage's Office.

Guy entered through the door and, without another word, dropped to his knees and knocked his head on the floor, leaving the Third Hokage completely bewildered.

"Lord Third, please let me join ANBU!" Guy said. "Kakashi hasn't been doing well lately. I hope I can help him."

The Third Hokage pondered for a moment, unsure how to put it. "Guy, I know you mean well for Kakashi, but everyone has their proper role. You're not suited for ANBU..."

"No, Lord Third, please don't worry about my feelings!" Guy said with deep emotion.

"Shut up! You're not suited for ANBU. Leave my office now!" The Third Hokage turned his head away, too lazy to deal with this simpleton.

"Suited... not suited... suited... not suited..."

Guy left the Hokage's Office with a vacant stare. After only a few steps, he ran into Danzo, who was leaning on a cane.

"Um, Lord Danzo!"

"What is it?" Danzo stopped and looked at Guy, somewhat confused.

Guy said seriously, "Please let me join the ANBU under Lord Danzo!"

"Heh heh."

Danzo simply left, leaving Guy standing there alone, questioning his life.