Even during the New Year, when families gathered to relax and celebrate, Might Guy continued his intense workouts near his home.
For him, sweat and youth never took a holiday!
"Even during the rare New Year break, I absolutely can't slack off on my training!"
He punched the air, talking to himself with boundless enthusiasm.
Still, practical circumstances did pose a few problems.
With the New Year underway, the training grounds normally used by the village's Ninja were packed with children playing, their laughter ringing through the air.
He could hardly compete with the children for space and spoil their fun.
And his favorite routines, such as "running five hundred laps around Konoha on my hands," were practically impossible during the holiday.
It wasn't simply because there were more pedestrians on the streets. The village's security precautions were also a concern.
During the New Year, the complicated flow of people made it the easiest time for spies from other villages to slip inside.
Guy might have been hot-blooded, but as an experienced Jonin, he still possessed that much vigilance.
As the largest village in the Shinobi World, Konoha still saw large numbers of merchant caravans and travelers coming and going over the holiday, multiplying the pressure on border inspections.
At such a sensitive time, if a Jonin like him kept up his usual high-speed training along the village perimeter, moving in a regular pattern, he could easily disrupt the security forces' deployment or even be mistaken for suspicious activity, creating needless trouble.
So he had to settle for stationary exercises such as squats, push-ups, and Taijutsu moves in the relatively quiet area near his home.
With a bouquet carefully cradled in his left arm and a neatly wrapped cream cake in his right hand, Naruto made his way to the door of Might Guy's modest home.
Guy was doing intense push-ups in the clearing outside his door when he caught sight of Naruto out of the corner of his eye, and his heart gave a sudden jolt.
He immediately finished his last few push-ups so fast that he left afterimages, then fumbled his trademark fake mustache out of his pocket and slapped it on. Only then did he turn around, feigning composure, and greet Naruto in a deliberately lowered, slightly gravelly voice. "Oh, it's you, Naruto!"
"Happy birthday, Teacher Cheng Dai!"
Naruto stepped forward with a sincere smile, holding the bouquet and cake up high to offer them to Guy.
Faced with this unexpected, heartfelt gift, Might Guy froze. Even one corner of his fake mustache lifted slightly in his surprise.
Curious, and even a little incredulous, he asked, "You... how did you know my birthday?"
Ever since his father, Might Duy, had sacrificed himself to protect him and his companions, Guy had poured all his spare time and energy into relentless training.
It had been a long, long time since he had celebrated his birthday. He had almost forgotten the day that belonged to him.
Naruto tilted his head up, his blue eyes shining with clear light, and answered honestly, "Grandpa Third told me."
So... the Third Hokage already knew?
Hearing Naruto's answer, Might Guy understood at once. Since the Third Hokage already knew and had tacitly approved, his clumsy disguise no longer served any purpose.
He reached up and slowly removed the ridiculous fake mustache, revealing his true face. At that moment, hot tears spilled uncontrollably from his usually determined eyes, sliding down cheeks hardened by years of training.
Had this youthful boy worked hard to save up for flowers and a cake to celebrate his teacher's birthday?
"Naruto..."
His voice caught, filled with emotion beyond words.
You... you're just so youthful!
Naruto immediately played along, widening his eyes and plastering an extremely "shocked" expression across his face as he cried out like someone who had discovered a whole new world:
"What? What?! Teacher Cheng Dai... you're actually Uncle Might Guy?!"
Might Guy said nothing more. He solemnly accepted Naruto's cake and bouquet and carefully placed them on the clean stone steps by the door as though they were treasures.
Then he abruptly turned, spread his arms, and swept Naruto into a powerful, exuberant hug that could nearly have suffocated an ordinary person, shouting in a booming, trembling voice:
"Waaah!!! This is... this is so hot-blooded, so youthful!!!"
His cry seemed ready to carry across all of Konoha, proclaiming the surging passion and emotion in his heart.
Held tight in Might Guy's powerful arms, feeling the enthusiasm that threatened to crush his bones and hearing that deafening shout of "youth" beside his ear, Naruto knew with perfect clarity.
It worked!
All his groundwork had paid off exactly as he had hoped at this moment.
That hug represented more than gratitude. It was wholehearted acceptance and recognition.
Naruto knew that the ultimate, limit-breaking Taijutsu he had dreamed of-the Eight Gates-was now as good as his.
Might Guy released Naruto, still unable to contain his excitement. He scrubbed his face hard, wiping away both tears and snot, then warmly draped an arm around Naruto's shoulders and led him into his little home.
There was little furniture inside, but quite a bit of training equipment.
He solemnly placed Naruto's bouquet and cake on the room's only table.
In Guy's eyes, those two simple gifts were more precious than anything else at that moment.
"You've really moved me, Naruto!"
Might Guy's voice still trembled with excitement. As he spoke, he rummaged through the room and finally produced a stack of bills clearly worth far more than Naruto had spent, trying to press it into his hands without taking no for an answer.
"Your teacher has truly received the heartfelt gift of your youthful spirit!
You've fully grasped the true meaning of youth!
But you're still young and have no income. These gifts cost you too much.
Once you've become a real Ninja and earned some money, you can give your teacher gifts then!
Our celebration then will burn even brighter!"
Naruto looked at the stack of money but made no move to take it.
He straightened his still-small frame, his gaze clear and firm, and shook his head. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable conviction:
"No, Teacher Guy. If I truly understand the meaning of youth, then I absolutely can't accept this money."
He took a deep breath, weaving his understanding of "youth" into his own Ninja way, and declared with ringing conviction:
"There are many choices to make in our youth. Isn't true youth about committing to the path you've chosen, then pressing forward without hesitation?
Even if the wind and snow along that path are so fierce that you stumble and can barely take a step, you still have to give it everything you've got and keep going, burning with all you are!"
His voice rose, and flames seemed to burn in his blue eyes. "Just like my dream of becoming Hokage!
Even if countless dangers lie ahead, even if countless people doubt and mock me, I'll do just as you taught me, Teacher Guy, and burn with youth as I give my all to reach the position of Hokage!
And the ultimate purpose of all that is to protect teachers like you who guide me, to protect the friends I treasure, and to protect everyone in the village I want to keep safe!"
"Teacher Guy, this is my choice. Please don't turn it down again."
Might Guy was utterly shaken by Naruto's speech, which blended his own Ninja way with the burning passion of youth.
His hand stopped in midair, still holding the money. His eyes, always blazing with fighting spirit, now filled with unprecedented emotion and admiration.
He slowly put the money away and looked solemnly at Naruto.
"I understand."
He spoke those words with utter seriousness, completely setting aside his usual theatrics. They represented his complete respect for and recognition of Naruto's resolve.
Then his irrepressible passion burst forth again. He clenched both fists, his entire body seeming to radiate blazing light, and roared in his trademark booming voice, "Ooooh!!! That speech was the very pinnacle of youth, Naruto!"
His tears poured out again, but this time they were tears of joy and pride.
"You're already racing down this path of youth, even surpassing your teacher! I can't let that stand! As your teacher, I must work even harder-ten times harder, no, a hundred times harder! I absolutely can't let my own youth fall behind my student's!!"
A soaring fighting spirit instantly filled Guy's heart.