That afternoon, in the arena.
The match began on time. Might Guy, covered in bandages, stood before Kakashi and loosened up.
Kakashi tugged at his mask and asked rather helplessly, "Say-Guy, are you really all right?"
"You're wrapped up like that. Maybe we should just call this off-"
"Don't worry about me, Kakashi!" Guy gave Kakashi a thumbs-up. "My youth won't burn out over a few little injuries! Fighting you will only make it blaze even brighter!"
"So, Kakashi, give it everything you've got! Don't hold back!"
Kakashi couldn't help scratching his head.
Though it was a little rude to think so, with Guy in his current condition, Kakashi doubted he could even fight normally, let alone deliver another kick like the one he had used against Kisame.
Kakashi reckoned he really would have needed to go all out to handle Guy in the state he had been in when he delivered that final kick. Right now, though, going all out felt rather like bullying him.
But seeing Guy brimming with fighting spirit, Kakashi merely shook his head in the end and said nothing.
The two formed the Seal of Confrontation toward each other.
Kakashi watched Guy settle into his fighting stance. Rather than attacking immediately, he stood where he was and said, "You go first, Guy."
"All right!"
Guy didn't stand on ceremony. He answered and charged straight at Kakashi.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
Who knew when he had picked up the habit, but Guy always shouted the names of his moves during a fight.
Whether that let his opponents anticipate his moves and react ahead of time aside, the shout certainly gave him more presence than Kakashi.
Kakashi retreated, bracing both hands in front of himself, and Guy's kick sent him skidding back.
When his sweeping kick failed to