Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake walked at the front, while Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha skulked along behind them. Every so often, the two used their surroundings to hide themselves, though what they were hiding from was anyone's guess.
Shihōin Naraku glanced at the silent Kakashi Hatake and smiled.
It seemed that, even if he said nothing, he still took this very seriously.
The main reason Shihōin Naraku had chosen Training Ground 19 was its distance. The walk there would give Kakashi Hatake time to gradually get himself into condition. Both his mind and his body needed to be in perfect shape so he could face him at his best.
"Yo-!"
"My dear friends!"
Just as Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake, who was getting himself into condition, were walking along, a green figure suddenly appeared in the distance. A few bounds brought him before them, and he cheered loudly as he moved to hug them.
"Hold on..."
Shihōin Naraku hurriedly reached out to stop the exuberant Might Guy.
"Hm?"
"What's wrong with Kakashi?"
Might Guy also noticed something was off about Kakashi Hatake. Was he heading somewhere for an ANBU mission? Was he going into a fight to the death?
But why were neither Shihōin Naraku nor Kakashi Hatake wearing ANBU combat gear?
Seeing Might Guy's puzzled expression, Shihōin Naraku gave a troublemaking grin. "We're going to fight. Want to come?"
"Oh?!"
At that, Might Guy leaped backward, then spun a full three hundred and sixty degrees in midair.
"NO-Problem!!!"
Raising a thumb, Might Guy flashed his white teeth, which gleamed.
Then, as though remembering something, Might Guy waved vigorously behind him, and Shihōin Naraku saw three figures running over from the distance.
Neji Hyuga, Tenten, and Rock Lee!
As it turned out, Might Guy had just returned from a mission outside the village with Konoha Team 3.
"Why don't you take them to turn in the mission first?" Shihōin Naraku pointed at the curious Neji Hyuga and his two teammates. "We're going to Training Ground 19 anyway. You have time."
Might Guy glanced back at his three students, thought for a moment, then nodded. "No problem. We'll be right back."
"Everyone! Pick up the pace! We're turning in the mission now!"
With that, Might Guy raced off.
Neji Hyuga and his two teammates had only just arrived. Before they could figure out what had happened, they could only take a deep, gasping breath and helplessly follow him again.
"He really is energetic."
Shihōin Naraku shook his head. Still, Neji Hyuga and his two teammates seemed to recognize him and Kakashi Hatake, giving them friendly nods and greetings as they passed.
"Ah, Guy-sensei, why are we rushing so much? We're already back in the village."
The cute-faced Tenten complained, rubbing her knee as she spoke.
"Because there's a good show to watch! Naraku and Kakashi are going to spar, and I'm going too!"
After hurriedly completing the mission handover, Might Guy came out with his three students, signaling for them to follow him rather than rest just yet.
"This is a rare chance to see three jonin fight. Aren't you interested?"
"What?"
"Three jonin?"
Neji Hyuga and his two teammates immediately widened their eyes, staring at their teacher in disbelief.
"That's right. Me, Shihōin Naraku, and Kakashi Hatake!"
"It's been so long since we fought!"
"My blood's starting to boil!"
Might Guy bounced around in excitement, then charged ahead.
"Neji, Lee, who do you think will win out of the three jonin?"
Tenten asked curiously as she followed.
Rock Lee immediately shouted, "Guy-sensei, of course! Guy-sensei will definitely win!"
Neji Hyuga thought it over carefully before answering uncertainly, "I don't know. Guy-sensei is very strong, but Lord Kakashi Hatake is a ninja renowned throughout the shinobi world. Even ninja from other villages acknowledge his title of Copy Ninja."
"As for Lord Shihōin Naraku, I'm not sure exactly how strong he is. Guy-sensei said Lord Naraku is a medical ninja and one of Konoha's higher-ups, but he didn't say much about his strength."
A bright smile spread across Tenten's cute face. As though remembering something, she said, "Right, Lord Naraku is a medical ninja. I think the medicine Guy-sensei gives us was made by Lord Naraku."
Rock Lee spoke up then. "Lord Naraku is amazing too! Did you forget? Guy-sensei said Lord Naraku was a genius from childhood, and Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin, even took him as her student!"
Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin!
That name and title immediately stunned Tenten and Neji Hyuga.
Especially Tenten, whose dream was to become a female ninja like Tsunade!
"Let's hurry!"
The three immediately sped up, chasing after Might Guy!
On the bustling streets of Konohagakure, the four figures led by Might Guy flashed past and vanished in an instant.
"What's going on?"
Kurenai Yuhi found the sight strange. Beside her, Asuma Sarutobi scratched his head, a cigarette between his lips, equally puzzled.
"Maybe they're training?"
Both knew how powerful Might Guy was, so neither questioned his seemingly ridiculous training methods.
The two, out shopping on a date, paid it no further mind and returned to enjoying their time together.
"Has it started? Has it started?!"
When Might Guy arrived at Training Ground 19 with his students, he found Naraku and Kakashi already standing inside, facing each other intently, while two children stood at the edge, watching without blinking.
Might Guy recognized them at a glance: the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki, and the Uchiha Clan's orphaned survivor, Sasuke Uchiha!
He went straight over with his three students and stood in front of Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.
"If things start looking wrong, you kids need to pull back immediately. Otherwise, you'll get caught up in the fight, and that won't be good."
Sasuke Uchiha maintained his aloof manner, while Naruto Uzumaki shouted the moment he looked over. "Whoa! Those eyebrows are so thick!"
"Why are you being rude to Guy-sensei?!"
Might Guy himself did not mind Naruto Uzumaki's offense, but Rock Lee stepped forward without hesitation. He could not accept anyone being so rude to his teacher.
"Ah..."
Seeing that the fellow who had stepped forward had the same style of thick eyebrows, Naruto Uzumaki suddenly had no idea what to say.
"As Guy-sensei's student, I, Rock Lee, challenge you!"
"Huh?"
Naruto Uzumaki looked utterly bewildered.
"Lee!"
"Yes, Guy-sensei!"
Rock Lee obediently returned to his teacher's side.
With rare seriousness, Might Guy said, "What you're about to see is a battle between the strongest jonin in all of Konohagakure. Watch carefully. This could have an impact on your careers as ninja."
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
"Got it!"
Beside them, Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha remained stunned for a long while after hearing those words.
The ambition for revenge flashed in Sasuke Uchiha's eyes. These two were actually the strongest jonin. If he could get either one to teach him, could he kill Uchiha Itachi soon?
Naruto Uzumaki, meanwhile, looked disbelieving. He had never imagined that Kakashi Hatake and Shihōin Naraku possessed such tremendous strength.
Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake paid no attention to the commotion outside the field.
They stood far apart, facing each other intently. Shihōin Naraku's entire body was relaxed, his eyes fixed on Kakashi.
Kakashi Hatake, meanwhile, had both eyes closed as he worked to bring his mind and body into condition. The genius he had once been seemed to be returning, step by step.
Whoosh-!
A fierce gust swept past!
Leaves and dust rose and swirled through the air, briefly obscuring the view.
At that moment, Kakashi Hatake suddenly opened his eyes.
The laziness in them had long since vanished, leaving only a fleeting sharp gleam.
At the same time, Kakashi Hatake lifted the forehead protector covering his other eye, revealing a long scar on his face. The scar ran across his entire right eye, and within that eye socket, a scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan slowly turned.
Swish!
Everyone outside the field except Might Guy and Naruto Uzumaki turned to look at Sasuke Uchiha, who was utterly overwhelmed with shock!
Before you continue