At the end of the match, Third Hokage Sarutobi made a closing speech. He spared no praise for Yue while also telling the Konoha Rookies not to be discouraged—their lives had only just begun.
He also plainly stated that Yue's appearance was a "good medicine" to spur their growth. It was precisely because opponents like Yue existed that Konoha's new generation would become even stronger in the future.
Protect the Will of Fire.
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had spoken rather indirectly, Yue caught the deeper meaning behind his words.
It meant nothing more than that being strong for a time meant little. Everyone's circumstances and experiences differed at every stage of life. What truly mattered was whose peak lasted longer in the future, and whose potential was greater. Konoha possessed abundant resources and powerful clan backgrounds. With advantages such as secret techniques and Kekkei Genkai, their growth curve was beyond what ninjas from ordinary small villages could compare to.
Yue might be strong now... but in the future, who would be stronger was impossible to say.
On the other side, Kakashi felt no regret at not getting to fight Yue.
Because he knew he absolutely could not defeat Yue.
To be honest, Might Guy's displayed combat power had far exceeded Kakashi's expectations, and it had shown him an "unfamiliar" side of Guy.
Forget Yue—facing Guy after he had opened four of the Eight Gates, Kakashi felt that his own chances of winning were slim as well.
He had been promoted to Chunin because his fundamental abilities as a ninja were solid and met the standard. But Guy's foundation might only have been at the Genin level; once he used the Eight Gates, it was an entirely different matter... Kakashi had watched the whole fight, imagining himself in either fighter's place.
Then