The fanatical expression on Might Guy's face froze. His eyes, which seemed to be forever burning with flames, showed an expression that was almost dull for the first time. His hand on Senju Chen's shoulder subconsciously let go.
"Wha... what?"
His voice lost its usual loudness and became a little dry. The air around him seemed to have become solemn because of his sudden silence.
"I said, I have been promoted to Jonin." The smile on Senju Chen's face remained unchanged, and his tone was as calm as saying, "Tenten is feeling pretty good today."
This plain sentence fell into the ears of Might Guy, but it was nothing less than a thunder.
Jonin.
This word, for a young man who is still struggling in the Chunin stage, represents an insurmountable mountain. It is not only a symbol of strength and level, but also the ultimate recognition of a ninja's comprehensive ability by the highest level of the village.
Might Guy's chest heaved violently. He looked at the young man in front of him who was several years younger than him. His gentle smile seemed to him like the sharpest sword at the moment, easily cutting through all his pride and passion, revealing the unknown reality underneath called "the gap".
"Oh oh oh oh oh--!!!"
After a brief silence, there was an even more violent explosion. Might Guy's whole figure was like a ignited powder keg. Instead of retreating, he took a big step forward, almost face to face with Senju Chen. In his big eyes, a flame that was even more intense and crazier than before was rekindled.
"As expected of you! Chen-kun! My destined opponent!" He roared, spittle almost spraying on Senju Chen's face, "While you are working hard to be promoted for youth, I am still standing still! What a slackness! What a shame!"
He turned around suddenly, facing the direction of Memorial Stone, making a fist with his right hand and raising it high.
"I, Might Guy, hereby swear an oath! In order to catch up with you, starting from today, I will double my training volume! If I can't do it, I will walk upside down around Konoha five hundred times!"
"..."
Senju Chen silently took half a step back. Looking at this guy who instantly entered self-motivation mode, the corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch.
This guy's brain circuit is indeed different from ordinary people.
"Let's go," he patted Kai's back, interrupting his self-impression, "Let's eat ramen first. You can't burn off your youth if you're hungry."
"That's right!" Might Guy instantly regained his energy. He grabbed Senju Chen's neck and laughed, "Let Ichiraku's ramen inject the initial energy into our next duel! Go ahead--!"
Ichiraku Ramen's door curtain was suddenly opened, and the rich aroma of tonkotsu soup mixed with warm steam rushed towards his face.
"Uncle! Two huge bowls of char siew miso ramen!"
Might Guy's loud voice shook the small store. Uncle Teuchi, who was busy, raised his head and showed an honest smile when he saw it was them.
The two sat down side by side. The atmosphere in the store was completely different from the gloomy and solemn outside. The steaming boiler and the satisfied slurping sounds of the diners formed a small, warm place of human fireworks.
Soon, two bowls of ramen piled like a hill were brought up. The golden alkali water surface, the mellow miso soup, the plump barbecued pork that covered the entire mouth of the bowl, and the soft-boiled egg with an orange-yellow yolk looked tempting.
"I'm starting!"
Might Guy clasped his hands together, and then turned into a high-speed eating machine. The sound of his noodles was loud and rhythmic, as if he was not eating, but engaged in a fierce battle.
Senju Chen was much more leisurely. He picked up a piece of barbecued pork and put it in his mouth, feeling the wonderful taste of the fat and thin meat melting on the tip of his tongue.
"Kay." He said casually while eating, "How do you feel about being on the front line this time?"
"Hmm... snore... um..." Might Guy responded vaguely with his mouth full of noodles. He swallowed the food in his mouth hard before answering seriously, "It's cruel, but it also made me see more things that need to be protected! Every time I see my companion fall, it makes me feel that my youth is not burning vigorously enough!"
Senju Chen listened quietly.
He knows that for people like Might Guy, the cruelty of war will not make him depressed, but will only become the fuel for him to continuously squeeze himself and become stronger.
After the storm and clouds cleared, the two huge ramen bowls bottomed out.
Might Guy patted his belly with satisfaction, his face glowing red after exercise.
"Let's go, Chen-kun!" He stood up with high fighting spirit, "I have replenished my energy! Now, let's go sweat!"
Senju Chen smiled, stood up and paid the bill, leading the excited Might Guy towards the direction of Senju's mansion.
The backyard training ground of the Senju Clan is several times larger than that of the Hatake Clan. The flat land has various training stakes and equipment placed on the edge, making it look spacious and professional.
The two stood opposite each other, ten meters apart.
The wind stopped at some point. Under the gloomy sky, the atmosphere became particularly solemn.
"Chen-kun, in order to show my respect to you, I will try my best from the beginning!" Might Guy showed a standard Gentle Fist starting position, but the aura exuding from his whole body was full of Strong Fist's domineering attitude.
"Come on." Senju Chen bowed slightly, his body like a fully drawn bow, and every cell was in a state of war.
The next second, Might Guy moved!
No fancy Hand Seals, no probing feints.
His right foot stepped hard on the ground, and there was a muffled "bang" sound, and the ground under his feet cracked instantly. His whole body was like a discharged cannonball, carrying a tragic momentum, rushing straight towards Senju Chen.
So fast!
Senju Chen's pupils shrank slightly.
He could see Kai's movements clearly, and the nerve response speed given to him by Lightning Body Tempering was enough to capture the subtle changes in every muscle of the opponent. But just because he could "see clearly" did not mean that his body could "keep up".
It was a pure, unreasonable impact that brought physical strength and speed to the extreme!
Senju Chen is not hardwired.
He tiptoed, and his body moved half a meter to the left like a weightless leaf.
Might Guy's inevitable punch grazed the corner of his clothes and hit the air heavily. The wind caused by the punch even made Senju Chen's cheeks feel a sting.
The blow failed, but Might Guy's offensive did not stop at all. He exerted force on his waist, twisted his body at an incredible angle, turned his fist into an elbow, and swept towards Senju Chen's ribs.
Fast! Accurate! Cruel!
Senju Chen only had these three words left in his mind.
He crossed his arms in front of him.
"Boom!"
There was a heavy impact sound, like a war drum being beaten.
A huge force came from his arms. Senju Chen felt as if his arms were hit by a battering ram. His whole body slid back several meters uncontrollably, and his feet plowed two deep ravines on the ground.
My arms... are numb.