Might Guy

Uzumaki Hane and Yamano Koromo walked slowly down the street as Hane told her what had happened over the past few days. Koromo had not expected the mission to be so dangerous, and her face was full of worry.

Hane noticed her concern and reached out to ruffle her hair. "Koromo, I'm fine. Look, aren't I standing right here?"

Just then, Tanaka's pleasantly surprised voice came from behind them. "Hane, are you all right?"

They turned to see Tanaka hurrying toward them, looking disheveled from head to toe. He had probably just finished training.

Tanaka came up to Hane and said, "Hane, I heard a lot of people were badly injured on your mission. Are you all right?"

Hane was happy to see Tanaka too. "Tanaka! I'm fine. We're just about to eat at the Yamano house. Come with us."

Tanaka looked at the two of them and seemed to remember something. "I'm glad you're okay, Hane. I have something to do, so I won't bother you two." Then he turned and hurried away.

Hane was puzzled by how quickly Tanaka had come and gone. "What was that about?"

Koromo's cheeks turned pink. "Maybe he had something important to do."

Hane looked at Koromo and thought she was acting a little strangely too. Seeing her flushed face, he couldn't help reaching out to press a hand to her forehead. "Koromo, what's wrong? Did you catch a cold?"

Koromo's face immediately turned bright red. She pulled Hane's hand down and said, "I'm fine." Hane asked, "Are you sure?" He studied her carefully for a moment, and only when he saw that she seemed all right did he turn and head toward the Yamano house.

After a few steps, he realized Koromo hadn't followed and was still standing where he had left her. He called out, "Koromo, what are you doing? Aren't you coming?"

Hane's shout brought Koromo back to her senses, and she hurried over.

Hane said, "Koromo, you really are acting a little strange today."

Koromo said nothing, merely smiling.

They arrived at the Yamano house, but Mr. and Mrs. Yamano weren't home. Koromo said, "Hane, sit down for a bit. I'll make dinner; it'll be ready soon." Hane was already very familiar with the house, so he made himself at home and went straight to the living room.

Hane began thinking about the mission. They hadn't brought Sasuke back, so it could be called a failure. But no one had died, which was the greatest blessing they could have hoped for. What concerned him most, however, was his fight with Kimimaro.

His fight with Kimimaro had been a complete defeat. He usually crushed his enemies outright with the power of the Magma-Magma Fruit, but the Shikotsumyaku of Kimimaro's Kaguya Clan gave him bones as hard as the toughest steel. Hane's magma couldn't melt Kimimaro's bones in an instant, and as a result, Kimimaro had overwhelmed him with powerful Taijutsu.

Hane considered his own strengths and weaknesses. He wasn't good at Ninjutsu, and he owed all his current strength to the Magma-Magma Fruit. He was still far too poor at using its power, and once it was countered, he was good for nothing.

If he trained hard in Taijutsu and used it with the Magma-Magma Fruit, the result would be much more than the sum of its parts. His strength could definitely improve rapidly, reaching a new level in a short time. In the world of the Pirate King, all the strong had extremely powerful bodies.

But it seemed he hadn't practiced Taijutsu in a long time. Ever since obtaining the method to open the Eight Gates Released Formation, he hadn't trained in Taijutsu again. Had he grown complacent? This was the world of Hokage, where people could die at any moment. Hane sank into deep thought.

Before long, Koromo had prepared a table full of dishes. The aroma reached Hane's nose, and his stomach immediately rumbled, urging him to eat. Fortunately, the two had grown up together, so he didn't pay it much mind. He sat down at the table and began to eat heartily. Whether Koromo's cooking had improved or he was simply hungry, the food tasted especially good today, and he soon finished the whole tableful.

Koromo sat beside him the whole time, watching him tenderly and occasionally putting food on his plate.

Hane let out a burp and looked at Koromo. "Koromo, what's wrong today? We've known each other for so many years. If you have something to say, just say it."

Koromo shook her head. "Hane, don't worry. Nothing's wrong."

Hane studied her intently for a long moment before saying, "Is that so? Well, if something does happen, you have to tell me."

Koromo smiled gently. "Mm."

After resting at the Yamano house for a while, Hane said goodbye to Koromo and hurried to the training ground, intending to train harder. There, however, he found Might Guy doing push-ups.

Hane smiled. "Teacher Kaido, what brings you here?"

Might Guy stood up and flashed over to Hane, immediately kicking at his head.

Hane hadn't expected Might Guy to attack him so suddenly. He raised his right arm and blocked the kick. Bang! Hane stumbled back several steps. He shook his aching arm and said, "Teacher Kaido, what are you doing?"

Might Guy bared two rows of straight, gleaming white teeth and gave him a thumbs-up with his right hand. "Hane, youth can't exist without passion." He launched himself at Hane with a flying kick, reaching him in the blink of an eye.

Hane's eyes narrowed. So fast. He hurriedly crossed his arms in front of him to block. Bang! Hane retreated several more steps before stopping. He looked at Might Guy and said, "Teacher Kaido, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Might Guy once again raised his right thumb and showed his straight, white teeth. "Hane, let your youth burn! Fight me!"

Watching Might Guy strike his signature pose, Hane felt black lines appear on his forehead. He knew he probably couldn't escape today, but fighting Teacher Kaido sounded like fun. His fighting spirit surged. "Teacher Kaido, here I come." He clenched his right hand, quickly drew out Chakra, and concentrated it in his fist before punching straight at Might Guy.

Might Guy shouted, "Good, good, Hane! Youth needs hot blood! Come on!" He aimed a spinning kick straight at Hane's fist. Fist and foot collided with a bang, and Hane retreated several more steps. I didn't manage to use the Superhuman Strength Fist.

Might Guy said, "Hane, what's wrong? Your youth isn't hot-blooded enough!" He spun around and kicked at Hane. Hane felt a tremendous force coming at him, and before he could defend himself, he was sent flying.

Hane turned in midair and barely managed to land on a tree branch. Might Guy leaped up, appeared above Hane, and kicked down at him.