Chapter 31: Five-Attribute Ninja
"You're here."
"I'm here."
"You shouldn't have come."
"I've already come."
"Get out! You suddenly burst into my house, and then into the bathroom, Guy, what are you trying to do?"
Even the usually cool and aloof Kakashi couldn't maintain his composure, looking frantically at Might Guy, who had infiltrated his bathroom.
"Of course, it's for a battle full of youth and passion!" Might Guy said enthusiastically to Kakashi, raising his arm and giving a thumbs-up.
Kakashi: ...
If the soap suds weren't still on his body, he would have given Might Guy's annoying smiling face a flying kick right now.
Who bursts into a bathroom at night saying they want to duel?
"Even if we're going to fight, wait until I've finished my bath," Kakashi couldn't help but retort.
"As expected of my rival, you readily accept the challenge! I'll wait for you outside!" Might Guy's smile was brilliant, two rows of shining white teeth particularly dazzling under the lights.
Kakashi rubbed his forehead exasperatedly. He began to suspect if his father had misjudged Guy back then.
To think he believed Might Guy might become stronger than him in the future, and be a good opponent.
But if Might Guy wanted to fight, then so be it. It was good to let him see the gap between them.
Kakashi quickly washed himself clean, then put on his clothes and went outside.
"Let's decide this!" Might Guy took a stance and passionately shouted.
"Are we competing in taijutsu this time?" Kakashi asked.
Since first year, Might Guy had been challenging him in various ways, not just combat, but sometimes shuriken throwing as well.
"No, just use all your strength. Treat this as a real battle," Might Guy said, shaking his head seriously.
"Are you sure?" Kakashi asked again.
If he were to use his full power directly, he believed Might Guy wouldn't have a chance to resist.
He had become a Chunin two years ago, while Might Guy was still a Ninja Academy student.
"Absolutely certain!" Might Guy grinned broadly.
"Then be careful." As soon as Kakashi finished speaking, he immediately pulled out four shuriken and threw them at Might Guy.
Might Guy dodged the shuriken, but then suddenly found Kakashi had inadvertently approached him and thrown a punch.
"Leaf Hurricane!"
Might Guy swiftly delivered a spinning kick, colliding with Kakashi's fist, and both retreated a few steps.
"Hmm?" Kakashi looked at Might Guy with some surprise.
He hadn't expected Might Guy to react and counter so quickly; the speed of his kick was unexpectedly fast.
Might Guy had challenged him once two months ago, and that was also a taijutsu match.
Compared to last time, Might Guy had made noticeable progress.
"How's that, Kakashi? I've gotten a lot stronger!" Might Guy laughed loudly.
"I hope you can still laugh after this," Kakashi's eyes sharpened.
Kakashi quickly performed hand signs, creating four shadow clones. The shadow clones then also performed hand signs and used the Clone Jutsu, creating numerous illusions.
"So many Kakashis!" Might Guy was a bit dumbfounded looking at the dozens of Kakashis that suddenly appeared.
Kakashis continuously rushed towards Might Guy. Might Guy once again used Leaf Hurricane, kicking down over a dozen Kakashis in one go, but unfortunately, they were all illusions. The remaining shadow clone Kakashis took the opportunity to strike.
As Might Guy struggled to cope, a hand suddenly emerged from underground, grabbing Might Guy's foot.
"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"
Might Guy instantly felt his entire body plummeting at high speed. By the time he reacted, only his head remained above ground.
"The battle is over," Kakashi said to Guy's exposed head as he squatted.
"Kakashi, as expected of the rival I chase, you're truly strong," Might Guy exclaimed.
In his battle with that Hyuga clan student, he could fight back and forth, only losing because the opponent's Byakugan's perception ability was too strong.
However, in his battle with Kakashi, apart from the initial taijutsu exchange, he quickly fell into a disadvantage and Kakashi found an opportunity for a decisive strike.
It was a crushing battle, was all Might Guy could say.
"If you know I'm strong, then train more before coming to find me again. At least graduate first," Kakashi said unceremoniously.
"Alright, once I get stronger, I'll come find you again," Might Guy said with a laugh.
Kakashi felt like Might Guy had selective hearing; he shouldn't ignore the latter part of his words.
Too lazy to ask Might Guy if he had actually listened, Kakashi released him and went home.
Might Guy patted the dust off his body, looked at Kakashi's retreating back, and clenched his fists.
"I need to become even stronger!"
This full-power battle with Kakashi broadened Might Guy's horizons. To become the strongest, he still had a long way to go.
Might Guy decided that tomorrow he would ask Teacher Muyue if he could help him devise a stricter training plan!
The next day, Ninja Academy.
"Next, I'll explain the key points to focus on with the Clone Jutsu..." During the ninjutsu class, after Muyue finished lecturing on chakra guiding hand signs, he casually touched upon the Three Basic Jutsu.
Although there were only three ninjutsu to learn in ninjutsu class, there was still a lot of other ninjutsu-related theoretical knowledge.
"Teacher Hanyu, since the main goal of the Clone Jutsu is to create illusions to confuse enemies, can I combine the Clone Jutsu and Transformation Jutsu to create an illusion that is even more confusing to the opponent than myself?" Kotetsu asked.
Muyue thought seriously for a moment and found that this was indeed possible to achieve; in fact, someone in the original story even developed an upgraded version.
That was Naruto's Harem Jutsu—cloning, confusing, transforming—a perfect combination. Because it used shadow clones, it was considered an upgraded version.
"You can try. We have so many ready-made ninjutsu to learn now precisely because of the efforts of previous generations," Muyue encouraged Kotetsu's idea.
"However, I advise against using it in actual combat before it's perfected," Muyue warned.
If he actually created the Harem Jutsu, it would be fine, but if he created some other strange thing, Muyue worried he might get beaten up.
"I understand, Teacher," Kotetsu nodded, preparing to discuss it thoroughly with his two good brothers, Izumo Kamizuki and Anko Mitarashi, later.
He believed that with the combined wisdom of these three top students in the class, they would surely develop a surprising ninjutsu.
"Class dismissed!" After the bell rang, Muyue announced the end of class.
[Lecture Complete]
[Evaluation: A]
[Reward: Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall]
"Finally, Earth Release..." Muyue felt a pleasant surprise.
Although the Earth-Style Wall wasn't a particularly strong ninjutsu, the system would also include a bit of nature transformation.
Now Muyue had mastered all five basic nature transformations.
After school that afternoon, Muyue unexpectedly encountered Might Guy on his way to the training ground.
His conjecture was indeed verified, though it was still somewhat beyond his expectation.