After his clan was wiped out, Sasuke gained a new perspective on life.
Previously, he would wake up to a sumptuous breakfast on the table, act a little spoiled with his parents, and then head off to the Ninja Academy.
After school, he would train with Naruto and Rock Lee, then they'd have dinner together. The light in his home was always on for him.
His mother would wait for him to return home every day, greeting him with a gentle, "Welcome home, Sasuke."
But now, when he woke up, the table was bare, the refrigerator empty. Even the Uchiha compound upon his return was lifeless, shrouded in darkness.
At some point, Sasuke had stopped turning off the lights when he slept.
He tried buying ingredients and learning how to cook.
Although restaurant food was delicious and convenient, his savings couldn't withstand the expense of eating out every day.
To survive long-term, he had to develop some basic life skills.
Sasuke attempted to cook.
But the taste of his dishes was almost unbearable.
He could only force himself to endure it and strive to learn.
Life seemed to be returning to a normal rhythm, with everyone busy with their routines.
Naruto was at the training grounds as usual, going through his daily regimen.
Today, however, he was alone.
Sasuke couldn't make it because he was tidying up the Uchiha compound.
Rock Lee had a family gathering.
Naruto was quite happy to have the quiet time.
Just as he was practicing his Zanjutsu, sweat pouring down like rain, a raspy, middle-aged man's voice echoed from within the forest: "Alright! Today, I still need to do 10,000 steps walking on my hands! If I don't make it, then it's three laps around Konoha doing frog jumps!!"
Naruto was intrigued by the training regimen the man described.
Handstand walking and frog jumps were extremely taxing on stamina, yet this man was aiming for ten thousand steps on his hands and three laps of frog jumps? He moved closer to take a look.
There, he saw a man with a watermelon haircut, clad in a green jumpsuit, walking on his hands.
The man's face was drenched in sweat, his arms trembling uncontrollably from exhaustion, but even so, he continued to move forward slowly.
Naruto felt a sense of admiration, impressed by the man's willpower.
This was the second person, besides Rock Lee, whose dedication to training was terrifyingly intense.
Judging by his attire, he must be a ninja from the village.
A ninja this dedicated shouldn't be unknown.
Thinking this, Naruto walked over. "Hello. I saw your training; it's truly astounding."
Might Guy, who was training hard, looked up. His eyes met Naruto's gentle, smiling face.
Golden hair, a clean smile, clear azure eyes, and handsome features. The six faint whisker marks on his cheeks, rather than detracting, added a unique sort of charm.
Naruto stood there in casual training clothes, exuding an aura of gentle tranquility, like the spring sunshine. It seemed as if nothing could ever fluster him; he was always calm and unperturbed.
"What an elegant child," Guy thought, a flash of surprise in his eyes. He then stood up and patted the dust off himself. "Young man, you look a bit familiar."
"Is that so? I suppose I am rather well-known. My name is Uzumaki Naruto," Naruto replied with a smile.
"Uzumaki Naruto, you say? Now I remember." Hearing Naruto's name, comprehension dawned on Guy.
Uzumaki Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, someone the village valued greatly.
He had heard that Uzumaki Naruto was very special. Seeing him now…
He certainly didn't seem like a child.
He hadn't expected the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to take an interest in his training.
Indeed, my burning youth is just that eye-catching!
"Young man, are you perhaps interested in my training methods? How about joining me for three laps of frog jumps around Konoha?" He scratched his head and laughed heartily, giving a thumbs-up and flashing a mouthful of pearly white teeth.
Guy's optimistic and cheerful demeanor surprised Naruto.
He's probably the first ninja besides the Third Hokage to smile at me like this. But that dazzling mouthful of white teeth was something Naruto found less than impressive.
"Training together isn't necessary," Naruto said, shaking his head.
"It's just that I see a bit of a friend in you."
"Could it be? Is there someone else who lives their youth as passionately as I do?" Guy's interest was instantly piqued.
"Yes, his name is Rock Lee. I can introduce you two when there's a chance," Naruto nodded.
"Rock Lee." Guy mulled over the name, a smile spreading across his face.
"Young man, interested in a match with me?" he called out to Naruto.
For some reason, even though the Naruto before him was so gentle and refined, a mere student who had just entered the Ninja Academy, the blood in Guy's own veins was boiling, his youth ablaze.
Even he found it strange, why he would feel the urge to fight a child who wasn't even a genin.
"A fight?" Naruto looked at Might Guy seriously.
Powerfully built muscles, sleek lines, and his palms were covered in calluses—clearly a Taijutsu ninja seasoned by countless battles.
The pressure Might Guy exuded far surpassed that of an ordinary Chunin.
A fight between us will definitely be noticed by the higher-ups. This is also an opportunity for them to gauge my strength.
"Alright. I'd also like to know how big the gap is between myself and a true ninja."
"You use a sword?" Guy asked curiously, looking at Kyoka Suigetsu in Naruto's hand.
Sword-wielding ninja weren't common in Konoha; the most famous was Konoha's White Fang, who had already passed away.
Although a sword was sharp, Guy wasn't intimidated at all in a real fight.
"Yes, but my Taijutsu isn't bad either," Naruto replied with a gentle smile. "Oh, right, I still don't know your name."
"I am Konoha's Green Beast, Might Guy!"
"Green Beast, is it? That's a cool title," Naruto praised amiably.
"Really? Naruto! You think this title is cool?" To Naruto's astonishment, tears suddenly streamed down Guy's face, his eyes practically igniting with flames. "I'm so moved! This must be the clash of youth!! To commemorate this day, I shall do ten laps of frog jumps around Konoha!!!!"
So, this Might Guy is this kind of person, Naruto thought, his gentle expression finally faltering, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
"Naruto! Be careful now! I will unleash my youth!" After his tears, Might Guy shouted with resounding vigor. The next moment, Naruto felt the hairs on his body stand on end, as if targeted by a ferocious beast. His body instantly tensed.
"Wait a moment." Naruto knew that the Guy before him was definitely the strongest ninja he had met so far, aside from the Third Hokage.
With a solemn expression, he began to remove the weights from his legs.
Thud. As the weights were dropped, the solid ground cratered slightly, kicking up a large amount of dirt, a testament to their considerable mass.
Seeing this, Might Guy's expression also turned serious.
To be able to bear such weight at an age where he's just joined the Ninja Academy… Naruto works even harder than I did back then.
What a frightening genius.
No wonder the blood in my body is boiling.
It's because I've encountered one of my own kind.
Might Guy recalled the rumors he had once heard about Naruto.
It was said that Naruto had awakened a special Kekkei Genkai, that his sword could create illusions.
It seems he's a ninja who possesses both talent and diligence.
"Guy-sensei, I'm ready," Naruto's words interrupted Guy's thoughts.
He nodded. "Then, watch out, young man."
The moment he finished speaking, Guy's figure left an afterimage, disappearing from Naruto's sight.
"This speed is comparable to a Chunin. Is he holding back?" Naruto smiled faintly, Reiatsu hovering around his body.
Under the perception of his Zanjutsu and Reiatsu, nothing in his surroundings could escape his notice.
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