Kakashi watched Guy speed away in his wheelchair and couldn't help letting out a long sigh.
He truly hadn't expected that the moment with Shizune — the brief kiss she planted on him before running off — would be witnessed by Guy of all people. To be honest, Kakashi understood why Guy reacted the way he did. Guy was single, and to him, Kakashi had always been more than a rival — he was a brother in all but blood. And now Kakashi himself was no longer single.
Guy was happy for him. That much Kakashi knew. But Guy was also sad — deeply sad. Because Kakashi finding a partner meant Guy would have one less person who lived in the same lonely category as he did.
Yes… that was the truth.
Guy had already faced a kind of emotional ending the day Kakashi became Hokage. Before Kakashi officially took that role, Guy visited him for one last challenge — a final youthful clash. Guy had declared it as the "end of my youthful years growing up with Kakashi!" After Kakashi put on the Hokage cloak, he would no longer be able to casually accept challenges, because being Hokage meant representing the entire village. Anyone challenging him would be challenging Konoha itself.
Guy understood this. As a loyal shinobi of Konoha, he had to obey those boundaries.
Still, even after Kakashi became Hokage, Guy knew he could always ask him out as a brother — like last night. Drinking together, talking all night, falling asleep at Guy's place. It was stupid and simple and perfect.
But now that Kakashi and Shizune were becoming an actual couple… Guy felt something tighten in his chest.
He couldn't just "date" Kakashi anymore.
Why?
Not because Kakashi wouldn't allow it. Kakashi never rejected Guy; he cherished him. The real problem was Guy himself. As a brother, he always put Kakashi first. If he took up Kakashi's time and Shizune became unhappy, how could he forgive himself?
Shizune was important to Kakashi, and Kakashi was important to Guy. Therefore, Shizune was important to him as well. That was Guy's way.
So when Guy witnessed that kiss, he understood something clearly:
He was losing a part of Kakashi — the part that belonged only to him as a brother.
After realizing all this, Guy shot forward down the street, pushing his wheelchair with explosive power, moving faster and faster as tears pricked at the corners of his eyes.
He couldn't help it. It hurt.
After speeding through half the district, Guy finally returned to his home.
Inside Guy's Home
The living room was quiet except for the sound of bottles clinking as Guy set them down. He poured himself another drink and leaned back in his wheelchair.
To be honest, he really was happy for Kakashi. Truly. Who wouldn't want their best friend to be happy? But personally… he was devastated.
"Kakashi…" he muttered softly.
He leaned back further, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting in circles. Under the influence of alcohol, his mind began to blur. His gaze unfocused. His consciousness floated upward as if pulled by invisible threads.
Slowly, Guy felt like he was lifting… rising… drifting away from his own body.
He opened his eyes.
And saw himself — slumped asleep in his wheelchair.
"What—?"
Guy looked around quickly.
Had his soul… left his body?!
He looked down at the wheelchair-bound Guy beneath him. Then upward — where he was floating rapidly toward the ceiling.
He tried to brace himself, but his ghostly form simply passed straight through it.
"Huh?! What is happening!?"
Panicked, he shot higher, passing through the next floor, then another, until the sky opened above him.
"WHAT IS GOING ON?!"
Guy's floating form accelerated faster and faster, shooting into the heavens. Colors blurred into bright whiteness.
"AAAAH—!"
He covered his eyes as a blinding flash swallowed everything. The world vanished in pure white, all sound disappearing.
Then—
Warmth.
Guy paused.
Why… could he still feel warmth?
He was supposed to be dead, right? That's what this felt like. But warmth meant life.
Confused, he tried to move. The white light faded. His senses returned. He could hear voices. Footsteps. The rustle of clothes.
Someone shouted:
"Hey! You! Why are you yelling before I even get started!?"
Guy frowned. That voice… sounded so familiar.
"Hey! You! How long are you going to keep your eyes closed?"
Guy slowly opened his eyes.
Light filled his vision — and then faces.
Children. Many children. Surrounding him.
And standing directly in front of him—
"Kakashi?!"
Except… this wasn't the Kakashi he knew now.
This was a young Kakashi, still in his academy clothes, expression confident, unimpressed, and already unquestionably talented.
The young Kakashi sighed.
"What's wrong? Are we fighting or not? If you're not going to fight, then you have to admit defeat to the teacher."
Guy blinked rapidly.
Next to Kakashi stood a Chūnin instructor — the one from their academy days.
The teacher smiled encouragingly.
"Guy, it's not like you to admit defeat. Come on, get it together!"
Guy stared at the man in shock.
This… was impossible.
"Teacher… didn't you die? How are you back? Are you… Edo Tensei?!"
The Chūnin's face stiffened. "Guy! You can eat whatever you want, but don't talk nonsense! When did I ever die? And how do you even know about the Edo Tensei forbidden technique? Don't mention that again!"
Guy swallowed hard.
So this wasn't reincarnation.
This was really the academy.
He looked around. These weren't illusion clones. These were real academy classmates — his original classmates.
Oh.
My.
God.
Did he just… get reborn?
"Hey, Guy! Are you fighting or not?" Kakashi snapped impatiently.
Guy inhaled slowly, forcing himself to calm down.
"Fight. Of course I'm fighting!"
The teacher nodded. "Good! That's the spirit. Let's start again!"
Kakashi stepped forward lazily and extended one hand.
"Come on then."
Guy suddenly smiled.
He remembered this moment — his very first duel with Kakashi. The day he began his lifelong journey of rivalry and youth. At the time, Guy had just been accepted into the academy after passing the physical exams. They were paired for a sparring match.
It was his beginning.
He clenched his fists.
"Hahaha! Kakashi! I'm telling you now — you're going to lose!"
Kakashi rolled his eyes. "You talk too much. You— what?!"
Guy shot forward with explosive speed — much faster than he had ever moved at that age. It shocked even him. Kakashi barely had time to raise his guard.
"So fast!" Kakashi gasped.
Guy spun, twisting his body midair.
"Konoha Great Cyclone!"
His kick tore through the air. Kakashi blocked, but the force still sent him skidding backward ten meters, digging lines into the dirt.
Guy froze.
He didn't expect to hit that hard.
The Chūnin teacher nodded approvingly.
"Very good, Guy. That was strong taijutsu. But that move isn't called 'Konoha Great Whirlwind.' Don't randomly name your techniques!"
Guy scratched the back of his head.
Kakashi stood up and shook off the impact, staring intensely.
"Hey… you. I admit I underestimated you. Now I have to take this seriously."
The moment he said that, the girls around them screamed like fangirls.
"Kakashi is so cool!"
"Knock him down, Kakashi!"
"Come on, Kakashi!"
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