Might Guy forcefully interrupted their fight.
Naruto Uzumaki wasn't annoyed. Instead, he curiously sized up Might Guy. He wore a standard jonin uniform over a green jumpsuit of questionable taste, which did little to hide his muscular build. This ninja, grinning awkwardly at him and Sasuke, didn't look particularly bright. Yet, according to the Nine-Tails, he held a unique status: Konoha's strongest man.
"I am so sorry!"
Might Guy bowed and apologized solemnly to the two genin. This was just his style, but it left Sasuke and Naruto feeling a bit embarrassed. They couldn't help but compare. Other jonin instructors apologize so seriously for their mistakes, while their own teacher was always late and full of excuses.
"It's... it's okay."
"Naruto," Sasuke said, waving his hand awkwardly, "it looks like we'll have to settle this next time."
"Good timing, actually..." Naruto thought for a moment and waved back at Sasuke. "I've had a new idea recently. I want to perfect that ninjutsu I was working on. Once I've developed a more powerful version, we'll fight again!"
"It's a deal!" Sasuke nodded seriously, a little happy about their agreement. The strong should acknowledge each other, after all.
But he would never allow himself to be weaker than others.
If Sasuke knew the kind of ninjutsu Naruto was developing, he probably wouldn't be so pleased. The name of that ninjutsu was... Great Spiral Wheel.
Since the Nine-Tails had failed to convince Naruto to practice the Tailed Beast Bomb, it knew what jutsu Naruto wanted to create instead. Drawing on memories from the Limited Tsukuyomi, it had given Naruto both a name and an idea for his new technique. Both the Spiral Shockwave and the Spiral Punch were just failed attempts he'd made while trying to create the Great Spiral Wheel.
If he succeeded, the results would be world-shattering.
"Alright, let me introduce you," Kakashi said as he walked over, giving his friend a helpless look before turning to his team. "This is Might Guy, the jonin instructor for Team 3 from last year's graduating class. He's my friend..."
"And a rival for life!" Might Guy finished, turning his head to flash a standard smile, his teeth sparkling in the sun. He bent down to look at Naruto and Sasuke. "Seeing you two reminds me of my own youthful and hot-blooded graduation!"
As he spoke, he grew strangely emotional, his eyes filling with hot tears that streamed down his cheeks...
Naruto's expression was a bit strange. Is this guy really as absurd as the Nine-Tails claimed?
He must have bad eyesight, because he couldn't see a single trace of the "strongest man" anywhere. And the Nine-Tails wanted him to be more like this guy? How could he even try? Train until his brain melted?
"Hey, hey, that's enough!" Kakashi quickly stopped his friend, trying to prevent any further embarrassment to the rank of Konoha jonin. "Guy, what are you doing here?"
"Of course, I'm here to train with my cute students!" Guy looked at Kakashi excitedly, then crouched into a fighting stance. "Kakashi! In front of our students, let us have a youthful and hot-blooded duel!"
"I refuse." Kakashi waved his hand lazily. His gaze fell on three figures that had appeared around the training ground, and he narrowed his eyes slightly. "Guy, are you training to prepare for the joint Chunin Exams?"
"Yeah!" Hearing Kakashi's refusal, Guy sounded a little dejected. "Last time, Lee, Neji, and Tenten had a mission and couldn't make it back for the Chunin Exams. They won't miss it this time."
"Then I'll leave you to it." Kakashi turned to leave. "Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, let's go to Ichiraku Ramen. We have a mission this afternoon."
"Kakashi!" Guy grabbed his arm and grinned. "Let the youngsters have a hot-blooded duel! Your team has this generation's top rookie! My own cute student has been eager to challenge him!"
"Leave it for the Chunin Exams." Kakashi waved his hand nonchalantly and left the training ground with Team 7. As they passed Team 3, their eyes met. These would be their rivals in the upcoming exams.
"They look pretty unremarkable," Sasuke said dismissively, "except for the Hyuga clan's Byakugan."
"Neji Hyuga." Naruto pressed his temples, fighting back a subconscious urge to trace a faint memory. "I have a feeling about him. I think he's really strong." That Neji Hyuga was definitely not as simple as he looked.
"Neji-senpai was the top student in his graduating class," Sakura added quietly, glancing at Sasuke. "And he's from the prestigious Hyuga clan. Remember that strong Mist ninja we fought at sea? He had a Byakugan, too, didn't he?"
Ao, the Mist ninja with the Byakugan. His strength had been formidable, using the Byakugan to strike at their pressure points. If Naruto hadn't developed the Spiral Shockwave by a stroke of luck, Team 7 would have been in serious danger. Ao was killed by that jutsu, and his body was still sealed in a scroll. Naruto had been so focused on training lately and hadn't run into Hinata, so he'd almost forgotten about it.
"..." Naruto pressed his forehead. "Yeah, I almost forgot about that. I'll find some time to return that Byakugan to them."
"Also," Sasuke added in a low voice, "remember to ask about what that Cloud ninja, Bukai, said."
Sasuke also wanted to know the truth behind that old grudge involving the Third Hokage, the Cloud Village, and the Hyuga clan.
Naruto nodded. Actually, the Nine-Tails had already told him the truth. It was just as the Cloud ninja claimed: Konoha's leadership had sacrificed a member of the Hyuga clan for peace. The one who died was Neji Hyuga's father.
But he couldn't just take one side's word for it. The Nine-Tails was a known liar. Naruto decided he still needed to visit the Hyuga clan and find out the truth for himself.
Compared to Team 7, the atmosphere around Team Guy had suddenly grown tense.
Neji Hyuga's expression was serious. He had sensed the danger from Naruto and Sasuke and asked in a low voice, "Did you feel it, Lee?"
"They're very strong!" Beads of sweat dripped down Rock Lee's cheeks as he nodded. "Both Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki... they're incredibly strong!" Sasuke's dismissive expression only fueled Lee's excitement. He had found another genius to challenge.
Tenten looked at her teammates with some confusion. "Hey," she complained, rolling her eyes, "we haven't even fought them yet. What is this, a woman's intuition?"
"No," Neji shook his head, his voice low. "The marks on their bodies show they were just in a major battle, but neither of them seems affected by it at all..."
"Hahahahaha, that's because I accidentally interrupted the battle between them!" Might Guy couldn't help but laugh, patting Neji's shoulder. His expression quickly became serious. "But Neji's not wrong. Those two are likely to be the beasts of this Chunin Exam!"
-----
Bonus:
Naruto: This jonin doesn't look very remarkable...
Nine-Tails: You and Sasuke are just cheaters. He's a grinder.
Naruto: He doesn't look particularly strong...
Nine-Tails: He could kick both of us to death.
Naruto: Don't be ridiculous. Kakashi-sensei said this man has never beaten him...
Nine-Tails: Let me out, and I'll show you...
Naruto: Trying to trick me again...