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***
**Chapter 25: Might Guy**
Carrying the scroll recording the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, Rubik left the Hokage Building.
The sunlight remained bright, sprinkling over the bustling streets where villagers wore peaceful smiles and children's laughter rang out crisply as they chased each other. He glanced down at the gift from the Third Hokage in his hand, his thumb rubbing the worn leather edge of the scroll, a complex smile tugging at his lips.
He recalled the Third Hokage's words back in the office.
Rubik was well aware of the dark side of power and the filth swirling within its vortex. Even before arriving in Konoha, he'd prepared himself to view the higher-ups with maximum suspicion.
But what surprised him was that the Third Hokage truly loved Konoha from the bottom of his heart and treated him, his grand-disciple, with genuine sincerity. Even if the old politician was deeply scheming, that affection couldn't be faked.
This protective spirit was the foundation supporting Konoha and a key reason why the Will of Fire was embraced and passed down by so many.
The Third Hokage's sincerity and kindness were one reason Rubik chose to help them—of course, the generous reward was crucial too.
Tucking the scroll away safely, Rubik strolled toward a secluded training ground on the outskirts of the village. As he reached the edge, a burst of energetic shouts and the sharp whoosh of fists and feet cutting through the air reached his ears.
"Ha! Lee! Faster! For the Chunin Exams, give it everything you've got, Lee! The sweat of youth never betrays you!"
A man in his signature green spandex suit—bushy eyebrows, big expressive eyes, and a bowl-cut hairstyle—was passionately coaching a black-haired boy in a matching green outfit with a bowl cut of his own through high-speed taijutsu drills. Nearby, a cool-tempered boy with pale eyes and a Konoha headband on his forehead, along with a cute girl with buns in her hair, watched quietly.
It was Konoha's Blue Beast—Might Guy—and his students: Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga, and Tenten.
Guy keenly sensed the newcomer and paused his instruction to Lee. His thick eyebrows furrowed as his sharp eyes locked onto Rubik.
He tilted his head, scratching his chin with a thick finger, his face twisted in puzzled recollection. "Hmm??? This guy... wait! So familiar! I know I've seen you somewhere! This feeling... uh, where was it?" Guy smacked his forehead hard, as if trying to jolt the answer loose.
"This familiar vibe! Youthful encounters are always full of mysteries!"
Neji had already subtly activated his Byakugan, calmly observing Rubik for a moment. Hearing Guy's confusion, his cool voice cut in with a subtle hint: "Sensei Guy, he's probably the disciple of Lord Jiraiya from the rumors. Not long ago, he defeated Kakashi-sensei head-on at the training grounds."
"Nani—?!?!"
Guy's eyes bulged like saucers, his mouth dropping open wide enough to fit an egg. The confusion vanished, replaced by volcanic enthusiasm. His whole body seemed to ignite!
"Jiraiya's disciple?! And he beat Kakashi?!"
Guy's voice shot up eight octaves. He lunged forward in a blur, grabbing Rubik's shoulders with iron-grip hands, his eyes blazing with battle lust, bushy eyebrows dancing wildly.
"This is the clash of youthful destiny! Kakashi is my eternal rival! A man who can defeat him is absolutely worth my full-burning passion to challenge!!"
His body trembled with excitement, his voice booming: "Rubik! Please accept my sincere challenge! Let's have a dazzling showdown staking our manhood and youth!!"
Rubik blinked at the sudden onslaught of enthusiasm, feeling the vise-like strength on his shoulders. Watching Guy's exhilarated face, a grin spread across his own face.
Indeed, compared to those scheming old foxes, he preferred pure, kind-hearted people like Guy.
*You've piqued my interest, hot stuff.*
"Eight Gates... huh?" A spark of thrill gleamed in his eyes. He gently pried free from Guy's grip, meeting the man's eager, battle-hungry gaze with a nod. His smile held joy, but it was serious: "Sure, I could use a warmup too. Nice to spar with you, hot-blooded bowl-head."
"Ooooh yeah—!!!!" Guy erupted even louder at the acceptance, his green figure seeming to burst into flames: "That's the spirit of youth! Rubik! Let's burn bright! Lee! Neji! Tenten! Watch closely—this is a clash of titans!!" He pumped his fists toward his students.
The training ground's atmosphere ignited instantly.
...
In the center of the field, two figures collided at speeds invisible to the naked eye! The explosive cracks of fists and feet clashing drummed like rapid gunfire, making the air hum.
Rubik now truly felt the terror of Konoha's Blue Beast! Guy's taijutsu was pure and direct—every punch and kick carried devastating power. Even more fearsome was his insane speed and relentless, tidal-wave assault!
Guy had become an unstoppable war machine, elevating basic straight punches, side kicks, and elbows to perfection, forming an airtight storm of attacks.
"He's seriously strong—as expected of the guy who almost kicked his way to the story's end"
Rubik's heart tightened. His own taijutsu was solid, but against Guy's honed-to-perfection physical mastery, he felt real pressure!
Each block sent numbness racing up his arms; each dodge was a hair's breadth from disaster. Guy's onslaught clung like maggots to bone, denying any breath for hand seals!
A prolonged defense invites defeat! Rubik's eyes sharpened. He ate a heavy sweeping kick from Guy head-on, using the force to rocket backward, opening a dozen meters of space. In that precious gap, his hands blurred into shadows!
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!"
Blazing chakra gathered in his throat. A ferocious roaring flame dragon formed instantly, lunging at the pursuing Guy! The scorching heat wave made the distant spectators—Lee and Neji—feel their skin burn.
"Guy-sensei! " Lee cried out in alarm, his face etched with worry. Such a powerful Fire Style at close range—even Guy-sensei might not escape unscathed?
"Hmph, idiot Lee, watch closely!" Neji's Byakugan stayed fixed on the battlefield, his stern face unmoved, tinged with disdain for Lee's fussing. " Guy-sensei wouldn't be trapped by something like that."
As if proving Neji right, Guy didn't flinch from the oncoming flame dragon—his battle lust burned even hotter!
"Leaf Great Whirlwind—Modified version!"
With a roar, Guy's form blurred! He didn't dodge linearly but spun in place at blinding speed! His legs became twin green tempests! The sheer velocity whipped the air into a visible, violent toroidal vortex—not mere defense, but a masterful taijutsu trick turning it into a powerful suction and shredding force!
**Boom—!**
The flame dragon slammed into Guy's taijutsu whirlwind. The vortex acted like a massive grinder, tearing, scattering, and engulfing the inferno! The flames fragmented into countless embers, tamed like a beast, swirling around Guy in a spectacular, deadly fire tornado—with him unscathed at its heart!
"Using pure taijutsu to manipulate airflow into a barrier that distorts and disperses ninjutsu... what incredible technique and power control!"
Rubik's pupils shrank, his respect for Guy soaring. This wasn't brute force—it was a qualitative leap from ultimate taijutsu mastery!
"Rubik! Your strength is the real deal! Watch out for my next move!"
Guy's voice pierced the fire whirlwind, brimming with excitement and respect. Green energy surged around him like tangible steam! Veins bulged under his skin, and his chakra pulsed so powerfully the ground trembled!
"Eight Gates Released Formation—Fourth Gate: Gate of Pain! **Open!!**"
**Boom!** A terrifying aura exploded skyward! Cracks spiderwebbed from under his feet! Now, he was a primal beast unchained!
"Tch, getting serious!" Rubik's gaze hardened, but a thrilled grin spread across his face. Ordinary ninjutsu and taijutsu wouldn't cut it against Fourth Gate Guy!
"Earth Style: Earth Spear!"
Rubik formed seals, unleashing a signature reinforcement technique from one of Akatsuki's immortals.
"Wind Style: Gale Armor!"
He channeled wind-natured chakra with precise control, spinning and compressing it into a flowing armor that clung to his skin! Azure airflow whirled around him, shrieking sharply!
Wind chakra mode! Boosting speed while granting cutting power to his strikes!
"Sharingan, awaken!"
Against a foe like this, Rubik felt long-missed exhilaration.
"Come on!" Rubik roared, his wind-wreathed form charging the green-energy-shrouded Guy!
**Bang! Boom! Crack!**
Their clashes escalated! Fourth Gate Guy's speed and power hit new heights, each strike whistling through the air.
Rubik tanked hits with Earth Spear's toughness, countering with wind mode's speed and skin-bound wind blades! Ground shards flew from impact zones as azure blades clashed madly with green energy waves.
The battlefield erupted like a barrage of bombs! Dust and shockwaves roiled! Lee watched, blood pumping, eyes alight.
Neji's Byakugan strained to track the blurring figures, sweat beading on his forehead—he couldn't even follow.
"Amazing, Rubik!!" Guy bellowed amid the frenzy: "Your taijutsu, your skill—every cell in me is screaming! This burning youth!"
"Fifth Gate: Gate of Limit! **Open—!!**"
Guy's thunderous roar shook the air! Deeper blue chakra steam erupted violently, cratering the ground beneath him! Fifth Gate Guy's speed soared to absurd levels!
"Danger!" Rubik's instincts screamed! Fifth Gate dwarfed the fourth—Guy blurred into green light!
**Thud!**
A dull impact! Rubik's Earth Spear-reinforced chest took a direct kick! Even with dual defenses, unimaginable force pierced through! He flew like a cannonball, smashing through a tree at the field's edge!
Dust settled.
Rubik rose from the splintered trunk, wiping blood from his lip. Staring at the aura-clad Might Guy, his eyes blazed not just with battle intent, but true thrill and gravity!
"Eight Gates... sneaky as hell... but now it's worth going all out!"
***