Kaoru stood in the training ground, jaw practically on the floor. The two shinobi he had been watching had just finished their sparring session and were now making their way toward him.
“Guy-san, you’re amazing!” Kaoru exclaimed the moment Guy approached.
Maki, walking beside him, raised an eyebrow. “And what about me, Ru? Aren’t I amazing?” she asked with an exaggerated pout.
Kaoru scratched the back of his head, pretending to struggle with the question. “You’re… alright, I guess.” His face remained serious, but the forced hesitation made it obvious he was messing with her.
Maki’s eye twitched, and just as she was about to grab his cheeks for some well-earned pinching, Guy interrupted with his signature wide grin and an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
“If you keep training and follow the youthful spirit burning inside you, Kaoru-kun, you will become even stronger!”
Kaoru had to fight the urge to laugh. Guy’s personality was exactly as he remembered from his memories. It was reassuring in a way. The main reason he had been pestering Maki for days to let him watch their sparring wasn’t just to see their level or analyze their taijutsu—he wanted to ask Guy for guidance.
Maki was a natural-born powerhouse. Her physique, raw strength, and combat instincts were gifts she had from birth, and her chakra reserves were absurdly high on top of that, well, at least compared to other Takimes. But Guy was completely self-made. Every ounce of his strength came from relentless training, suffering through brutal routines that would break most people. And right now, he was nowhere near his prime—he had openly told Maki that the Fourth Inner Gate was his current limit, though he was on the verge of unlocking the Fifth. The same man who would one day be acknowledged by Madara Uchiha was currently just a bit stronger than an average Jonin.
That was exactly why Kaoru wanted his help.
“Guy-san, how can I become as strong as you? Strong enough to fight Maki?” Kaoru’s eyes practically sparkled with excitement.
Maki’s expression soured immediately. “Ru, it’s rude to ask someone you barely know to teach you their fighting style,” she scolded, crossing her arms.
But Kaoru could tell that wasn’t why she was upset. It wasn’t about manners—she was annoyed because she was being replaced by Might Guy.
Guy, however, just grinned, completely unbothered. “It’s alright, Maki! I don’t mind at all!” He turned to Kaoru, his enthusiasm never faltering. “The technique that allows me to fight your sister on equal ground is not something that can be learned overnight. It takes years of dedication before you can even attempt it! But!” He raised a finger dramatically. “I can definitely make a training regimen for you! If you follow it properly and build up your strength, then one day, when your body is ready, I will personally teach you my technique.”
Kaoru nearly jumped out of excitement. “That’s amazing, Guy-san! Thank you so much!”
Truthfully, he had no intention of ever learning the Eight Gates. His fighting style would never revolve around pure taijutsu. What he wanted was a stronger, more conditioned body—one that could endure harsh training and improve his overall combat effectiveness. Guy’s regimen would be perfect for that.
The only person not thrilled about this was Maki. While part of her was happy for Kaoru, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had just been betrayed.
As Guy sat on the ground, casually doodling on a scroll while writing up a training regimen for Kaoru, Maki approached her brother with a thoughtful expression.
“Ru, have you really decided on that weapon?” she asked. “I mean, I get why you want it, but wouldn’t a sword be more practical? You’re pretty fast, after all.”
The moment Kaoru had decided on his weapon, he had excitedly told Maki all about it, even going as far as to give her a crude demonstration with a stick.
“Yes, Maki, I’m sure,” Kaoru replied without hesitation. “All I need is a steel rod. When I was looking at that trident, glaive, and spear, I realized they all had one thing in common—the steel rod itself. The only difference was the shape of the tip. Since I can manipulate water freely, I can create and reshape the tip however I want in battle. If my opponent manages to break the condensed water blade, I can just form a new one instantly. Plus, I can adjust its reach mid-fight, which could be a huge advantage.”
Maki listened carefully as Kaoru spoke, his excitement clear in every word. He wasn’t just picking a weapon—he was laying the foundation for a unique fighting style, one that fully utilized his Suijingan and water manipulation.
“I still need to figure out the details, but luckily, we have some amazing blacksmiths in Takimura. Once I explain my idea to them, I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to work on something this unique.”
Maki nodded. “Alright, Ru. What about the exam? Have you come up with any tactics?”
She plopped down onto the ground beside him, pulling an apple from a nearby basket. “Want some?” she offered.
“No, thanks,” Kaoru waved it off. “Yeah, I’ve come up with several strategies that might work, but they’re still a work in progress. I’ve got two more days left to polish them up. Unfortunately, I can’t take any more pills.”
Maki raised an eyebrow. “You already used one?”
Kaoru sighed. “Yeah, and instead of lasting 72 hours, it only worked for 48. I think the shopkeeper sold me a defective product.”
Maki smirked. “Or maybe you’re just weaker than you think.”
Kaoru rolled his eyes. “I’ll ask Guy-san if he can recommend a good shop. After the exam, I’m buying tons of those pills to bring back to Takimura.”
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
Maki took a bite of her apple, chewing thoughtfully before narrowing her eyes. “By the way, why are you waiting until after the exam to spend your money? What are you scheming?”
Kaoru barely managed to keep his poker face intact, but Maki had known him for too long.
Seeing her suspicious look, he chuckled. “Don’t worry, I won’t get into trouble.”
Technically, he wasn’t lying. He wouldn’t be getting into trouble. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t planning to cause some.
<<<>>>
Yagura sat in his dimly lit chamber, the weak glow of a single lamp barely illuminating his face.
Mangetsu stood before him, his gaze facing the floor.
“Have you found the Yuki Clan’s location? Or is there another reason you’ve returned?” Yagura’s voice was calm, too calm for someone who already knew the answer and even what he was supposed to do next.
“Yes, Lord Mizukage. We’ve confirmed their location,” Mangetsu reported. “Their numbers are fewer than expected. Barely a hundred remain, and only ten of them are combat-capable. Out of those, two are jonin-level, the rest are chunin at best.”
He already knew why Yagura sought them out, but Mangetsu never assumed. He was a soldier, a weapon that moved only at his master’s command.
Yagura didn’t blink. “The Yuki Clan has been a thorn in Kirigakure’s side since the last war. They are difficult to root out, and their loyalty is neither to me nor to this village. That alone is enough to warrant their destruction.”
His words were final, emotionless. Yuki clan's bloodline carried the rare ice release kekkei genkai. While there was not even a single Yuki that could threaten Yagura himself, he saw the entire clan as a threat and a target for his grand “purge plan”.
“Take as many shinobi as you need,” he continued. “Not one of them is to survive.”
Mangetsu bowed slightly. “As you command, Lord Mizukage.”
There was no need for further discussion. Mangetsu was a man of few words, and more importantly, a man who got things done. It was one of the reasons Yagura respected him—the second, of course, being his unwavering loyalty.
Loyalty.
Yagura didn’t know why Mangetsu followed him without question. He didn’t care. His mind was occupied with a singular purpose—purging Kirigakure of rebels and wastes.
“One more thing,” Yagura added, just as Mangetsu turned to leave. “Search for any civilians carrying the Yuki bloodline. I want them wiped out as well. Offer a bounty if necessary.”
Mangetsu nodded, accepting the order without question. Without another word, he turned and walked out of the chamber, his footsteps steady, unhurried.
Had he looked back, he might have noticed it—the faint shimmer in the darkness, the eerie glow of a single, crimson eye.
A silent observer. Watching. Judging.
And yet, completely indifferent.
<<<>>>
Kaoru and Maki had gone through every last apple in the basket. Neither of them expected Guy to take this long writing the training regimen. But finally, after what felt like forever, he set down his brush with a satisfied nod.
“Kaoru-kun, take a look at this and tell me if you have any questions,” Guy said, handing Kaoru a scroll - no, that could only be classified as scroll-s.
Kaoru had read plenty of scrolls, but none came close to this in sheer detail or size. Guy hadn’t just written a simple regimen; he had mapped out a training program spanning ten years. The scrolls covered everything—from beginner exercises to advanced ones. Every single drill was meticulously explained, complete with detailed illustrations showing the correct form. More impressively, the plan was clearly customized for Kaoru, ensuring time was allocated for ninjutsu training as well.
Kaoru unrolled a portion of the scroll, his eyes scanning the structured program, and he could only mutter in disbelief, “This… this is just amazing.”
He had expected a simple outline, but this was a treasure. Others might not understand his excitement, but Kaoru knew exactly what he was holding. This was a training program designed by Might Guy—the man who would one day be crowned as the strongest taijutsu master by none other than Madara Uchiha himself. If there was a pinnacle of human strength in this world, it was Madara’s recognition, and Guy had earned it.
Maki, more grounded than her brother, gave a small nod of appreciation. “Thank you, Guy.”
Guy simply waved it off with his signature grin and a thumbs-up. “No need to thank me! Seeing youthful determination like this is more than enough!”
Actually, he was enjoying Kaoru’s reaction more than anything. The sheer enthusiasm burning in Kaoru’s eyes—it was the kind of passion Guy respected above all else.
“When you reach the final level, and it stops being hell, that’s when you’ll be ready to start training in the Eight Inner Gates,” Guy added casually.
Kaoru nearly dropped the scroll. What?
Guy was actually willing to teach him the Eight Gates?
This was one of the most broken techniques in existence, and all it took to learn was sheer dedication. The idea that Guy would trust an outsider with such a powerful technique stunned Kaoru.
“Thank you, Guy-san… or maybe I should call you Guy-sensei from now on,” Kaoru said seriously.
Maki and Guy both chuckled, assuming he was joking, but when Kaoru’s expression remained dead serious, the mood shifted.
Guy blinked, then rubbed the back of his head, his usual grin faltering for just a moment. He looked genuinely touched—almost tearing up—but quickly recovered, striking another thumbs-up pose.
[This kid… He’s really serious about this. I can feel the power of youth bursting from him! How exhilarating!]
Trying to redirect the conversation before he got too emotional, Guy cleared his throat. “Kaoru, do you know who you’ll be facing in the preliminaries?”
“Yes. I’m up against a Suna kunoichi… I think her name was…” Kaoru paused, trying to recall the proctor’s announcement.
The name hadn’t stuck with him. Not because he underestimated her, but because at the time, his mind had been elsewhere.
Maki stretched, cracking her neck before standing up. “We’ve been sitting here forever. Let’s go eat something. The apples are long gone, and we didn’t bring anything else.”
Guy grinned, flashing another thumbs-up. “Alright! But it’s on me!”
Maki smirked. “If you’re paying, I won’t hold back.”
Kaoru chuckled, rolling up the scroll carefully. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
**
A/N -
The idea of Kaoru using a metal rod as his weapon actually came from you guys! I read a comment explaining the concept, and I thought, Wow, this would be both really awesome and super practical. Now, I need to come up with a technique that will become his signature—something like Shadow Clones and Rasengan for Naruto, Chidori for Sasuke, or the Eight Inner Gates for Guy.
I haven’t decided yet, but I might take some inspiration from Jujutsu Kaisen. I really like the idea of a domain—a limited space where Kaoru can be a total beast. Since water is his main element, the concept has tons of potential too. It could be an area where he completely controls the flow of battle, or maybe something even crazier. We’ll see how it goes.
Character Notes:
Guy - The Guy - "The power of youth can solve everything! Except for my wallet… Maki eats too much."
Maki - Revenge Mode - "Hehe, I’ll eat as much as I can."
Kaoru - Grateful - "Guy is the best!"
**