Chapter 31: Five-Element Ninja (Please Follow)

"You came."

"I came."

"You shouldn't have come."

"I've already come."

"Get out now! Barging into my house is bad enough, but bursting into the bathroom—Kai, what are you trying to do?"

Kakashi, usually so cool and aloof, couldn't hold it together anymore. He looked frantically at Might Guy, who had snuck into the bathroom.

"To have a battle full of youth and passion, of course!" Might Guy raised his arm, gave a thumbs-up, and said with enthusiastic fervor.

Kakashi: …

If it weren't for the soap still on his body, he would have already kicked the annoying grin right off Might Guy's face.

Who the hell storms into someone's bathroom at night to demand a duel?

"Even if we're going to fight, at least let me finish my bath," Kakashi couldn't help complaining.

"As expected of my eternal rival, you've accepted so readily! I'll wait outside!" Might Guy's smile was radiant, his two rows of gleaming white teeth dazzling under the light.

Kakashi rubbed his forehead in exasperation. He was starting to wonder if his father had misjudged things back then.

Actually believing that Might Guy might one day surpass him and become a worthy opponent.

But fine, if Guy wanted a fight, he'd get one. Let him see the gap between them clearly.

Kakashi quickly washed himself clean, put on his clothes, and went outside.

"Let's settle this!" Might Guy assumed a fighting stance and shouted with passion.

"Are we competing in taijutsu this time?" Kakashi asked.

Ever since their first year, Might Guy had been challenging him in various ways—not limited to combat, sometimes even shuriken throwing contests.

"No, use all your strength. Treat this as a real fight." Might Guy shook his head seriously.

"Are you sure?" Kakashi asked again.

If he went all out, he thought Might Guy wouldn't stand a chance.

He had become a chunin two years ago, while Might Guy was still a student at the Ninja Academy.

"Absolutely sure!" Might Guy grinned brightly.

"Then watch out." The moment Kakashi finished speaking, he immediately pulled out four shuriken and hurled them at Might Guy.

Might Guy dodged the shuriken, but suddenly realized Kakashi had closed in and was throwing a punch.

"Leaf Whirlwind!"

Might Guy kicked out a lightning-fast spinning kick that collided with Kakashi's fist. Both of them were pushed back a few steps.

"Hmm?" Kakashi looked at Might Guy with a hint of surprise.

He hadn't expected Might Guy to react so quickly and counterattack; the speed of his kick was unexpectedly fast.

Might Guy had challenged him once two months ago, also in taijutsu.

Compared to last time, Might Guy had clearly improved.

"What do you think, Kakashi? I've gotten a lot stronger!" Might Guy laughed heartily.

"I hope you can still laugh after this." Kakashi's eyes turned sharp.

Kakashi quickly formed hand seals and divided into four shadow clones. The shadow clones then used the Clone Technique to create a multitude of illusions.

"So many Kakashis!" Might Guy was dumbfounded by the dozens of Kakashis that suddenly appeared.

One after another, the Kakashis charged at Might Guy. He used Leaf Whirlwind again, kicking down over a dozen of them in one go, but they were all illusions. The remaining shadow clones seized the opportunity to attack.

As Might Guy struggled to cope, a hand suddenly emerged from the ground and grabbed his foot.

"Earth Release: Headhunter Technique!"

In an instant, Might Guy felt himself plummeting. By the time he realized what was happening, his whole body was buried in the ground, leaving only his head above the surface.

"The fight is over." Kakashi said, crouching down to speak to Might Guy's head sticking out of the ground.

"Kakashi, you truly are the rival I've been chasing. So strong." Might Guy sighed in admiration.

Fighting against that student from the Hyūga clan, he could at least trade blows back and forth—he only lost because the other's Byakugan perception was too keen.

But in the fight with Kakashi, aside from the initial taijutsu exchange, he quickly fell into a disadvantage, and Kakashi found an opening to finish him in one blow.

It was a fight that could only be called a crushing defeat, Might Guy had to admit.

"Since you know I'm strong, train a bit more before coming to me again. At least graduate first." Kakashi said bluntly.

"Alright! Once I get stronger, I'll come find you again." Might Guy laughed loudly.

Kakashi felt that Might Guy had selectively become deaf—don't ignore the second half of what he said.

Not bothering to ask whether Might Guy had actually listened, Kakashi released him from the ground and went home.

Might Guy dusted off the dirt on his clothes, looked at Kakashi's retreating back, and clenched his fists.

"I have to get even stronger, stronger!"

This all-out battle with Kakashi had opened Might Guy's eyes—he still had a long way to go to become the strongest.

Might Guy decided that tomorrow he would ask Teacher Mu Yue whether he could help him design an even stricter training plan!

The next day, at the ninja academy.

"Next, I'll go over some key points about the Clone Jutsu…" During the ninjutsu class, after finishing the lecture on guiding chakra through hand seals, Mu Yue briefly touched on the Three Basic Jutsus.

Although there were only three ninjutsu to learn in the class, there was still quite a bit of related theoretical knowledge.

"Teacher Yusheng, since the main goal of the Clone Jutsu is to create an illusion to confuse the enemy, could I combine it with the Transformation Jutsu to produce an illusion that is even more confusing than myself?" Gōn Zǐtiě asked.

Mu Yue thought seriously for a moment and realized this was actually possible—someone in the original story had even developed an upgraded version.

That would be Naruto's Sexy Jutsu: clone, confusion, transformation—perfectly matched. Since it uses Shadow Clones, it's even considered an upgraded version.

"You can try it. The reason we have so many existing ninjutsu to learn is because of the hard work of those who came before us." Mu Yue encouraged Gōn Zǐtiě's idea.

"But I suggest you don't use it in real combat until it's perfected." Mu Yue cautioned.

If he actually ended up creating the Sexy Jutsu, that would be fine, but if he came up with something else weird, Mu Yue worried he might get beaten up.

"I understand, sensei." Gōn Zǐtiě nodded, planning to discuss it thoroughly later with his two good friends, Shenyue Chuyun and Hongdou.

He believed that combining the wisdom of the three top students in their class would surely develop a surprising new ninjutsu.

"Class dismissed!" After the bell rang, Mu Yue announced the end of class.

【Lecture complete】

【Evaluation: A】

【Reward obtained: Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall】

"Finally, Earth Release…" Mu Yue felt pleasantly surprised inside.

Although Earth-Style Wall wasn't a particularly strong jutsu, the system would come with some nature transformation.

Now Mu Yue had fully grasped all five basic nature transformations.

After school that afternoon, on his way to the training ground, Mu Yue ran into Might Guy.

His speculation was confirmed, but it still caught him a bit off guard.

Thank you "Jiujie Hongchen Xian" for the 500 reward, thank you "Moshang Liuxu Qingcheng Xue" for the 3000 reward, thank you "Ziyou Rufeng 108" for the 200 reward.