Might Guy had always admired Kakashi.
The man's ability to come up with bizarre, unexpected "duel formats" was unmatched—
from rock–paper–scissors to…
today's challenge:
Getting hit.
Guy looked at Kakashi seriously, then turned to Souma, flexing every muscle like they were trying to escape his skin.
"Come, young man! Show me how far you've grown!"
"Guy-sensei, please be careful. Reinforce your whole body with chakra—preferably coat yourself completely."
"Relax! Konoha's Beautiful Blue Beast is not so easily defeated!"
Guy gave a thumbs-up, flashing a full panel of blinding white teeth.
Nearby, the medical-nin—including Kitayama-sensei and Baicao—stared with dead eyes.
Konoha's Blue Beast…
Others might not buy that title, but the Medical Corps definitely knew him. Ever since they developed the special bath additive, Guy had practically lived in their department.
They knew the man well.
But looking at Kakashi now…
Wasn't this clearly just choosing a scapegoat to take Souma's hit?
Speechless. Completely speechless.
Souma sighed and gathered chakra, doing his best to restrain his strength.
He stepped in front of Guy and tapped him lightly on a non-lethal spot.
He didn't use much force.
But the chakra dug in like a blade, slicing open a tiny puncture.
And then—
Guy's expression changed instantly.
His eyes bulged.
Cold sweat poured down his forehead.
One second later—
He fell sideways like someone unplugged his batteries.
"Get him to the ward! Quick!"
Kitayama's expression turned harsh.
She didn't know what technique Souma used, but it clearly worked… and worked very aggressively.
She pulled up Guy's pant leg—
Good heavens.
A spiral-shaped blood mark was blooming on his skin, red and ugly, almost like a curse seal.
This was…
"Kitayama-sensei, please examine him carefully."
Souma bowed politely.
"…Right. Put him on a stretcher!"
"W-Wait!"
Guy's willpower was ridiculously strong.
He hadn't passed out yet.
He actually sat up—drenched in sweat—and glared stiffly at Kakashi.
"Kakashi… now it's your turn!"
"…"
Kakashi stared at Guy… then at Souma…
One long beat of silence…
And then, in a sincere, serious voice:
"Guy, I concede. You win this time."
"HUH???"
Guy froze, head tilting, the picture of betrayal.
"You coward! I have to teach Neji and the others Taijutsu later! You set me up!!"
"This level of injury… it'll heal soon, right?"
Kakashi narrowed his eyes calmly.
Then he turned toward Souma.
Because even though he had tricked Guy into coming…
If not for Guy, Kakashi would be the one on the stretcher right now.
He patted Guy's shoulder.
"Guy, rest well. Konoha needs a genius like you. I cannot replace you."
"Uuuh…"
Guy was in pain, but that only made his mind strangely clear.
This was a trap.
Kakashi was absolutely throwing him under the cart!
But… Souma's technique really hurt.
That lazy-looking tap had gone straight through his muscles and nerves.
He probably would need a few days of recovery.
Guy clenched his teeth—then his eyes lit up.
"Souma! Your technique has the flavor of the Gentle Fist! You hit me hard enough to send me to the hospital—you must take responsibility!"
"???"
Souma blinked.
Then said honestly:
"Guy-sensei… I'm very busy."
"Busy? Youth is never afraid of busyness! I believe in you, young man!"
Guy declared proudly—
and immediately collapsed onto the stretcher as if stage-performing his faint.
Souma stared at his unconscious form as Kitayama carried him inside.
Then he turned to his teacher.
"Kakashi-sensei… look at what you've done. Guy-sensei wasn't like this before. Now he's learned how to set people up. And he's such an innocent man too…"
Kakashi said nothing.
If I hadn't set him up, I would be the one lying there…
He had sensed something was wrong earlier.
A shinobi's intuition was never to be underestimated.
But he couldn't say that aloud in front of a student.
He patted Souma's shoulder.
"Guy entrusted his students to you. Help them out while he recovers. If you're too busy, just guide them occasionally."
"Anyway, I have matters to attend to. See you."
And Kakashi fled.
Completely abandoned his friend.
Completely abandoned responsibility.
Leaving Souma standing there—
the only one who could take over.
Souma sighed.
He understood Guy's intentions.
Neji should have been training Gentle Fist.
But the boy was too stubborn.
Guy didn't know Gentle Fist, yet he wanted the best for his disciple.
And now that Souma had shown him a technique similar in effect…
Of course Guy would jump at the chance.
Souma exhaled lightly.
But before he could head to the training grounds, he had a report to write.
He finished half of it… then paused.
No—
finding Neji came first.
A true Hyuga would understand tenketsu better than anyone.
He didn't need to hit anyone anymore.
Just questions and verification.
Souma left the house immediately.
He remembered the chakra signatures of Lee and the others.
A quick Mirror Technique search showed all three of them still training together.
No need to rush, then—
He could squeeze in some work on the Barrier Technique first.
Only around noon did he finally head to the training grounds.
Forest of Death – Noon
"Guy-sensei is late today…"
Mami lay on the ground, tired.
Lee scratched his head.
"Maybe he got held up by something?"
"He should stay away from Kakashi," Neji muttered coldly.
…The atmosphere was heavy.
Souma, hidden among the branches, hesitated.
Should he come back in the afternoon?
But no—meeting them was inevitable.
He sighed and stepped out.
Whoosh.
A gust of wind swept by, and he appeared before the three.
"Ahem. Sorry—on my way here, I ran into a patient. That delayed me."
"…"
Neji slowly looked up, shock stiffening his expression.
Yagyu Souma?
Why was he here…
And from the tone of his words—
He seemed to be replacing Guy.
Where was his teacher?
"Souma! What are you doing here?! Sit, sit! We're waiting for Guy-sensei, but we don't know why he's late!"
Lee immediately waved him over.
"Wait, Lee—Souma-kun seems to be here for us," Mami pointed out.
Girls' intuition.
From Souma's tone, something was definitely wrong.
"Huh?"
Lee blinked at Souma.
Souma coughed lightly.
"Guy-sensei… encountered an accident and is currently hospitalized. So, mm… I'll be substituting for him."
"Hospitalized?"
Neji frowned deeply.
With Guy's ability, how could he be injured badly enough to be hospitalized while not on a mission?
Impossible—
unless something extremely strange happened.
"He helped me test a technique and got hurt. Anyway—that's how things are. You can visit him once we're done here. He should be discharged soon."
Souma said it casually.
Lee's eyes lit up.
"Then let's train together!! Ahh—I haven't trained with you in so long! My youth is burning!!"
"…Right. Then let's begin. Neji, I need to speak with you."
"Me?"
Neji looked confused.
"You two keep training. I need to discuss something with Neji alone."
Souma walked toward the trees.
Neji hesitated—
but followed.
Mami watched the two disappear, thoughtful.
It felt like…
Everyone naturally forgot Souma was late.
As expected of Kakashi's students.
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