While Naruto was training in the Summoning Jutsu with Jiraiya, the others weren't sitting around doing nothing.
Since returning from the Land of Waves, both Naruto and Sasuke had improved rapidly.
Naruto hadn't mastered the Six Styles yet, but his Taijutsu had advanced at an incredible pace. Sasuke, on the other hand, had already learned parts of the Six Styles.
During their last sparring session, Sasuke had performed so well that even Lee started seeing him as a rival.
But the one who had improved the most was Kakashi.
The genius of Konohagakure was back on his feet, and he was still a genius.
Talent never truly disappears—it only fades when you stop trying. But now that Kakashi had picked himself up again, the old him had returned.
Graduated at five, Chunin at six, Jonin at twelve.
Even though the times back then were special, nothing could hide the brilliance of Kakashi. He was a prodigy beyond reason.
And Might Guy, who had been happy to see Kakashi finally recovering, now found himself feeling exactly like he had when they were kids.
The pressure was just too much.
"Huff…!"
"I give up! Why… why is this happening? I've worked so hard for more than ten years… why?!"
Might Guy lay on the grass, gasping for breath.
In their match just now, Kakashi had dodged all of his attacks perfectly.
Five minutes of nonstop strikes, and the grass around them had practically been shredded to pieces—yet Kakashi was completely fine.
"Guy, did you really think I've just been slacking off for the past ten years?"
Kakashi stood beside him, his eyes half-lidded as he spoke casually.
Hearing this, Guy was stunned. He had been secretly keeping an eye on Kakashi for years but had never once caught him training.
"Wait… so you've been secretly working hard this whole time?!"
Guy's eyes widened. If he had known this, why had he been dragging Kakashi into fights every day?!
He had seen Kakashi as his rival for so many years, hoping that the genius he once knew would get back on his feet. And now you're telling me you've been secretly working hard all this time? So all my efforts were for nothing?
"No, for the past ten years, all I did was read books, sleep, eat barbecue, and drink."
"I only started putting in effort recently."
Kakashi answered in his usual calm tone.
Hearing that, Guy felt even worse. He only started working hard recently, and he's already this strong?
Thinking about how he had spent over ten years trying to keep up with Kakashi, Guy felt like crying.
Seeing Guy like this, Kakashi smiled under his mask.
"It's nice to see that look on your face aGuyn, Guy. It feels like we're kids again."
"There's nothing nice about it. I can't compare to a genius like you."
"Guy."
Kakashi suddenly spoke, and Guy looked at him.
"You've gotten lazy."
Kakashi sighed.
"Huh? You have the nerve to say that to me?"
Guy immediately stood up. This guy, who had been slacking off for over ten years, actually dared to call him lazy?
"I'm saying... you're not as hardworking as you used to be. My talent won't fade, but your greatest talent is your effort, Guy."
There was no arrogance in Kakashi's words—just facts. His incredible talent had always been there, but Guy was no longer the same as before. Guy's "talent" could weaken.
Thinking about it, Guy had to admit it was true.
He might act carefree, but he wasn't stupid.
After all these years in Konohagakure, he had seen too much. The darkness he witnessed had slowly put out the fire in his heart.
That was why he cared so much for Lee—because he couldn't go back to how he used to be. But through Lee, he saw his younger self, the version of him that never stopped working hard.
Time wears things down—youthful passion, a sense of justice, the ninja way one once held firm.
But it also makes things heavier—hatred, darkness, despair, and anger.
The more you experience, the more you lose. And at the same time, the burdens you carry only grow heavier. Guy couldn't fight against time, so he entrusted his past self to Lee.
"We can't go back, Kakashi."
Guy closed his eyes, feeling the breeze on the grass.
"I can."
Kakashi's voice was firm. It was the confidence of Hatake Kakashi.
"Guy, this time, follow behind me again."
Hearing those words, Guy's mind drifted back to their childhood.
Back then, Kakashi was the prodigy of the ninja academy, always cold and distant, standing apart from everyone else.
That was the pride of a genius—the pride of the old Kakashi.
And back then, Guy was just a kid with no talent for ninjutsu. His only talent was his effort—his dedication to taijutsu.
That was also how Kakashi's father had once described him.
From that moment on, Guy had always followed closely behind Kakashi. He wanted to prove to this genius that with hard work, he could catch up to him.
"Kakashi, do you believe in this so-called new era?"
Guy opened his eyes. "New World"—Naruto mentioned these words often.
Aside from Naruto, the two newly arrived "Genin" in the village also talked about it a lot.
"I don't believe in it. But Konohagakure does need a new era to begin."
Kakashi had finally come to understand—truly understand. From the moment he pulled himself back together, everything became clear.
He carried too much on his shoulders.
His father had given everything for Konohagakure, only to die because of it.
His friends had gone to war for the village, but in the end, he was the only one who came back.
His teacher, despite being born a civilian, became Hokage without facing opposition from any of the ninja clans—not even the Uchiha or Orochimaru.
Yet in the end, he still died mysteriously in the village.
Everyone around Kakashi had sacrificed for Konohagakure, and they had all died because of it.
There was almost no one left beside him.
He had witnessed his teacher's dreams shatter, his friendships disappear, and his father crushed by the village he had given everything for.
Compared to Kakashi, what had Obito truly endured? What had he really suffered?
The same hardships that had once broken Kakashi had also made his will stronger.
As a genius, he had always possessed a strength that ordinary people didn't. His talent wasn't just about mastering ninjutsu—it was his unshakable heart.
And when he finally pulled himself out of despair, his once-powerful mind transformed into something even greater—an unbreakable belief, shining with a light of its own.
At that moment, Kakashi finally understood what his talent was meant to carry.
Only someone with his kind of talent could bear the beliefs of those who had died.
Only someone with power as terrifying as his could take on everything—despite having no background, no special bloodline, no inherited strength.
His teacher's will.
His father's will.
And... the will of Obito and Rin.
He would use his overwhelming talent as a foundation to carve out a new era for Konohagakure.
Since he was still alive, he would walk the path that those who had passed could not finish.
"Kakashi, you…"
Guy was at a loss for words when he saw him like this.
"I'm back."
Kakashi answered.
The genius who had once fallen... had returned.
Guy stood up from the ground. No matter what, he would follow Kakashi—just like when they were kids.
At that moment, it was as if time had reversed.
Might Duy guiding Might Guy.
Hatake Sakumo guiding Kakashi.
Their first meeting had been destined from the start.
If there was still anyone in Konohagakure Kakashi could truly trust, it was Guy.
"What's our next move?"
"Anbu has been really active lately. A lot of ninja have been sent out, and a huge number of pirates have entered the Land of Fire.
For now, we just need to wait for the right moment to leave the village. Those pirates won't be easy to deal with."
"Should I use this time to train in Rokushiki?"
Guy had no shame in asking. It was just Rokushiki, after all. He had already taught Kakashi the Eight Inner Gates without holding anything back.
"Sure. It shouldn't be too hard for you."
Kakashi had no reason to refuse.
Right now, Konohagakure was full of hidden tensions. It wasn't just Kakashi—many members of the major clans felt the same way.
No one knew exactly what was coming, but the big ninja clans were all preparing for it. The ninja world had been way too active lately.
At this time, the heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans had also gathered together. When it came to intelligence in Konohagakure, the Nara clan was among the best.
And as the head of the Nara clan, Nara Shikaku had no choice but to call his two friends over for a discussion.
"Shikaku, is something big about to happen?"
"This year's Chunin Exams had so many strong young ninja… The next generation is really something else."
Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chouza sat down, not looking too worried.
"It's nothing major, but I've heard that a lot of pirates have been showing up in the Land of Fire lately. The numbers aren't small. I think our three clans should send some ninja to handle it."
Shikaku didn't explain everything, but he was the only one in Konohagakure who truly understood the big picture.
The storm surrounding Four Emperors Shanks out at sea might already be heading straight for Konohagakure.
And at this point, it was unstoppable. There was no way to turn things around—Konohagakure was already in serious danger.
An even bigger problem was that Anbu had cut off Konohagakure's communications with other villages. All the intelligence was now in Danzo's hands.
Even Shikaku wasn't sure just how bad things had gotten.
"Is that so? Then we'll do our part."
"Alright, we'll follow your lead, Shikaku."
Inoichi and Chouza didn't even need to think about it before agreeing.
The Ino-Shika-Cho clans were the most united in Konohagakure, and they trusted each other without question.
If Shikaku said something, there was no need to doubt—just do it.
Besides, the Third Hokage was still in charge. Nothing too big would happen.
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