(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
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Outside the ninja shop, Might Guy and Rock Lee were upside down, walking on their hands instead of their feet.
Even while waiting for Tenten to come out, they couldn't be idle, instead, they even started doing finger push-ups. The people around them kept their distance, fearing they might catch some serious disease from the two.
This was the scene Colt encountered as he exited the shop.
"Guy-sensei, Lee, let's go quickly," Tenten urged, moving them from the front of the ninja shop. If she stayed there any longer, she would die of embarrassment.
"Yosh! Tenten, that's the spirit of youth!" Might Guy balanced himself on one hand and gave Tenten a thumbs up, revealing a dazzling smile.
Colt was startled.
'Such bright teeth! Where did Guy get his toothpaste? I want to buy a set too.'
Guy also noticed Colt, and his eyes lit up.
*Thud*
With a somersault, he landed in front of Colt.
"Would you be the famous Kamiyo Colt?"
Colt was a little puzzled.
"You know me? I didn't know I was famous…"
He didn't remember any interactions with Guy also.
"Hahahaha!" Guy gave a hearty laugh and put his hands on his hips.
"Kakashi mentioned you and said you were a genius far beyond his abilities."
"My name is Might Guy, and I'm Kakashi's eternal rival. We have faced each other more than 500 times now, and we're still tied!"
"Huh?" It was Tenten's turn to be surprised. "So, you are Kakashi-sensei's student."
As Guy's eternal rival, Tenten and the others naturally knew about Kakashi and that he had become a Jōnin instructor this year.
"I see," Colt nodded, just as he was about to say something, he was interrupted by Guy's next action.
Guy bowed 90 degrees and said sincerely, "Kamiyo Colt, please have a taijutsu match with me!"
Colt was stunned.
...
"Is that so..."
At Konoha's Training Ground 6, Colt finally understood the situation.
There were many people at the shop earlier, so Tenten suggested they move to a training ground first.
Colt also figured out along the way why Might Guy would want to fight him, a mere Genin.
The root of the problem was Kakashi.
During a casual chat between the two Jōnin, they happened to talk about Colt. Kakashi mentioned that the taijutsu used by Colt doesn't belong to any known Konoha style.
This instantly piqued the interest of Might Guy, who was obsessed with taijutsu.
He had been searching for Colt for several days.
However, recently, Colt was either out on missions or practicing the [Flying Thunder God Technique] at home, so the two had no chance to meet at all.
Until today, when Colt went out to pick up his ninja gear, he happened to meet him, when he came to train Tenten and Lee.
"Sensei, this is really embarrassing. Even if you want to learn a new taijutsu, you should let Lee compete against him while you watch from the side. You're being too unfair," Tenten complained, her words merciless as usual.
Lee also burst into flames when he heard it. "Guy-sensei, let me compete with Colt-san!"
Guy shook his head and refused. "Lee, I understand your feelings, but Colt is an opponent that even Kakashi needs to take seriously. You still need to work harder!"
"I see, so he's a genius?" Lee looked at Colt with admiration. "Guy-sensei, I will continue to work hard."
Guy pulled Lee into his arms. "Lee, your youthful words are commendable!"
Lee: "Sensei!"
The two of them hugged each other and cried, causing Colt's brow to twitch. Were these two for real?
After such a dramatic scene, Colt agreed to Guy's request.
He was also curious about the strength of one of the greatest taijutsu masters in the ninja world.
The two faced each other, with minimal rules.
Guy took the initiative. He stepped forward on one foot and instantly closed the distance to Colt. His waist rotated, bringing a strong torque, and his right leg swept hard.
"[Leaf Hurricane]!"
Boom!
Colt moved first, blocking him with one hand, and before Guy's entire body could follow through, he countered with a punch to Guy's joints.
"As expected, it's a style I've never seen before!" Guy was not surprised but delighted.
This attack was just a test and did not use his full strength. But Colt's solution was beyond his expectations.
"Come again!"
"[Leaf Strong Whirlwind]!" "[Dynamic Entry]!" "[Leaf Rising Wind]!"
Various kicks were used in succession, but Colt showed no weakness.
Colt's fighting style, primarily based on various martial arts, was on full display.
The fists and feet of the two were constantly colliding. Every blow could split mountains, and soon the training ground was horribly destroyed.
The two spectators were stunned.
"Is this Colt's true strength?" Lee muttered to himself. He always believed that hard work could surpass any genius, but Colt's strength was enough to compete with Guy, surpassing Lee by an unknown margin.
'Could I really surpass that? No, Guy-sensei once said that the meaning of hard work is not only to surpass others but also to surpass yourself! This is the meaning of youth!'
After a brief moment of self-doubt, Lee regained his fighting spirit.
Tenten was also speechless, not expecting this handsome boy to fight so fiercely.
The battle on the field continued, and Might Guy found that his taijutsu was not as refined as Colt's. No matter how hard he tried, Colt could easily counter him.
In that case...
"[Eight Gates], open!"
"Hey, hey, Guy-sensei, you're going too far."
Colt was a little exasperated when he saw Guy's actions. This was just a friendly match. Was it necessary to open the [Eight Gates]?
"Hahaha, it's not serious, don't worry"
Guy went straight to the [Third Gate].
Tenten and Lee were also nervous. With the [Eight Gates] activated, the power and speed boost wasn't trivial. Was Guy really going to go all out?
Blocking Guy's whip-like kick once again, Colt suddenly changed his moves and withdrew from the attack range.
"Not good!"
Guy's pupils constricted, but Colt had already taken his stance.
[Colt Style · Flashback]
Lowering his body, Colt attacked Guy's chest with continuous elbow strikes, knocking him to the ground with the final blow.
His speed was unnoticeable.
"That's enough, Guy-sensei."
Instead of continuing to pursue, Colt chose to end the battle.
Guy, who was temporarily restrained, also came to his senses and realized that he had gotten so excited that he even used the [Eight Gates].
"Colt, forgive me, I got too excited"
He quickly apologized.
Colt shook his head and spoke up.
"Don't worry about it"
In fact, he found the fight quite exhilarating.
A battle of pure taijutsu was truly a man's romance.