In front of Konoha's Memorial Stone, all the ninjas present in the village had gathered. Each person quietly looked at the names engraved on the stone.
Each name represented a ninja who had sacrificed their life for Konoha. They were all heroes of Konoha and would forever be remembered by those who lived on. Some exceptionally outstanding ninjas would be celebrated as legends to inspire the new generation of Konoha.
Standing at the forefront of the memorial were the Third Hokage, Homura, Koharu, and Jiraiya, along with Danzo, whom Kakashi had not seen before. Of course, the original Kakashi had met Jiraiya, but the current Kakashi hadn't.
Here, Kakashi saw many future notable figures of Konoha, including the parents of the Konoha Twelve and his peers like Guy. He also noticed younger generations like Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Shisui, and Anko.
Besides these familiar faces, there were many unfamiliar ones. Some were of Minato's generation, others of Kakashi's, and many were new-generation ninjas. Kakashi knew that many of these unknown ninjas would die during the Nine-Tails' attack next year or in the subsequent battles against the Cloud Ninja.
Kakashi's attention was particularly drawn to Guy, Uchiha Itachi, and Uchiha Shisui. Guy, who would later become a Taijutsu master who was not weaker than him, and the terrifyingly talented Uchiha Itachi were destined to be famous ninjas.
The funeral soon concluded, and everyone left with heavy hearts. Kakashi was about to head to the Anbu when Guy stopped him.
"Kakashi, I challenge you! I want to prove that an ordinary person can defeat a genius with hard work!"
Guy shouted passionately, striking a fighting pose similar to how Rock Lee would challenge Sasuke years later. However, unlike his future self, Guy wasn't wearing the green spandex yet, making him look less comical. But his thick eyebrows were as prominent as ever.
"I have to report to the Anbu. I don't have time for a spar," Kakashi replied indifferently. He had no interest in sparring with Guy, especially since Guy's current strength was far from his future prowess. Even in Taijutsu, Guy was not yet a match for Kakashi.
"What? You're joining the Anbu, Kakashi?" Guy exclaimed in surprise.
"But it doesn't matter! I'll defeat you in one minute! Come on!" Guy quickly recovered from his shock and shouted with renewed vigour.
Without giving Kakashi a chance to respond, Guy charged at him, aiming a powerful right kick at Kakashi's face.
"Damn, this is practically a forced sparring!" Kakashi thought, his brow furrowing. The guy's self-confidence was astonishing.
Kakashi effortlessly dodged the kick by stepping back, feeling the strong wind from Guy's attack brush past his face.
"So fast!" Kakashi thought, surprised by Guy's speed. Guy had improved significantly since his last challenge, particularly in speed. This meant Kakashi no longer had an advantage over Guy in Taijutsu.
"As expected of Kakashi!"
"Watch this! Leaf Hurricane!" Guy shouted, praising Kakashi for dodging before launching another attack.
In a swift motion, Guy's kick seemed to connect with Kakashi, sending him flying. But the next moment, Kakashi's body turned into a log with a puff of smoke.
"A substitution jutsu!" Guy exclaimed, realising too late that he had hit a decoy.
"Secret Technique: One Thousand Years of Death!" Kakashi's voice came from behind. His hands formed the infamous gesture, and he thrust his fingers at Guy's rear.
Frustrated by Guy's insistence on a spar, Kakashi used the prank technique from the original series. He added a bit of Chidori's lightning to his fingertips, not enough to cause actual harm but enough to deliver a painful shock.
With a loud smack, Guy was sent flying by Kakashi's attack.
"Ahhh!" Guy screamed, his cry echoing through the area. Kakashi couldn't help but sweatdrop, wondering if the attack had been too effective.
"Hopefully, this will stop him from rechallenging me," Kakashi thought, watching Guy fly away. He then turned and continued toward the Anbu headquarters.
Kakashi knew his easy victory over Guy was due to his superior combat experience. In a few years, when Guy fully developed his Taijutsu skills, defeating him wouldn't be so simple.
"I can't let Guy surpass me. Once I join the Anbu, I need to find Tsunade as soon as possible," Kakashi resolved. Despite his easy victory, the thought of Guy surpassing him in the future added pressure. He was determined to solve the issue with his Sharingan.
Kakashi knew that the longer he waited to find Tsunade, the less hope there would be for a solution. He had to act while the Sharingan was still newly transplanted.