Master Guy, seemingly oblivious to the stunned reactions around him, grinned broadly, his trademark enthusiasm filling the air. He walked forward with an exaggerated swagger, his energy so vibrant it felt like it could fill an entire room.
"Lee!" Master Guy called out, spotting his student. "You must never forget the true meaning of youth!"
Lee, who had been quietly watching the interactions unfold, suddenly straightened, his face lighting up with a mix of admiration and excitement. "Sensei!" he exclaimed, his voice eager as he turned toward the man who had become a larger-than-life figure in his world.
But before Lee could move, Master Guy didn't waste any time. Without warning, he surged forward with the speed of a whirlwind, his fist shooting out in a powerful, no-holds-barred punch. The blow landed squarely on Lee's chest with a thud, sending Lee stumbling back several paces. His eyes widened in surprise, but his smile never faltered. This was simply how Master Guy operated—always pushing, always testing.
Lee rubbed his chest, looking up at his sensei with a sheepish grin. "Sensei! I-I am really sorry to let you down!!"
Master Guy, his expression full of warmth yet still radiating that fierce energy, placed both hands on Lee's shoulders. "Lee!" he said, his voice strong and serious. "You must never forget the true meaning of youth! It is not about reckless action, but about discipline, passion, and knowing when to direct that energy for the greater good!"
Sobbing, Guy embraced Lee. Overcome with emotion, Lee began to cry too. 'Yes, Sensei!' he exclaimed, his voice filled with determination. 'I will always remember that!' His enthusiasm was palpable.
The hallway was silent except for Master Guy's and Lee's sobbing voice. The others—Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke—were still recovering from the shock of the tortoise's bizarre transformation. Their eyes were locked on Master Guy, unable to look away from the man who had just made an entrance like no other.
Master Guy's face softened, and his usual exuberance returned. He gave Lee an encouraging pat on the back. "That's the spirit, my boy! Now, go forth and show the world the true power of youth!" His voice was filled with such passion that it seemed to charge the air around him.
Kuro, who had been silently observing the entire exchange, couldn't help but smile at the display. There was something undeniably magnetic about Master Guy—his infectious energy, his dedication, and his unwavering belief in the potential of his students. It was clear that Lee had a deep respect for the man, but Kuro also saw the lessons behind the antics. Lee's boundless energy was both a strength and a potential weakness, but with Master Guy's guidance, that energy could be molded into something extraordinary.
Sasuke, who had been watching all of this with an unreadable expression, turned and began walking away once more. "This is ridiculous," he muttered, shaking his head.
Naruto, still wide-eyed, managed to find his voice. "Did he really just punch Lee and lecture him like that?!" He looked over at Sakura. "That guy is something else…"
Sakura, still processing the bizarre turn of events, could only nod. "I don't know what just happened, but I think we've seen enough for today."
Kuro, however, remained thoughtful. The dynamic between Lee and Master Guy was unlike anything he had witnessed before in the anime.
Master Guy flashed Lee a final, proud grin. "Now, let's go! We've got youth to live!"
As Lee and Guy Sensei turned to leave, Kuro called out, his voice steady but carrying a note of encouragement. "You'll get your chance to prove yourself, Lee. Just be ready when the time comes."
Lee glanced over his shoulder, his expression softening into a small smile. "I will. Thank you for your Support Buro or whatever your name is."
Kuro showed somewhat weird expression hearing his name was distorted, well even Kuro wasn't his name anyway.
Naruto turned to Kuro, his excitement bubbling over. "Man, that was crazy! First the fight, then you stepping in like that then the turtle—uh, I mean tortoise—uh I mean the bushy brow weird sensei! Anyway, You're pretty cool, you know that?"
Kuro chuckled, his expression relaxed. "Thanks, Naruto. But sometimes, it's better to step in before things get out of hand."
Sakura approached cautiously, her eyes flickering between Kuro and Sasuke, who was already walking away. "Why did you intervene? Sasuke didn't need your help," she said, her tone defensive.
Kuro shrugged. "Maybe not, but I didn't want things escalating further. Besides…" He glanced at Lee, who was now disappearing around the corner with Guy Sensei "…Lee isn't someone you want to underestimate."
Sakura tilted her head, confused. "What do you mean?"
Kuro smiled knowingly but didn't answer. Instead, he turned and started walking toward the next area. "Come on. The exams are just getting started. You don't want to fall behind, do you?"
Naruto and Sakura exchanged a glance and Sasuke showed annoyed look before following after him, their curiosity about Kuro growing with each passing moment.
The hallway leading to Room 301 was unusually quiet, but it wasn't the comfortable kind of quiet—it was thick, charged with an almost palpable anticipation. Kuro walked at a steady pace, his usual cool, collected vibe in full swing, with his hands loosely in his pockets. His calm energy was a stark contrast to Naruto's practically bouncing-off-the-walls enthusiasm.
"Did you see Bushy Brows' hands?" Naruto suddenly asked, breaking the silence with his typical loudness. "That guy's been training like a maniac—he's probably working harder than you, Sasuke. Believe it!" Naruto laughed, clearly proud of the jab.
Sasuke, who was walking just behind Kuro, didn't even glance at him. He simply smirked, his voice cool and measured. "The Chunin Exam's starting to get interesting."
Kuro, who was a step ahead of the two, couldn't help but chuckle softly under his breath. Sasuke's complete lack of reaction was kind of impressive in a way, though Kuro wasn't sure if it was confidence or just straight-up arrogance. Either way, it was something he admired... most of the time.
Naruto, undeterred, bounced on his heels, still fired up about the exam. "Hey, you two better watch out. You don't know what's coming! You can't underestimate anyone!" His voice rang with excitement, but there was a playful challenge in it too.
Kuro let out a quiet sigh, but his lips twitched into a small smile. Of course Naruto would be hyped. The guy had an energy that was almost contagious. Even Sasuke couldn't hide the slight gleam of interest in his eyes.