Chapter 26: Friend
""Fifty-seven... fifty-eight... fifty-nine." Kakashi counted each slash of his sword with steady focus, each movement precise, almost mechanical. The early morning sun was just beginning to rise, casting a faint glow over the training grounds. It was 6 a.m., his first practice session of the day, a routine he never missed. Two days had passed since his first mission, yet he couldn't shake a strange, uneasy feeling—a quiet restlessness that lingered.
The issue wasn't with the act of killing itself—that was a reality he had come to accept. What disturbed him was the thought of being defined solely by it. He didn't want his life to revolve around death alone, though he understood it was part of survival in this world.
"Kakashi."
A voice pulled him from his thoughts, and for a brief moment, a small smile appeared before he replaced it with his usual calm expression. Leaving the backyard, he moved to the entrance, where he saw him: the familiar bowl haircut, thick eyebrows, and that unmistakable green jumpsuit. Standing there was none other than Might Guy, the future Green Beast of Konoha, destined to be a master of taijutsu, known for his relentless energy and unwavering spirit.
"Good morning, Guy. It's good to see you've recovered," Kakashi greeted his friend—his only friend, in fact.
Yes, Guy was the only one. Kakashi hadn't formed bonds with anyone else, not out of arrogance or coldness, but because he hadn't felt a connection with anyone. With Guy, however, there was something different, something he couldn't ignore.
At first, he'd been drawn to Guy knowing his future, of the unbreakable bond they would eventually share. Even Sakumo, had spoken highly of Guy's resilience and spirit, and Kakashi sometimes wanted to his father,"Not just great—the greatest." But as time passed, his initial reasons faded. There was a purity in Guy, an undeniable sincerity that softened the edges of Kakashi's hardened outlook. After his father left ,Guy was the only person he genuinely cared about in Konoha.
"Yes! Good morning, Kakashi!" Guy's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "Now that I'm back on my feet, I decided to make up for lost time. I've been doing twice as much training since yesterday!"
Kakashi nodded with a smirk. Guy had been unwell for the past week, resting under strict orders, but of course, he would push himself the moment he was allowed to return.
"Let's go, then," Kakashi said, falling into step beside him, just as he had many times before.
He never stopped Guy from pushing his limits. He knew Guy had the strength, the will, and the need to do so. Guy didn't become a taijutsu master by staying within his limits—he broke them, shattered them repeatedly. That was something Kakashi respected deeply, perhaps even found inspiring.
It was one thing to know of Guy's spirit from the anime, but witnessing it in person was an entirely different experience.
As they finished their laps around Konoha, they stopped. Guy turned to Kakashi. "Let's head to school, or we'll be late."
His words made Kakashi pause, unsure of how to respond. After a moment, he decided to be direct, knowing that Guy preferred honesty.
"Actually, Guy…" Kakashi looked him straight in the eyes. "I've already graduated."
Guy stopped, meeting Kakashi's gaze, realizing he wasn't joking.
"Wait," he thought, processing it. Had Kakashi already mentioned he will graduate early? Yes, he had—but that was supposed to be a year from now, wasn't it?
"But it's only been half a year. You said you will apply next year," Guy said, confused.
Kakashi nodded. "I know. But I was ready, so I applied early."
"Sorry," Kakashi apologized, knowing he should have told him sooner. But with Guy recovering from illness, he hadn't wanted to burden him with it yet.
But Guy's next words caught Kakashi off guard, not quite what he had expected.
"Let's spar, Kakashi!" Guy said, not waiting for a reply, dropping into his stance.
That was just like Guy.
Since Kakashi had chosen to graduate early, it meant he was ready, and Guy wanted to see just how much stronger his friend had become.
Kakashi mirrored his stance, meeting the challenge.
Guy struck first with a punch. Kakashi blocked it, anticipating the follow-up as Guy swung his left leg. Kakashi countered swiftly, moving with precision. Guy didn't let up, leaping to attempt a double kick. Kakashi absorbed the first kick and caught his leg on the second.
His strength is as powerful as ever, Kakashi thought, still focused.
Guy adjusted mid-air, landing smoothly, and resumed his relentless attack.
Kakashi's eyes never left Guy as he readied himself for the next move. Guy was quick, his attacks fueled by an unyielding energy, but Kakashi had grown accustomed to the speed and precision of his opponent. With each punch and kick, Kakashi countered with practiced grace, anticipating every movement.
Guy grinned, his enthusiasm undeterred by the lack of easy openings. "You've gotten faster, Kakashi!" He see why Kakashi didn't stay in academy anymore .
Kakashi's gaze remained steady, his mind calculating each move. "You're not bad yourself, Guy." It was true, Guy taijutsu is better than most in his batch.
Guy chuckled and launched into another series of rapid strikes. Kakashi parried and dodged, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline surge through him. Despite the intensity of the fight, there was a part of him that felt a strange sense of peace.
Guy, still pressing forward with relentless energy, missed a step, leaving an opening for Kakashi. Without hesitation, Kakashi quickly delivered a light strike to Guy's side, throwing him off balance.
Guy stumbled but grinned. "You win."
Kakashi offered a small, rare smile. "You're not bad yourself, Guy."
They both paused, taking a moment to catch their breath.
"That's enough for today," Kakashi said, stepping back and relaxing his stance.
Guy nodded, still breathing heavily but flashing his usual wide grin. "You're right. But next time, I'm going to win!"
Kakashi chuckled softly. "We'll see about that."