Chapter 81: Youth is a Trial by Fire
"Liumuuuuu!"
The excited shout was followed by a loud BANG! as an overenthusiastic kick sent the door of Liumu's house flying open.
Might Guy: (;￣д￣)
Oh no.
He got too excited.
Liumu was going to be pissed.
Seeing the shattered lock, three metaphorical sweat drops instantly appeared on Guy's brow.
The house was empty, but freshly washed clothes hung drying on the balcony outside.
Liumu was definitely back in the village.
Just not home.
Maybe… I should make a tactical retreat?
As this thought crossed his mind, Liumu and Haku materialized behind him, carrying a basket of groceries.
Feeling a chill run down his spine, Guy slowly turned to meet Liumu's unblinking stare.
"Um… hypothetically… if I said it was an accident… would you believe me?"
Liumu: (¬_¬)
"I'd believe your second uncle."
He spat out the phrase, walked over to inspect the wrecked lock, then held out a hand. "Three thousand ryō."
Guy: (╬◣д◢)
"Did you become a bandit? It's just a lock! Three thousand?"
"Got a problem with that?" Liumu was utterly unapologetic, even poking Guy's chest with his fingertip. "A single stick of dango is five hundred. Three thousand for a lock isn't bad. Besides, look at that massive footprint on my door. The cleaning labor alone… I'm not even charging you extra for emotional damages to my property."
Guy was speechless. Liumu really had turned into a robber. Where did 'emotional damages' even come from?
"Ah, whatever. I know you're broke anyway." Liumu waved a dismissive hand, sighing dramatically as he looked at his front door. Noticing Guy's schoolbag, he asked curiously, "Just got out of school? What's the big hurry?"
Remembering his original purpose, Guy's expression instantly brightened, the previous incident forgotten. "I heard you were back! I came specifically for a challenge!"
Liumu: "..."
"It's almost dinner time. Maybe another day?" Haku offered gently from the side.
Before Guy could protest, Liumu cut in. "Nah, let's do it. Got nothing better to do anyway."
Haku blinked in surprise. Liumu rarely engaged in sparring. During their travels, even catching fish was mostly Jiraiya's job. Liumu was usually found sunbathing or sleeping in, citing "the virtue of compassion for all living things"—right before devouring his share of the grilled fish with gusto. He'd then claim he was "helping maintain the ecological balance, survival of the fittest."
"You don't get it," Liumu whispered conspiratorially into Haku's ear. "With Guy's personality, if we don't settle this today, he'll be kicking my door down every single day from now on."
Haku: "…" She didn't know Guy well, but she'd heard stories from Liumu's classmates. Guy hadn't been at Liumu's birthday celebration years ago, as he'd been off training.
"Alright then. I'll start dinner. Try to wrap it up quickly," Haku conceded, taking the grocery basket.
"Will do."
Liumu grabbed Guy by the collar and steered him toward the nearest training ground.
In no time, they stood facing each other on the familiar dirt field.
Liumu beckoned lazily. "Come on. Let's make it quick. I'm hungry."
"Right!" Guy eagerly assumed a fighting stance, crouching low.
Suddenly, his expression turned serious. He straightened up and declared loudly, "One condition before we start! You can't use that… that finishing move you used last time we sparred!"
Liumu: "..." "Deal," he agreed instantly, waving Guy forward. "Come on, I'll take this seriously."
Confidence restored, Guy sank back into his stance. With a whoosh and a cloud of dust, he vanished from his original position.
In less than a blink, he was already under Liumu, palms on the ground, his right leg a blur as it shot upward in a vicious kick aimed at Liumu's chin.
"Ooh, new move," Liumu commented idly, dropping a palm to neatly block the strike. Seeing his attack thwarted, Guy used the momentum, his body beginning to spin rapidly, arms weaving as his legs became a whirlwind of strikes aimed at Liumu's chest and abdomen.
"Konoha Senpū!" (Leaf Whirlwind)
"Not bad."
Liumu hopped backward, his hands a casual blur as they deflected each kick. Then, sensing a slight dip in Guy's momentum, he dropped into a low sweep, his leg scything toward Guy's face.
"Hah!"
Guy, honed by years of relentless training, possessed incredible arm strength. Using his hands as pivots, he pushed off the ground, flipping himself away from Liumu's sweeping leg.
"Liumu! Have I gotten stronger?!" Guy boasted, flashing a sparkling thumbs-up before launching another spinning kick.
"You have. But it's not just you who's gotten stronger…" A strange grin spread across Liumu's face.
His hands flickered through a single seal.
Poof! Poof!
Two clones appeared in bursts of smoke, instantly flanking Guy and locking down his arms and legs in a flawless "double-team restraint," immobilizing him completely.
"Huh?!"
Guy strained with all his might, but Liumu's clones felt like they were made of solid iron. He couldn't break free.
Liumu chuckled, rubbing his hands together as he sauntered over to where Guy was pinned in a helpless 'X' shape. He crouched down behind him, a sinister glint in his eye.
Seeing that look, Guy's blood ran cold. He remembered that jutsu from their last encounter.
"W-Wait! You promised not to use that one!"
"Who said anything about that?" Liumu raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "This is the Advanced Version of the Millennium Kill! Behold…"
From the edge of the training field, Rin and the group of arriving classmates witnessed the final scene of the "match."
"Look, over there!"
"But… Guy seems to be restrained by Liumu's clones."
"What is he…?"
The world fell silent. Only the cawing of a passing crow broke the quiet, its cry sounding suspiciously like "Baka… baka… baka…" (Idiot).
"Secret Konoha Technique: Millennium Kill… RENDAN!!!" (Rendan = Consecutive Strikes)
Poke-poke-poke-poke-poke!
"Gyaaaaaaah!!!"
Thud.
"Ugh…" Rin couldn't bear to watch, covering her eyes with her hands. The agonized screams, however, were impossible to block out.
Obito, standing beside her, felt his own hair stand on end. A sympathetic, deep-seated chill ran through him. It was as if each of those phantom strikes were aimed at his own person. He subconsciously squeezed his legs together, casting a look of profound pity toward his fallen comrade.
(End of Chapter)
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