The morning sun streamed through the window, warm and golden.
Naruto stirred first, blinking awake slowly. Beside him, Sasuke remained curled under his blanket, breathing deeply. Both of them had slept until eight o'clock—practically unheard of for ninja in training.
But that first night back from the Land of Waves had been different. Their own beds, familiar sounds, the scent of home. Both of them had apparently needed the rest more than they'd realized.
Kurama had woken earlier, of course. Around seven, motivated primarily by the need to prepare breakfast. Making Naruto's morning meal wasn't a simple matter of frying an egg and toasting bread. The boy's training regimen demanded a precisely balanced nutritional intake—proteins, complex carbohydrates, specific vitamins and minerals—all calculated to support his monstrous energy expenditure.
"Naruto, Uchiha boy." Nine-Tails' voice drifted from the kitchen. "Hurry up and wash. Breakfast is ready."
Both boys dragged themselves upright with the reluctance of people who'd been sleeping very, very well.
After washing up and devouring the spread Nine-Tails had prepared—Naruto ate enough for five people, Sasuke ate like a normal human—they headed toward the back mountain farm together.
The morning air was crisp and clean, carrying the earthy scent of livestock and growing things.
When they arrived at the farm proper, they found Shikamaru already hard at work. He was walking between the animal pens with Zabuza and Haku following behind him like attentive students. Both held notebooks, occasionally jotting down notes as Shikamaru pointed out various details.
"See how this cow is favoring her left front leg?" Shikamaru was saying. "That slight limp means we need to check her hoof for stones or injury. If we ignore it, infection could set in..."
Zabuza scribbled something in his notebook with the focused intensity of a man taking an exam.
Naruto felt a warm surge of satisfaction. Look at them working so hard. By the end of the year, the farm's income should increase significantly.
"Naruto, you're here." Shikamaru spotted them and waved, pausing his lecture. "Good morning."
"Yeah, morning. Don't let me interrupt—keep going." Naruto returned the wave, then his gaze landed on Zabuza's face.
He froze.
Zabuza's features were swollen and discolored, bruised in the distinctive pattern of someone who'd been thoroughly beaten. It looked exactly like Kakashi's face had looked last night. And Haku's face from the moonlit conversation.
Wait, Naruto thought, confusion creasing his brow. When did I become friends with Zabuza? I don't remember doing the process with him...
He turned to look at Sasuke, searching for answers.
Sasuke's face was carefully blank. He stared off into the middle distance with the studied nonchalance of someone pretending very hard not to see something.
Oh, Naruto realized. Oh no.
"Zabuza," Naruto said carefully, "I heard you wanted to talk to me about something this morning?"
He was giving Zabuza an opening. A chance to clear up what was obviously a misunderstanding. Because if Naruto hadn't beaten Zabuza, then Zabuza's face had nothing to do with him. And if they weren't friends yet, well, they should fix that properly.
Zabuza glanced at Naruto, his visible eye wary. "Huh? I don't have anything to talk to you about."
Haku made a small, strangled sound and shot Zabuza a pointed look that clearly said: What are you doing?!
Zabuza ignored it completely. Is he insane? Zabuza thought. Does he think I'm going to volunteer for another beating? I figured out what happened last night. First Haku's face gets destroyed, then mine. The common denominator is Naruto's "friendship process." No thank you. Hard pass. I'll find another way to get his help with Kirigakure.
Naruto's face fell with obvious disappointment. Zabuza must have misunderstood something about me. Oh well. I'll wait until his injuries heal, then we can have a proper conversation and clear things up.
"Shikamaru, keep up the good work with their training," Naruto said, already turning away. "We're going to practice now."
He walked off with Sasuke and Nine-Tails in tow.
Their training spot was the waterfall—the same place Naruto had been conditioning his body for years. The rush of falling water created a constant white noise that helped him focus.
Naruto centered himself, breathing deeply, letting all distractions fade. When he felt completely calm, he removed his shirt and began his routine.
Meanwhile, across the village, Kakashi had just finished his own breakfast.
He had a plan today.
Naruto followed the path of Ultimate Taijutsu—pure physical conditioning without relying on chakra techniques. Kakashi wasn't particularly skilled in that area. But he knew someone who was.
His best friend was the absolute best at taijutsu in all of Konoha.
He'd been meaning to make this introduction for a while.
Kakashi made his way through the morning streets, eventually arriving at a modest house with a distinctive round door. He knocked.
After a moment, the door opened to reveal a man with a bowl-cut hairstyle, enormous eyebrows, and a green jumpsuit.
The man looked at Kakashi's still-swollen face with obvious confusion. "This is the home of Konoha's proud Blue Beast! Who are you looking for?"
Kakashi's visible eye twitched. "Hey, it's me. Kakashi."
Recognition dawned. "KAKASHI?!" Might Guy's eyes went comically wide. "My eternal rival! What happened to your face?! Who beat you into such a state?!"
He grabbed Kakashi's shoulders, shaking him slightly. "Was it someone as strong as me?! Tell me! Who in all of Konoha could defeat you besides me?!"
His ego never changes, Kakashi thought with weary affection. But he let it slide. This was all for Naruto's sake.
"Hey, today I came to ask you for a favor." Kakashi kept his tone casual despite knowing what was coming.
"HAHAHA!" Guy threw his head back in triumphant laughter. "Kakashi, we are the best of friends! How can you use such formal language with me?!" He struck a dynamic pose, one thumb pointed at his own chest. "However! The fact that you're asking for my help means you've encountered something beyond your abilities—something only I can solve!"
Just as expected, Kakashi thought. Let him be happy now. He'll probably be crying after meeting Naruto.
"I'm teaching this year's genin team. You know I have a student who's developed his own approach to taijutsu." Kakashi explained. "I'm not skilled enough in pure physical techniques to guide him properly. I was hoping you could offer some advice."
"Oh?" Guy's eyes lit up like fireworks. He raised his right hand, thumb extended in his signature pose. "You mean there's a young person pursuing the path of youth, just like me?! Then I'm extremely interested!"
He grabbed Kakashi's arm and started pulling him toward the door. "Let's go! Take me to meet him! I hope he can surprise me!"
Kakashi allowed himself to be dragged along, unsurprised by Guy's immediate enthusiasm. That's just how he is. Always ready to help, always passionate about youth.
They arrived at the back mountain farm after a brisk walk.
In the courtyard, Sasuke was practicing forms—not taijutsu, but chakra control exercises, methodically refining his Flying Thunder God technique.
"Sasuke," Kakashi called out. "Where's Naruto?"
Sasuke paused mid-movement. "Kakashi-sensei. Naruto's at the waterfall, practicing."
His tone was carefully neutral, his eyes not quite meeting Kakashi's. The guilt of having beaten Zabuza was still fresh.
"Keep up the good work." Kakashi turned to Guy. "This way."
They headed into the forest, following the sound of rushing water.
As they drew closer, another sound became audible beneath the roar of the waterfall—rhythmic impacts, like thunder, each one perfectly spaced.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Guy's pace quickened unconsciously, drawn by the sound.
They emerged from the trees into the clearing.
Mist rose from the base of the waterfall, creating a hazy veil. Through it, they could see a powerful figure moving through forms with deliberate slowness. Each movement was precise, controlled, carrying an almost visible weight.
Guy's eyes widened. His breathing quickened.
That's it, he thought, his heart racing. That's the youth I've been pursuing all my life. That pure dedication, that raw determination—
Without a word, Guy strode forward and leaped directly into the shallow pool at the waterfall's base, water splashing around his green jumpsuit.
He needed to see this up close.
As he approached, the details became clearer. Naruto's upper body was bare, revealing lean muscle that rippled with each movement. Water cascaded over his shoulders, but he didn't seem to notice. His breathing was perfectly synchronized with his motions—inhale on the preparation, exhale on the execution.
And with every shift of weight, every adjustment of posture, Guy could hear it: the sound of blood rushing through vessels, of bones settling under tremendous controlled force, of muscles working at capacity.
This isn't just training, Guy realized. This is art. This is dedication refined to its purest form.
Naruto continued his forms, apparently unbothered by the observer. This person came with Kakashi-sensei, so he must be a friend. He can watch if he wants. Not like he'll understand what he's seeing anyway.
Finally, Naruto completed the final position of his set. He exhaled slowly, stepping out of the waterfall's direct flow and making his way to shore.
Water streamed from his hair and skin. He grabbed a towel from a nearby rock and looked at Kakashi, then at the bowl-cut man behind him.
"Kakashi-sensei, who's this?"
"Little guy!" The man answered before Kakashi could, his voice booming with enthusiasm. "I'm Might Guy, Konoha's proud Blue Beast! That's who!"
Before anyone could respond, Guy stepped forward and placed both hands on Naruto's shoulders, his eyes shining with barely contained excitement.
"This is youth! Pure, undiluted youth!" Guy's voice trembled with emotion. "Little guy, would you be willing to accept me as your sensei? I can teach you even stronger taijutsu techniques!"
"Hey!" Kakashi interjected, his tone sharp. "Guy, I asked you to give Naruto advice, not steal my student!"
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