Chapter 565: The Founder of the Myriad Worlds Breathing Techniques
After recording everything in her notebook, Hoshigaki Nanami continued observing Kakashi and the others.
As mentioned before, they were currently staying in an undeveloped open area, while the actual tourist district was next door.
So as long as the Konoha group didn't wander into the tourist area, they could act as crazy as they wanted here, and Kirigakure could simply ignore it.
The only Kirigakure shinobi here were herself, Ao, Kurosuki Raiga, and Chōjūrō.
Among them, Ao's confession to Kakashi had already been exposed.
As for Kurosuki Raiga, although he supposedly had a wife he hadn't seen in who knew how many years, it was obvious that he preferred the little pretty boy Ranmaru.
That left only Chōjūrō and herself.
Both of them were decent people who had voluntarily reported everything to Terumi Mei. As long as they were careful with what they said and kept themselves under control, everything would be fine.
"You two, stop arguing. Isn't this enough?"
Kakashi created two Shadow Clones and gave one to Shira and one to Might Guy.
"I'm counting on you two. Keep them company for a while."
As for himself, he picked up a novel and the display screen, reading his book while binge-watching the show—namely Obito inside the Engraved Tsukuyomi world.
The two men immediately fell silent.
Guy looked at Shira. Shira nodded in agreement, so Guy nodded as well.
In truth, Guy wasn't looking for any inspiration in taijutsu. For the past few days, he had simply been training his body as usual.
He was only worried because another taijutsu specialist had suddenly appeared beside Kakashi—someone who also possessed a technique similar to the Eight Gates, one that allowed the body to temporarily surpass its limits.
Guy was afraid Kakashi would be stolen away by Shira.
Mm... one of the movies he'd watched recently seemed to mention that, according to Tenten's summary, this was called 'A childhood friend can't beat the newcomer.'
So after receiving one of Kakashi's Shadow Clones, Guy had no idea what to do next. He could only watch what Shira did first and copy him afterward.
Shira, however, was completely serious.
Due to Heavenly Will's influence, Kakashi was, in Shira's subconscious, both the founder of the Breathing Techniques across all worlds—Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the Asura and Indra of the Demon Slayer world—and the strongest Ripple Breathing user, the Ultimate Lifeform Kars, the Six Paths Obito of the JoJo world.
Shira knew nothing about those other worlds. All Heavenly Will left him with was the feeling that Kakashi was the source of inspiration for advancing his Breathing Technique.
Although he still hadn't grasped that elusive spark of inspiration, simply staying near Kakashi gave him an indescribable feeling.
Until a Shadow Clone was dispelled, it was no different from the original.
To Nanami and Chōjūrō, it already looked as though Shira and Kakashi's relationship had become incredibly intimate.
But in reality, Shira had no romantic interest in Kakashi whatsoever.
He simply longed to improve... to become stronger.
Kakashi was the opportunity that could make him stronger.
So there was no chance Shira would deliberately 'pop' Kakashi's Shadow Clone.
"Kakashi, please. Let's try it this way first."
Shira pressed his palms together and respectfully asked the Shadow Clone.
"Isn't... this a little inappropriate?"
Kakashi's clone looked troubled.
"But your original already agreed."
"…Alright."
The Shadow Clone gave in.
After all, he was only a Shadow Clone. Even if something really happened, the original would be the one receiving all the memories afterward.
'Whatever.'
Following Shira's instructions, Kakashi's Shadow Clone walked over after Shira sat down cross-legged with his eyes closed.
Leaning close, he slowly breathed warm air beside Shira's ear.
Listening to Kakashi's breathing, the strange feeling inside Shira became even stronger.
Good grief.
Shira had basically turned Kakashi into a live ASMR machine.
Meanwhile...
After observing Shira, Might Guy finally understood what he was trying to accomplish.
Shira's Seven-Heavens Breathing relied on the lungs, so he wanted Kakashi's breathing.
What about the Eight Gates?
The heart?
Or perhaps the sweat released after opening the Seventh Gate?
After thinking it over, Guy grabbed Kakashi's Shadow Clone and started running laps around the area.
The Shadow Clone didn't object.
Compared to the poor clone next door acting as Shira's ASMR recording, going for a jog was practically paradise.
Besides, running was completely normal for Might Guy.
Just like Rock Lee, Guy had a habit of somehow relating everything back to training.
However...
After running several laps, Guy suddenly picked up several "towels" and enthusiastically stepped forward to wipe the sweat off Kakashi's Shadow Clone.
That completely confused the clone.
'I'm just a Shadow Clone.'
'If I get tired, I can just dispel myself.'
'Why is Guy suddenly wiping my sweat?'
'Why am I getting goosebumps...?'
"Wait, Guy... what exactly are you using to wipe me with?"
The clone suddenly noticed the color of the cloth Guy was using.
Dark green.
And judging by the texture...
It was actually Guy and Rock Lee's skintight bodysuits!
"Kakashi, don't worry. These are clean. They're the spare clothes I brought with me—I haven't worn them yet.
"You know these bodysuits absorb sweat and breathe really well. They also make excellent towels, so I thought I'd help wipe you off..."
After collecting the bodysuit now soaked with Kakashi's sweat, Guy looked over at Shira.
He wanted to know what the next step was.
"..."
Nanami, secretly monitoring Konoha's group, had fallen into complete despair.
The people from Konoha weren't merely the bond-type ninja anymore.
They had already become outright perverts.
Rock Lee watched everything unfold without feeling anything strange.
Instead, he looked at both sides excitedly, burning with the urge to cheer for his master, but afraid of interrupting what he believed was a serious competition.
As for Tenten...
She had disappeared.
She had probably become too ashamed to be associated with Might Guy and had hidden somewhere.
Nanami, whose job was to monitor Konoha's group, hadn't even noticed Tenten leaving.
"Ah! Ah! Why?! Aah!"
Over on Shira's side, after listening to Kakashi's ASMR breathing for quite a while, he felt he had reached the very edge of enlightenment.
Yet that final spark of inspiration simply refused to appear.
Growing so anxious that he even opened his mouth and shouted in frustration with his eyes still closed, he finally snapped.
Throwing caution to the wind, Shira suddenly opened his eyes, turned toward Kakashi, and lunged forward—
"I'm back from the tourist area! I brought ice cream for everyone. Who wants—"
Tenten returned carrying a tray piled high with scoops of ice cream, only to witness the scene before her.
Driven into desperation, Shira had decided to forcibly inhale all of Kakashi's breath into his own body.
In other words...
Artificial respiration, in a sense.
Chu.
No one knew whether Kakashi's Shadow Clone mentally collapsed or literally got sucked to the point of exploding, but the clone vanished.
"AAAH! What was THAT?!"
At the same time, inside the beach tent, Kakashi—who had been happily reading his novel and watching the show—received the Shadow Clone's memories and let out a miserable scream.
"You went to the tourist area? Well... judging by that, you're a normal person. I didn't expect Konoha to still have at least one normal ninja."
Just as Tenten nearly dropped the tray in shock, Nanami stepped forward and caught it for her.
At that exact moment, after seeing what Shira had done, Might Guy finally understood the "next step."
He immediately prepared to copy it.
(End of this chapter)