"So you just ran away from Sasori of the Red Sand?" Kushina's eyes narrowed, a clear glint of dissatisfaction in them.
Her tone carried the distinct, ominous pressure of an impending volcanic eruption.
While this was classified intelligence, Kushina obviously wasn't subject to Hagoromo's non-disclosure rules. Outwardly, Hagoromo remained as steady as a mountain. Inwardly, he discreetly shifted his butt a few inches further away from her on the couch.
He had to take precautions against sudden blunt-force trauma.
He picked up a glass of water from the table, took a calm sip, and said, "What else was I supposed to do?"
"What do you mean, 'what else'? You kill him! Take him out! Wasn't he practically served up to you on a platter? And what about that Pakura woman? You were right on the verge of finishing her off, so why give up?"
"Cough..."
Hagoromo nearly choked to death on his water. He shot Kushina a side-eye. She says it so lightly. Does she think it's that easy? That was Sasori of the Red Sand! What was he supposed to do, Talk-no-Jutsu him to death?
As for Pakura, sure, if he put his back into it, he probably could have handled her. But Sasori? Setting aside who would actually win or lose, just entertaining the thought of killing him would have required Hagoromo to use every bit of his power.
"Kushina-sensei, that was the puppet master Sasori. An S-rank rogue ninja and a bona fide Kage-level powerhouse. And me?" Hagoromo pointed a finger at his own head. "I'm a Chunin. Fresh out of the oven. Is there even a comparison?
Considering I made it out alive, they should be handing me the 'Escape Artist of the Year' award."
Be reasonable, please. Does Minato know how violent you are?
"Tch, if I had been there, I could have taken out two Sasoris," Kushina boasted, pouting her lips dismissively.
Though she sounded disdainful, she knew she was just blowing hot air. She was fully confident she could fight Sasori one-on-one, but a one-versus-two against a guy like that? Impossible.
Despite Hagoromo's casual description of the battle, Kushina knew how incredibly dangerous the encounter had been. He was right; making it back alive was an achievement in itself.
"Absolutely. If we master and disciple teamed up, let alone Sasori, wiping out the entire Sand Village wouldn't even be a problem," Hagoromo flattered her shamelessly.
And Kushina actually had the nerve to accept the compliment. Wipe out the Sand? What, were they just going to unleash the Nine-Tails on them?
"Also, per the mission you gave me earlier, I made sure to announce your name to Sasori."
There was actually a reason behind Hagoromo's seemingly random self-introduction during the fight.
Kushina had a little personal goal: she wanted her name to echo across the ninja world. At the very least, she wanted to outshine the "Yellow Flash."
She wanted to be known for her name, not just as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—a title that was already infamous anyway. But since she couldn't actively participate on the front lines, the task of building her legend fell to her disciple, Hagoromo.
It was originally a joke. Ninjas are supposed to be stealthy; becoming world-famous is technically a massive debuff. But Hagoromo took it seriously. Let alone acting in her name as her disciple, he was perfectly willing to just flat-out impersonate her.
"Really?" Kushina's eyes lit up.
This was a topic worth exploring deeply, but before Kushina could get another word out, a voice called for Hagoromo from outside.
Hagoromo had clearly been expecting it.
"Sensei, I have to go for now. I'll be in the village for a few days, but I have an appointment to keep right now."
The person waiting outside was Might Guy.
Hagoromo said his goodbyes to Kushina, walked out, and greeted Guy. The two of them chatted as they walked toward a specific destination.
Their conversation naturally gravitated toward the war. Hagoromo had been active on the western front (Rain/Stone/Sand), while Guy and his father had been assigned to the same squad on the Mist front.
Since graduating, the two rarely saw each other—definitely much less than Hagoromo saw Obito.
As for why Guy and his father, Duy, had returned to the Leaf during a break in their missions, there was a very legitimate reason.
Father and son were taking the Chunin Exams together.
Yes, it was that time of year again. Logically, during wartime, a ninja's performance on the battlefield should be enough to determine promotions. The battlefield is a far better testing ground than an exam hall. Hagoromo, for instance, had been promoted directly by the Third Hokage.
However, due to various political and structural factors, the formal Chunin Exams were still held, albeit only once a year. Might Duy was a Genin, and Might Guy was a Genin. Therefore, it made perfect sense for them to take the exam together.
Still, despite the exams, front-line missions took priority. Kurenai Yuhi, for example, had been out on a mission with Hagoromo's squad and thus hadn't received a notice to take the test.
As dusk approached, Hagoromo and Guy stopped at a training ground.
"Guy, you need to think this through. The Chunin Exams are about to start. If you choose to spar with me now, no matter the outcome, it's going to affect your condition for the test."
"Besides, isn't Kakashi your eternal rival?" Hagoromo offered one last attempt at dissuasion.
"The Chunin Exams are important, of course. But testing whether my new technique can work against a ninja like you is just as important," Guy said, his face dead serious. "Kakashi is my eternal rival. But you, Hagoromo... you are the wall standing in my path."
"As for the exams, the technique I'm about to use is a forbidden one anyway. I wouldn't be allowed to use it during the test regardless."
Despite his frequent—okay, constant—bizarre "rare beast" antics, Guy wasn't stupid.
His father had been a Genin his whole life, and both Duy and Guy had endured endless mockery because of it. But after spending time on the brutal battlefields, Guy had matured significantly. He finally understood his father.
His perspective on the title of "Chunin" had changed. To him, passing this exam was both important and entirely irrelevant at the same time.
The last time he and Hagoromo had fought was during their graduation exam. Guy had lost without being able to fight back. Did he accept the loss? Yes, the gap in power was obvious; he accepted it gracefully.
But was he content with losing? Who is ever truly content with losing?
That was why he called Hagoromo the wall blocking his path. And that was why he needed Hagoromo to help him test his new technique.
Hagoromo agreed.
They stood about ten meters apart. Guy began to unwrap the bandages around his arms.
"My father taught me that this is a forbidden jutsu that must never be used against a comrade. But I believe you'll be able to handle it, Hagoromo."
The Guy standing here today was operating on a completely different level than the boy from the graduation exam. His growth over the past few months had been exponential. Yet, his belief that Hagoromo could take this attack was based purely on instinct.
What was Guy's new technique? It went without saying.
Thud! Boom! Guy dropped his heavy training weights to the ground.
"The First Gate: Gate of Opening... Open!" "The Second Gate: Gate of Healing... Open!" "The Third Gate: Gate of Life... Open!" "The Fourth Gate: Gate of Pain... Open!"
To face Hagoromo, Might Guy threw open four of the Eight Inner Gates in rapid succession!
The Third Gate was the final safe zone of the Eight Inner Gates. From the Fourth Gate onward, the user's body begins to tear itself apart. But it is also from the Fourth Gate onward that the true, fundamental, terrifying power of the Eight Inner Gates is unleashed.
Would Hagoromo take an attack like this lightly?
Absolutely not. The moment Guy began opening the gates, Hagoromo's body got covered up in blinding lightning. The iron sand unspooled from his gourd, hovering in dense clusters around him.
"A new technique? It seems I'm not the only one who's improved," Guy said, a hint of awe in his voice. He naturally didn't expect Hagoromo to have stayed stagnant. A spar is only exciting if both fighters are constantly pushing forward.
"I suppose you could call it a new technique. Its name is the Iron Sand..."
Hagoromo paused. 'Iron Sand Sword' sounds a bit lame, he thought.
"Its name is Raiden Mei."
"My new technique: Lightning Style: Raiden Mei."
Oho. Didn't that name have the elegant, slightly arrogant vibe of a high-class heiress? Yep. I will absolutely never admit that I just had a brain fart and named my attack after an anime girl.
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