"Mr. Kai, I suggest you don't underestimate me with that kind of speed," Naruto said with a calm smile. In the next moment, his blade, Kyoka Suigetsu, cut through the air with a sharp whistle, its edge gleaming as it aimed for a shadow that solidified into Might Guy's form.
The blade's sharpness, combined with Naruto's spiritual pressure, closed in on Guy's forehead with deadly precision. Guy's eyes narrowed, his expression shifting from casual to serious. The young ninja had not only predicted his landing point but had also launched a counterattack with flawless timing. This level of perception wasn't something that could be achieved through mere hard work—it required innate talent and the instincts of a seasoned fighter.
Naruto had never left Konoha, so this had to be natural talent. Guy couldn't help but feel a surge of respect. As expected of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, he thought. It seems I'll have to take this seriously.
With a swift, almost unnatural twist of his body, Guy dodged the blade and retaliated with a powerful kick, his foot colliding with the flat of Naruto's sword. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, and Naruto was forced to take several steps back, his arms trembling from the force.
Naruto's eyes widened in shock. This guy's strength is monstrous! he thought. All those years of training, the endless laps and push-ups—it's like fighting a beast.
Guy, now fully immersed in the battle, stood tall, his usual goofy demeanor replaced by a focused intensity. His presence alone was overwhelming, like a predator ready to strike. Naruto could feel the pressure radiating from him, a mix of awe and fear bubbling in his chest.
"Are you okay, young man?" Guy asked, his voice steady despite the intensity of the fight.
Naruto shook out his wrist, his expression serious. "Your strength is incredible, Mr. Kai. But I'm not done yet."
In an instant, Naruto closed the distance between them, his blade slicing through the air with a brilliant green arc. The sound of the blade cutting through the wind sent shivers down Guy's spine. The attack was precise, its momentum locking Guy in place.
"Impressive swordsmanship," Guy admitted, his body reacting instinctively. With a burst of speed, he narrowly avoided the slash, but Naruto was already gone, disappearing from sight.
"Body Flicker Technique? No, it's something else," Guy muttered, his eyes lighting up with excitement. He had initially underestimated Naruto, thinking the boy's strength was only at the level of a Chunin. But now, he realized just how wrong he had been.
Before Guy could locate Naruto, a shadow appeared above him. Naruto descended from above, his blade aimed straight for Guy's head. Guy barely managed to dodge, but the blade grazed his shoulder, leaving a shallow cut.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, the village's top officials watched the battle through a crystal ball. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, puffed on his pipe, his eyes fixed on the scene. He had been monitoring Naruto's progress for some time, but this was the first time he had seen the boy fight with such intensity.
"Naruto's Bloodline Limit is truly remarkable," Hiruzen said, his voice tinged with both pride and concern. "Not only does it grant him ninjutsu-like abilities, but it also enhances his swordsmanship and allows him to create illusions. And now, he's demonstrated a technique similar to the Body Flicker. His potential is staggering."
Danzo Shimura, standing nearby, frowned. "His talent is too great to be left unchecked. He should be trained by the Root. We have the expertise to develop his Bloodline Limit to its fullest potential."
Hiruzen ignored Danzo's comment, his focus entirely on the battle. "Guy is no ordinary Jonin. If he goes all out, he could rival a Kage. Let's see how much Naruto can push him."
Back at the training ground, the battle raged on. Naruto's blade struck again, but this time, it was Guy's afterimage that was cut. The real Guy appeared ten meters away, his expression one of admiration.
"Young man, you're truly strong," Guy said, his voice filled with respect. "Your speed is already at the level of a Jonin."
Naruto chuckled, his breathing slightly labored. "I didn't expect to run into a Jonin-level powerhouse today. Your physical skills are the strongest I've ever seen. If someone like you is still training this hard, I have no excuse to hold back."
With that, Naruto removed the weights from his wrists, letting them fall to the ground with a heavy thud. He raised Kyoka Suigetsu, the blade gleaming in the sunlight. "Let's finish this."
The air around Naruto seemed to shift as he whispered, "Break, Kyoka Suigetsu."
The blade shattered into countless fragments, dissolving into the ground like water droplets. The world around Guy seemed to blur, as if a veil had been drawn over his vision.
"A Bloodline Limit that specializes in illusions?" Guy muttered, his respect for Naruto growing. He knew better than to underestimate such an ability. "If that's the case, I'll abandon my sight."
Closing his eyes, Guy relied entirely on his other senses. Naruto's next attack came swiftly, but Guy dodged with ease, his movements fluid and precise. However, to his surprise, he felt a sharp pain in his side. A small cut had appeared on his green jumpsuit.
"What? I dodged that!" Guy thought, his mind racing. The illusion was affecting his perception, making it impossible to trust his senses.
Naruto pressed his advantage, his attacks coming faster and more ferociously. Each time, Guy believed he had dodged, only to find another cut on his body. The world around him seemed to ripple, as if reality itself was bending.
"I see now," Guy realized. "The illusion is distorting my perception. If I can't rely on my sight, I'll have to trust my instincts."
With his eyes still closed, Guy's movements became even more precise. He disappeared from Naruto's sight, reappearing behind him in an instant. A powerful kick sent Naruto flying, his body crashing into a tree.
Naruto groaned, pushing himself up from the ground. "As expected of Mr. Kai," he said, a smile tugging at his lips. "I lost."
Guy opened his eyes, his usual grin returning. "No, young man. You've shown me that your youth burns just as brightly as mine. Thank you for the fight."
Naruto chuckled, brushing dirt off his clothes. "Thank you, Mr. Kai. This was the most intense battle I've ever had."
As the two shook hands, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the training ground. For Naruto, this was just the beginning. He had seen the heights he could reach, and he was more determined than ever to push beyond them.