"Senior Guy, you were just careless for a moment—and you didn't know the full extent of Hayate's ability," Kei said calmly, a faint smile playing at his lips.
His eyes shimmered with a trace of amusement.
"Besides, I know you weren't using your full strength."
Hayate had won.
But Kei understood.
A Might Guy who hadn't opened the Eight Inner Gates was vastly different from the one who had.
Especially the final gate.
The Death Gate.
'Night Guy' is the ultimate taijutsu technique unleashed by opening all Eight Gates, culminating in the final Death Gate.
A single attack from Night Guy could threaten even a Six Paths-level being.
Still—
Defeating Guy in his base form using a Summoning Beast was an achievement in itself.
Kei could finally stand back.
Let his beast do the fighting.
That… was the way of a summoner.
A tamer. A beastmaster.
Might Guy's laughter rang out, loud and heartfelt.
"Hahahaha! Kei, your vision is still as sharp as ever."
"I held back for a reason. The taijutsu I use isn't ordinary. It's a Forbidden Technique—something not to be used lightly."
His tone grew serious.
Tenten and Naruto's eyes widened.
They hadn't even considered that Might Guy might've been holding back.
To them, the earlier battle was already beyond spectacular.
Hayate and Might Guy had looked unstoppable.
And now they were learning that Guy hadn't gone all out.
The realization hit like a weight.
'Jōnin… is this the power of a real Jōnin?'
'And the Hokage… is he even stronger than this?!'
Awe and ambition bloomed inside them.
Tenten quickly regained her composure.
But Naruto's gaze drifted.
Toward the Hokage Monument.
'Old man Hiruzen… just how strong are you really…?'
"Enough talk about that technique," Guy cut in, more gently now.
"It takes a heavy toll on the body. You're still young—it's not something you need to know yet."
His eyes rested briefly on Kei, then more firmly on Tenten and Naruto.
Kei was mature—Guy trusted him.
But Tenten and Naruto… still had growing up to do.
Especially Naruto.
Guy walked up and placed a firm hand on the boy's shoulder.
"If you want strength, then train for it. Hard. With everything you've got."
"Naruto! Strength doesn't come from talk—it comes from sweat!"
Naruto lit up under the praise.
"Yes, Guy-sensei!"
"Alright then! Ten laps! Let your blood boil!" Guy roared.
Training resumed.
One month later
It took a full month.
Kei and Hayate fully mastered the [Storm Power] and [Storm Combat Body] talents.
Shadow, too, had made progress—his training now focused on combat movement.
Once Kei felt ready, he informed Guy, Tenten, and Naruto.
Then, without much fanfare—
He left.
His destination: the Forest of Death.
The most dangerous terrain within Konoha's walls.
His objective: to find a new Summoning Beast.
"Woof! Woof!"
Hayate's tail stiffened.
"Sensing something? The strongest chakra in the area?"
Kei gave a small nod.
"Take me there."
And so they moved—Kei, Hayate, and Shadow—through tangled roots and towering trees.
'They say the First Hokage created these forests with Wood Style,' Kei mused as they walked.
'Which would explain the vitality... and danger.'
'Especially here. The Forest of Death is saturated with Wood Style chakra. The life force is intense—and so are the beasts.'
A flash of fur in the distance—a cheetah, chakra faint but present.
A squirrel, glowing faintly.
Rabbits. Boars. A lion. Lizards. Insects. Frogs.
So many creatures, all touched by chakra.
None were suitable.
Kei didn't rush.
Patience was key.
The right summon couldn't be forced.
He pressed deeper into the forest.
An hour passed. Then another half.
Finally—
He heard something.
A subtle shift in the wind.
A disturbance.
Kei looked up.
And saw something that made his eyes widen slightly.