The next day.
"Renzou! You home?"
Renzou Uchiha groggily opened his eyes, the familiar booming voice cutting through his sleep. With a reluctant groan, he pushed himself out of bed, shuffled to the door in his pajamas, and pulled it open. Standing there in his signature green jumpsuit, watermelon haircut bouncing, a blindingly enthusiastic smile plastered across his face, was none other than Might Guy.
"Guy," Renzou Uchiha mumbled, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Don't shout so early. You'll wake the neighbors. Come in and wait while I wash up."
Guy waved a dismissive hand, remaining rooted to the spot. "No, I'm here to train with you! I saw you were busy these past few days, so I didn't want to interrupt your youthful endeavors. But how about a morning battle of youth on this glorious weekend?" Guy punctuated his words with a raised thumb, his teeth seeming to emit a faint 'ding' of pure enthusiasm.
"...I was rather occupied recently. Let's get back into the swing of things today. Come in and wait; we can head out to the training grounds later," Renzou Uchiha said, pinching the bridge of his nose with a sigh. Guy's "youth" could be a tad overwhelming before coffee.
"No need! I shall commence a handstand run around Konoha Village this instant! Then, when you are prepared, let us meet at the ninja academy entrance! Farewell for now! Youth waits for no one!" Before Renzou Uchiha could even blink, Guy had flipped upside down, hands planted firmly on the ground, and was sprinting away, leaving a small cloud of dust in his wake.
"..." Right. That was Guy. Renzou Uchiha twitched the corner of his mouth, resignedly closing the door and heading to the bathroom to wash up.
A quick wash left Renzou Uchiha feeling marginally more awake. He changed out of his pajamas, selecting a practical black ninja uniform and his Jōnin-grade boots. After strapping on his usual training weights, Renzou Uchiha paused, took a step, and a sudden realization dawned on him. "Looks like another expensive trip today."He bounced lightly on the balls of his feet. After three months of wearing this particular set of weights, they no longer provided sufficient resistance. It was time for a heavier upgrade.
Stepping out of his house, Renzou Uchiha ambled towards Konoha School, a yawn escaping his lips. It wasn't even six in the morning. Yesterday's work with Orochimaru and the subsequent study and chakra refinement of the Dragon Fire Technique had left him thoroughly drained. He was teetering on the edge of falling asleep on his feet. The morning's crisp air, however, jolted him awake, banishing a good seventy to eighty percent of his lingering drowsiness.
Some shops lining the street were already opening for the day. Renzou Uchiha approached a familiar ninja tool shop, greeting the owner, who was just unlocking the door. "Good morning, boss."
The owner, a slightly portly middle-aged man with the shrewd smile of a seasoned merchant, turned at the sound of Renzou Uchiha's voice. Recognizing a regular customer, he beamed and greeted him warmly. "Ah, back for more weights, my young guest?" Over the past few years, Renzou Uchiha had purchased all his training equipment – weights, kunai, shuriken – from this shop, and the two had developed a friendly rapport.
"Yep, same model, just the next size up," Renzou Uchiha said, stepping inside and removing the two weights strapped to his calves and his shirt right there at the counter. He then took off his weighted vest and placed it on the counter before redonning his shirt.
"Alright, just a moment." The boss chuckled, disappearing into the back warehouse and returning shortly with a new set of weights. Renzou Uchiha stepped forward and took the package from the owner's arms. The moment the man released his grip, Renzou Uchiha felt a significant increase in weight, using both hands to steady the load.
"Good," Renzou Uchiha nodded in satisfaction, quickly unpacking the new gear and strapping on the weighted vest and leggings. The familiar sensation of being powerfully burdened instantly settled over him, his natural speed now reduced by roughly half.
"As long as the customer is satisfied! I acquired this particular set from the artisan ninjas in the Craftsman Ninja Village. Top quality, guaranteed."
"Excellent. The payment's on the counter. Boss, I'll be going now." Renzou Uchiha nodded, pulling out a check from his pocket, placing it on the counter, and heading out.
"Safe travels, guest! We look forward to your next visit!" The smile on the boss's face widened considerably as he picked up the check, carefully tucked it away, and then, with heavy breathing, carried the replaced weights towards the warehouse.
…
Walking down the street, the increased weight pressing down on him, Renzou Uchiha couldn't help but feel a pang of distress for his dwindling funds. Damn it, training is expensive. The inheritance that should have lasted until adulthood would likely only last another two years at most. Fortunately, he and the shop owner had an understanding: Renzou Uchiha would give his old weights to the boss, who would "refurbish" and resell them, offsetting some of the cost of the new equipment – a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Renzou Uchiha arrived at the gate of the ninja school. After a short wait, a cloud of dust billowed in the distance, and Guy came barreling towards him, hands still firmly planted on the ground.
"Renzou! You ready? What youthful endeavor shall we undertake first today? I shall accompany you to the very end!" As Guy drew closer, he expertly flipped onto his feet, landing squarely in front of Renzou Uchiha, a look of eager anticipation on his face.
"Well," Renzou Uchiha said, touching his nose thoughtfully, "how about a race? Whoever reaches the training grounds first wins."
"Excellent! A test of pure speed and youthful vigor! If I lose, I shall perform 200 push-ups! If I emerge victorious, I shall complete 200 sit-ups!" The two stood facing the same direction, a silent intensity building beneath their feet.
"Ready… go!" At Renzou Uchiha's shout, they both shot forward like arrows loosed from a bow, leaving trails of yellow dust swirling in their wake.
"Hoo… hoo… hoo…" Midway through the race, Renzou Uchiha was gradually acclimating to the new weight, but it brought a long-forgotten level of resistance. About two meters ahead of him, Guy was pulling away. Renzou Uchiha, still adjusting, was slowly losing ground. Now that he was starting to adapt, he tried to accelerate and close the gap, but realized with a touch of frustration that it wouldn't be easy.
Guy was different. He was a pure taijutsu specialist. In ninjutsu, his talent was… lacking. Compared to other children their age, Guy was undeniably clumsy. If Kakashi was a ninjutsu prodigy, then Guy was a taijutsu savant. While Kakashi had graduated from the academy at five, become a Chūnin at six, and a Jōnin at twelve, Guy's early achievements were unremarkable. His only recourse was relentless hard work and training. In their childhood, the "genius" Kakashi had cast a long shadow over Guy. Since then, Guy had trained with an even more fanatical intensity. Sakumo Hatake had once remarked that if His son, Kakashi, ever slacked off, Guy would surely surpass him. And indeed, the future Guy would prove his worth through sheer dedication, battling Kisame and even landing a kick on Six Paths Madara, earning the moniker "the Blue Beast of Konoha."
"Renzou! I… I won!" Guy reached their destination first, turning to face Renzou Uchiha, who arrived a step behind, gasping with exhilaration.
"Ah, I lost," Renzou Uchiha said, also breathing heavily. Running such a distance with this added weight was taxing, even for their physically conditioned bodies.
"Victory is mine! Then I shall commence my 200 sit-ups!" Before Renzou Uchiha could even respond, Guy had already moved to the side and begun his self-imposed training.
… Typical Guy,Renzou Uchiha thought, shaking his head with a small smile. He then joined in, starting his own set of push-ups. Under the bright morning sun, two teenagers poured their youthful energy into their training in the open space…
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End of Chapter 34