Author Note:
Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!
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Two hours had passed.
Guts sat alone on a bloodstained rock, surrounded by the exhausted but victorious Konoha Shinobi.
His clothes were soaked in dried blood and dirt, but he didn't seem to care. Cleanliness wasn't exactly a concern after a battle like this.
The war was over.
The Sand Shinobi had been pushed back, their forces broken, signaling the conclusion of the Second Ninja War.
Around him, medics rushed between the wounded while others mourned over fallen comrades.
Yet Guts sat quietly, lost in thought, processing what he had gained—not emotionally, but literally.
[Special Achievement Unlocked: "End of the War"]
[Template Character: Monkey D. Garp
Completion: 19.3%]
[Skill Unlocked: Armament Haki]
[Special Ability Unlocked: Virtual Space]
He had expected more. With a war of this scale, he thought he could break past 20% template completion in one go.
But the strongest opponent he faced was only Jōnin level, not nearly enough for the explosive growth he was hoping for.
Still, the reward wasn't bad at all.
Armament Haki—a technique from the world of One Piece, and not just any Haki, but one tied to Garp, a man known for punching mountains and fighting legends.
And then there was the Virtual Space.An ability similar to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber from Dragon Ball, but tailored to him.
Inside this space, based on the experiences of his template characters, he could simulate battles against any opponent they'd faced.
That meant Guts could train against Garp's rivals—Golden Lion Shiki, Whitebeard, Gol D. Roger, and even the monstrous Rocks D. Xebec.
It solved one of his biggest problems. With his current power level, ordinary training wasn't enough to push him further.
But in this space, he could grow without limits.
"Hey, kid! You really pulled off something terrifying out there,"
Jiraiya's voice broke his thoughts.
The Sannin approached with a grin, his face still dirty from the battlefield.
Guts had defeated Pakura, a Kekkei Genkai user from the Sand and a solid Jōnin.
But it was the way he did it that shocked everyone—ripping a boulder the size of a house from the ground and launching it across the battlefield like a toy.
Jiraiya was still reeling from it.
"Getting praised by a man doesn't make me happy, you know,"
Guts replied casually as he hopped off the rock.
"If you really want to thank me, bring something useful next time."
He flicked his fingers, making a "you get me" gesture.
"You're such a brat," Jiraiya snorted.
"You're nothing like Minato."
His gaze flickered to the ore pendant Guts wore—Tsunade's old pendant. A glint of thought crossed his face before he shook it off and waved a hand.
"Come on. We're heading back to Konoha."
Guts nodded. The war was done. No need to rush now.
While it had taken only three days to march to the front lines, the return trip would take over a week. Too many injured to move quickly.
—
When the Konoha army finally returned, they were greeted like heroes.
The streets were filled with villagers cheering wildly, shouting names:
"Tsunade-sama!"
"Jiraiya-sama!"
"Orochimaru-daddy!"
"..."
The [Legendary Sannin]—they were the undisputed stars of the war.
Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang, was nowhere to be seen.
Though he hadn't taken his own life like in the original timeline, the public's opinion of him had dropped sharply after his controversial decision on the battlefield.
Guts, standing in the background, thought to himself: Still alive is good enough.
He did catch a few villagers calling his name—and that of Namikaze Minato—but their cheers were few and scattered.
After all, they were still new faces in the eyes of the people. Their time to shine would come later.
—
After the welcome ceremony, Guts accompanied Sakumo to the Hokage's office to report to Hiruzen. On his way out, he was stopped by a familiar figure.
"Guts!" a warm, clear voice called.
Minato walked over with a smile—calm, confident, and impossibly bright, like the sun after a storm.
"I heard about what you did out there. You were amazing. Facing Jōnin-level threats at your age? That's no small feat."
Guts looked at him with curiosity and respect.
So this is the man who would one day defeat Orochimaru in the campaign for the Fourth Hokage.
"Appreciate it, Minato-chan"
Guts replied with a grin.
"If we get the chance, I'd like to spar with you sometime."
Minato smiled. "Looking forward to it."
Then came the interruptions—two girls, one after another, running toward them.
"Minato!"
"Guts!"
Kushina Uzumaki ran to Minato, her fiery red hair waving like a flag, while little Yuhi Kurenai rushed toward Guts with wide, worried eyes.
"Minato, are you okay? I heard you took on a bunch of high-risk missions!"
"Guts! Did you get hurt? I was so worried…"
Minato gave his usual, kind smile and placed a reassuring hand on Kushina's shoulder.
"Sorry to worry you," he said softly. "I'm fine."
Guts, on the other hand, gave a crooked smirk.
"I told you, I'm not gonna let you be a widow."
Kurenai's face turned beet red.
"C-Can't you say something normal for once?!"
She punched his chest—not that it did anything. His muscles were like stone.
"Seriously, learn how to talk to people!"
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