Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, more than three years had passed.
It was once again graduation season.
Early in the morning, Tenten had already put on her forehead protector. With her signature double-bun hairstyle, a pink short jacket, and deep green capri pants, she looked spirited and valiant.
Perhaps due to Natsuki's frequent lightning-based training, Tenten had developed quite well.
Now at twelve years old, she stood graceful and elegant.
Natsuki gave her a look from head to toe, showing a satisfied smile. "As expected of my girlfriend—you're getting more and more beautiful!"
Tenten smiled shyly and boldly tiptoed to kiss Natsuki on the cheek. Nowadays, Natsuki was tall and handsome, and even though Tenten was a year older, she was still nearly a head shorter.
But she liked this version of Natsuki—confident, powerful, and increasingly attractive.
Still, she needed to be careful of that face-obsessed Ino.
"Well, I'm heading off! Natsuki, Dad, see you later!"
She turned and ran toward the academy, her confident, composed back radiating an effortless charm.
Over the years, Natsuki had personally guided his girlfriend into becoming such an excellent young woman. The overwhelming sense of achievement he felt couldn't even be put into words.
The shopkeeper uncle whispered, "Natsuki, you better protect Tenten well."
Natsuki nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, father-in-law—I'll protect her with my life!"
"...Go on with you! I'm not your father-in-law yet!"
Although the shopkeeper spoke with mock annoyance, his eyes were full of trust in Natsuki. After all, not only had Natsuki made Tenten stronger—he himself had become even more powerful. There was no need to worry about their safety.
At the Ninja Academy—
"Team Three: Hyūga Neji, Rock Lee, Tenten! Jonin instructor: Might Guy!"
Tenten glanced at her teammates in surprise. She really wanted to comment on Rock Lee's thick eyebrows, but what shocked her even more was being placed on the same team as a Hyūga genius.
Over the years, Tenten had followed Natsuki's "stealth path" strategy and never truly revealed her strength at school.
So how did she end up in this grouping?
What excited her even more was their instructor—none other than Might Guy!
Tenten had heard plenty about Guy from Natsuki, including the story of Might Duy, Guy's father, who had taken down several members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. She deeply respected him.
Her boyfriend spoke very highly of Guy, and even coveted his Hachimon (Eight Gates) technique.
Perfect! As his girlfriend, she'd be the one to get her hands on the Eight Gates!
Not long after, a bizarre-looking man with a kappa hairstyle entered the classroom and shouted, "Team Three! Hyūga Neji, Rock Lee, Tenten—follow me!"
Huh? Was this... Might Guy?
Wasn't he... a kappa?!
Tenten was stunned, her mind full of silent complaints, even starting to doubt Natsuki's judgment—Guy's fashion sense was that ridiculous.
On a second-floor balcony, the green spandex-clad kappa—Might Guy—stood proudly with his hands on his hips. "I am Konoha's proud Blue Beast, Might Guy! Pleased to meet you! Now, everyone, introduce yourselves!"
Neji turned his head to the side. "I'm not interested."
Lee immediately raised his hand. "Me! Me! Me! My name is Rock Lee! My dream is to prove that even someone who can't use ninjutsu can still become a strong ninja!"
Neji responded with ridicule.
Even the ever-optimistic Guy could tell this was going to be a problem.
He had observed Lee before and recognized his effort and potential. Lee was someone Guy had specifically requested for his team. As for Neji—well, the Hyūga Clan had too many internal issues, far beyond his control. He just hoped Neji wouldn't tear apart the team dynamic.
Then there was the girl. She'd been looking at him strangely the entire time.
Could it be... she was awed by his powerful aura?
Tenten then introduced herself. "I'm Tenten. I like meat buns and... and Natsuki. I dislike weaklings. My dream is to become a powerful kunoichi like Lady Tsunade!"
"Oh? Aspiring to be like Tsunade-sama? That's a fine dream!"
Guy gave her a thumbs-up and followed up with a question. "So, Tenten—who is Natsuki? And why are you looking at me like that?"
Tenten didn't shy away. "Natsuki is my boyfriend. He's told me about you, Guy-sensei."
Guy's eyes widened. "So even Tenten has a boyfriend, huh? And what did your boyfriend say about me?"
Tenten replied suspiciously, "I once asked Natsuki who the strongest person in Konoha was, and without any hesitation, he said Might Guy. But now that I see you... you don't really look like the strongest..."
"NANI?! Tenten, your boyfriend really said that about me? He's got such great taste! Hahahaha!" Guy laughed heartily, hands on hips.
Neji and Lee turned to look at Tenten, totally unconvinced.
"Tenten, is your boyfriend mentally okay?"
"Of course he is! Natsuki knows a ton!"
Tenten defended him instinctively. "Natsuki once told me: during the Shinobi World War, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist launched a sneak attack on Konoha. Those seven were incredibly powerful—together, they could probably kill a Kage. At the time, Guy-sensei had just graduated and was on a mission with his teammates when they were ambushed by the swordsmen.
It was a desperate situation... but then, your father—Might Duy—arrived, opened the Eight Gates, and kicked four of them to death on the spot. The remaining three fled like dogs and never dared step into the Land of Fire again..."
Then she realized something.
She looked up and saw Might Guy actually crying.
She panicked. "I'm so sorry, Guy-sensei! I shouldn't have brought up such a painful memory—!"
"No, Tenten! I'm not sad, and I'm not blaming you," Guy said emotionally, "I'm just so moved that someone remembers my father's story. It's so passionate, so touching... this is youth! Don't worry—my father made a choice for his own beliefs. He saved me and my teammates, and became a hero who protected the village. I've always been proud of him!"
As he spoke, he gave a dramatic thumbs-up. His teeth sparkled brightly.
Tenten really wanted to comment, but didn't know where to start.
She let out a breath of relief, annoyed with herself for speaking carelessly. Thankfully, Guy-sensei hadn't taken it badly.
Neji and Lee were shocked. "Wait, you're saying Guy-sensei's father had Kage-level strength? Then... why have we never heard of him?"
Guy smiled as he wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. "Actually, my father was just a lifetime genin."
A lifetime genin? That couldn't be true!
Someone that strong... and still a genin?
"My father didn't have great talent. He couldn't master ninjutsu, so he focused entirely on taijutsu. The Eight Gates technique doesn't show much strength in the early stages—it only becomes truly powerful when you open the later gates. So, my father stayed a genin his whole life. But that day, he opened the Gate of Death, fulfilled his beliefs, and earned the title of a hero... at the cost of his life."
Guy didn't speak with sadness—only pride and fondness.
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