Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!
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Konoha Medical Department.
There was no debate about who ran the place—Konoha's medical division was under the absolute authority of Tsunade Hime, the greatest medical ninja in the world.
Nowadays, the old teammates didn't get to spend much time together. All three had risen to at least Chūnin level, and their missions rarely aligned anymore.
Shizune, having earned her Chūnin rank not long ago, had joined the medical corps under Tsunade's guidance.
A fitting path—teacher and student reunited under the same roof.
Today, both happened to be in the medical building when Guts arrived with a girl.
Shizune blinked in surprise.
"This the student you're mentoring now, Guts?"
"Yeah. Inuzuka Hana. She's not much into combat, so I figured the medical corps would suit her better."
He scratched his cheek, avoiding eye contact with Tsunade—she was still mad about something from earlier.
Rather than face her wrath again, he subtly shoved Hana toward Shizune.
Shizune studied the quiet girl for a moment, then smiled warmly.
"No problem. Leave her to me."
She took Hana's small hand and waved at Guts. The girl gave a tiny bow, and the two of them disappeared into the corridor behind the glass doors.
Guts muttered, watching them vanish.
With Hana placed safely in good hands, Guts resumed his job as a guide Jōnin, leading two of his disciples: Mitarashi Anko and Uchiha Shisui.
They were only a few years younger than him—Anko by three, Shisui by six—but they followed his lead without question.
As fate would have it, they ran into a familiar group on the road: Sarutobi Asuma, Kamizuki Izumo, and Hagane Kotetsu.
Three faces he hadn't seen in a while.
Compared to the Tsunade-led team—where all members had reached Chūnin—and the Minato team, now legendary, and even Might Guy's group with at least one Chūnin… the Asuma class looked a little unlucky.
Four years out of the Academy, and still, not a single Chūnin among them.
To be fair, Izumo and Kotetsu weren't exactly prodigies. They were lucky just to be alive after the Fourth Great Ninja War, considering their skill level.
Still, Obito had started standing out, becoming more than just a quiet kid in the corner.
He'd shown real promise during last year's Chūnin Exams—meanwhile, Asuma's performance had left everyone confused.
"Yo! Asuma! And the goalkeeper duo. Long time no see!"
Guts waved casually, leading his two students forward.
Asuma looked like he'd swallowed something bitter. Izumo and Kotetsu instantly bristled.
"Who're you calling goalkeeper duo, you jerk?!"
"We have names, dammit—Izumo and Kotetsu!"
Guts said, brushing off their protests with a grin.
It was strange, honestly. Despite being classmates for years, Guts had never quite managed to remember the names of those two.
Over time, he gave up entirely and just called them the "Guardian Duo."
Kotetsu sighed. "What's up with these two kids?"
He was staring at Anko and Shisui, who stood beside Guts.
"They're my students,"
Guts replied proudly.
"Mitarashi Anko and Uchiha Shisui."
He gently nudged them forward, one on each side.
Said Shisui, polite and well-mannered.
Anko, however, pointed at Kotetsu with zero tact.
"Why do you wear a bandage on your nose? What, you grow hair there or something?"
Kotetsu's face went dark. Asuma and Izumo exchanged glances, their expressions growing increasingly awkward.
Guts had become a Jōnin and was already training the next generation. Meanwhile, none of them had even made Chūnin yet.
Sure, twelve wasn't exactly old—but that didn't make the comparison feel any better.
Asuma muttered suddenly and turned away without saying a word to Guts.
Izumo and Kotetsu gave one last, complicated glance to the trio before following him in silence.
"…You don't get along with them?"
Anko asked, pointing blatantly at their backs.
She didn't bother lowering her voice.
Guts said, tapping her on the head,
Then he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"If I remember correctly, the next Chūnin Exams are about two months away, right?"
His gaze slowly drifted to the two kids beside him.
The moment Anko saw his smile, a chill ran down her spine.
"W-What? What are you planning?"
For once, the fearless Anko looked genuinely nervous, backing away cautiously.
Guts crouched in front of them and clapped both on the shoulders.
"Nothing bad. Just thinking of how to make you both stronger."
By sundown, Anko and Shisui were lying in the grass, drenched in sweat and barely conscious. Neither could feel their arms. Their legs refused to move.
They had probably lost about three catties in weight.
"Ugh… I think I'm dying…"
Anko groaned, her voice hoarse.
Guts, completely unfazed, was sitting cheerfully by the riverside, roasting a massive wild boar the size of a cow.
He called, tearing off two enormous pork legs and tossing them toward his collapsed students.
The smell alone brought the nearly-dead duo back to life. They crawled to the fire like survivors of a great war.
Guts bit into his share like a beast.
"Listen up. As a ninja, you never know when you'll get to eat or sleep again. You gotta learn to rest when you can—and eat when you can. No hesitation."
Anko and Shisui said nothing. They were too busy stuffing their faces like starved animals.
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