Might Guy gave Kazuki a rare serious look.
"Do you think I don't know what's going on with you?"
"Is this really your best effort?"
"You haven't even used those ninja tools you created. That's your true power! If you're trying to deceive me, at least put in some effort!"
"What? This isn't even your full strength?!"
Hyuga Neji was completely stunned.
This earth-shattering power… isn't even his full strength?
And…
Did Guy-sensei just say that Kazuki's true power lies elsewhere?
If Kazuki unleashes his full strength… Just how powerful is he?!
Kazuki…
How strong is he really?!
"Guy-sensei, Lee… and Neji," Kazuki called out.
"Don't rush back just yet. Let me treat everyone to a meal."
Now that the battle was over,
as everyone was about to leave,
Kazuki took the initiative to invite them.
"Hahaha, alright!"
Might Guy, ever straightforward and having a great bond with Kazuki, didn't hesitate.
"It's getting late, and most restaurants are closing. How about we eat at your place instead?"
"I could even have a couple of drinks, and if I get drunk, I'll just crash at your place for the night!"
Might Guy… truly never treated himself as an outsider.
Kazuki didn't mind.
"Sure! If Lee and Neji don't feel like heading back, they can stay over too."
Kazuki's house had recently been renovated.
It was over a thousand square meters in size,
so there was more than enough room for everyone.
Lee, like Guy, was direct and unreserved.
"Big Brother Kazuki, really?!"
"Awesome! Then I'm staying over tonight!"
As for Neji Hyuga…
Being a member of the Hyuga clan's main branch, he had strict etiquette to follow.
Neji always preferred to do things his own way,
and under normal circumstances, he wouldn't even consider staying over at someone else's house.
In the past, he wouldn't have joined a casual dinner at Kazuki's place either.
But after witnessing the overwhelming power of both Kazuki and Might Guy…
He couldn't bring himself to refuse an invitation from two warriors who had completely shattered his worldview.
On their way back,
Kazuki stopped by a few restaurants that were still open and packed some dishes to bring home.
Once they arrived,
they happily gathered for a small feast.
"Hahaha, this sake is strong!"
"Come on, Kazuki, drink with me! It'd be too lonely drinking alone!"
In Kazuki's home, in the banquet hall,
Might Guy, slightly drunk, laughed heartily, clearly in high spirits.
With a flushed, drunken face, Might Guy raised his cup enthusiastically, attempting to convince Kazuki to drink with him.
On the field, aside from Might Guy, none of them were adults…
Well…
Technically, Kazuki was underage as well. But in Might Guy's eyes, Kazuki had already surpassed the stage of being a mere child.
"No, no, Guy-sensei! I'm still a kid!" Kazuki protested, waving his hands. "Is it really appropriate for you to pressure me into drinking like this?"
As a blacksmith, excessive drinking could dull his nerves. Over time, his body would become sluggish, which wasn't ideal for forging.
Especially for Kazuki, who relied on intricate blueprints from the forging system…
Such work required extreme precision.
Even the slightest miscalculation…
Could lead to a massive failure.
That wasn't to say Kazuki never drank at all—he could handle a few sips without issue.
But drinking with Might Guy…?
That was a death sentence.
The last time someone drank with Guy-sensei, they passed out before they even finished their second glass!
If Kazuki joined in, Guy-sensei would never let him off the hook.
So, he simply used the excuse of being a "child" to dodge the situation.
As the feast went on, the drinks flowed, and the food was enjoyed.
Might Guy and Rock Lee were completely immersed in the moment.
As for Rock Lee… his face was bright red. Since Kazuki had refused to drink, Might Guy had turned to his most devoted student instead.
At some point, Neji Hyuga gathered his courage and approached Kazuki.
"Kazuki… senpai," Neji hesitated for a moment before continuing, "How did you become so strong in such a short period of time?"
"Can you teach me the secret?"
It was a bold question, especially since Neji and Kazuki weren't particularly close.
But Kazuki didn't seem to mind.
He simply smiled and said, "If you want to get stronger, it's simple."
"Train like Lee. Practice every single day, and you'll naturally grow stronger."
Neji frowned. He clearly wasn't satisfied with that answer.
Kazuki chuckled before reciting an old saying from his past life:
"Heaven entrusts great responsibilities to those who will accomplish great things. But first, they must endure hardship—strengthening their will, exhausting their bodies, and testing their resolve."
Neji's expression changed. He pondered Kazuki's words carefully.
Great responsibilities…
A great destiny…
Neji clenched his fists.
He despised the Hyuga Clan's caged bird seal.
He wanted to break free from the oppressive system forced upon the branch family.
Wasn't that a great responsibility in itself?
"…Thank you for your guidance, senpai." Neji bowed respectfully.
After some time, Neji turned to the now-intoxicated Might Guy.
"Sensei," Neji said, "I want to learn the Eight Gates. Can you teach me?"
Might Guy, lost in his drunken haze, didn't respond.
"Sensei?" Neji tried again.
But before Might Guy could react, Kazuki spoke up in his place.
"This technique isn't something you can learn so easily."
"Why not?" Neji asked.
"The Eight Gates… is a forbidden technique. The reason it's forbidden is simple—it uses your own life force as fuel."
"I'm not afraid," Neji said firmly.
Kazuki shook his head. "It's not about fear. It's about whether your body can handle it."
"Then why can Lee—"
Kazuki rolled his eyes. "Lee trains his body every single day at an insane level. His endurance is already beyond normal human limits."
Neji fell silent, contemplating Kazuki's words.
"I see… But I can train too," Neji finally said.
Kazuki smirked.
"Let me put it this way—aside from Guy-sensei and myself, Lee probably has the strongest body in the entire village."
He paused for a moment before adding, "Even the Hokage might not be as physically strong as Lee."
Neji's eyes widened in shock.
All this time, he thought Guy was simply being biased toward Lee.
But in reality…
Lee had simply earned it.
"Lee…" Neji murmured under his breath.
Before the conversation could continue, a confident, feminine voice rang out from the entrance.
"Oh? Are you planning on drinking all night?"
Everyone turned toward the door.
A tall, voluptuous blonde woman stood at the entrance, arms crossed, a knowing smirk on her face.
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly.
"T-Tsunade-sama?!"
Might Guy, despite being drunk, immediately sobered up.
As a ninja from an older generation, he held immense respect for Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin.
"Tsunade-sama! What brings you here?!" he asked, standing up straight and saluting her like a soldier.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"…And you are?" she asked, looking at him as if she barely recognized him.
"He's my teacher, Might Guy," Kazuki explained with a grin.
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