Konoha.
Root Base.
The moment Uchiha Sanyo gave the order, all members of the Guard charged forward.
When the Guards enforced the law, no one could stand in their way.
Even Uchiha Itachi, reluctant to raise his hand against his mentor, could only grit his teeth and engage the Root ninjas.
Itachi and Shisui's bond was more than just camaraderie—it was that of a mentor and student, as well as close friends.
Even when Itachi later witnessed Shisui's apparent suicide at the Naka River, his anguish was enough to awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan. That alone spoke volumes about their connection.
But the Guard had its own code.
Hesitation against resistance was seen as betrayal.
The reason was simple—if you faltered, your hesitation could endanger your comrades.
"You want to go too?"
Bai Ye glanced at the man beside him—Might Guy, his expression resolute.
Bai Ye knew exactly why Guy wanted to step in.
Since joining the Guard as an instructor, Guy had trained the squad in taijutsu.
However, the Guards respected strength above all else.
They might follow Bai Ye's orders, but that didn't mean they fully acknowledged Guy's authority.
This was a world ruled by power, where one's abilities dictated respect.
And while Bai Ye understood Guy's true strength, the others had yet to witness it firsthand.
"Uchiha Shisui is extremely strong. I'm worried my fellow Guards might not be able to handle him," Guy said seriously.
So, that was it.
As expected of a man devoted to self-discipline.
If this challenge could push Guy to prove his strength, then his discipline wasn't just for show.
"Go ahead. Strike hard."
Bai Ye patted Guy's shoulder with an encouraging smile.
"Beat Uchiha Shisui to the brink of death, and even if you have to open the Eighth Gate, I'll keep you alive."
Guy's technique specifically countered Sharingan users—his extreme speed and focus prevented him from falling into genjutsu.
And the Eight Inner Gates were unique.
Once past the Sixth Gate, the body's chakra flow became erratic, making it incredibly difficult to trap Guy in an illusion.
Beat him to death?
It seemed Bai Ye and Shisui had some history.
Guy glanced toward Shisui, who was leading the Root resistance.
Then, he nodded firmly.
To Guy, the Guard represented absolute justice.
Anyone who stood in its way was opposing righteousness.
A supporter of a criminal?
Guy clenched his fists, determination blazing in his eyes, and sprinted toward Shisui.
"Are you sure he can take on Uchiha Shisui?"
Tsunade, watching from the side, raised an eyebrow.
She had heard of both names.
Shisui of the Body Flicker, who had gained fame in the Third Shinobi War, was widely regarded as one of the strongest Uchiha.
Could this eccentric man, famous for his strange poses and taijutsu, really be a match for him?
"Don't underestimate men who follow their beliefs to the end," Bai Ye replied calmly.
Unlike Rock Lee, who pushed himself to surpass geniuses through sheer effort, Guy was a natural taijutsu prodigy.
Their limits were vastly different.
Bai Ye wasn't certain if Guy could open the Eighth Gate at this stage, but the Seventh Gate?
Without a doubt.
"Self-discipline..."
Bai Ye exhaled slowly.
"I once considered training the Guards in the Eight Inner Gates."
"And?"
Tsunade tilted her head.
"It didn't work out."
Bai Ye sighed.
"Physical fitness aside, their lack of self-restraint was the real problem."
"What do you mean?"
Tsunade looked puzzled.
"Let's just say... If they don't visit brothels for three days, they start losing their minds."
Bai Ye said with a pained expression.
"...Isn't that your fault?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes.
"I heard you took them to a brothel as a test. But after you found a 'high-quality' woman, you stopped going—while they got addicted."
She smirked.
"Heh, Shizune ran medical exams on them yesterday. Guess what?"
"...What?"
Bai Ye had a bad feeling.
"Nine out of ten have kidney deficiency!"
Ah.
So that's why Tsunade had asked that question earlier in the morning.
"GUARD FORCE WHIRLWIND!"
Suddenly, the battlefield shifted.
The moment Guy arrived, his roar pierced through the air.
He leaped high, spinning mid-air before launching a powerful kick—
Leaf Strong Whirlwind!
After joining the Guard, Guy had renamed the technique, adding his own flair to it.
Despite being a simple enhanced roundhouse kick, he insisted on having creative freedom.
Shisui reacted instantly.
His three-tomoe Sharingan tracked Guy's movement, and he swiftly raised his arms to block.
Boom!
A dull thud rang out.
Shisui felt a powerful impact, his body involuntarily sent flying.
But even as he soared through the air, he twisted, stabilizing himself.
Before he could fully regain control—
Guy's elbow strike was already upon him!
"GUARD FORCE: BAD ROCK CRUSH!"
Another direct hit!
Shisui, still recovering from the kick, took the full brunt of the attack.
This guy is ridiculously strong!
Forced into an aerial somersault, Shisui drew the tanto from his back and stabbed it into the ground, barely managing to land.
"...Did you just draw your weapon?"
Guy grinned.
From behind, he pulled out a pair of nunchaku—Twin Fangs.
"We're all from the same village! Why do we have to do this?!"
Shisui clenched his teeth.
"I don't want to fight my own people!"
That wasn't his belief.
To him, all Konoha shinobi—Uchiha, ANBU, Guards—were one community.
Why should they be forced to fight each other?
"Listen to what you're saying."
Guy charged forward once more.
"Right now, you're the one leading the Root in resisting the Guard!"
"You're obstructing law enforcement!"
"We didn't start this fight—you did!"
The clash of nunchaku and blade rang through the battlefield.
Even with the Sharingan active, Shisui struggled to keep up with Guy's relentless taijutsu.
He wanted to argue.
To say that he was only following orders.
But—
No words came.
Because Guy was right.
The Root was resisting the Guard.
But they were simply following Danzo-sama's orders.
Danzo had made it clear—no one was allowed to enter Root's base unauthorized.
Words wouldn't change anything now.
Shisui's gaze hardened.
If talk was useless, then he would end this quickly!
He took a deep breath.
And then—
His pupil power surged.
Sharingan: Genjutsu!
The moment their eyes met, Shisui activated his illusion.
Even a brief glance would be enough to trap most shinobi.
But—
Nothing happened.
Guy didn't even flinch.
Instead, he used that split-second pause in Shisui's movement to strike.
The nunchaku slammed directly into Shisui's chest!
"Uchiha Shisui—Bai Ye-sama said to beat you to the brink of death!"
At that instant—
Something awakened.
He couldn't dodge.
If he was hit, he would be incapacitated.
And if he lost here, he couldn't complete Danzo-sama's mission.
He had to stop this meaningless bloodshed.
That thought alone ignited his will.
His three-tomoe spun rapidly.
Then—
His Mangekyō awakened.
A surge of green chakra enveloped his body.
Susanoo had emerged!
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