Chapter 88: The Last Favor

Author Note:

Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!

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The journey from the Land of Earth to the southern coastal zone of the Land of Fire was anything but short.

To get there, one had to pass through the main road skirting Konoha.

At this point, Guts only needed to take a detour, less than a day, and he could see Kurenai again.

After all, it had been nearly a year and a half since they last saw each other.

But the round trip, along with the time they'd spend together, would easily take three days.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Guts made his decision.

"Settle the important things first. See Kurenai after."

If there was anyone in this world Guts truly owed a favor to, it wasn't Sarutobi Hiruzen or even Konoha itself.

They had given him compensation when his parents died, sure...but that wasn't charity.

His parents had sacrificed their lives for Konoha. That money was simply what they deserved.

No. The one person he owed... was Might Duy.

He had taught Guts the Eight Inner Gates without expecting anything in return. He treated him with warmth, like family.

And Might Guy,his son, his friend, was part of that debt.

Guts never claimed to be a good person, but if he owed someone a debt of humanity, he would repay it. Without fail.

"Sorry, Kurenai"

He murmured, glancing at the fork in the road leading toward Konoha.

"Wait for me."

Without looking back, Guts continued toward the southern battlefield.

Two days passed.

Alone, Guts arrived at the southern coastal battlefield, where Konoha forces were locked in a fierce struggle against the Mist.

"Lord Guts!"

A group of Konoha shinobi posted at the camp entrance stood upright, their expressions filled with awe.

Respect in this world came to those who proved their strength.

And Guts had done just that.

Word had already spread.

He had killed the Third Raikage, and left the Third Tsuchikage permanently crippled—all at the age of thirteen.

"Where's the main information camp?"

Guts asked casually, stepping past the sentries.

"Yes, Lord Guts! The red barracks, over there!"

One of the Chūnin quickly pointed out the largest tent.

With a slight nod, Guts made his way toward it.

Just then, a figure walked toward him, head down, seemingly in his own world. He made no move to yield the path.

White hair. Shorter than Guts. Familiar.

Guts narrowed his eyes.

Without a word, he shifted his stance and stuck out his foot just slightly.

Thud.

The boy hit the ground face-first. He scrambled up quickly, brushing himself off, and froze when he saw Guts standing in front of him.

Kakashi.

For once, the kid didn't scoff. He just clenched his teeth and looked away, his usual sharpness dulled by something heavier.

He turned to leave without a word.

"Why are you alone?" Guts asked, his back still turned to him.

Kakashi's fists trembled.

"Rin's gone," he said quietly. "It's my fault."

So it happened after all.

Guts sighed inwardly. He remembered that girl, Rin. A kind presence from the first day of the Academy. Their time together was short, but memorable.

PS: Now that I think about it… Rin was totally trying to rope Guts into her harem plan too. Girl was plotting from the start!

"Unfortunate."

Uchiha Madara... Guts had no confidence in facing someone like him. Not yet.

That old man, even in his decaying body, hid too many secrets.

He lurked in the shadows while Guts still moved in the light. Picking a fight with someone like that now would be suicide.

He had done everything he could for Obito and Rin.

But this wasn't some shounen manga. He wasn't Ichigo. He wasn't Luffy.

He couldn't save everyone just by trying hard enough.

Still, he placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder.

"...Take care of yourself," Guts said, voice calm.

"Your life isn't just yours anymore. Live for the people you still cherish."

It was the most comforting thing Guts had ever said to anyone.

Then, without waiting for a reply, he walked into the main tent.

Inside, both Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato were already waiting.

"Guts-kun, you made it," Minato greeted with his trademark smile, but even that smile couldn't hide the fatigue in his eyes.

Losing two students had clearly taken its toll.

"So you're the brat who beat Ohnoki into retirement, huh?" Jiraiya chuckled and had an exaggerated expression on his face.

Guts didn't react to the praise.

"How's the situation?"

Jiraiya's tone turned serious.

"It's tricky. Mist doesn't have as many Kage-level elites as Cloud or Rock, but they make up for it with bloodline limit users,Hōzuki, Karatachi, Hoshigaki, even the Kaguya clan. Real monsters."

"And the Seven Ninja Swordsmen are no joke either," he added grimly.

"Their Kage's on the move too."

"Third Mizukage?" Guts asked.

The man barely existed in the anime.

Minato nodded.

"Yes. He's from the Yuki clan. Ice Release. Don't underestimate him."

Ice Release...

Guts narrowed his eyes.

'He's probably under Madara's control already.'

Considering the strange behavior of the Mist, long before Obito supposedly took over, Madara's involvement seemed obvious.

"By the way," Guts asked,

"Where are Might Duy and Might Guy assigned?"

Both Minato and Jiraiya blinked. It wasn't a question they expected. Still, they quickly summoned a records officer.

A moment later, the civilian ninja responded,

"Lord Guts, Might Duy and Might Guy have been placed in the logistics and transportation units due to their lack of field experience. They're in separate squads, Team 2 and Team 3 of the logistics corps."

"I see. That's all."

Guts dismissed him with a wave.

Turning back to Minato and Jiraiya, he asked,

"So what's the overall strategy?"

Minato explained

"Since Mist is fighting across the sea, their supply lines are vulnerable."

"Our plan is to hold the line, exhaust their resources, and strike decisively when they're weakest."

"But because they're desperate, they might attempt a raid on our food stores," he added. "We're bracing for that."

"Got it."

With that, Guts left the command tent.

And so, the southern front settled into a slow war of attrition.

With the current strategy favoring defense and delay, Guts had little to do. For now, there were no large-scale battles.

He spent most of his time training alone in his virtual space, sparring daily with the illusion of an old monster, Golden Lion. A foe who, in terms of power, stood equal to a navy admiral.

As summer turned to fall in the 46th year of the Konoha calendar, the attack finally came, just as Guts predicted.

The Third Mizukage led a sudden assault.

Mist forces launched a two-pronged strike: one targeting Konoha's grain warehouses, and the other, a surprise detour, aimed at the rear logistics defense.

And among the defenders... was Might Guy.

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