Evening. About two kilometers outside Konoha, deep in the forest.
A whole roasted wild boar hung above the crackling fire, juices dripping as the flames licked its skin.
Guts tore an entire leg off the carcass and bit into it like a starving wolf, his eyes gleaming.
He chewed hungrily, fully embracing the fine tradition of the Monkey D. family: eat first, think later.
Across the fire sat Might Guy, his usual enthusiastic self.
But today, they had company—an older man, wearing the same outrageous green tights and sporting a thick beard. His resemblance to Guy was uncanny.
Might Duy.
Guy's father.The man who created the Eight Inner Gates—and a Genin his whole life.
Today was special. Guy had finally passed the make-up exam and officially entered the Academy.
Duy wanted to celebrate with his son and his half-disciple.
He would've treated them to something, but Guts, knowing Duy's famously empty wallet and humble reputation as the "Eternal Genin," suggested hunting in the forest instead.
"Guy! Guts! You must become great ninjas!" Duy announced, raising his thumb dramatically.
"Of course, Dad!" Guy grinned wide, his teeth gleaming like a White Fang clone.
Guts, not one for over-the-top antics, simply raised a hand and nodded.
"Uncle Duy, I'll master chakra control as fast as I can. After that… please teach me that technique."
Duy looked stunned for a moment, then nodded seriously.
"Your body's already strong enough for Taijutsu. But the Eight Inner Gates requires precise chakra control, too… and, well, I'm not exactly an expert. I've always been more about the feel than the theory."
"That's fine," Guts said, tearing another chunk of meat.
"Just passing it down to me is already a huge favor."
Guy, hearing the exchange, clenched his fists.
He couldn't fall behind.
The day of the entrance ceremony arrived.
On the Academy's training ground, Guts stood in line with his new classmates.
He looked around.
Hatake Kakashi.
Nohara Rin.
Yuhi Kurenai.
Might Guy.
Sarutobi Asuma.
Ebisu.
Kato Shizune.
...And one random dude no one would remember.
But one person was notably absent.
Uchiha Obito.
Late, of course—upholding the noble future tradition of being Kakashi's eternal rival and habitual slacker.
As the Third Hokage stepped onto the stage to deliver his annual Will of Fire speech (the same one he probably recycled every year), most of the students listened with a mix of excitement and confusion.
Except Guts.
"Ho~ Ho~ Hm~~"
A soft snore echoed through the field.
Sarutobi Hiruzen twitched mid-sentence but powered through the speech like a true veteran.
Heads turned.
Kakashi, Rin, Asuma—they all glanced at Guts, who stood smack in the middle of the group, head lowered, eyes closed, and gently snoring like he was meditating.
Only Guy and Kurenai didn't react—they'd seen it before.
But Kurenai, who stood directly in front of Guts, was clearly struggling.
Her neck twitched.
Her face turned red.
Her fingers curled into fists.
By the time Hiruzen finally finished, she couldn't hold back any longer.
WHACK!
A sharp kick hit Guts right in the ankle.
"OW! What was that for?!" Guts yelped, startled awake.
"Hmph!" Kurenai huffed, not even bothering with a reply as she marched into the classroom with the others.
Still dazed, Guts limped forward. Then he heard a soft voice beside him.
"Um… are you okay? That looked painful,"
asked a girl with purple markings on her cheeks. She wasn't as flashy as Kurenai, but her smile was warm and genuine.
Nohara Rin.
The girl who, in the future, would drive Obito—almost Hokage material—to become the most dangerous man on earth. The irony.
"Rin, you're so gentle. Totally different from some violent women I know," Guts said, shooting a glance toward Kurenai's retreating figure.
Kurenai spun around like a cat who'd had her tail stepped on.
"What did you just say?!"
Guts ignored her, offering Rin a sincere smile.
"Whoever marries you one day will be very lucky."
Rin blinked, cheeks coloring. "T-Thank you… that's very kind of you."
Then she practically ran to the front of the group, clearly flustered.
Kurenai stomped over with the fury of a thousand suns. "Serves you right, flirting with girls on your first day."
"It wasn't flirting. It was a genuine compliment," Guts said, shrugging.
"Not my fault some people are insecure and violent. Besides having a dad, what do you have going for you?"
He didn't say the rest aloud: And don't even get me started on the genjutsu you tried on Itachi... Seriously, the audacity.
He had no real feelings for Rin. But knowing her fate… if he could change that, even a little, maybe it would be worth it.
"Bastard!" Kurenai growled.
And thus, Day One of school started with a minor brawl, a bruised ankle, and one very confused teacher wondering how this Guts kid got past the entrance exams.
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