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NBB Chapter 59: Training, Trauma, and a Torrent of Blades
🕑 Added 2025-06-07 03:02:02 +0000 UTC"Not bad at all—you’re picking it up quickly, Gen!"
In the forests of the Land of Hot Water, Guy looked at Kitagawa Gen with admiration, while Kakashi sat to the side with his head lowered, engrossed in a book.
Despite how pressed for time they’d been the past few days, Kitagawa Gen had still managed to show just how “eager to learn” he really was.
Kakashi couldn’t even tell when the kid became so interested in the Eight Gates Technique. He’d practically latched onto Guy for one lesson after another.
Guy, for his part, was more than happy to teach, beaming with pride every time Gen made progress and even winking at him in encouragement.
"Wait, are you treating this like a competition? That’s my student, you know."
Kakashi chuckled helplessly but didn’t object. After all, Gen was his student.
"All thanks to Guy-sensei’s guidance," Gen said humbly, maintaining his usual modesty—even though he had already grasped the basics.
"If not for that, I wouldn’t have picked it up so fast."
“You’ve now learned how to open the Fourth Gate. From here on out, there’s nothing more I can teach you—for now.”
Guy winked again at Kakashi. When he saw Kakashi ignoring him, he didn’t seem to mind. Instead, his tone shifted, growing a bit more serious.
“The Eight Gates Technique demands a high level of physical conditioning. You’ve got a decent foundation, but you still need more training.”
“Mm, got it,” Kitagawa Gen nodded, though he couldn’t help grumbling a little inwardly.
My physique isn’t good enough? Seriously?
Of course, he understood. Physical strength wasn’t something easy to measure at a glance. Even in a sparring match, you might not get a full read on it—especially when it’s just light training.
And besides… he’d confirmed something important.
'Whenever I use the Eight Gates, I feel this surge of boiling blood—as if it’s stirring up a special kind of power.'
The essence of the Eight Gates Technique was unlocking the chakra pathways that naturally limit the body, releasing immense strength for a short period.
But the Ōtsutsuki didn’t suffer from such restrictions. In fact, triggering these 'gates' might actually serve to awaken his latent physical power.
'So it’s really possible I could harness the blood-boiling effect of the Eight Gates to tap into something even stronger... Maybe even go full ‘Overdrive Mode’ or something!'
Gen rubbed his chin thoughtfully. The only question left was: how many gates would he need to open to truly unleash that effect?
He wasn’t about to touch all eight—sure, the Ōtsutsuki could use Yin-Yang Release to revive themselves, but he was only a half-baked Ōtsutsuki.
“Alright, enough chatter. Let’s focus on the task at hand.”
While Gen was still deep in thought, Kakashi spoke up. He tucked away his little orange book and pulled out a map.
“We haven’t found our target after several days of searching, but we can’t let our guard down."
"Besides the one we know is out there, we also need to be wary of another..."
"That one might show up—and don’t forget, he’s the unpredictable one.”
“Relax, Kakashi. We’ll be careful.”
Guy knew exactly who Kakashi was referring to. He patted his friend on the shoulder with a reassuring grin.
“And hey, don’t forget—he’s the dead last. I’m second to last!”
“Wait, are you actually proud of that?”
Kakashi couldn’t help but chuckle, even though he knew Guy was just trying to lighten the mood.
Gen also found it amusing. He clearly remembered Guy landing a kick straight into Uchiha Obito’s face once.
“Hmm?”
As they walked, Gen suddenly felt something off. Kakashi, who had just been teasing Guy, stopped in his tracks as well.
Guy blinked, instantly on guard. “What is it?”
“Someone’s here.”
Gen spoke quietly. Kakashi sniffed the air and instantly went on alert.
“Get ready. Stay sharp—here they come!”
No sooner had he spoken than the space around them began to twist—and in the blink of an eye, a barrage of kunai rained down from above. The sheer volume of them darkened the sky, sending a chill down their spines.
“They’re using a space-time technique to launch the attack?”
Kakashi quickly formed hand seals, thoughts racing. He already had a good idea of who it was.
“Earth Release: Multiple Earth-Style Wall!”
With a sharp, icy gaze, Kakashi slammed his palm into the ground right as he finished the seals.
In the next moment, stone walls engraved with dog heads rose up on all four sides, encasing the team in a protective barrier and intercepting the incoming kunai.
[BOOM—]
An earth-shaking blast followed—clearly, the kunai had been tagged with explosive seals.
A rapid chain of detonations nearly collapsed Kakashi’s earthen walls, and the explosion kicked up a thick haze that enveloped them in smoke.
“Stay alert. I smell three distinct scents. Be on guard,” Kakashi whispered.
But just as he finished speaking, a voice exploded right next to his ear.
“Still got that freakishly sharp nose, huh, you useless mutt?”
Kakashi’s face changed in an instant. Sensing the wind slicing toward him from behind, he leapt out of the way just in time to avoid the blow.
“Kakashi!”
Guy called out, a hint of urgency in his voice—but even as he did, he felt a subtle tremor underfoot. Without a second thought, he grabbed Gen and leapt into the air.
In the blink of an eye, the ground below them erupted with jagged spikes of earth—and a figure wielding an enormous scythe came charging right at them.
“Watch yourself, Gen!”
Guy had no choice but to shove Gen out of the way and confront the attacker head-on.
“Looks like I’ll be dealing with you, huh...”
As Gen landed safely a short distance away, a cold voice echoed nearby.
“Kid.”
“…”
...
“Obito.”
Smoke curled in the air as Kakashi stared solemnly at the black-clad figure before him.
Even with the mask, there was no mistaking him.
[Zzzzz—]
In a flash, blue lightning arced from Kakashi’s left hand, his scarlet Sharingan drawing particular attention in that moment.
He fixed his gaze on Obito and spoke in a low, serious tone.
“You really don’t plan to turn back? Are you really going to follow this path of no return?”
“Wrong?”
Uchiha Obito let out a cold snort. He shook his head, his expression indifferent.
“Ever since the moment you let Rin die right before your eyes, this hellish world carved a hole straight through my heart."
"Back then, I had nothing but pain inside me. But now—I have a purpose."
"I’m going to create a world of peace. So who are you to say that I’m wrong?”
“Then what about Sensei? What did they do to deserve this? Why did you do what you did back then?”
Kakashi paused for a moment before suddenly asking. But this time, Obito was unusually calm.
“Don’t bother trying to get information out of me, Kakashi. I already see right through your thoughts. So do me a favor and shut up, will you?”
“Is that so…”
Kakashi sighed, his expression subtly shifting.
“Obito, your will once carried me forward. It was what kept me going."
"But I’m sorry—now, the only thing I can do… is send you on your way.”
“Is that so…”
Behind the mask, Obito’s expression remained unreadable. His voice, too, was flat, almost emotionless.
“I feel the same.”
In the blink of an eye, both figures vanished. In the next instant, two shadows clashed in midair!
[Squelch—]
Kakashi’s Chidori pierced through Obito’s chest, while the kunai in Obito’s hand simultaneously drove into Kakashi’s abdomen.
Blood flowed freely.
But the next second, everything felt like an illusion—their figures both faded into nothingness.
[Clang—]
With the sound of clashing metal, the two reappeared, colliding again on the other side.
“Looks like you’ve gotten decent at using that Sharingan.”
Uchiha Obito held a length of chain and let out a cold chuckle as he stared at Kakashi.
“But that’s all it is. Let me show you how this eye is really supposed to be used!”
...
“Tch. You’re pretty damn fast for a kappa!”
Elsewhere, Hidan was swinging his scythe wildly at Guy, chattering incessantly as he attacked.
But Guy paid him no mind. While dodging swiftly, he quickly scanned the battlefield.
“Kakashi’s tangled up with Obito. Gen’s stuck dealing with an unknown enemy. This is a bit troublesome…”
He analyzed the situation quickly. Just then, Hidan flung his scythe again. Guy dodged smoothly—but something felt off.
He twisted his body mid-air just in time. The scythe, pulled back by a chain, narrowly missed him as it whipped back around.
“This lunatic has decent taijutsu… His weapon’s tricky, but I haven’t seen him use any ninjutsu yet. Probably hiding some kind of secret technique.”
Guy kept it in mind. He was genuinely worried about Kakashi—Uchiha Obito was extremely dangerous.
He was also concerned for Kitagawa Gen. The kid had strong abilities, but not enough experience—easy to make mistakes.
Even so, he believed in his comrades. Believed they could overcome this. And as for himself, he would give it his all—to do better, to support them however he could!
“Hey, kappa! Are we fighting or not? If not, why don’t you just give yourself up and let Hidan-sama offer you as a sacrifice already!”
Seeing Guy ignore him, Hidan only sped up his attacks. But suddenly, Guy’s expression grew deadly serious.
“Hey, you lunatic. Let me say this once—”
“Huh?”
Hidan stopped, looking confused.
But in the next second, Guy suddenly flashed forward and slammed a foot straight into his face!
[Boom—]
With a muffled thud, Hidan was kicked flying. As he soared through the air, Guy’s voice echoed behind him.
“I’m no kappa. I am Konoha’s Proud Blue Beast!”
“...”
Before Hidan’s head slammed into a tree, he muttered under his breath—
“What a dumbass nickname. Baka…”
