Chapter 44: Flames of Youth!
The mist curled around them, swirling as if it, too, anticipated the battle to come. Kiyoshi adjusted his stance, muscles tense, heartbeat steady. Across from him, Might Duy stood with a relaxed yet firm posture, his bare feet pressing lightly against the damp earth. His grin was wide, eyes burning with enthusiasm.
"Ah! A good stance, Kiyoshi! But remember—" Duy's foot slid back, his hands coming up in a familiar defensive position. "A stance alone does not win a fight. Let's begin!"
The words had barely left his mouth when Duy moved.
Kiyoshi's instincts screamed at him. Fast.
He barely had time to raise his arms before a fist shot toward his ribs. He twisted, dodging by a hair's breadth. The sheer force of the strike sent a shockwave through the mist, clearing a space around them.
That would've hurt.
No time to think. Kiyoshi countered. He pivoted on his heel, driving a punch toward Duy's exposed side. Duy ducked. His body bent impossibly low, evading the strike with effortless fluidity before springing up with a spinning kick.
Kiyoshi crossed his arms to block—and instantly regretted it.
The impact sent tremors through his bones. Duy's raw strength was no joke. He skidded back, digging his heels into the soft earth to regain balance.
Duy didn't let up. He closed the distance in an instant, launching a barrage of strikes—palms, elbows, knees. Each movement was precise, controlled, yet brimming with power. Kiyoshi barely dodged, twisting his body at unnatural angles to slip past Duy's attacks.
Then he saw an opening.
Duy's left leg was still extended from a high kick.
Now!
Kiyoshi surged forward, aiming a devastating blow to Duy's torso. His fist ripped through the air—
And met nothing.
Duy vanished mid-motion.
Kiyoshi's eyes widened. What—
Before he could react, something slammed into his back.
A spinning kick—Duy's heel crashed between his shoulder blades.
Kiyoshi lurched forward, rolling to disperse the impact. He flipped onto his feet, breath heavy, pain radiating through his spine.
Duy stood a few feet away, hands on his hips, grinning. "A good attempt, Kiyoshi! But an opponent with experience will never leave such an obvious opening."
Kiyoshi exhaled sharply. This man…
The fight wasn't just about speed or strength. Duy read him like a book, predicting his attacks before they even landed.
Kiyoshi flexed his fingers. Fine. If brute force wasn't enough—
He lowered his stance.
Duy's smile faltered slightly. "Oh?"
Kiyoshi exploded forward. This time, his attacks weren't just powerful—they were unpredictable. Feints, sudden speed shifts, misdirected strikes. He forced Duy onto the defensive, attacking from angles even the seasoned fighter didn't expect.
Their movements blurred in the morning light—punches colliding, kicks sweeping, the air trembling with the sheer force of their exchanges.
Kiyoshi spun low, attempting a leg sweep. Duy jumped. Anticipating this, Kiyoshi twisted mid-motion, using his momentum to launch an uppercut.
Duy's eyes widened. He barely managed to cross his arms in time.
The impact sent him soaring backward—his body flipping through the air before he landed gracefully, sliding to a stop.
For the first time, Duy's grin widened in genuine excitement.
"Now that… that was splendid!" He bounced on his heels. "But I believe it's time I get serious."
Kiyoshi blinked. "Serious?"
Duy took a deep breath. His muscles tightened, his veins bulged slightly, and a faint chakra aura flickered around his body like an ember struggling to ignite. His aura remained normal—subtle, controlled—but an undeniable burst of energy rippled through the air.
Kiyoshi's eyes narrowed. Is this…?
Then Duy spoke.
"The First Gate… Gate of Opening— Release!"
A burst of raw energy exploded from Duy's body. The ground beneath him cracked, dust and debris kicking up into the air. His muscles swelled slightly, his grin unwavering.
Before Kiyoshi could react, Duy moved.
No—he disappeared.
Kiyoshi barely had time to register before a fist collided with his gut.
The world blurred. He was flying.
His back slammed into a tree, the bark shattering from the impact. His vision swam, his breath caught in his throat. He tried to stand, but Duy was already there.
Kiyoshi looked up, chest heaving. Duy stood before him, his aura still burning with intensity, yet his smile was kind.
"This," Duy said, offering a hand, "is the power of youth."
Kiyoshi hesitated, then took it, pulling himself up with a smirk.
"Damn," he muttered. "You really don't hold back, do you?"
Duy laughed, his energy slowly fading. "What's the point of a spar if you don't go all out?"
Kiyoshi chuckled, wincing slightly.
This man… he was on a whole different level.
As Kiyoshi steadied himself from the intense spar, catching his breath, a childish voice rang through the morning mist.
"Daaaaad!"
Both men turned toward the source. A small child, older than three, came running toward them. His tiny legs moved as fast as they could, his bushy hair bouncing with each step. Unlike his future self, with a bowl-cut and thick eyebrows, this child's hair fell messily to his chin, giving him a wild, untamed look.
Kiyoshi's brow lifted slightly. Might Guy… at three years old.
The boy skidded to a stop beside them, hands on his hips as he huffed from exertion. Then, with a bright and eager expression, he turned to his father.
"Dad! Is this the person you train with every morning?" His voice was filled with curiosity. Then, without missing a beat, he pointed at Kiyoshi with determination. "Is he any stronger than you?"
Duy chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Ahaha! That's a good question, my boy! But strength isn't just about winning or losing—"
Before he could finish his wisdom-filled speech, Guy had already turned to Kiyoshi. With surprising formality, the three-year-old bowed slightly.
"Good morning, sir."
Kiyoshi blinked in surprise at the sudden politeness. Before he could respond, the boy straightened up and bowed again, deeper this time.
"Sorry! I should have greeted you first." His small fists clenched in an exaggerated sense of discipline. "That was very rude of me!"
Duy wiped a proud tear from his eye. "Ah, such manners! My son, you are truly embracing the spirit of youth!"
"And!" Guy continued, raising a finger, "Thank you for always sparring with my father!"
Kiyoshi, who had barely processed the situation, let out a small chuckle. The kid was polite, but his energy was just like his father's.
Guy's eyes sparkled with determination. "Next year, when I enter the Academy, I will also train with you both!"
Kiyoshi smiled, amused by the sheer enthusiasm of the boy. He bowed back slightly as a show of respect.
"Your father is really strong," he said simply.
Something in Guy's heart stirred.
His tiny hands clenched into fists. His eyes widened as if Kiyoshi had just spoken the most profound truth in the world.
Then—
"DAAAAAAD!!!"
Tears suddenly poured down his face. He turned and ran dramatically into Duy's arms, sobbing loudly.
"HE SAID YOU'RE STRONG, DAD!!" Guy wailed, clutching his father's leg like he'd just heard the greatest compliment in existence. "THE FLAMES OF YOUTH BURN SO BRIGHT!!"
Duy, moved beyond words, hugged his son tightly, tears streaming down his face as well. "YES, MY SON! THE PATH OF HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION IS TRULY THE BRIGHTEST!!"
The father and son cried together, wrapped in their own passionate moment.
Kiyoshi stood there, watching them.
"…What have I gotten myself into?" he muttered.
[Note: I know that in the dubbed version, Guy calls his father 'Papa,' but I thought 'Dad' would be more fitting. No offense.]