CHAPTER 85
Guy looked at the three letters in his hand, and a warm current surged through his heart.
He opened the first one. The sender was "Kakashi Hatake."
However, the handwriting inside clearly belonged to more than one person.
As the letter unfolded, the first paragraph appeared in Kakashi's familiar handwriting, neat and precise to the point of rigidity:
[Guy,
The situation on the Grass Country front is temporarily stable.
Captain Minato Namikaze has led us on several high-mobility missions, and the results have been remarkable.
His Flying Thunder God Technique has given me a new understanding of what "speed" truly means. When we meet again, we can exchange insights.
The news of your promotion to Chunin has already spread.
A nine-year-old Chunin. You truly live up to the title.
However, I have also heard part of the battle reports from Mount Kikyo.
Guarding the frontline Mountain Ridge alone for sixty-eight days.
Putting aside the tactical necessity and risks for the moment, I highly acknowledge your willpower.
Stay alive.
Only the living can truly realize the glory earned on the battlefield.
Kakashi]
Immediately beneath it was a large section of wildly scribbled handwriting. The strokes were pressed so hard that they nearly tore through the paper.
It was obviously Uchiha Obito's work.
[GUY!!! IT'S ME, OBITO!!!
ARE YOU STUPID!!!
GUARDING A MOUNTAIN RIDGE ALONE FOR SIXTY-EIGHT DAYS!!!
DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH!!!
WHEN I HEARD ABOUT IT, I ALMOST RUSHED STRAIGHT TO MOUNT KIKYO TO DRAG YOU BACK!!!
CAPTAIN MINATO HAD TO STOP ME!!!
HE SAID YOU'RE A HERO NOW AND THAT I COULDN'T JUST RUN OFF!!!
IT MAKES ME SO MAD!!!
JUST YOU WAIT!!!
AS SOON AS WE DRIVE ALL THOSE IWAGAKURE BASTARDS AWAY, I'M COMING TO FIND YOU!!!
YOU DEFINITELY OWE ME SUPER DELUXE RAMEN!!!
TEN BOWLS!!!
NO, TWENTY BOWLS!!!
OR I'M NOT LETTING THIS GO!!!
ALSO, I'VE GOTTEN REALLY STRONG TOO!!!
EVEN THOUGH I STILL HAVEN'T AWAKENED THE SHARINGAN, MY FIRE RELEASE HAS IMPROVED A LOT!!!
NEXT TIME WE MEET, LET'S COMPETE AGAIN!!!
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO CHEAT WITH THAT GOLDEN SIDE KICK!!!
YOU BETTER BE ALRIGHT, YOU BASTARD!!!]
At the very bottom of the page was a line of delicate and elegant handwriting.
[Guy-kun,
Please take good care of yourself.
Even though Obito-kun is always noisy, he is just as worried about you as the rest of us.
Eat your meals on time and make sure your injuries heal properly.
I'm looking forward to the day we meet again.
Rin]
Looking at the letter, Guy felt as though he could hear Obito's loud voice shouting directly into his ear.
He could also see Kakashi's seemingly cold but genuinely concerned gaze.
And Rin's gentle smile.
The corners of his mouth unconsciously lifted as he carefully folded the letter and set it aside.
Then he opened the second letter.
The envelope had "To: Might Guy" written neatly on it.
The handwriting was elegant and beautiful.
It was clearly Kurenai Yuhi's.
However, the final stroke of the word "Guy" was slightly crooked.
As though the hand holding the pen had trembled.
There were also several irregular water stains on the corner of the envelope.
Guy recognized them at a glance.
They were not rain marks.
They were tears.
The dried tears had left the paper slightly wrinkled and rough to the touch.
His heart felt as though it had been gently squeezed.
Carefully opening the envelope, he unfolded the neatly folded letter inside.
A faint fragrance drifted out.
It smelled like soap that had been tucked beneath a pillow for a long time, mixed with another scent.
Kurenai's scent.
The letter was long, filling an entire page.
Yet throughout the entire letter, she hardly spoke about herself at all.
Every line was about him.
[Guy,
I heard the rain at Mount Kikyo is very cold.
When you were guarding the Mountain Ridge alone, did you bring enough clothes?
Don't catch a cold during your night watches.
Your leg injury... did Medic Tanaka from the Medical Corps really say it could fully recover?
Will there be lingering pain?
Will it ache whenever it rains?
The food on the front lines isn't very good, and you have such a big appetite.
Can you eat enough?
I asked someone to send military ration pills and dried meat.
I don't know whether they managed to reach you.
Captain Choza is a reliable person.
With him there, I'm... a little more at ease.
Make sure you change your bandages on time.
Don't secretly remove them because they're troublesome or because you want to train.
When you're on missions, don't always rush to the very front.
You're already a Chunin now.
You need to learn how to protect yourself too.
I...
Think about you every day.
Please, definitely stay alive.]
At the very end of the letter, the handwriting paused for a long while.
Then, as if written after much hesitation, an additional sentence had been hurriedly squeezed in.
[By the way, I ran into Anko Mitarashi a few days ago.
She also heard about you and is very concerned about your injuries.
She asked me to pass along her regards.
Do you...
Still keep in contact often?]
Guy's gaze lingered on the words "I think about you every day" and the tear stains for a very long time.
A warm, bittersweet feeling filled his chest.
With the utmost care, he folded the letter that carried so much longing and concern.
Then he placed it in the position closest to his heart.
Only after that did he pick up the third letter.
The envelope was small, but it was packed so tightly that it seemed ready to burst.
Sender: Shikuro Aburame.
Guy needed some effort just to open it.
Four sheets of paper had been crammed inside.
Each one was folded into four layers.
The moment he unfolded the pages, Guy felt his head spin.
The handwriting was absurdly tiny.
Dense rows of characters filled every inch of space without any gaps.
It looked like countless disciplined ants lined up in perfect formation.
Yet every single character remained neat and precise.
It perfectly displayed the writer's patience and his unique obsession.
[Brother,
I heard about the great victory at Mount Kikyo.
Your contribution was immense, and your promotion to Chunin is fully deserved.
I hope your injuries recover quickly and leave no lasting problems.
The battlefield is dangerous.
Please take care of yourself and return alive.
In addition, regarding the matter you entrusted to me, I have remained diligent and have not neglected it.
The following is a summary report.
January 1st.
New Year's Day.
A simple celebration was held at the base.
Kurenai received a piece of sweet cake.
She did not eat it but stored it away.
Later, she made a small birthday cake.
Asuma attempted to give her a salted biscuit.
She declined.
January 7th.
Kurenai was practicing Genjutsu.
Asuma passed by and attempted to give advice, claiming that Wind Release could improve the spread of Genjutsu.
Kurenai replied, "My Genjutsu doesn't need it."
She then continued training.
Asuma watched for ten minutes before leaving.
January 15th.
Snowy weather.
Kurenai remained at the Intelligence Division organizing documents until very late.
Asuma waited outside and offered to escort her back to the dormitory.
Kurenai replied, "Shikuro-kun is accompanying me."
I appeared at the appropriate time.
Asuma looked at me several times before departing.
February 3rd.
Kurenai received a letter from home and appeared somewhat depressed.
Asuma attempted to ask about it.
Kurenai did not elaborate.
However, I observed that she repeatedly looked toward a certain section near the end of the letter.
My analysis suggests it was related to you.
...
February 14th.
For unknown reasons, several female Ninja of similar age at the base received homemade chocolates.
Asuma appeared to have prepared something as well.
However, he lingered outside Kurenai's dormitory for a long time before ultimately leaving without delivering it.
March 1st.
Kurenai returned from a reconnaissance mission.
She appeared exhausted.
Asuma offered her a canteen of water.
She accepted it and thanked him, but did not drink from it.
While resting against a tree trunk, she held a Kunai and stared into space.
The Kunai itself was ordinary.
However, its handle was wrapped in green ribbon.
March 10th.
Latest update.
Kurenai appears to have finally received your reply.
Presumably the letter written after your recovery.
Her mood noticeably improved that day.
Her success rate during Genjutsu training also increased significantly.
Asuma attempted to invite her to discuss a mission.
Kurenai declined, citing the need to write a letter.
...
Brother, that is the current situation.
That kid Asuma definitely has intentions.
However, Kurenai's attitude remains firm.
You can rest assured.
We Aburame value promises and observation above all else.
Leave matters concerning Kurenai to me.
You need not worry about anything outside the battlefield.
Please take care of yourself.
Treasure your life.
And absolutely do not die.
Shikuro Aburame]
Guy looked at the letter that could practically be called a surveillance report and could not help but laugh.
"This guy... is unexpectedly reliable."
Shaking his head, he looked at the three letters in his hands.
Even though they were separated by vast distances and different battlefields, their concern had still crossed the war and reached him.
He carefully put the letters away.
Then he took out pen and paper and began writing replies one by one.
In his reply to Kakashi, Obito, and Rin, he briefly informed them that he was safe.
He specifically emphasized that his leg injury had fully recovered and thanked Obito for the promise of "twenty bowls of ramen."
He also reminded Kakashi that when they eventually exchanged their understanding of speed, he might use Taijutsu to "bully" him.
Finally, he reassured Rin that he would properly take care of himself.
For Kurenai's letter, he deliberated for a very long time.
In the end, he wrote:
[My injuries have healed, my appetite is as large as ever, and Captain Choza has been taking excellent care of me. Don't worry.]
He also wrote that after the war ended, he would definitely make up for that meal meant for "just the two of them."
Then, as though casually adding an extra note, he mentioned that he and Anko had not exchanged any letters.
Finally, after hesitating for a moment, he added one last sentence:
[During those sixty-eight days on the Mountain Ridge, I missed you very much too.
I received your letter.
It smells very nice.
I will keep it close to me at all times.]
He folded the letter carefully, as though folding his current feelings into it as well.
As for Shikuro's reply, it was extremely simple:
[Good brother, thanks for the hard work.
Ramen is on me.
Keep it up.]
He knew Shikuro would understand.
After finishing everything, Guy let out a long breath.
Looking up, he realized that Might Duy had been sitting there all along, resting his chin on his hands and quietly watching him.
There was no exaggerated grin on his face.
Instead, there was a deep look of satisfaction and approval.
"Youth..."
Duy's voice was not loud, but it carried immense power.
"...can only burn brilliantly and never be extinguished because of bonds like these!"
"Guy, you have truly precious comrades!"
Guy smiled and nodded firmly.
"Yeah. I know."
Carefully putting away all the letters and replies, he prepared to send them out the next day.
Then he looked at his father.
His expression gradually became serious.
"Dad, there's something I need to tell you."
"Hmm?"
"This time at Mount Kikyo, besides being promoted to Chunin..."
Guy paused.
A sharp glint flashed through his eyes.
"...I also realized some other things on the battlefield."
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