Chapter - 31: Lessons in Passion

  Master Guy, seemingly oblivious to the stunned reas around him, grinned broadly, his trademark enthusiasm filling the air. He walked forward with an exaggerated swagger, his energy so vibrant it felt like it could fill aire room.

  “Lee!” Master Guy called out, spotting his student. “You must never fet the true meaning of youth!”

  Lee, who had been quietly watg the iions unfold, suddenly straightened, his face lighting up with a mix of admiration aement. “Sensei!” he excimed, his voice eager as he turoward the man who had bee a rger-than-life figure in his world.

  But before Lee could move, Master Guy didn’t waste any time. Without warning, he surged forward with the speed of a whirlwind, his fist shooting out in a powerful, no-holds-barred punch. The blow nded squarely on Lee’s chest with a thud, sendiumbling back several paces. His eyes widened in surprise, but his smile never faltered. This was simply how Master Guy operated—alushing, always testing.

  Lee rubbed his chest, looking up at his sensei with a sheepish grin. “Sensei! I-I am really sorry to let you down!!”

  Master Guy, his expression full of warmth yet still radiating that fierergy, pced both hands on Lee’s shoulders. “Lee!” he said, his voice strong and serious. “You must never fet the true meaning of youth! It is not about reckless a, but about discipline, passion, and knowing when to direct that energy for the greater good!”

  Sobbing, Guy embraced Lee. Overe with emotion, Lee began to cry too. 'Yes, Sensei!' he excimed, his voice filled with determination. 'I will always remember that!' His enthusiasm alpable.

  The hallway was silent except for Master Guy’s and Lee's sobbing voice. The others—Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke—were still rec from the shock of the tortoise’s bizarre transformation. Their eyes were locked on Master Guy, uo look away from the man who had just made arance like no other.

  Master Guy’s face softened, and his usual exuberaurned. He gave Lee an encing pat on the back. “That’s the spirit, my boy! Now, go forth and show the world the true power of youth!” His voice was filled with such passion that it seemed to charge the air around him.

  Kuro, who had been silently the entire exge, couldn’t help but smile at the dispy. There was something undeniably magiaster Guy—his iious energy, his dedication, and his unwavering belief iential of his students. It was clear that Lee had a deep respect for the man, but Kuro also saw the lessons behind the antics. Lee’s boundless energy was both a strength and a potential weakness, but with Master Guy’s guidahat energy could be molded into somethiraordinary.

  Sasuke, who had been watg all of this with an unreadable expression, turned and began walking away once more. “This is ridiculous,” he muttered, shaking his head.

  Naruto, still wide-eyed, mao find his voice. “Did he really just punch Lee aure him like that?!” He looked over at Sakura. “That guy is something else…”

  Sakura, still processing the bizarre turn of events, could only nod. “I don’t know what just happened, but I think we’ve seen enough for today.”

  Kuro, however, remaihoughtful. The dynamic between Lee and Master Guy was unlike anything he had witnessed before in the anime.

  Master Guy fshed Lee a final, proud grin. “Now, let’s go! We’ve got youth to live!”

  As Lee and Guy Seuro leave, Kuro called out, his voice steady but carrying a note of encement. “You’ll get your ce to prove yourself, Lee. Just be ready wheime es.”

  Lee gnced over his shoulder, his expression softening into a small smile. “I will. Thank you for your Support Buro or whatever your name is.”

  Kuro showed somewhat weird expression hearing his name was distorted, well even Kuro wasn’t his name anyway.

  Naruto turo Kuro, his excitement bubbling over. “Man, that was crazy! First the fight, then you stepping in like that theurtle—uh, I mean tortoise—uh I mean the bushy brow weird sensei! Anyway, You’re pretty cool, you know that?”

  Kuro chuckled, his expression rexed. “Thanks, Naruto. But sometimes, it’s better to step in before things get out of hand.”

  Sakura approached cautiously, her eyes flickeriween Kuro and Sasuke, who was already walking away. “Why did you intervene? Sasuke didn’t need your help,” she said, her tone defensive.

  Kured. “Maybe not, but I didn’t want thiing further. Besides…” He g Lee, who was now disappearing around the er with Guy Sensei “…Lee isn’t someone you want to uimate.”

  Sakura tilted her head, fused. “What do you mean?”

  Kuro smiled knowingly but didn’t answer. Instead, he turned and started walking toward the area. “e on. The exams are just getting started. You don’t want to fall behind, do you?”

  Naruto and Sakura exged a gnd Sasuke showed annoyed look before following after him, their curiosity about Kuro growing with each passing moment.

  The hallway leading to Room 301 was unusually quiet, but it wasn’t the fortable kind of quiet—it was thick, charged with an almost palpable anticipation. Kuro walked at a steady pace, his usual cool, collected vibe in full swing, with his hands loosely in his pockets. His calm energy was a stark trast to Naruto’s practically boung-off-the-walls enthusiasm.

  “Did you see Bushy Brows’ hands?” Naruto suddenly asked, breaking the sileh his typical loudness. “That guy’s been training like a maniac—he’s probably w harder than you, Sasuke. Believe it!” Naruto ughed, clearly proud of the jab.

  Sasuke, alking just behind Kuro, didn’t even g him. He simply smirked, his voice cool and measured. “The in Exam’s starting to get iing.”

  Kuro, who was a step ahead of the two, couldn’t help but chuckle softly under his breath. Sasuke’s plete ck of rea was kind of impressive in a way, though Kuro wasn’t sure if it was fidence or just straight-up arrogance. Either way, it was something he admired... most of the time.

  Naruto, uerred, bounced on his heels, still fired up about the exam. “Hey, you two better watch out. You don’t know what’s ing! You ’t uimate anyone!” His voice rang with excitement, but there yful challenge in it too.

  Kuro let out a quiet sigh, but his lips twitched into a small smile. Of course Naruto would be hyped. The guy had an energy that was almost tagious. Even Sasuke couldn’t hide the slight gleam of i in his eyes.