Root.
“Minato Namikaze has become Jiraiya’s disciple?”
“Yes, sir.”
Danzo narrowed his eyes slightly, a flicker of anger passing through his heart.
Who takes a disciple like that?
He hasn’t even graduated from the Ninja Academy yet.
What’s more crucial is that he had just set his sights on Minato Namikaze, and within a few short days, he became Jiraiya’s disciple.
Could this merely be a coincidence?
As the leader of Root, Danzo never believed in so-called coincidences.
‘Hiruzen, is this your warning to me?!’
Danzo remained silent for a moment.
“Withdraw the personnel monitoring Minato Namikaze.
What is the situation with Gekko Ryun?”
“Gekko Ryun’s Ninja Academy grades have been reviewed.
Multiple subjects are lower than Minato Namikaze’s, but…” The Root ninja wearing a mask paused, “…within this week, Gekko Ryun performed the Great Fireball Technique.
The possibility that he knows other ninjutsu cannot be ruled out.”
Danzo snorted coldly.
“Hiding his strength?
What is his relationship with Jiraiya?”
“…None.
But he is closely connected to Kushina Uzumaki.
Today, Gekko Ryun’s uncle was injured on a mission, and Kushina Uzumaki went to visit him.”
“Kushina Uzumaki?”
Danzo pondered thoughtfully.
Could Gekko Ryun be the “bond” Hiruzen has selected for the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?
If that’s the case, then Gekko Ryun’s importance is self-evident.
After a moment of contemplation, Danzo decisively said, “Abandon surveillance.
Arrange for someone to make contact with Gekko Ryun.
Bring him to Root to see me as soon as possible!”
“Yes!”
With a whoosh, the Root member vanished on the spot.
…
The next day, early morning in Konoha.
Might Dai changed into a brand new set of green tights and stretched his limbs.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he said emotionally, “Ryun-kun, thank you so much.
This is the first gift I’ve ever received.”
“As long as Dai-senpai likes it.”
The Shinobi Clothing Shop kept records of all custom orders.
Might Dai was the only one who had ever ordered green tights.
Finding the size wasn’t difficult.
Gekko Ryun watched Might Dai frantically performing handstand hops, holding the original, somewhat worn-out green tights in his hand.
He asked casually, “Can you give this one to me?”
It took Might Dai a couple of seconds to process the request.
He stopped his movements, ending his inverted exercise.
Feeling the perfectly fitting tights, he scratched his head.
“I’ve worn this one for many years…
It’s too rude.
I should prepare a new set for you too.”
“Uh…
no need.
I just want to keep it as a memento.”
He firmly refused.
He couldn’t imagine himself wearing green tights.
It would be an eyesore.
Moreover, he was well aware that Might Dai didn’t have much money.
A Genin couldn’t take on highly rewarding missions.
Don’t let the looks fool you; these green tights weren’t cheap at all.
Might Dai’s tears fell instantly, almost forming two small waterfalls.
“Is this the memento of youth?
It’s so wonderful!!”
This amount of tears…
truly anime-worthy.
He struggled to keep a straight face.
“Yes, it’s just for keepsake.
I still prefer wearing more casual clothes myself.”
His clothes had always been bought by his aunt.
Might Dai nodded heavily.
“Alright, if you don’t mind it, of course you can!”
Hearing this, he smiled.
He glanced down.
[Might Dai’s Green Tights]
[Estimated Quality: Green]
[Refinement Cost: 30,000 Ryo/attempt]
[Special Conditions: Must be personally gifted by Might Dai; He must acknowledge your youthfulness]
[Conditions met.
Begin refinement?]
『No.』
The smile on his face grew more genuine.
Half an hour later.
“Senior Dai, won’t you have problems training like this?”
He looked helplessly at Might Dai, who was still immersed in excitement.
During this half hour, Might Dai would occasionally shout, “This is the power of youth!” as if he were crazy.
Sprints, deep squats, push-ups, frog jumps, handstand runs…
The speed was astonishing, and the sheer volume of training made him click his tongue in amazement.
Wasn’t this physical resilience a bit too tough?
“Don’t worry, the power of youth is limitless!”
During a break in his handstand run, Might Dai grinned, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth.
“…..”
Moonlight household.
His aunt was at the hospital keeping his uncle company, leaving the house empty.
After finishing his training, he returned to his room, took out the green tights, and looked at them with fiery eyes.
“Begin refinement!”
[Refinement started]
[Estimated time: 10, 9, 8…]
[Refinement successful]
Huh?
It succeeded on the first try?
Has my luck improved?
His eyes flickered slightly as he opened the Equipment Slot and looked at the first piece of equipment.
[Kushina Uzumaki’s Red Hair]
[Trait One: Maiden’s Blessing]
[Effect: Slightly increases luck]
『Luck…』
After a moment of thought, he opened the storage and looked at the freshly refined third piece of equipment.
[Might Dai’s Green Tights]
[Quality: Green]
[Trait One: Heavy Fist]
[Effect: When using Konoha-style Taijutsu, each strike has a chance to stun the enemy.
The duration of this effect is influenced by the difference in strength between both parties, with a minimum of 0.1 seconds and a maximum of 3 seconds]
[Trait Two: Eight Inner Gates]
[Effect: When you activate the Eight Inner Gates, its power increases by 50%]
[Note: This is the power of youth.]
After reading the equipment description, he stood frozen in place for a moment.
『Stun effect?』
He rubbed his eyes and read it again from start to finish, unable to believe it.
Once he confirmed he hadn’t misread it, the corners of his mouth curled up.
A look of pleasant surprise appeared in his eyes.
The first trait’s effect was simple: when fighting with Konoha-style Taijutsu, there was a chance to inflict crowd control.
In battles between ninjas, a momentary lapse was enough to decide life or death.
『No, it’s not that simple.』
『Theoretically, as long as my luck is good enough, even a Ōtsutsuki would get stunned if I got close…』
『A divine skill, absolutely a divine skill!』
『The second trait isn’t simple either—a 50% increase in the power of the Eight Inner Gates.』
In the original story, during the Fourth Great Ninja War, after Might Guy opened the Eighth Gate, the “Gate of Death,” he nearly took down Six Paths Madara with just one kick.
It was practically a god-tier feat in a single battle.
In the world of Hokage, where bloodline supremacy prevails.
Despite having no connection to the Ōtsutsuki and lacking any powerful Kekkei Genkai.
Through day after day of relentless training, he unleashed a terrifying attack capable of threatening Six Paths-level opponents.
“If Might Guy’s final kick had been 50% more powerful, could Uchiha Madara have blocked it?”
He didn’t know the answer to that question.
Regardless of the outcome, it didn’t change the fact that the Eight Inner Gates was one of the strongest taijutsu techniques.
If you disregarded the “Heavy Particle Technique”—which burned the Nine-Tails’ life force and was specifically effective against Isshiki Otsutsuki— you could even drop the “one of.”
After carefully reviewing the equipment’s characteristics several times, he decisively chose to equip it.
With a flash of light, a third green equipment icon appeared in the slot below the small cauldron.
Nine of the twelve Equipment Slots were still empty.
“A long road lies ahead.”
“But if things go smoothly, the fourth piece of equipment won’t be far off…”
He took a deep breath and looked toward the direction of the Ninja Academy.
Today was the day of his scheduled battle with Minato!