Two months later.
Back hill training ground.
“Nine thousand nine hundred ninety seven!
Nine thousand nine hundred ninety eight!
Nine thousand nine hundred ninety nine!!” “Ten thousand!” THUD!
The final kick landed on the tree trunk.
The trunk shuddered, sending leaves raining down.
Might Guy lowered his leg and caught his breath.
Ten thousand side kicks—but no system notification of proficiency increase came.
Guy glanced at the system panel.
[Vajra Leg: 999] [Vajra Finger: 999] [Muscle-Tendon Change Classic: 758] Ten days ago, both Low-Grade Ultimate Techniques had already slowed down.
But that last little bit just would not go up no matter what.
The system prompted: need enlightenment, or consume 100 Monk Points to break through.
In short: a plateau.
It wasn’t just that Guy didn’t have 100 Monk Points.
Even if he did, he wouldn’t use them.
If he couldn’t even achieve enlightenment for a Low-Grade Ultimate Technique, then he’d be letting down this body he’d inherited.
Even though his proficiency wouldn’t increase, he still hadn’t given up on his daily training.
PLOP!
Off to the side, Obito collapsed onto the ground, sprawled out flat, his chest heaving violently.
His face was covered in sweat, his clothes soaked through, strands of hair plastered to his forehead.
“Only fifty laps and you’re done?” Guy turned to look at him.
“Fifty laps?!” Obito glared.
“That’s fifty laps!
Running around the entire back hill!
Do you think everyone’s a monster like you?!” Guy grinned and gave a thumbs-up.
“Youth is meant to burn!
The hotter, the better!” “Burn your head…” Obito rolled his eyes.
Not far away, Kakashi leaned against a tree, kunai in hand, stabbing it into the trunk over and over.
His movements were light, but every single strike landed in the exact same spot.
The bark was already covered in dense holes.
He didn’t say anything, but his eyes glanced over in their direction.
A little further away, Rin sat on a rock, watching them with a smile.
She held a water flask in her hands, with a neatly folded towel placed beside her.
“Obito, drink some water.” She stood up and walked over.
Obito’s eyes lit up.
He sat up in a flash.
“Rin!
You specially brought—” Before he could finish, Rin had already walked past him, stopping in front of Guy and handing him the water flask.
“Guy, have a drink.” Guy took it and tipped his head back for a big gulp.
“Thanks!” Obito’s outstretched hand froze in midair.
He was petrified for two seconds.
Then he turned his head, his face full of indignation.
“Rin!!
I’m thirsty too!!” Rin turned back and smiled.
“There’s still some left in the flask.
You can pour it yourself.” Obito: “…” The corner of Kakashi’s mouth twitched.
He didn’t laugh out loud, but his shoulders shook.
Just then, footsteps sounded from the forest path.
Kurenai Yuhi came trotting over, a cloth bundle in her hands.
Her black curled hair swayed, her face slightly flushed.
“I…
I’m late.” She walked up to Guy and thrust the bundle forward.
“My mom made…
made too much.” Guy took it and opened it up.
As always: rice balls, pickled radish, and a small box of dumplings.
He picked up a rice ball and took a big bite.
“Mmm, good.” Kurenai stood beside him, the corners of her mouth curling up, her eyes bright.
Obito sidled over.
“Gimme one.” “Want some?
Go home and get your own.” “You!” Same routine, same flavor.
Obito ground his teeth in frustration.
Rin laughed out loud beside them.
Kurenai laughed too, her face growing even redder.
After the laughter died down, she suddenly remembered something.
“Oh, by the way, don’t come to the back hill for training anymore.” Guy chewed his rice ball and asked through a mouthful: “Why not?” Kurenai lowered her voice.
“There’s a bear.” Obito blinked.
“A bear?” “A ninja bear.” Kurenai said.
“A few days ago, someone spotted it deep in the mountains.
It’s huge—several times bigger than a normal bear.
The village sent quite a few shinobi to look for it, but none of them found it.” Rin nodded.
“My dad said the same thing.
Don’t go too deep into the back hill for a while.” Obito swallowed hard.
“Then…
then should we find somewhere else?” Guy didn’t answer.
He turned to look at Kakashi.
Kakashi didn’t answer either.
Their eyes met.
And then, at the same time— Their eyes lit up.
Obito saw those two pairs of eyes and his heart sank.
“Hey…
you two…” Guy grinned.
“A ninja bear?” Kakashi pulled his kunai out of the tree.
“Couldn’t find it?” “So that means…” “A rare chance for real combat!” They said it in unison.
Guy was genuinely excited.
Over the past few days, he’d started to figure something out.
Pure training wasn’t enough for enlightenment.
He needed real combat.
Actual life-and-death fighting.
This ninja bear’s appearance was the perfect opportunity!
Obito’s face went pale.
“Are you two insane?!
That’s a bear!!
A NINJA bear!!” Guy stood up and brushed the dirt off his pants.
“What’s there to be afraid of?” Kakashi tucked his kunai back into his ninja tool pouch.
“Perfect time to test the results of these past two months.” Obito’s eyes went wide.
He looked at Guy, then at Kakashi.
“You two…
you two are absolutely insane!” Rin was stunned too.
“Kakashi, are you guys really going?” Kakashi didn’t answer.
But his expression said it all.
Kurenai panicked.
She grabbed Guy’s sleeve.
“No!
It’s too dangerous!” Guy looked down at her.
Kurenai’s eyes were already red, her grip tight.
“You’re only six!
That’s a bear!
People die!” Guy scratched his head and grinned.
“It’s fine.
I’ve got youth.” “What good is youth?!” “Youth is meant to be burned.” Kurenai was choked by his words.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Guy saw her like that and panicked a little.
“Hey, don’t cry…” Kurenai bit her lip and said nothing.
But her hand was still gripping his sleeve, not letting go.
Then Kakashi spoke.
“Tonight.” He looked at Guy.
“Too many people right now.” Guy nodded.
“Alright.” Kurenai heard the word “tonight” and her tears fell immediately.
“You two…” She let go of his sleeve and wiped her eyes.
Then she took a deep breath.
“Then…
I’m coming too!” Guy blinked.
“What are you coming for?” Kurenai looked up at him, her eyes still red, but her expression dead serious.
“I’ll watch you.” “If…
if you can’t beat it, I’ll run back and get help!” Guy opened his mouth.
He wanted to say something, but looking at those red eyes, he swallowed his words.
Obito was shaking his head frantically beside them.
“I’m not going!
No way, no how!” Rin stood up and walked over to Obito.
“Obito.” Obito turned to look at her.
Rin smiled.
“If you’re not going, then Rin and I will go with them alone.” Obito froze.
“You…
you’re going too?!” Rin nodded.
“Mm.” Obito looked at Rin, then at Kurenai, then at Guy and Kakashi.
His face went red, then white.
Finally— “I’m going!!!” He shouted it out.
“I absolutely cannot let you two girls go by yourselves!
It’s too dangerous!” Rin smiled even brighter.
“Then let’s all go together.” Obito gnashed his teeth.
He felt like he’d been set up.
End of Chapter 13