Guy’s training continued.
One.
Two.
Three.
His fingertips struck the rough tree bark.
It hurt.
But he gritted his teeth and kept going.
The warm current of the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic circulated through his body.
His fingertips split open, healed, split open again, healed again.
The sun slowly rose higher.
One hundred.
Two hundred.
Five hundred.
One thousand.
His fingers were swollen like carrots.
Two thousand.
His knuckles were raw and bleeding, leaving streaks of blood on the tree bark.
Three thousand.
The pain went numb.
But he kept jabbing.
There was only one thought in his mind: Guy, do not stop.
Four thousand.
Five thousand.
When the final jab struck out, his fingers could no longer bend back.
Might Guy spread his hands open, looking at ten red, swollen fingers, and grinned.
[Vajra Finger: Beginner: 5/100] “Good.
Time to go home and eat.” The way back required cutting through a small forest.
Might Guy swung his arms to get the blood flowing.
His fingertips throbbed with pain, but he was in a good mood.
Then he heard crying.
Very soft crying, the kind where someone was covering their mouth, afraid to make a sound.
Might Guy’s steps halted.
He followed the sound.
Deeper in the woods, four older boys had formed a circle around a little girl.
Short, black, naturally curly hair.
Big, wine-red eyes.
Adorable.
Exceptionally cute.
But right now, the little girl had tears in her eyes, though she was biting her lip to keep them from falling.
She was clutching a hair tie in her hands, and the boys were reaching out to snatch it.
“Let go!” “No!
My mom gave this to me!” “Let go or we’ll hit you!
Hand it over now!” “Picking on a little girl?!” An explosion went off in Might Guy’s mind.
[System Notice: Quest triggered – Stand Up for the Weak, Act with Chivalry.] [Reward: Monk Points +80, Random Basic Gift Pack ×1.] Guy ignored the system notice completely.
He charged forward and bellowed at the top of his lungs: “LET GO OF THAT GIRL!!” The four older boys jumped in surprise and turned around in unison.
The leader was a chubby kid of about seven or eight, wearing a wrinkled Ninja Academy uniform.
He sized up the newcomer, then a mocking grin spread across his face.
“Oh, look who it is.” He looked Might Guy up and down, taking in the green outfit.
“The Eternal Genin’s son?
The dead last who failed the entrance exam?” The others laughed along.
“I heard he cannot even do the Clone Technique.
Just a little taijutsu.” “What good is taijutsu?
You just end up as someone’s punching bag.” The chubby kid stepped forward and shoved Might Guy: “Know your place and get lost.
Do not stick your nose where it does not belong…” He did not finish.
Guy executed a flying kick.
“Vajra Leg!
Oooh-yaa!!” Thud.
His foot slammed into the kid’s shin.
The chubby boy let out a scream and dropped straight to his knees.
The remaining three froze for a second, then charged forward with angry shouts.
Might Guy did not dodge.
He jabbed out with two swollen, carrot-like fingers on his right hand, striking the second boy squarely in the shoulder.
That one clutched his shoulder and screamed, his entire arm gone numb.
The third lunged from the side, clutching a blunt kunai in his hand.
It was a training kunai, not sharpened, but it would still hurt if it slashed you.
Might Guy sidestepped and executed a high kick, the top of his foot catching the boy under the chin.
He went down flat on his back.
The fourth one turned and ran in terror, shouting as he fled: “Just you wait!
You will pay for this!” Might Guy did not chase.
He looked down at his right arm.
He had not dodged completely.
The tip of the kunai had left a gash along his arm.
Blood dripped down past his elbow.
It was not deep, but it hurt quite a bit.
He did not make a sound.
He turned to look at the little girl.
She was still standing there, clutching the hair tie, her big eyes staring at him blankly.
Might Guy flashed a grin, raised his thumb, and bared his white teeth: “It is okay now!” Sunlight fell across his face.
There was sweat on his forehead and blood still trickling down his arm, but his smile was radiant.
The little girl was transfixed.
Then her face turned red.
She lowered her head and whispered: “Th-thank you…” Might Guy walked over and crouched down to look at her: “What is your name?” “…K-Kurenai…
Yuhi Kurenai.” Her wine-red eyes looked up at him for a moment, then quickly dropped back down.
Might Guy blinked.
Kurenai Yuhi?
Little Kurenai?
No wonder she was so cute.
“I really want to pinch her cheeks…” Guy suppressed the urge, scratched his head to ease the awkwardness, and said: “So, why are you here all alone?” Kurenai bit her lip, her voice even softer: “I…
I just finished training and wanted to take a shortcut home…” Might Guy nodded.
“Stick to the main road from now on.
If those jerks come after you again, run.
If you cannot outrun them, yell.
I will hear you and come.” Kurenai blinked.
She looked at his green outfit, then at his fingers swollen like carrots, and then at his bleeding arm.
“Y-your hand…” “It is nothing!” Might Guy waved his hand, wincing slightly at the pain, but his smile did not falter.
“A real man does not sweat the small stuff!” Something flickered in Kurenai’s eyes.
She bit her lip.
From her pocket, she pulled out a neatly folded little handkerchief and held it out to him.
“Here…
wipe the blood.” Might Guy blinked, then took it: “Thanks.” Kurenai’s ears turned bright red.
She spun around and ran, but after a few steps, she turned back and said earnestly: “My name is Yuhi Kurenai!
You have to remember me!” Then she ran even faster.
Her black curly hair bobbed in the sunlight.
Might Guy watched her retreating figure, then looked down at the handkerchief in his hand, and smiled.
There was a small flower embroidered on it, with a faint, pleasant fragrance.
[Quest complete: Stand Up for the Weak, Act with Chivalry.] [Obtained: Monk Points +80, Random Basic Gift Pack ×1.] [Open gift pack?] “Open.” [Obtained: Golden Wound Medicine ×3.
Fast healing.
For external use.] Might Guy’s eyes lit up.
Golden Wound Medicine?
This was good stuff.
He then allocated all 80 Monk Points to the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic.
[Monk Points -80] This was the foundation.
Guy had already decided: from now on, every Monk Point he earned would go straight to the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic.
His one goal was to bring the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic to completion as fast as possible.
To lay the most solid foundation for his future self.
Besides, the higher his proficiency in the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic, the faster his body would recover.
The more he could withstand higher-intensity training.
A virtuous cycle.
In high spirits, Guy hummed a little tune as he made his way home, pushed open the door, and walked in.
“Guy!” Duy immediately came over.
“You must be hungry!
Dad made a special—” He stopped mid-sentence when he saw the blood on Might Guy’s arm.
“You are hurt?!” “Just a scratch.” Might Guy waved his hand.
“Ran into some bullies on the way.
Got into a fight.” Duy paused, then his eyes reddened again.
He wrapped his arms around Might Guy: “Good son!
Standing up for others!
That is what a real man does!” Might Guy could barely breathe from the squeeze: “Dad…
food…” “Oh, right, right!
Let us eat!” On the table sat two plates of steaming fried rice with bizarre colors.
Green bits, red bits, and yellow bits all mixed together.
It looked like some kind of unknown ninjutsu.
Might Guy sat down, picked up his spoon, and took a big bite.
The taste was actually pretty good.
Duy sat across from him, staring at him the whole time.
“Guy.” “Yeah?” “Did you put any medicine on that hand?” “Not yet.” Duy got up, dug a small medicine kit out of the cabinet, and pulled out some ointment.
He sat down next to Guy and carefully applied it.
Might Guy looked down at this man’s clumsy movements.
In his past life, he had been an orphan.
No one had ever applied medicine for him.
“Dad.” “Yeah?” “Today I took down four of them.
One of them had a kunai, and I was not scared at all.” Duy’s hands paused for a moment.
He looked up, eyes red again, but his smile was full of pride.
“That is my boy!” He gave Might Guy a hard slap on the back.
Might Guy nearly spat out his food.
After the meal, Duy was clearing the dishes when he suddenly remembered something.
“Oh, Guy.
Dad is going out of town tomorrow.” Might Guy looked up: “Where?” “There is a mission outside the village.
Escorting a merchant caravan to the next town.
Should take about two or three days.” Duy scratched his head.
“It is a C-rank mission.
I was not going to take it, but the pay is good…
and the client specifically asked for me.” He gave a thumbs-up and flashed his teeth: “See?
Dad still has some reputation!” Might Guy nodded.
It was normal for a genin to take C-rank missions.
“Get some good rest today, then.” Duy patted his head.
“Your body comes first.
While Dad is away, do not push yourself too hard.
And remember to eat on time.” Might Guy blinked.
This passionate fool could actually say things like “do not push yourself too hard.” “I got it.” Duy grinned, stood up, and headed out to buy groceries.
That afternoon.
Guy walked into the yard and looked at all the training equipment.
He really wanted to start training right now.
But Duy’s words echoed in his ears.
“Your body comes first.” “Do not push yourself too hard.” Might Guy looked at his swollen fingers.
Then at the wound on his arm.
It had scabbed over, but it still hurt when he moved.
He took a deep breath and stood up.
He turned and went back inside.
He lay down on the bed.
The Muscle-Tendon Change Classic circulated slowly, warm currents flowing through his body.
His fingers did not hurt as much anymore.
The wound felt tingly, healing.
Outside the window, the sunlight was perfect.
But he closed his eyes and went to sleep.
Duy was right.
Resting properly was the key to training better.
Evening.
Duy pushed open the door and saw that Might Guy was still asleep.
He paused.
Then he smiled.
He tiptoed to the bedside and carefully tucked the corner of the blanket around Guy.
“Good son.” He whispered.
“You learned to rest.” Duy looked at him a few more times, as if some decision had been made in his heart.
He took a deep breath, turned, and walked out.
End of Chapter 3