Konohagakure, the Hokage’s office building.
Duy stood at the entrance and took a deep breath.
He looked down at his faded green outfit.
Then he patted his pocket, feeling the few crumpled mission payment receipts inside.
“It’s okay.” He quietly cheered himself on.
“For Guy.
I can do this for Guy.” He pushed open the door.
“Excuse me, is Lord Third available?” The chunin on duty looked up, recognized him as that Eternal Genin, and replied flatly: “Lord Third is very busy today.
Come back tomorrow.” Duy shook his head: “I’ll wait here.” He walked over to the door of the Hokage’s office and stood still.
Motionless.
One hour.
Two hours.
Three hours.
The sun set.
The moon rose.
Duy was still standing there.
The chunin on duty changed shifts.
The new jonin on duty glanced at him but said nothing.
Late at night.
The office door opened.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stepped out, pipe in mouth.
He saw the person standing at the door and paused.
“Might Duy?” Duy immediately dropped to his knees.
Dogeza.
Forehead to the floor.
“Lord Third!” His voice boomed, echoing through the empty hallway.
“I beg you!
Give Guy a chance!” The Third was silent for a few seconds, then took a drag from his pipe.
“Get up and speak.” Duy did not move.
“Lord Third, Guy failed the entrance exam.
I know.
His ninjutsu is no good, his genjutsu is no good either.
The examiners said he has no talent and will never become a shinobi.” His voice trembled slightly.
“But Lord Third, he gets up before dawn every day to train!
Yesterday he kicked five thousand times!
Today he jabbed the tree five thousand times!
His fingers are so swollen he can’t even bend them!” “He even has a wound on his arm from standing up for someone and getting cut by a kunai!
He’s only six years old!” Duy looked up, his eyes red but his gaze unwavering.
“Lord Third, Guy…
he’s really trying.
In his own way.
Through taijutsu.” “I stake my life on it!
Guy will definitely become an outstanding shinobi!” The hallway was silent.
The Third looked at this man kneeling before him.
An Eternal Genin.
Took him three tries to graduate from the Ninja Academy.
Twenty years had passed, and he was still a genin.
Some in the village called him the “Eternal Dead Last.” Others mocked him behind his back, saying his son would turn out just like him.
But he never complained.
Always cheerful, taking the hardest missions, doing the toughest work, never slacking off.
The Third took a puff from his pipe.
“Duy, do you know what time it is now?” Duy blinked.
“An era of war.” The Third spoke slowly.
“Every village is preparing for battle.
Konoha needs more shinobi too.
According to the rules, students who fail the entrance exam can be admitted through special recommendation.” Duy’s eyes lit up.
“But they need to demonstrate talent sufficient to compensate for their lack of ninjutsu.” The Third looked at him.
“Taijutsu qualifies.
But if he doesn’t meet the standard, admission will only hurt him in the long run.
He won’t be able to keep up, he’ll be mocked by his classmates, and eventually he’ll drop out.” Duy nodded firmly.
Before Duy could speak, the Third looked at him deeply and continued with weight: “Besides, once Guy enters the Ninja Academy, have you truly thought through what he will face in the future?” Duy’s expression stiffened for a moment.
But it was immediately replaced by resolve.
“I have!
And Guy has too.
We—” “Twenty days.” The Third interrupted him.
“Twenty days from now, the Ninja Academy will start.” “Before that, I’ll have Sakumo Hatake conduct an evaluation for him.
If he can demonstrate genin-level taijutsu, he’ll be granted special admission.” Duy froze.
Sakumo Hatake.
The White Fang of Konoha.
That legendary shinobi.
“What?” The Third raised an eyebrow.
“Lost confidence?” “No!” Duy’s forehead hit the floor again, his voice so loud the entire floor could hear: “Thank you, Lord Third!
Thank you, Lord Third!!” The Third waved his hand: “Alright, go home.
Twenty days from now, the back mountain training ground, 8 AM.” Duy scrambled to his feet, bowed three times, and ran for the door.
At the entrance, he turned back, gave a thumbs-up, and flashed his teeth: “Lord Third!
Guy will not disappoint you!” The Third watched that green figure disappear into the night and shook his head.
But a slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Duy ran all the way home.
Through the streets, through the alleys, he pushed open the door.
The house was dark.
Guy was still asleep.
Duy stood by the bed, looking at his son.
Moonlight fell across his face.
In his hand, he clutched a small handkerchief with a little flower embroidered on it.
Duy took a deep breath.
“Guy!” He yanked the blanket off in one motion.
“Wake up!!!” Might Guy groggily opened his eyes: “Dad…
the sun isn’t even up yet…” “It is!” Duy pointed out the window.
“The moon is just the sun of the night!
Youth has no day or night!” Might Guy sat up and rubbed his eyes.
“What is it?” Duy crouched down, placed both hands on his shoulders, his eyes blazing with intensity.
“Guy, Dad has great news.” “Yeah?” “In twenty days, the White Fang is going to evaluate you!” Might Guy blinked: “Evaluate me on what?” “Taijutsu!” Duy’s voice grew louder and louder.
“If you can demonstrate genin-level taijutsu, you’ll be granted special admission!
Lord Third said so himself!” [System Notice: Quest triggered – Admission Evaluation.] [Objective: Within twenty days, cultivate any two martial arts techniques to “Moderate Proficiency” (Proficiency ≥ 100).] [Reward: Monk Points ×100, Random Basic Gift Pack ×1] [Failure Penalty: None.
But admission qualification will be lost.] Might Guy was fully awake now.
Special admission.
Twenty days.
Evaluated by the White Fang.
He looked at Duy’s excited face, and a thought suddenly struck him.
“Dad…
where did you go just now?” Duy scratched his head: “I went to the Hokage building.” “When?” “After you fell asleep.” Might Guy looked out the window.
Dawn was almost breaking.
He had slept through an entire afternoon and a whole night.
That meant Duy had stood at the Hokage building all night long.
“Dad…” “Ah, it’s nothing!” Duy gave a thumbs-up, teeth gleaming.
“A real man standing all night is nothing!
What matters is you!” He held out his rough, large hand.
“Guy!
Twenty days!
The two of us will push hard for twenty days!
Let the White Fang see that taijutsu shinobi can be amazing too!” Might Guy looked at that hand.
Then at Duy’s bloodshot eyes.
Something felt like it was stuck in his chest.
He raised his hand.
And high-fived Duy.
Slap!
“Yeah!” Duy grinned: “That’s my boy!” He turned and walked out.
“I’ll make breakfast!
After we eat, training starts immediately!
Time is tight, can’t waste a single second!” At the door, he turned back.
“Guy.” “Yeah?” “Dad believes in you.” The door closed.
Might Guy sat on the bed and looked down at his hand.
His fingers were still swollen, but much better than yesterday.
The warm current of the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic flowed slowly through his body.
His wound had already scabbed over.
Twenty days.
Two low-grade ultimate techniques to Moderate Proficiency.
He looked at the system panel in the void.
[Vajra Leg: Beginner: 5/99] [Vajra Finger: Beginner: 5/99] Moderate Proficiency required 100 proficiency points.
That meant, within twenty days, each technique needed 95 more points.
At yesterday’s rate, five thousand kicks increased his proficiency by 5 points, and five thousand finger jabs increased his proficiency by 5 points.
Ten points per day total.
Twenty days gave him two hundred points.
Enough!
Guy grinned.
Besides, he was improving.
He wouldn’t stay stuck in the same place.
As long as he persisted, he would succeed!
Might Guy took a deep breath.
The system quest had no failure penalty.
But losing the chance for admission was the greatest penalty of all.
He got up, got dressed.
And pushed open the door.
Training.
Might Guy walked up to the wooden training dummy in the yard.
“Time is tight.
Can’t waste a single second.” Duy watched his son’s back.
His eyes reddened again.
“Yeah!” His booming voice rang out, startling even the neighbor’s dog into barking.
“Guy!
Eat first!
After breakfast, Dad will train with you!
Twenty days from now, we’ll show everyone!” Might Guy turned around, raised his thumb alongside his father, and flashed his teeth together: “The power of youth!!!” End of Chapter 4