Challenge

"You... look very familiar..."

The scientist dressed like a doctor leaned closer to Moriyue. He had handled too many "volunteers (forced)," and after a month had passed, he could no longer remember who Moriyue was.

Yugito Nii stepped between him and Moriyue, shielding Moriyue behind her. Her gaze turned extremely dangerous in an instant. Without bothering with threats, she directly tossed over the scroll Moriyue was holding.

"Take a look at this forbidden technique. Is it possible to practice it? Can it be improved? Tell me everything you know clearly."

"Okay, okay, calm down first..." The man laughed awkwardly and reached out to catch the scroll containing Reversal.

"Oh, you mean this? Isn't this Reversal? It's a very crazy concept."

He seemed to know this technique very well—or rather, all researchers of forbidden techniques were familiar with it.

"This technique is basically impossible to succeed with. At the very least, for a normal ninja to practice it would be no different from courting death. Chakra flowing in reverse—do you know what that means? Everything would be overturned. The pathways through which modern ninja Chakra flows have long since been fixed, and how many ordinary people can control the course of their Chakra flow?"

At that point, the man glanced at Moriyue. He remembered now. He had examined Moriyue's body before and knew the boy's physical structure was somewhat strange. Fatal wounds were like child's play to him. He suspected Moriyue had secretly practiced other forbidden techniques long ago, but he had no way to confirm it.

"Does he have a chance of succeeding with this technique?" Yugito Nii's gaze remained icy. She had no favorable impression of these madmen. If the higher-ups had not forbidden it, she would have wanted to act directly.

"This guy? He practiced Life Burning. Whether he can even live to see that day is another matter. Life Burning altered his body. In order to release the Chakra within an ordinary human body, his Chakra pathways can't exactly be called a tangled mess—they can only be said to barely exist at all. Still, it might be worth trying."

"After all, the core of this forbidden technique is 'reversal.' Since it's already such a mess, reversing it might restore it outright." The man clearly had no confidence either and simply brushed them off. Who the hell would know something like that? It would be more accurate to let him experiment on himself.

Having received an answer that was neither clearly good nor bad, the two could only leave.

"You heard what he said." Yugito Nii returned the scroll to Moriyue. What to do was Moriyue's choice; she could not deprive someone else of the right to choose.

Moriyue nodded. Since he would not die anyway, he would find out by trying it. What kind of damn scientist was that? He did not know what the technique would do either.

Practice was the sole criterion for testing truth. Talking without acting would not do. Moriyue would be the vanguard of truth.

"It's fine. But I should be able to take missions now, right? I've troubled you for so long. Once I earn some money on a mission, I'll treat you to a good meal." Moriyue changed the subject, trying to make their conversation less heavy.

"But don't you have money now? Why not treat me now?" Yugito Nii smiled faintly, no longer thinking about the forbidden technique.

"I didn't earn that myself. It doesn't feel right spending it."

"..."

Moriyue had already completed his training under Yugito Nii, which meant he now had to start taking missions. Even Darui could only give him one month of special training. Over that month, the people around him had developed quite a few opinions about Moriyue. Considering how he risked his life at every turn, they had gotten smarter—when challenging him to spar, they simply forbade him from using forbidden techniques.

They did not believe Moriyue could improve much in a single month. Many people had their eyes on his position. A crowd of Chunin and Genin were desperately trying to squeeze in, and now that they had finally found an opportunity, they naturally would not let it pass.

Even on the way to find Darui, Moriyue noticed the hostile looks from those around him. Kumogakure valued strength above all else. If you wanted something, you fought for it yourself. The Raikage greatly encouraged this atmosphere as well. Healthy competition promoted progress, and none of the village's positions were fixed. Whoever had the strength took the position. Even Darui's captaincy was not fixed.

"If I don't show strength worthy of it, these people won't acknowledge me as one of them. Being cautious is one thing, but I can't back down at a time like this."

So Moriyue glared back at them without ceremony. He cleared his throat, his voice deep and forceful, not at all like that of an ordinary person who had exhausted his lifespan.

"Everyone, I know you have some opinions about me and believe my strength does not match my current position."

"So I won't waste words. Anyone who thinks I am not qualified to join Darui's team can step forward now. If you defeat me, I will naturally withdraw."

The moment he said that, everyone's eyes focused on Moriyue. An opportunity! Had this kid gotten too full of himself? There should be a limit to arrogance. Since when did some insignificant forbidden-technique user dare act so brazenly?

"I'll knock that arrogance down a notch!" A dark-skinned, red-haired girl charged forward with a Katana in hand. She barreled straight ahead, looking utterly casual, as though challenging Moriyue was merely a passing interest.

"This is... Karui? Killer B's disciple..." Moriyue looked at the unconcerned Karui, unable to understand why she had stepped forward at this moment.

"Killer B's disciple..." Yugito Nii rubbed her forehead. She felt she knew why Karui was challenging Moriyue.

"Killer B and I are both tailed-beast Jinchuriki. Although the Two-Tails and I are not as in sync as Killer B and the Eight-Tails, I can still be considered a perfect Jinchuriki."

"Where there are people, there will be conflict. Killer B and I have special identities, so competition is inevitable. Where there is competition, different factions will naturally emerge. Many people support Killer B, and his personality makes it easy for him to earn their approval."

Yugito Nii's voice was very soft. She did not continue after saying that. From the way the people around her treated her, along with details such as the Two-Tails being extracted from her too early in the original story, Moriyue could roughly infer that Yugito Nii was not very good at dealing with people.

She could be cold and ruthless toward enemies, but when it came to people from her own village, she truly had no good solution. It was simply her nature, and she would not blame anyone else for it.

"Competition between Jinchuriki? Interesting. Fine, I accept your challenge." Moriyue's lips curled up slightly as he let out a heavy breath. Flames seemed to burn in his pupils.

"You represent the Eight-Tails in this challenge, don't you? Although Yugi... ahem, although she only taught me for a month, I can barely count as the Two-Tails' disciple."

"Come on. Let me see your strength."

"Heh, gladly."