A Conversation with Might Duy

After a night of drunkenness, Yūske slept until noon the next day before finally waking up.

After coming downstairs, he found several tables of guests enthusiastically enjoying their food.

"Just find yourself a seat. I'll have your dad make lunch and bring it over," his mother said when she saw her son was up. After giving him the instruction, she turned back to her work.

After a hearty meal, Yūske once again felt lost, as though he had no goal in life. It was not the loneliness of being invincible, but because ever since he had transmigrated into this world, he had lived a life arranged by others. Until yesterday, he had still been sparring with Enma in the forest.

Come to think of it, it was truly embarrassing that he had not even carried out a single mission yet.

His previous self had once had teammates. Ever since returning to the village, Yūske had begun an endless life of training. However, his strength had undergone earth-shaking changes because of it.

Yūske wandered down the streets out of habit. Watching the bustling crowds, he suddenly found himself missing Tsunade. Even though she never paid for meals, at least he would not be alone with her around.

Friends? After pondering for a moment, Yūske headed toward the training grounds.

There was that familiar figure again. Might Duy was at the training grounds as usual, persisting in his training day after day.

"Duy!" Yūske greeted him first.

"Yūske, long time no see!" Might Duy immediately stopped training and jogged over. Although they had met only once, Might Duy had long regarded Yūske as a good friend and a good partner.

"Congratulations on becoming Lord Hokage's disciple." Might Duy offered his sincere congratulations.

"Thank you, Duy."

"Want to have a match?" Remembering that no one had trained with him in a long time, Might Duy excitedly invited Yūske.

"No, I only just finished my training yesterday." Yūske then sighed.

"What's wrong, Yūske? Did something go wrong with your training?" Might Duy asked with concern.

"My taijutsu has hit a bottleneck," Yūske said bluntly.

Indeed, Yūske's overall strength was not particularly impressive. It was only after gaining the powers of the String-String Fruit that he had experienced a qualitative leap. Over the past few months, Yūske had given up training in genjutsu and ninjutsu, because the abilities granted by the String-String Fruit were already comparable to most ninjutsu. There was no need to waste more effort on ninjutsu. Therefore, he had focused on improving his fruit abilities and taijutsu.

"Duy, do you know of any ninjutsu that can unleash a person's potential and temporarily increase their strength?"

Might Duy was startled, and the words "Eight Inner Gates" surfaced in his mind.

"You mean you want to train in such a ninjutsu?" Might Duy asked.

"Yeah. If my taijutsu cannot improve any further for now, having a ninjutsu that can temporarily strengthen me might save my life in a life-or-death situation."

Then, Yūske lay down on the grass and looked up at the sky.

"I have a feeling that I may be returning to the battlefield soon."

Thinking of Jiraiya's departure, Yūske guessed that Hiruzen Sarutobi might send him back to the battlefield. He just did not know whether he would be facing Sunagakure or the Stone Ninja.

"Duy, if you have such a ninjutsu, I'm willing to trade other ninjutsu obtained through battle merits in exchange. Or if there's something you need, as long as I can do it."

Might Duy fell silent for a moment. Staring at Yūske, he said, "I do, but..."

Seeing Might Duy's conflicted expression, Yūske was not in a hurry. Instead, he burst into laughter.

"Duy, I'm not the sort of person who covets another family's secret techniques. We're friends, which is why I can talk to you so openly. I don't want to put you in a difficult position."

Might Duy looked at Yūske. Though Yūske spoke lightly, a seed had already been planted in his heart. If he could not even help his only friend, then... As he thought about it, his hand unconsciously clenched into a fist.

"Yūske, I have learned a ninjutsu, but without my father's permission, I cannot teach it to you privately. I'm sorry."

After a bout of inner struggle, Might Duy steeled himself and refused Yūske.

"Is that so?" Yūske said indifferently. "Then if you know of any other ninjutsu, please tell me. I can offer appropriate compensation as well."

"Mm." Might Duy nodded forcefully, agreeing to it.

Hokage's Office.

Knock, knock, knock!

Yūske lightly knocked on the door a few times, and Nara Haruna opened it.

"Haruna-nee, long time no see. I didn't see you yesterday, so I thought Teacher had fired you!"

Upon seeing Nara Haruna, Yūske smiled and teased her.

Bang!

Nara Haruna lightly knocked him on the head and said fiercely, "If your big sister gets fired, I'll go to your house and eat your food, use your things, and wear your clothes!"

"Ha ha ha..." Yūske did not dare respond. Women behind the wheel were far more ruthless than men.

"Yūske." Seeing him, Hiruzen Sarutobi greeted him and gestured for him to come over.

"I thought you wouldn't come looking for this old man so soon."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Yūske with a smile, making Yūske feel somewhat guilty. He had not done anything out of line, had he?

"It's like this, Teacher. If I don't need to train anytime soon, could you see if there are any missions you can assign me?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing. Yūske simply stood there, watching as he read through the documents word by word.

"Yesterday, Haruna went to the Logistics Department on my behalf to inspect supplies. They will be delivered to the Front Lines in a few days. Since you brought it up, you can accompany the convoy to the Front Lines."

"What rank?"

"A-rank!"