Hayate Gekko, frail but unyielding

Training, sword sparring, and waiting for the monthly exam—that was Jueming's plan.

"Senju Takeshi."

After school once again, Jueming sought out Senju Takeshi.

Senju Takeshi turned around and jumped when he saw Jueming standing on his hands. "Y-you, what do you want?"

"Nothing. Just a little 'Friendly Spar.'"

With his head upside down, Jueming stared straight at Senju Takeshi.

Senju Takeshi immediately felt a chill run down his spine. "Why don't you go find 'Sayuri'?"

Senju Sayuri.

She was one of the eight Senju Clan children who had taken the Entrance Examination together this year.

After five of them had been eliminated,

she, Jueming, and Senju Takeshi were the only three who had passed.

However, Senju Sayuri was elusive, often appearing and disappearing without a trace.

Worth mentioning was... she was a mixed-blood child of the Senju Clan and another clan.

Whether she would be affected by the Wood Release Factor was unknown.

Jueming also knew that such mixed-blood status was highly sensitive.

She might even be the hope of the entire Senju Clan.

After all, now that the entire Senju Clan was plagued by the hereditary virus of the Wood Release Factor, a mixed-blood child held immense research and observation value.

If Sayuri grew up safely,

then perhaps the Senju Clan would truly do as the villagers had rumored and merge their bloodline with other clans.

In other words... open up intermarriage.

When that time came, the Senju Clan might disappear completely.

But at least their bloodline would continue.

Unless necessary, Jueming had no intention of getting involved with her.

"Are you scared?"

Jueming said coldly.

"Are you going to mutate?"

"You're the one who's going to mutate!"

Senju Takeshi retorted instinctively.

"!"

His eyes widened as he suddenly realized something.

"You..."

Obviously, Senju Jueming knew everything too.

"Could it be..."

He thought again of Senju Akira, who had vanished without explanation.

"Senju Akira... she..."

"In the Senju Clan, the survivors are kings."

Jueming did not directly answer his question.

But it seemed Senju Takeshi also knew that something had gone wrong with the Senju Clan.

"If you're scared, forget it."

Supporting himself on his hands, Jueming quickly passed by him.

Even after Jueming had gone far away, Senju Takeshi merely clenched his fists and ground his teeth.

At one point, he took calming medication from his clothes and swallowed it directly. Only then did he feel much calmer mentally.

After returning home, Jueming frowned.

"That Senju Takeshi... looks like he'll mutate sooner or later."

His gaze fell on the door.

A week ago, this door had still been a gaping hole, smashed open by Senju Akira.

Whenever he recalled Senju Akira's grotesque mutated form, Jueming felt waves of danger.

Senju Takeshi was far stronger than Senju Akira.

After mutating, his strength would probably surge as well.

After all, Wood Release Cells were related to Physical Energy and would greatly enhance the body's strength.

"Since you've already tested him out, don't provoke him any further."

Mito Uzumaki's irritated voice rang out in his mind.

"He's still a fellow member of the Senju Clan."

"The best way to eliminate fear is to face it."

Jueming replied lightly.

"And running away... won't solve anything."

A ninja's training was a process of constantly drawing out the potential of the body and mind.

The Senju Clan's Yang Attribute would inevitably be awakened through training.

Which also meant...

"The more the Senju Clan trains, the sooner or later they must face the Wood Release Factor's invasion. Am I wrong...?"

Jueming said faintly.

Mito Uzumaki found it unbelievable. "He... actually deduced it in reverse?!"

Jueming said, "The conclusion is: the stronger a Senju Clan ninja is, the more likely they are to mutate...!"

This was the fatal weakness preventing the Senju Clan from reviving.

The more they trained, the more likely they were to suddenly die. How could that possibly be good?

"Aren't you afraid?"

Unable to find any rebuttal, Mito Uzumaki asked directly.

"Afraid? Why should I be afraid?"

The confidence in Jueming's voice practically overflowed.

With the [Grass Release System], what was there to fear? Would being afraid accomplish anything?

Besides, even when he had only been an ordinary person in his previous life, Jueming had never been afraid.

After lunch, Jueming crossed out the names of Might Guy, Obito Uchiha, and Senju Takeshi.

"Now... it's time to challenge the second tier."

Jueming looked at the slip of paper.

Hayate Gekko, Ebisu, Genma Shiranui, Aoba Yamashiro, Namiashi Raidō, Ibiki Morino.

Six people in total.

"I've lifted the restrictions on your movements."

Mito Uzumaki's voice came with a trace of pity.

"I don't need your pity, woman."

Putting away the slip of paper, Jueming stood on his hands again and headed toward the entrance.

A true strong person did not need to win anyone's sympathy.

"Defeat these six, then fleece the others..."

Still walking on his hands, Jueming made his way to the Ninja Academy...

[Odd Behavior +1]

"Cough, cough, cough..."

In the afternoon classroom, Hayate Gekko was coughing.

Uzuki Yugao watched her childhood friend with a worried expression.

"Have you not seen a doctor?"

A voice suddenly spoke.

Uzuki Yugao and Hayate Gekko turned their heads and saw... two legs?!

The sight gave both of them a fright.

Looking downward, they realized it was a person.

"Classmate Senju Jueming, you..."

Seeing Jueming standing on his hands, Uzuki Yugao hesitated slightly.

"This is a 'Bloodline Disease.'"

Hayate Gekko shook his head.

"I possess the 'Transparent Release Bloodline Limit.' While inheriting this ability, I also inherited this illness..."

"I see."

Jueming nodded, looking thoughtful.

It seemed that the Senju Clan was not the only one with problems.

Other clans could also suffer abnormalities in their descendants due to things like close-relative marriages.

However, a Bloodline Disease was still far milder than the Senju Clan's problem. At worst, one would simply die of illness.

Looking at Hayate Gekko's sickly appearance, Jueming had no idea how many years he would live.

But that was fine.

If he dies someday, I'll take good care of Uzuki Yugao.

In any case...

"Come have a 'Friendly Spar' with me."

Jueming issued a duel invitation.

"But..." Uzuki Yugao hesitated again.

"Didn't Hayate Gekko enter the Ninja Academy? Since he came here, doesn't that prove he wants to become a ninja? If you stop him from training, you're insulting his dream! Don't you understand what it means to be frail but unyielding?!"

Jueming's barrage of lofty reasoning made Uzuki Yugao retreat involuntarily, while a spark lit up in Hayate Gekko's eyes.

"Okay!"

Hayate Gekko nodded firmly.

Then let's do it.

Becoming an outstanding ninja was my dream, Hayate Gekko's dream!

Even if I die along the way, I will never regret it!