"Ever since they enrolled, Guy had always been very concerned about Kakashi."
Might Duy straightened up and spoke to Hyuga Sho with utmost seriousness.
There seemed to be a power in his sincere words that could move people.
He was a pure person.
Hyuga Sho thought to himself.
"But Guy never managed to gather the courage to challenge Kakashi..."
Might Duy paused, hoping Hyuga Sho would understand what he was about to say.
"Thanks to you... your deeds influenced Guy and gave him the courage. Today, he finally took the first step toward challenging Kakashi."
Hyuga Sho understood the whole story.
The "hardworking" and "battle-hardened" image he had built for himself
had subtly influenced Guy.
As long as one trained hard, one could grow stronger.
As long as one fought and challenged opponents, one could climb to greater heights.
Hyuga Sho's various deeds had become spiritual nourishment for Guy's growth.
At last.
When Hyuga Sho defeated Asuma,
Guy's courage had accumulated to its limit, and he bravely made a move against Kakashi.
"From now on... please continue to guide him!"
Might Duy gave Hyuga Sho a deep bow.
After Might Duy left,
only Guy, Hyuga Sho, and Hyuga Mami remained.
"Sorry you had to see that..."
Guy lowered his eyelids
and spoke to the two of them.
This was also one of his rare conversations with Hyuga Sho.
Usually, Guy stayed alone in a corner.
No one cared about or paid attention to anything he did.
After saying that,
Guy turned and walked into the academy...
After school that morning,
all the other students had left.
Guy silently rose to his feet, leaving last.
He did not head straight home.
Instead, he began training at the rear field.
"Today's noon goal... run one hundred laps around the field! No food until I finish!"
After encouraging himself, Guy began to run.
By dusk, the other students had gone home.
Guy began training again.
"Before it gets dark, jump fifty laps around the field! I'm not allowed to go home if I fail..."
Hyuga Sho: "..."
After witnessing Guy's daily routine,
Hyuga Sho finally understood certain things.
How Guy had managed to pass the makeup exam after failing the entrance test.
And how he had quietly worked hard over these past nearly five months.
"You work just as hard as he does."
Hyuga Mami watched Guy and said this.
There was not the slightest hint of surprise in her gaze or tone.
It was as though she had known about this all along.
"..."
Hyuga Sho blinked.
He thought to himself.
Hyuga Mami must have long since seen Guy's efforts through her Byakugan.
"It's just... not everyone's efforts have value."
After saying that, Hyuga Mami turned and left.
In her view,
if they were training in a Taijutsu technique,
Hyuga Sho might need one month to master it completely.
But Guy... might need three months, or even half a year.
Even hard work had a threshold.
The next day.
In class.
"Students, today we'll review the Three Body Techniques."
Funano Daihoku walked to the podium and announced that day's lesson.
"Hyuga Sho."
Funano Daihoku called on Hyuga Sho first.
Hyuga Sho stood and walked to the front of the podium.
"Transformation Technique!"
Smoke rose, and Hyuga Sho transformed into Funano Daihoku.
"Substitution Technique!"
The pre-prepared Substitution Log training tool allowed Hyuga Sho to complete the substitution.
"Clone Technique!"
An identical Hyuga Sho appeared beside him.
"Very good..."
Funano Daihoku nodded with great satisfaction.
"Everyone should learn from Hyuga Sho and work hard."
Although the class had two geniuses, Hyuga Mami and Hatake Kakashi,
Funano Daihoku believed
Hyuga Sho was the true reflection of all ordinary students.
Persistent effort could determine one's lower limit.
The students went up to the podium one after another.
They either completed all three of the Three Body Techniques or managed only one or two.
Among the thirty students in the entire class, only Might Guy...
"The Three Body Techniques... all failed."
Funano Daihoku shook his head.
He could see certain things.
Might Guy was not lacking in effort; he simply had not even the slightest talent for "Ninjutsu."
Following Funano Daihoku's announcement,
the entire class burst into laughter.
The students seemed to treat Guy as a joke, delighted to see him embarrass himself.
"..."
Guy lowered his head, trembling faintly before the podium.
It was not anger.
Nor was it hatred.
It was disgust at his own helplessness.
After school that morning.
Guy sat in the classroom, staring blankly at the surface of his desk.
"How... can I become as strong as Hyuga Sho..."
"Work hard... work even harder..."
Only when Hyuga Sho's voice reached him did Guy abruptly raise his head.
Only then did he realize that Hyuga Sho was still in the classroom!
In truth, Hyuga Sho wanted to say
that even if Guy could not use the Three Body Techniques, his circumstances were still much better than Hyuga Sho's had been in his previous life.
In his previous life...
Hyuga Sho had been trapped in a world without miracles.
That world had no Ninjutsu and no Chakra.
There were no children who could leap several meters high or smash a boulder with one punch.
But in this world...
Hyuga Sho's dream of supernatural power had become reality.
And even in that decaying world without miracles... Hyuga Sho had never abandoned his yearning for supernatural power until the day he died.
"But no matter how hard I work, I still can't learn Ninjutsu..."
Guy raised his head, responding to Hyuga Sho with confusion and bewilderment written all over his face.
"Then train in Taijutsu."
Hyuga Sho answered as though it were only natural.
Might Guy: "But..."
"Your inability to learn Ninjutsu is a settled fact for now. Since that's the case, before you find a way to improve your situation, focusing on honing your Taijutsu is the proper path."
Just like me.
Hyuga Sho thought to himself.
Before finding a way to undo the Caged Bird Seal,
he would simply keep growing stronger, stronger, and stronger.
"But..."
Guy's cheeks trembled, and speaking became difficult.
"Someone who can't use Ninjutsu can't be called a ninja..."
"Then become a person who isn't a ninja, but excels at 'Taijutsu.'"
Hyuga Sho's answer came exceptionally smoothly, without the slightest hesitation.
It formed a natural contrast to Guy's attitude.
Damn... that works too?
Guy's mouth twitched.
He did not know
where Hyuga Sho's powerful confidence came from.
Before you continue