Hyuga Sho's Confidence

"Ever since Guy enrolled, he's always paid close attention to that boy, Kakashi."

Might Duy straightened his back and spoke to Hyuga Sho with utmost seriousness.

There seemed to be a power in his sincere words that could move people's hearts.

He was a pure person.

Hyuga Sho thought.

"But Guy never managed to summon the courage to challenge Kakashi..."

Might Duy paused, hoping Hyuga Sho would understand what he was about to say.

"Thanks to you... your achievements influenced Guy and gave him the courage to finally take the first step toward challenging Kakashi today."

Hyuga Sho understood the whole story.

The "hardworking" and "battle-oriented" persona he had created.

It had influenced Guy imperceptibly.

As long as he worked hard at training, his strength would increase.

As long as he fought and challenged opponents, he could climb to the peak.

Hyuga Sho's various achievements had become the spiritual nourishment for Guy's growth.

Finally.

When Hyuga Sho defeated Asuma.

Guy's courage had accumulated to its maximum, and he had bravely made a move against Kakashi.

"Please continue to guide me from now on!"

Might Duy bowed deeply to Hyuga Sho.

After Might Duy left.

Only Guy, Hyuga Sho, and Hyuga Mami remained at the scene.

"Sorry you had to see that..."

Guy lowered his eyelids.

He spoke to the two of them.

This was also one of his few conversations with Hyuga Sho.

Usually, Guy would curl up alone in a corner.

No one cared about or paid attention to anything he did.

After saying that.

Guy turned and walked onto the school grounds...

The next morning, after classes ended.

The other students had all left.

Guy silently got up and was the last to leave.

He did not go straight home.

Instead, he began his training on the rear field.

"Today's midday goal... is to run one hundred laps around the field! No eating until I finish!"

After cheering himself on, Guy began to run.

At dusk, the other students went home.

Guy began training again.

"Before dark, jump fifty laps around the field. If I can't finish, I'm not allowed to go home..."

Hyuga Sho: "..."

Only after watching Guy's daily routine did Hyuga Sho understand certain things.

How Guy had managed to pass his make-up exam after failing the entrance test.

How he had silently worked hard for nearly five months.

"You work just as hard as he does."

Hyuga Mami gazed at Guy as she spoke.

There was not the slightest hint of surprise in her eyes or tone.

It was as if she had known about this all along.

"..."

Hyuga Sho blinked.

He thought.

Hyuga Mami must have seen Guy's efforts through her Byakugan long ago.

"Still... not everyone's hard work has value."

Before Hyuga Mami finished speaking, she turned and left.

In her view.

If one assumed they were training in a Taijutsu technique.

Hyuga Sho might need a month to master it completely.

But Guy... might need three months, or even half a year.

Even hard work had its threshold.

The next day.

In class.

"Class, today we'll review the Three Body Techniques."

Funano Daihoku walked to the lectern and announced the day's lesson.

"Hyuga Sho."

Funano Daihoku called on Hyuga Sho first.

Hyuga Sho rose and walked to the front of the classroom.

"Transformation Technique!"

Smoke billowed up, and Hyuga Sho transformed into Funano Daihoku.

"Substitution Technique!"

With the Substitution Log training prop he had prepared beforehand, Hyuga Sho completed 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 prodigies, Hyuga Mami and Hatake Kakashi.

Funano Daihoku believed that.

Hyuga Sho was a reflection of all the ordinary students.

Persevering and working hard could determine one's lower limit.

The students went up to the lectern one after another.

Some completed all three techniques, while others completed only one or two.

Of the thirty students in the entire class, only Might Guy...

"All three techniques... failed."

Funano Daihoku shook his head.

He could see a few things.

Might Guy was not lacking in effort; he genuinely had not the slightest bit of talent in "Ninjutsu."

Following Funano Daihoku's announcement.

The entire class erupted in laughter.

The students seemed to treat Guy as a source of amusement, delighted to see him make a fool of himself.

"..."

Guy lowered his head and trembled slightly in front of the lectern.

It was not anger.

Nor was it hatred.

It was disgust at his own powerlessness.

After classes ended that morning.

Guy sat in the classroom, staring blankly at the desktop.

"How can I... become as strong as Hyuga Sho...?"

"Work hard... work even harder..."

Only when Hyuga Sho's voice reached him did Guy suddenly raise his head.

Only then did he realize that Hyuga Sho was still in the classroom!

Actually, Hyuga Sho wanted to say.

Even if Guy could not perform the Three Body Techniques, his current situation was still much better than Hyuga Sho's in his previous life.

In his previous life...

Hyuga Sho had been trapped in a world without miracles.

That world had neither Ninjutsu nor Chakra.

There were certainly no Children who could leap several meters into the air or smash a rock apart with one punch.

But this world...

It had fulfilled Hyuga Sho's dream of possessing extraordinary power.

And even in that decaying world without miracles... Hyuga Sho had never abandoned his yearning for extraordinary power until the day he died.

"But no matter how hard I work, I still can't learn Ninjutsu..."

Guy raised his head and responded to Hyuga Sho with confusion and bewilderment on his face.

"Then go train in Taijutsu."

Hyuga Sho answered as though it were obvious.

Might Guy: "But..."

"It's an established fact that you can't learn Ninjutsu right now. Since that's the case, until you find a way to change the situation, focusing on honing your Taijutsu is the right path."

Just like me.

Hyuga Sho thought.

Before finding a way to undo the Caged Bird Seal.

He would simply grow stronger, stronger, and stronger.

"But..."

Guy's cheeks trembled, and his words became difficult to get out.

"Someone who can't use Ninjutsu can't be called a shinobi..."

"Then become a 'person' who isn't a shinobi but excels at 'Taijutsu.'"

Hyuga Sho's answer was exceptionally smooth, without the slightest hesitation.

His attitude formed a natural contrast with Guy's.

Damn... can this really work...?

The corner of Guy's mouth twitched.

He did not know.

Where Hyuga Sho's powerful confidence came from.