Trial

A strong wind blew, countless leaves fluttering down. Before a figure laughing wildly with hands on hips, Zhou Duan was like a violated maiden, arms crossed over his chest, body curled up, eyes vacant as he stared at Might Duy "assaulting" him, letting out a despairing cry:

"What did I do wrong? Why are you doing this to me!"

"Huh?"

Might Duy looked at Zhou Duan in confusion:

"My disciple, what did I do? Is there something wrong with this outfit?"

"Heh, do you really need me to spell out whether it's good or not?"

Zhou Duan stared at the innocent-looking Might Duy in front of him, feeling nothing but a dull ache in his balls. Recalling the village's reputation for this guy, his liver started throbbing too—a perpetual genin peddling perverse tight suits, a pervert who wore a skintight outfit that was worse than wearing nothing at all to cover up his exhibitionism, a bastard whose entire jumpsuit weighed less than a woman's swimsuit!

But that wasn't even the worst part. After Zhou Duan cut out the chest and crotch areas of the suit and sold them at a high price to two lecherous married men, this jumpsuit became a complete laughingstock!

There was a time Zhou Duan even fantasized about somehow getting this suit onto Kaguya, wondering if the final boss would die of shame on her own!

But now, looking at his own "defiled" body, Zhou Duan shook an Explosive Tag in his hand, a deranged smile spreading across his face:

"Hey, Might Duy, come experience the brilliance of art with me!"

"Boom!"

The Explosive Tag in his hand was snatched away by Might Duy in an instant. Fist met face, and the momentum didn't stop, carrying Zhou Duan's body through two trees before embedding him directly into a third!

"Hahahaha!"

Might Duy let out a hearty laugh:

"My disciple, to test your master's reflexes, you actually used an Explosive Tag like that! How was it? Not bad, right? If you study hard with me, you'll gain strength just like mine!"

"He's doing this on purpose, that bastard must be doing this on purpose!"

Zhou Duan clutched his right cheek, swollen to the size of a steamed bun, muttering to himself.

"System, this guy has strength close to a Jonin without even opening the Eight Inner Gates. The only reason he's been a genin all these years is because his brain is a goddamn rare beast that's been pissing people off without him even realizing it!"

"Beep. For overly complex interpersonal relationships, the system cannot provide research reference materials. However, system examination shows no obvious abnormalities in the researcher's right cheekbone, but extensive subcutaneous tissue congestion and numerous ruptured capillaries. Timely treatment is recommended!"

"Ah, thanks for the concern!"

Zhou Duan placed his right hand on his face and activated the Healing Technique. Looking at the bloodthirsty Might Duy in front of him and thinking about his own miserable situation, he couldn't help but sigh. Although he had anticipated this scene before coming, the worst-case scenario happening still left Zhou Duan a bit hard to swallow. Still, to escape the system's terrifying punishment, this was the easiest way—all it required was a face thick as a city wall.

Besides, setting aside Might Duy's unconventional brain, this guy at full combat power was an inhuman existence capable of standing up to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and taking out four of them. If there wasn't some special body-tempering method or special medicinal support involved, Zhou Duan would eat his hat. The body-tempering method was one thing, but the medicines used for it—Zhou Duan absolutely wanted those. Combined with the system, it wasn't impossible for Zhou Duan to research a new medicine not found in the system!

Thinking this, Zhou Duan looked at Might Duy and said, resigned:

"Fine, I'll be your disciple. But I don't have time right now, and you have to teach me your summoning technique today!"

"Really?"

Might Duy's eyes widened in disbelief. Though he'd been saying he wanted Zhou Duan as a disciple, Might Duy knew that even with his full power surpassing Jonin level, his training methods and harsh conditions could make almost anyone back off!

The ninja world was never peaceful. He could die at any moment, and his son was only two years old, completely unable to learn his techniques. As for entrusting someone else to pass the techniques to his son... he couldn't reach the strong, and the weaker ones might die even sooner than him!

So when Zhou Duan first showed interest in Might Duy's Eight Inner Gates, he was overjoyed—a genius who reached genin level after two years at the ninja academy and became a Medical Ninja in one year, with an adoptive father who was Konoha Jonin Hatake Sakumo. Such a genius wanted to learn his techniques!

The ninja world was a cruel place. Continuous battles drained ninjas quickly, and they inevitably lost family and friends. This meant that once a master-disciple bond was formed, the feelings it brought were no less than family. At the very least, unless someone was utterly evil, they wouldn't hog their master's techniques and abandon their master's child!

With Zhou Duan's talent, even if he wasn't as hardworking as Might Duy, he'd grow fast. Add in a Jonin adoptive father to look after things, and all of Might Duy's worries were solved. Might Duy looked at Zhou Duan, happier the more he saw him. But amid the joy, the ritual of "testing the disciple's aptitude" still had to be done. With that thought, Might Duy instantly dropped his ecstatic expression and put on a serious face:

"Zhou Duan, though you sincerely wish to take me as your master..."

"Huh?"

Zhou Duan was a bit dumbfounded:

"Did I sincerely wish for that..."

"Though you've endured great hardship along the way..."

"Hey, have I endured hardship..."

"Though there may be some unspeakable dirty experiences involved..."

"Hey, when did I get dirty? Explain yourself, damn it! Don't just ramble on your own!"

"But!"

Might Duy's eyes flashed like lightning, their piercing light seeming to bore through Zhou Duan's eyes:

"Though you've overcome countless difficulties to reach this point, your master must still thoroughly test your sincerity in seeking apprenticeship. My Eight Inner Gates will never accept those of impure character or lazy schemers!"

"Holy shit, this is bad..."

Zhou Duan was scared shitless:

"What the hell are you going to do!"

"Gate of Opening, open! Gate of Healing, open! Gate of Life, open!"

Green energy instantly gathered around Might Duy, his aura like an abyss, like hell. A killing intent that threatened to tear a person apart firmly locked onto Zhou Duan:

"Opening three gates at once—this is your master's sincerity, Zhou Duan. If you can withstand five hundred of my punches, I'll accept you as my disciple!"

Zhou Duan: "...mmp!"