A Trial

The wind howled, sending countless leaves fluttering through the air. Before the figure standing with hands on his hips and laughing wildly, Zhou Duan looked like a young woman who'd been violated. He wrapped his arms around his chest and curled up, staring blankly at Might Duy as if he'd just been assaulted, and let out a desperate cry:

"What did I do wrong? Why are you treating me like this!"

"Huh?"

Might Duy looked at Zhou Duan in confusion.

"My student, what did I do? What's wrong with this outfit?"

"Heh. You really have to ask?"

Zhou Duan looked at Might Duy's innocent expression and felt a pang of anguish. Remembering how the village described the man only made his head hurt more: an eternal genin who peddled perverted leotards; a pervert who wore a leotard that was better left unworn to hide the fact that he was an exhibitionist; a bastard whose entire outfit weighed less than a woman's swimsuit!

But that wasn't even the worst part. After Zhou Duan had cut holes in the leotard over the chest and crotch and sold it at an exorbitant price to two lecherous married men, the outfit had become even more notorious!

There had even been a time when Zhou Duan had wondered whether he could somehow put the leotard on Kaguya and make the final boss die of shame!

But now, staring at his body, which had been "defiled," Zhou Duan shook an Explosive Tag in his hand and wore a crazed smile.

"Hey, Might Duy, let's experience the brilliance of art together!"

"Boom!"

Might Duy snatched the Explosive Tag from his hand in an instant. His fist connected intimately with Zhou Duan's face, and its momentum didn't let up. It sent Zhou Duan flying through two trees before embedding him in a third!

"Hahahaha!"

Might Duy laughed heartily.

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

"He did that on purpose, didn't he? That bastard definitely did that on purpose!"

Clutching his right cheek, which had swollen to the size of a steamed bun, Zhou Duan muttered to himself.

"System, this guy's almost as strong as an elite jonin without opening the Eight Gates. The only reason he's been a genin for so many years is that his brain is so rare it belongs in a zoo, and he's been offending people without even realizing it!"

"Beep. The system cannot provide researchers with reference materials for overly complex interpersonal relationships. However, system scans show no obvious abnormalities in the researcher's right cheekbone. The subcutaneous tissue is extensively bruised, with numerous ruptured capillaries. Prompt treatment is recommended!"

"Ah, thanks for your concern!"

Zhou Duan placed his right hand on his face and activated the Healing Technique. Looking at the blood-pumped Might Duy, then thinking of his own miserable situation, he couldn't help sighing. He'd anticipated this scene before coming, but having the worst-case scenario come true still left him feeling a little unsettled. Still, this was the easiest way to escape the system's terrifying punishment. All it took was a face as thick as a city wall.

Besides, setting aside Might Duy's unconventional brain, when he unleashed his full strength, he was a superhuman who could stand against the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and kill four of them. Zhou Duan would never believe that he'd managed that without some special body-tempering method and special potions. The training method was one thing, but Zhou Duan definitely wanted the potions used for body tempering. With the system's help, it wasn't impossible that he could develop a new potion that the system didn't have!

With that thought, Zhou Duan looked at Might Duy and said resignedly:

"If you want me as your student, fine. But I don't have time lately, and you have to teach me your summoning technique today!"

"Really?"

Might Duy's eyes widened in disbelief. Though he kept saying he wanted Zhou Duan to become his student, he knew that even with his full strength, which surpassed that of an elite jonin, his training methods and their harsh requirements would make almost anyone give up!

The Shinobi World was anything but peaceful, and he could die at any time. His son was only two years old and couldn't learn his ninjutsu yet. As for asking someone else to pass his techniques on to his son... He couldn't get near anyone powerful enough, while someone weaker might die even sooner than he did!

That was why Might Duy had been so overjoyed when Zhou Duan showed interest in his Eight Inner Gates. A genius who had reached genin level after just two years at the Ninja Academy and become a Medical Ninja within a year—and whose adoptive father was Hatake Sakumo, a jonin from Konoha—actually wanted to learn his ninjutsu!

The Shinobi World was a cruel place. Relentless battles wore down the ranks of the ninja, who inevitably lost family and friends. As a result, the bond between master and student was no weaker than that between family. Unless someone was utterly wicked, they wouldn't hoard their master's techniques while abandoning the master's child.

With Zhou Duan's talent, he'd grow quickly even without training as hard as Might Duy did. And with a jonin adoptive father looking after him, Might Duy's worries about the future would be completely settled. The more Might Duy looked at Zhou Duan, the happier he became. But even so, he still had to go through the motions of "testing his student's aptitude." At once, Might Duy wiped the ecstatic look from his face and put on a solemn expression.

"Zhou Duan, although you sincerely wish to become my student..."

"Hm?"

Zhou Duan was a little confused.

"Did I sincerely wish to?"

"Although you've been through great hardship along the way..."

"Huh? Have I been through hardship?"

"Although there may also have been some sordid experiences you'd rather forget..."

"Hey, what do you mean, sordid? Explain yourself! You bastard, don't just make things up as you go!"

"But!"

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

"Although you've overcome countless hardships to make it this far, I still have to test your determination to become my student! My Eight Inner Gates will never accept someone with impure intentions who shirks hard work!"

"Oh, shit. I'm done for..."

Zhou Duan was scared stiff.

"What the hell are you going to do?!"

"Open the Gate of Opening! Open the Gate of Healing! Open the Gate of Life!"

Green energy gathered around Might Duy in an instant. His presence was as deep as an abyss, as hell itself, and a battle intent that seemed capable of tearing someone apart enveloped Zhou Duan.

"I've opened three gates. This is the sincerity of your master! Zhou Duan, if you can withstand five hundred punches from me, I'll accept you as my student!"

Zhou Duan: "...MMP!"