You call this a warm-up exercise?

Back in the classroom, Uchiha Houka realized that Might Duy was actually in his class as well.

However, at this point in time, Might Duy was just as unremarkable as any other background character, which was why Uchiha Houka's "predecessor" had absolutely no impression of him.

After the morning classes ended, Rin, Kurenai Yuhi, a conflicted-looking Uchiha Obito, and a vigilant Asuma Sarutobi walked over.

"Houka, this is the bento I made, please try it!" Kurenai Yuhi kept her promise and handed the bento she had prepared to Uchiha Houka.

Uchiha Houka took it and opened it; it was very girly and quite kawaii. He picked up a piece of sushi, and to his surprise, it tasted pretty good. Just as he was about to offer a compliment, he saw Asuma Sarutobi beside him pursing his lips tightly, looking like a man who had been cheated on and had lost all will to live.

At this moment, Rin also took out the bento she had made, her eyes fixed intently on Uchiha Houka.

The food he had cooked yesterday had completely conquered Rin—and, of course, Kurenai Yuhi as well.

No matter how he calculated it, Uchiha Houka felt like he was getting the short end of the stick.

Just then, he felt someone watching him. He turned his head and saw Might Duy. The guy was holding a thick stack of flatbreads, glancing at Uchiha Houka from time to time. From the expression on his face, it was clear he wanted to treat Uchiha Houka to some flatbread, but was afraid of disturbing him.

Uchiha Houka smiled and waved for Might Duy to come over.

"Houka!" Might Duy ran over with a grin. "Thank you so much for this morning. Let me treat you to some flatbread; my dad made these himself!"

Uchiha Houka took a look. As a three-star chef who had graduated from the New Oriental beauty and hairdressing program, he could tell at a glance that the flatbread had merely been roasted over a fire and at most seasoned with a pinch of salt. The taste would definitely be suffocating.

"That's too kind of you." Uchiha Houka hurriedly declined. He wasn't the type to demand repayment for a favor, and Might Duy, even if you become Lord Guy in the future, don't even think about insulting my dignity with these flatbreads!

Unfortunately, Might Duy was not a man who gave up easily. Seeing that Uchiha Houka wouldn't take it, he immediately started crying and shouting as he shoved the flatbread into Uchiha Houka's... mouth.

"Houka, this flatbread is super delicious, I would never lie to you!"

"Ahhh!" Tears welled up in Uchiha Houka's eyes. This flatbread, this flatbread... it was absolutely terrible!

Kurenai Yuhi and Rin burst into laughter at the sight.

"Hey, Duy, what are you doing!" Uchiha Obito pushed Might Duy away, looking very dissatisfied.

Uchiha Houka took the opportunity to pull the flatbread out of his mouth, nearly suffocating.

"Obito, this is Duy. I just met him this morning."

"Hey, Duy has been our classmate for a year now. Saying you just met him is way too rude!" Asuma Sarutobi huffed.

"It's okay, it's okay!" Might Duy said hurriedly.

"Regardless, let's eat together." Uchiha Houka took out his own bento. He felt like his team of foodies was growing, and he really needed to put the Shadow Clone Technique on his schedule; otherwise, just cooking alone would waste half his day!

After finishing the bento, Uchiha Obito's eyes darted around. Then, before Rin could say anything, he clutched his stomach with an exaggerated expression and ran off.

Rin was stunned, then looked at his retreating back with a huff, hands on her hips. She turned to Uchiha Houka and asked, "Houka, does Obito actually know any Medical Ninjutsu at all?"

Although it was a question, her tone was quite certain.

Obito had been pestering Rin day and night for the past year, so she had long since figured out his personality. If Obito really knew Medical Ninjutsu, how could he have run away in such a panic?

Even so, Uchiha Houka felt he should put in a good word for his bro.

"Rin, you know Obito. He spends his whole day either helping old ladies cross the street or on his way to help old ladies cross the street. Forget Medical Ninjutsu, he doesn't even have time to practice the Three Body Technique. How naive are you to believe his words?"

Obito, no need to thank me; this is just what a brother should do!

Uchiha Houka silently gave himself a thumbs up.

Across from him, Rin's face turned red, her cheeks puffed up in anger as she shouted that she would never believe that guy Obito again.

Uchiha Houka nodded in satisfaction.

When evening classes ended, Uchiha Houka told Uchiha Obito that he might be back late and to handle his own dinner.

Uchiha Obito asked him what he was going to do, acting all mysterious.

Uchiha Houka said he was going to practice Taijutsu.

Once Uchiha Obito heard that, he lost all interest in prying further.

As Uchiha Houka ran toward the place he had agreed to meet Might Duy, Masamune Hyuga also ran home, looking shy and embarrassed.

"Father!"

In a sprawling Japanese-style courtyard, Masamune Hyuga kept his head bowed, reporting what had happened that morning to his father, Hyuga Den, with a sense of grievance.

"The Uchiha brat really said that?" Hyuga Den was in his early thirties, kneeling on the floor in a white kimono with his back straight. He pondered slowly, "Such words could not possibly come from the mouth of a six-year-old child!"

"What does Father mean?" Masamune Hyuga asked timidly.

"Someone must have put him up to it!" Hyuga Den glanced at Masamune Hyuga, looking displeased. "Masamune, you idiot! You had already activated your Byakugan, yet you still couldn't beat Uchiha Houka. How stupid!"

"Father, I... please teach me the full Gentle Fist. I will definitely prove myself and defeat Uchiha Houka completely!" Masamune Hyuga was so scared he knelt prostrate on the ground, not daring to lift his head.

Hyuga Den nodded and said, "It is fortunate that you apologized, otherwise, if this heavy accusation were pinned on us... Masamune, I have already reported the news of your Byakugan activation to the Main House. They hold you in high regard, so you must not disappoint me again!"

"Yes, I will definitely practice the Gentle Fist well and defeat Uchiha Houka. I will never let Father down!" Masamune Hyuga immediately roared with excitement.

"Very good. Tonight, I will teach you the Gentle Fist!"

Clap, clap, clap!

In a secluded grove to the southeast of Konoha, a rapid rhythmic thumping echoed through the air as Might Duy stood before a wooden post, his hands moving like a blur as he struck it frantically.

"Hmm?" Might Duy's ears suddenly twitched, and he looked toward his left. "Is that Houka?"

"Yes, Uncle Duy." Houka ran out, slightly out of breath, but his eyes were bright. "I'm here!"

"Excellent, you're not late!" Might Duy smiled, giving a thumbs-up and flashing his pearly white teeth. "Though the sunset is fleeting, we cannot waste a single moment! Now, let's start with warm-up training!"

Houka felt as if he could see a roaring ocean behind Might Duy.

"Warm-up training, huh." Houka twisted his neck and wiggled his hips, left three times and right three times.

Might Duy's face darkened. "Houka, that level of movement can hardly be called a warm-up. Come on, run ten laps around this grove!"

"Ten laps?!" Houka gasped. Although this grove was small, a single lap was at least a thousand meters; ten laps meant ten thousand meters. You call this a warm-up?!

"Of course, and if you can't finish the ten laps, then do ten thousand jump ropes!" Might Duy said as if it were only natural.

"..." The corner of Houka's eye twitched, and he secretly told himself not to get angry, to exercise restraint and patience. Wasn't this exactly how Guy trained in the original story? What was there to be so surprised about?

"Then, then I'll start running now!" Houka said.

"Wait a moment." Might Duy's ears twitched again, and he roared, "Guy, you brat, you're late again!"