White Fang of Konoha

The next day, before dawn.

Might Duy's training was absolutely extreme—no, the extreme of extremes. In other words, it was practically suicide!

Houka had lost count of how many times he'd cramped up. Both his hands and feet were so sore and numb that he could barely feel them, while his heart felt as if it were about to burst from his chest. He felt like he was going to die the next second.

Under a tree nearby lay several weighted sandbags. During such extreme exercise, those weights were nothing but a burden.

"Houka, giving up already?" Might Duy shouted at Houka while holding a bowl of poisonous chicken soup. "Look up! The blazing sun is rising, and the earth is bursting with life once more. This is the power of youth! Let us burn together!!!"

Burn your sister! I really can't go on!

As a Medical Ninja, Houka knew his own body very well. If he continued training, he really would be finished.

Guy's condition was about the same as his. He was also sprawled nearby, unable to move. The two of them had broken through their physical limits several times during that morning's training and made tremendous progress, but the toll was just as great—especially the damage to their bodies. If it wasn't treated carefully, it could easily leave hidden problems behind and turn into internal injuries!

Might Duy once again tried to force poisonous chicken soup down his own son Guy's throat, but unfortunately, even his own son was useless this time.

"All right, that's enough training for this morning. Hmm, it's about time too. Hurry to school for class!" Might Duy revealed his pearly front teeth and said, "After school, get here as quickly as possible. We have devil training to do!!!"

Houka closed his eyes in pain.

The two brothers-in-misery arrived at the Ninja Academy after exhausting the last trace of their strength. They spent most of the morning's classes listening with their heads on their desks.

Houka narrowed his eyes slightly as Chakra circulated through his body, repairing the swollen meridians and soothing the strained muscles in his arms and legs.

During the training he'd done over the past holidays, Houka had thought he was already working hard. But compared with Might Duy's training, he had merely been at the level of a three-year-old child.

No wonder Guy became so powerful later on. Even Six Paths Madara was beaten into howling. His efforts deserved such a reward.

At noon, Obito, Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, Rin, and Asuma Sarutobi came over of their own accord to share the boxed lunch Houka had cooked himself.

"Hey, Houka, you've looked completely listless all morning. You trained way too hard!" Obito shoveled food into his mouth while talking, spraying rice everywhere.

"Training? What training?" Rin dodged Obito's flying rice and asked curiously.

Uchiha Obito answered every question he was asked. "Houka has been training Taijutsu outside. He went out first thing this morning."

Asuma Sarutobi looked at Houka, then at Guy. The exhaustion on the two of them was practically identical, and he immediately guessed that Houka was training Taijutsu under Guy's father, Might Duy.

But wasn't Might Duy an Eternal Genin?

He was training under him?

Asuma Sarutobi looked at Houka, confusion in his eyes.

The reputation of an Eternal Genin resounded throughout Konoha. Of course, it was not a good reputation—it carried a mocking undertone.

Houka said indifferently, "Taijutsu training is naturally difficult. There's no need to make such a fuss."

"Houka, my dad said Taijutsu training damages the body, so you need to rest more," Kurenai Yuhi said innocently.

"Mm, thanks for your concern." Houka's heart warmed.

Guy ate no more slowly than Obito. Hearing this, he said, "Don't worry. With my dad there, nothing will happen to Houka!"

"Huh? Your dad?" Apart from Asuma, the others all widened their eyes as they stared at Guy and Houka.

"Hey, hey, could it be that you..." Obito looked incredulous.

How could Houka be training Taijutsu under Might Duy, the Eternal Genin? It was simply inconceivable.

Seeing their expressions, Guy immediately shouted, "My dad may be a Genin, but he's incredibly strong! He's an outstanding Taijutsu Ninja!"

In a child's heart, his father was always the strongest! Even after being lectured countless times by Masamune Hyuga, he still firmly believed this.

"I also think Uncle Might Duy is incredibly strong!" Houka said with an expression of agreement.

Guy immediately looked over gratefully.

Obito opened his mouth to say a few more words, but someone interrupted him.

A burst of chaotic footsteps came from outside the classroom, accompanied by swearing. Several rather familiar figures appeared at the doorway.

"Uchiha Houka, get out here!"

A group of delinquent children shouted loudly, their target clearly Houka.

"You!" When Obito saw the leader, his expression immediately changed. "Uchiha Ronai!"

During the holidays, Ronai had brought people to beat Obito up. Houka had eventually come to his rescue. Who would have thought that only a few days after school started, Ronai would come looking for trouble again?

Uchiha Ronai came swaggering over with his head held high, but after sweeping the room with a contemptuous gaze, he immediately wilted.

Damn it, why is Asuma Sarutobi eating with Uchiha Houka?!

As the son of a deputy squad leader of the Konoha Military Police Force, Uchiha Ronai knew Asuma Sarutobi's true identity. The two of them were worlds apart.

"Ahem, ahem! Well, I just came over to say hello!" Uchiha Ronai couldn't quite swallow his pride, yet he also lacked the courage to do anything. In the end, unable to contain his anger, he pointed at Houka and shouted, "Uchiha Houka, this isn't over yet! You'd better watch yourself!"

With that, he ran away in disgrace.

His lackeys exchanged glances, then also fled with their tails between their legs.

Houka thoughtfully glanced at Asuma, then shrugged and said, "It's nothing. Eat."

At the same time, in a hall inside the Konoha Hokage Building, a place where Ninja accepted and handed over missions, the scene was bustling. Ninjas who were rarely seen at ordinary times could be found everywhere, and even Jonin appeared now and then.

"Ueda, please! Just let me take this B-Rank Mission!" Might Duy pleaded with the young Ninja responsible for issuing missions, Matsushima Ueda. "I promise I'll complete it brilliantly!"

Matsushima Ueda said unhappily, "No! You're a Genin. The highest rank you can accept is a C-Rank Mission!"

"But, but..." Might Duy argued, "This mission would be a piece of cake for me. It wouldn't be difficult at all!"

"Might Duy, this is a rule established by the Hokage. Are you trying to violate it?" Matsushima Ueda slammed the table and shouted, "Stop getting in my way. Just obediently accept a D-Rank Mission, Eternal Genin!"

Anger appeared on Might Duy's face, but the Will of Fire blazing in his heart restrained him, leaving him terribly frustrated.

"Haha, a mere Genin wants to take a B-Rank Mission? Heh, Might Duy, you're seriously underestimating the strength of a Chunin!" A Ninja from the Hyuga Clan walked over, his tone mocking and his expression full of disdain for Might Duy.

"What did you say?!" Might Duy clenched both fists, furious.

"I said that your Taijutsu is far too weak. You should give up on your dream of becoming a Chunin as soon as possible. Hahaha..." He laughed wildly, then said to Matsushima Ueda, "I'll take this B-Rank Mission!"

"Bastard!" Might Duy suppressed the fury surging through his body, trembling faintly.

Suddenly, a hand reached over from behind and landed on Might Duy's shoulder.

Might Duy's heart jolted. Though he had been enraged, his body's vigilance had never left him. If this hand could rest so easily on his shoulder, then it could just as easily slit his throat.

Might Duy spun around sharply and saw a face capable of making every Ninja in the Ninja World pale.

White Fang of Konoha! (To be continued)