Nonō's Advice

"How does it feel?" Might Duy asked, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes burning with intensity.

Houka stretched out his hands and gently flexed his fingers. "Uncle Duy, I feel like the brain's inhibition on my body has vanished. I can unleash my body's full power!"

Might Duy said solemnly, "That is to be expected, but Houka, you must remember: in this state, you must constantly monitor your own body. You must never overload it."

"I understand!"

Then, Houka slowly 'closed the gate'. That feeling of liberation instantly vanished, and his body felt as if it had been shackled again, losing its previous agility and sense of power.

Guy watched from the side, his eyes glowing with envy.

"Father, I will definitely train even harder, pouring out all my youthful passion to catch up to Houka's pace!" Guy roared excitedly.

"Guy, it is truly wonderful that you have such thoughts. Wuu wuu... Daddy is always proud of you!" Might Duy burst into tears without a second thought.

"Father, you are my pride as well!" Guy was also overwhelmed with emotion, hugging Might Duy and sobbing.

I should find an opportunity to bury them.

Houka felt like his eyes were going blind.

In the days that followed, just as Guy had said, he poured all his energy into training.

Guy's daily limit training became increasingly insane. Not only did he exhaust himself every time, but he also insisted on drawing blood, otherwise, he wouldn't feel satisfied.

Once or twice, Houka was also swept up in his passion. The two of them walked further and further down the path of self-destruction through limit training. Their small bodies were already covered in scars, and Houka's Medical Ninjutsu could barely keep up with the intensity of their training.

Two months later, Guy successfully opened the Gate of Opening!

"ROAR!!!"

Amidst a furious roar, a powerful aura erupted from Guy's entire body, and he smashed a fist into the wooden post in front of him with a boom.

This wooden post was half a meter in diameter, but under Guy's forceful punch, it shattered instantly, wood chips scattering like rain. The scene was incredibly flashy!

"Father, I did it!" Guy struck a Super Saiyan pose, if not for the fact that his hairstyle and those thick, bushy eyebrows ruined the aesthetic... Let it be stated beforehand, Houka absolutely did not have any prejudice against his eyebrows!

Believe it or not, that was how Houka lied to himself.

"Guy, you must keep working hard. Yesterday, Houka successfully opened the Gate of Healing!" Might Duy encouraged.

"Nani? So fast!" Guy looked at Houka, feeling very unwilling. "I was hoping to challenge Houka in this state!"

"If you're looking to get beaten up, I can accommodate you." Houka hooked his finger, secretly sending a flirtatious look.

"By the way, Houka, I heard that Kakashi is going to participate in this year's Chunin Exams. How about it? Do you want to prove yourself?" Might Duy looked at Houka with excitement. "Lord Hatake is also looking forward to you!"

Houka frowned. "Are the Chunin Exams after the Ninja Academy graduation season?"

"Of course. Once you graduate from the Ninja Academy, you can participate in the Chunin Exams directly!" Might Duy said. "With your foundation, the Chunin Exams are no longer a problem!"

Houka fell into a dilemma.

Kakashi was a genius, and more importantly, he was the son of the White Fang of Konoha. He had a powerful backing, so no matter how outstanding his talent was, no one would dare to make a move on him in the shadows. But what about himself?

Ever since Houka arrived in this world, he had never felt a sense of security. Most of the time, he had been hiding himself, like a turtle; whenever he encountered danger, he would shrink into his shell, waiting for the danger to pass before poking his head out. But was this really okay?

Had those dangers truly disappeared?

Had the gazes of Danzo, the Uchiha Clan, and even the Hyuga Clan really shifted away from him?

Since I have already chosen the Third Hokage, why should I keep hiding and being overly cautious? I don't intend to be a rogue ninja! I should fully display my true talent; only then can I attract the attention of the Third Hokage and be truly accepted by his faction. Hiding and skulking will only ever make me a rat!

Houka's eyes grew brighter and brighter, as if two brilliant stars were burning.

Didn't I decide this long ago? Either die at the peak, or die on the path to the peak!

Might Duy watched him and nodded slightly.

Houka, I have finally ignited your youth! Burn, boil, and let this world see just how terrifying your potential truly is!

"Uncle Duy, I will participate in the Chunin Exams!" Houka said solemnly.

"Very good. Then for the next two months or so, I will conduct combat training with you. Prepare yourself for death!" Might Duy said sternly.

"Of course!" Houka smiled. Behind that smile was a heart burning with fire.

After training, Houka returned home, only to find someone already there.

"Sister Nono, why are you here? That's great!" Houka was very happy to see Yakushi Nonō. "Let me treat you to a meal!"

"Even so, you still have to pay me back." Yakushi Nonō feigned anger.

"Hehe, Sister Nono, once I become a ninja, I'll take on missions to pay you back." Houka took some exquisite side dishes out of the kitchen; they had been made by his Shadow Clone and were still warm.

"Sister Nono, try it." Houka looked at her expectantly.

Yakushi Nonō nodded, took a casual bite, and then set down her chopsticks.

"What's wrong?" Houka could see that she was in a bad mood.

"Houka, I have something to ask you." Yakushi Nonō looked at Houka seriously.

"Ask away."

"You... have you already awakened your eyes!" Yakushi Nonō looked at Houka's eyes with a grave expression.

"What?" Houka was stunned. He hadn't expected Yakushi Nonō to ask this at all. His first instinct was to deny it, to shrink back into his shell and wait for the crisis to pass, but then that burning heart made him swallow the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

"Yes, I have already awakened my eyes!"

Houka narrowed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his black-and-white pupils had transformed into the Double Tomoe Sharingan.

Two tomoe slowly rotated around his pupils, and a bloody, ominous aura emanated from his eyes, as if a demon had opened the eyes of hell.

Yakushi Nonō hurriedly reached out to cover Houka's eyes. "Put them away quickly! You fool!"

Houka felt the calloused skin on her palms against his cheeks, yet he didn't find it rough; instead, it felt indescribably gentle.

"Sister Nonō, there's no one else here," Houka laughed, though he obediently retracted the Sharingan.

"It would be bad if someone saw you. Sigh, you shouldn't have admitted it—no, it's my fault, I shouldn't have asked you that question," Yakushi Nonō said, sounding rather self-reproachful, before smiling. "Thank you, Houka, for still being willing to trust me."

"Sister Nonō, I will always trust you!" Houka said solemnly.

"Thank you." Yakushi Nonō took a deep breath, and it was a long while before she spoke again. "Houka, I've learned that the Third Hokage is paying close attention to you. You must work hard and ensure you integrate yourself into the Third's faction. Remember, you must remember this!"

Houka was stunned. "Sister Nonō, has something happened?"

Yakushi Nonō wore a conflicted expression; Shimura Danzō's ambition and desires were expanding wildly!

Moreover, it wasn't just once that Yakushi Nonō had seen the look in Danzō's eyes as he silently stared at the Three-Tomoe Sharingan taken from Crow Ghost—that kind of craving was bone-chilling!

"Houka, promise me, you must join the Anbu!"

In Konoha, the only organization capable of resisting the encroachment of Root was the Anbu!

"Alright, I promise!" Houka nodded. From Yakushi Nonō's expression, he could tell that the pervert Danzō was definitely up to something again.