"But I'll definitely win next time!"
Qingyu bent down and pulled him to his feet.
He knew Might Guy wasn't just putting on a brave face. That guy really would do exactly what he said.
Given Might Guy's personality, he'd probably double his training after he got home tonight.
"Guy, don't push yourself too hard."
Qingyu patted the dirt off his shoulder.
"Your body needs time to develop. A ninja's chakra reserves and physical strength naturally grow with age during their development. I do have better innate advantages, but everyone grows at their own pace."
"That's true."
Might Guy nodded seriously.
The development of a ninja's body and the growth of their chakra reserves were objective rules even he couldn't get around.
"But youth is about burning bright within the limits!"
Might Guy clenched his fist. The fire in his eyes hadn't gone out; it burned even hotter.
"I'll work twice as hard to close the gap!"
Kakashi walked over from the edge of the Training Ground.
"Then it's my turn, right?"
There were only three of them at training today.
Usually, Obito and Rin Nohara were there too, and sometimes Yūhi Kurenai came along with Qingyu.
When Obito wasn't around, Kakashi felt as if the world had grown much quieter. This was the perfect chance to spar with Qingyu a few more times.
"Come on."
Qingyu drew his wooden sword.
Their blades clashed in the heat, the sharp cracks of wood striking wood echoing across the Training Ground again and again.
After training, the three of them walked side by side along Konoha's streets.
"Let's go to Ichiraku Ramen."
Qingyu suggested.
"Sure!"
Might Guy was the first to raise his hand in agreement.
Taijutsu training took so much energy that he felt like he could eat an entire pig.
The bone broth at Ichiraku Ramen was rich and salty. Every time, Might Guy drank every last drop, leaving nothing behind.
The three of them pushed aside the curtain at Ichiraku Ramen, and the rich aroma of bone broth greeted them.
At first, Qingyu had found the flavor of the ramen a little hard to get used to, but he'd grown accustomed to it.
Come to think of it, Ichiraku Ramen was so popular not only because it tasted good, but also because it was positioned as "workers' food."
After ninja training or returning from a mission, they needed to replenish their energy with plenty of fat, salt, and carbohydrates. Otherwise, they'd be completely worn out.
September arrived before the lingering summer heat had fully faded, ushering in a new school term.
The Ninja Academy grounds were lively once more, with students gathering to trade stories about their vacations.
Genma Shiranui had a new lollipop between his teeth, Sarutobi Asuma was wearing a new jacket, and Yūhi Kurenai seemed to have grown a little taller.
Qingyu stood on the training field with a Kunai in his hand.
By now, throwing ninja tools was as natural to him as breathing.
He raised his hand and flicked his wrist, sending all the Kunai flying.
They collided in midair, changed course, then shot toward different targets.
Thwack, thwack, thwack...!
Ten dull impacts rang out in quick succession. Every Kunai hit the bull's-eye.
A wave of startled cries rose from the grounds.
Qingyu had grown used to reactions like this.
A genius's everyday life was always so dull and unremarkable.
His Kunai-throwing technique now combined the energy-saving methods of Hatake Style Shurikenjutsu with the hand-controlled Shuriken technique he'd secretly learned from Uchiha Tekka. With the Sharingan enhancing his dynamic vision, he could hit the bull's-eye with his eyes closed.
Obito stood at the back of the crowd, his eyes wide behind his yellow goggles.
He looked down at the Shuriken in his hand, then up at the row of Kunai embedded squarely in the bull's-eyes.
He'd trained extra hard over the break, too.
So how had Qingyu gotten even stronger?
The gap hadn't narrowed at all. It had only grown wider.
Obito clenched his fists.
He had to awaken his Sharingan as soon as possible. Only then could he truly catch up to Qingyu and Kakashi.
"Qingyu, here's a towel."
Rin Nohara held out a clean white towel.
During the break, Qingyu had accompanied her to Konoha Hospital several times and helped her catch up on practical Medical Ninjutsu. They'd grown even closer than they'd been last term.
Rin now spoke to Qingyu with far less reserve, her manner replaced by an easy familiarity.
"Thanks, Rin."
Qingyu took the towel and casually wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Before throwing Kunai, they'd run several laps around the grounds.
Long-distance running was also a basic skill for ninja.
Ninja traveled everywhere on their own two legs, after all. Without enough stamina, their efficiency on missions would drop considerably.
Obito watched from nearby, feeling as sour as if he'd eaten a lemon.
Rin was always nice to him, helping him collect handouts and covering for him in class, but she'd never looked at him like that, let alone offered him a towel.
Obito pouted.
"Nicely done, Qingyu."
Umino Shika walked over with a clipboard, a grin spreading across his wrinkled face.
With two geniuses like Qingyu and Kakashi under his tutelage, his outstanding-teacher award this term was practically guaranteed.
He might even get an extra bonus personally approved by the Third Hokage.
"Mr. Umino."
Qingyu draped the towel over his shoulder and suddenly spoke up.
"I have a request."
"Oh? What is it?"
Umino Shika stopped writing.
He was very patient with Qingyu, the good-natured genius.
"I want to challenge students from other grades."
Qingyu said.
Kakashi, not far away, froze for a moment.
Challenge students from other grades?
The only thing Kakashi had ever considered was graduating early. He'd never thought about challenging students in higher grades.
That gave him something to think about.
"What's your reason?" Umino Shika put away his smile and looked at Qingyu seriously.
"Fighting students in my grade doesn't put much pressure on me anymore. I can improve faster only by sparring with stronger opponents."
Qingyu said this without changing expression.
He couldn't reveal the real reason, of course. He couldn't exactly tell Umino Shika that he was doing it to farm traits.
Finding more traits and turning the entire Ninja Academy into his own leek patch—that was Qingyu's real goal.
Older students had trained longer and possessed a wider variety of traits. Those who had made a name for themselves in the original story were especially valuable targets for farming points.
Umino Shika pondered for a moment. A child with talent wasn't frightening; what was frightening was a talented child with so much ambition.
Other children came back from vacation still unable to shake off their laziness. Qingyu was already thinking about how to challenge stronger opponents.
No wonder he could defeat Kakashi, Lord Sakumo's son.
Umino Shika thought to himself.
"I can arrange it for you."
Umino Shika nodded.
"But let me be clear: the older students have trained for one or two years longer than you. Don't get discouraged if you lose. Victory and defeat are part of the game; what matters is learning from the experience."
Thinking Qingyu was still very young, Umino Shika offered a word of caution.
"I understand. Thank you, Mr. Umino."
Qingyu replied.
Umino Shika's concern was understandable.
But Qingyu didn't think he'd lose.
Before you continue