Root

Root

"Hmm? Anbu are protecting Kimura Takuya? I see. You may leave."

Danzo waved a hand, dismissing the ninja who had just been assigned to approach Kimura Takuya.

"Both Yakumo Kurama's abilities and Kimura Takuya's abilities must be monitored. They must remain firmly in Konoha's hands."

Danzo turned and headed straight for the Hokage Building.

While Danzo was butting heads with the Third Hokage, Kimura Takuya was at home, catching up on sleep and dreaming sweetly.

He slept from morning until late that night, when hunger finally woke him.

"Come to think of it, Lee and the others should've passed, right?"

Kimura Takuya was going out to get something to eat and, while he was at it, leave the village to see where he could get a Kirin Arm.

He remembered Konoha's tradition for graduating Genin. Graduates were assigned to three-person teams with a Jonin instructor, who then tested them.

Only after passing did they officially begin their careers.

Otherwise, they'd be dismissed and wouldn't become full-fledged ninja.

Though the test was usually just a formality,

some Jonin instructors were simply too strict.

Kakashi, for example, had failed every Genin assigned to him.

It wasn't until Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura graduated that Kakashi finally began working as a team leader.

Who knew if he'd just been slacking off or waiting for the prince.

After tidying up the house, Kimura Takuya headed out to Ichiraku Ramen.

"It's been ages since I had this. The ramen's pretty good."

From a distance, Kimura Takuya spotted the Ichiraku Ramen sign.

When he got closer and pushed aside the noren curtain, he saw all of Team Guy inside.

"Ah, Takuya! Are you here to have a youthful showdown with me? Wait a moment, I'm almost finished eating!"

Lee said this as he slurped down his noodles at lightning speed.

Kimura Takuya stared at him, speechless. When the others looked his way, he introduced himself.

"Hello, Mr. Guy. I'm Kimura Takuya. I'm just here for a bowl of ramen."

"So you're Takuya! We heard about what happened at the hospital today. You're incredible! To have mastered such amazing Medical Ninjutsu at your age is remarkable. No wonder Lee said your Taijutsu talent was just as good as his, even though you weren't interested in it."

"You're too kind, Mr. Guy. I'm actually very interested in Taijutsu, and I hope I'll have a chance to learn from you someday. Also, you're Lee's teammates. If you ever need a medical ninja, feel free to come to me."

"Hahaha, I'll take you up on that, Takuya. And if you want to learn Taijutsu, you're welcome to come see me anytime."

Guy chatted happily with Kimura Takuya. Physical combat specialists feared injuries and illness more than anything.

Other ninja could lose an eye or break a leg and still fight without much trouble, as long as they could use ninjutsu.

But Taijutsu specialists relied entirely on their bodies.

A serious injury or illness could mean immediate retirement.

Now that he'd met a medical prodigy like this, Guy was almost ignoring the dignity of a senior and treating Kimura Takuya as an equal.

He didn't see him as a child at all.

As they talked, Kimura Takuya learned that Team Guy had just finished their test that day and had taken on a D-rank mission.

They were to capture a Ninja Pig.

A Ninja Pig had recently been roaming outside Konoha, damaging farmland.

It had even injured people.

The villagers had reported it to Konoha, and the mission had been issued to capture the Ninja Pig.

A Ninja Pig was a type of ninja beast.

In the world of Naruto, any animal could unconsciously learn to refine chakra.

Ninja beasts could be found not only in the Three Great Sage Regions,

but also in other places where they gathered.

Those places simply didn't have any sages.

It wasn't unusual for a ninja beast to show up now and then.

Konoha often received missions like this. Most wild ninja beasts could only refine chakra to strengthen their bodies. They couldn't use ninjutsu, and they weren't very intelligent.

The few intelligent ones that had even developed their own ninjutsu traditions would form contracts with human ninja.

They became summons for human ninja and, in return, received their protection.

It was mutually beneficial.

Some wild ninja beasts that weren't especially strong but had potential would be domesticated. Those with neither potential nor strength would go straight to the dinner table.

The meat of ninja beasts was a delicacy that only high-ranking ninja and wealthy merchants could afford.

They said it was incredibly nourishing!

"Are you going out tonight?"

"That's right, Takuya. That Ninja Pig is very cunning and never shows itself during the day. So we'll wait until after dinner to head out."

"Can I come along? I want to eat wild boar."

"No problem! The mission only requires us to kill it, and the Ninja Pig itself counts as our usual bonus. After we hunt it, we can have a barbecue party!"

Guy explained the mission requirements. Lee and the others were delighted at the thought of a barbecue party.

The rich girl Tenten promptly announced that she'd go home and get the grill and seasonings.

Kimura Takuya smiled and said he was a decent cook himself, so he could fill in as the grill master.

But he was thinking about Oda Lang's severed arm.

The difference between a Ninja Pig and a Kirin couldn't be that great, right?

Then the Kirin Arm was as good as sorted!

The group set out cheerfully.

They didn't bring the barbecue grill, though—that would've been going a bit too far.

Tenten had only just joined Team Guy. She hadn't settled on her weapon-based ninjutsu yet, so she didn't know Sealing Jutsu or Ninja Tool Summoning Jutsu.

They left Konoha and reached the area near the mission site.

They planned to lie in wait and catch their prey.

Neji scanned the area with his Byakugan. Suddenly, his attention passed over Kimura Takuya.

He noticed that Takuya's chakra was far greater than it had been the day before.

As Neji was wondering about this, Kimura Takuya smiled at him.

"It's just a secret technique. Don't be surprised, and don't tell anyone."

Neji nodded.

So that was it. Kimura Takuya really did love wild boar.

He'd even used a secret technique just to eat some.

Then they'd better find that Ninja Pig quickly.

Let's go!

He found it!

"On the hill behind us! That Ninja Pig is coming down from there. Everyone, get ready! Wait, something's wrong. It's moving too fast. It doesn't look like it's out looking for food. It's running away, and there's another ninja beast chasing it!"

"Neji, can you tell what it is?"

"A leopard—a gigantic one. It has more chakra than the Ninja Pig."

Guy rubbed his nose. He'd planned to give his students some experience by having them deal with a single Ninja Pig on their own while he watched from the sidelines.

He hadn't expected something more dangerous to show up. This was clearly beyond what a few Genin could handle.

It looked like he'd have to step in himself, but that would mean losing the chance to let them gain experience.

Kimura Takuya saw what Might Guy was thinking and suggested, "Mr. Guy, let Neji and the others handle the boar. We'll take down the leopard, then go back and help them."

"We have no choice. Neji, Tenten, Lee, don't try to meet the Ninja Pig head-on. It's enormous, and its chakra and strength are on par with an ordinary Jonin. But it can't use ninjutsu, so remember to use your advantages against it. I'll finish things here as quickly as I can, then come help you."

With that, Guy charged toward the two ninja beasts with Kimura Takuya.

He opened with a kick that sent the Ninja Pig tumbling aside.

Then he left the pig to Lee and the others and went after the Ninja Leopard behind it, opening the Third Gate, the Gate of Life. An immense surge of chakra burst from Might Guy.

Kimura Takuya followed behind him, practically drooling at the sight. So this was the true power of a human—the Eight Inner Gates Formation!