Kai, My Eternal Friend!

"No wonder the Chidori requires the Sharingan to unleash its maximum power."

Kyohiko's current Body Flicker Technique faced the same issue after use.

His eyesight and body were somewhat unable to keep up.

Although not as lethal as the Chidori, it still hindered the full display of his strength.

The solution—

Either enhance his vision to let his sight keep pace with his body.

Or train his body to keep pace with his speed.

The former required talent, and Minato Namikaze was a prime example of that.

For the latter, Might Guy was the best example.

Keep training!

Kyohiko's gaze was firm as he began using the Body Flicker Technique in combination with strikes from his fists, feet, and kunai.

At first...

The speed was extremely fast.

Later, the speed gradually slowed down, but his movements became increasingly sharp.

High above, Jiraiya sat astride a tree branch, using ninjutsu to hide within the foliage, his face unable to conceal his shock.

As one of the Sannin—

He could naturally understand what the young boy below was training for.

Controlling speed!

The boy's Body Flicker Technique was very strong, but speed was not always better the faster it got; if it exceeded one's own control, it could easily become a weakness in battle.

His Body Flicker Technique was formidable.

Some jonin might not even have a higher level of mastery in the Body Flicker Technique than the boy below.

But that was not the main point of Jiraiya's surprise.

What truly shocked him was—

The boy actually realized that speed was not better the faster it was, but that one should only increase speed under the premise of being able to control it freely.

Controlling speed was often more important than increasing it.

A seemingly simple principle, yet many ninjas only realized it through life-and-death struggles.

"Truly remarkable!"

Another Minato?

Jiraiya's gaze was complex.

This was not the first time he had seen this boy.

In fact, Kyohiko passed by the road near the bathhouse every time he trained.

There had been a few times before when he had almost been exposed because of Kyohiko, but precisely because of that, he had quite an impression of this boy.

Diligent and hardworking.

He trained every single day without fail, and what surprised him most was the boy's way of thinking.

Kyohiko was not the only one who worked hard.

In Jiraiya's memory, there was also a green-clad boy with a flamboyant style who worked very hard, but the two trained in completely different directions.

That one focused on taijutsu.

Whereas the one before him.

Ever since they met, the boy had only practiced taijutsu, the Body Flicker Technique, and the Substitution Technique, showing a very strong sense of purpose rather than blind cultivation.

Now, having self-taught and painstakingly broken through in the Body Flicker Technique, he was researching on his own, beginning to master the knack of controlling speed.

Such awareness was not something an ordinary person possessed.

A genius!

Just like Minato back in the day.

Jiraiya sat in the tree, his eyes fixed on the youth sweating below, as thoughts and memories flooded his mind.

As one of the Sannin, his intent to hide was something Kyohiko could not possibly detect at his current level.

By evening, Kyohiko lay exhausted under the tree.

He looked up at the swaying shadows of the trees above, blinked, and then—

Under the moonlight, one of the tree shadows seemed a bit off?

Kyohiko sat up.

"Who is it?"

"Whoosh!"

In the night sky, something resembling a bird darted away, vanishing into the shadows of the trees.

Konoha Ninja Academy.

A group of students who had already become ninjas sat in the classroom.

The teacher had not yet arrived.

Everyone was leaning against the windows, watching the children training hard down below, laughing and cheering with delight.

There were two exceptions.

One was Might Guy.

He was huddled in the corner, doing one-handed handstands to train his physique, possessing a beauty full of performance art compared to those around him.

The other was Kyohiko Yoshimine.

He was watching Guy.

Finally, Guy couldn't hold back anymore.

The former Kyohiko had been a fringe dweller in the class, and after transmigrating, his mind was entirely focused on training and becoming stronger, leaving him no time to ponder interpersonal relationships, keeping him quite low-key within the class.

His relationship with Might Guy could only be described as average; they knew each other's names and faces.

Therefore...

"Kyohiko-kun, is my training bothering you?"

Guy was somewhat reserved.

Kyohiko shook his head: "No, I just admire you."

"Admire me?"

Guy was surprised, then he flipped back to stand at attention, sat beside him, and with an excited, incredulous, yet slightly self-deprecating expression, said, "You must be making fun of me, right? I barely passed the early graduation exam."

"At least you passed, didn't you?"

Kyohiko was unimpressed.

Then, he said earnestly: "Guy, I have been observing you. Although your talent for ninjutsu is poor and your comprehension is average..."

He listed nothing but flaws.

Guy's expression grew increasingly bitter as he listened.

Immediately following—

"But you possess perseverance and a determination to ignore the judgment of others that no one else has. This is also a form of talent. Guy, you are absolutely a genius of effort!"

"A genius of effort?"

Might Guy froze.

From childhood to now, this was the first time someone other than his father had called him a genius.

He couldn't help but feel a bit shy.

"I, how could I count as a genius?"

"Why wouldn't you? Lord Hokage said that perseverance is the strongest talent, it's just that most people find it difficult to possess. Look around the classroom; besides you, who else is training?"

Kyohiko whispered.

Guy scanned the room—

Indeed, there was no one.

Everyone was idle, though the Kyohiko before him was still nimbly manipulating a kunai with his fingers, while his other hand seemed to be practicing hand seals.

Besides that.

There was that female ninja named Kurenai Yuhi.

She was also sitting in her seat, not participating in the noisy crowd.

Guy looked around the room, then curiously turned his gaze back to Kyohiko.

"Did Lord Hokage really say that?"

Is that the point?

Hiruzen Sarutobi certainly hadn't said it; it was the future Hokage Kyohiko Yoshimine who said it!

Kyohiko composed his thoughts, abandoning the idea of quickly milking him for more.

Just then, Might Guy suddenly hugged Kyohiko.

"But I am very grateful to you, Kyohiko. You are the second person from my childhood until now, besides my father, to acknowledge me!"

As he spoke, he began to weep bitterly.

Even for someone as composed as Kyohiko, he could not help but feel a slight sense of astonishment at this moment.

This turn of events—

It was completely caught him off guard!

His wailing drew the attention of the entire room.

Seeing a scene like this for the first time was quite rare, so everyone stopped mocking the lower-grade students and turned their gazes toward them in unison.

Kyohiko narrowed his eyes, feeling as though he had just suffered a massive social death.

What was even more painful was this:

He had paid the price, yet there was no reward, making him feel like a total clown.

Might Guy was weeping bitterly.

He was reflecting on his life.

The joys and sorrows of the two were not in sync.

A woman's voice broke the strange and awkward scene, simultaneously drawing the attention of the others.

"Guy-kun. May I ask, who is the first?"

That's right!

Who is the first?

Everyone was very curious.

Might Guy stopped his tears.

The gazes of those around them were all fixed upon them.

Yet, he felt no shame at all; instead, he was incredibly proud and boastful: "Of course, it is my eternal rival, Kakashi Hatake!"

Kakashi Hatake.

Upon hearing this name, everyone first felt a sense of reverence, followed by suspicion—

Huh? You?

Then came...

"Hahahaha!"

Except for Kurenai Yuhi and Kyohiko, the entire room burst into laughter.

"Tch, I could also say Kakashi is my eternal rival!"

"Hahaha, I'm Kakashi's rival too!"

"Same here."

The classroom was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Kakashi graduated at five and became a Chunin at six.

The person in front of them...

Graduating as a Genin at seven was considered excellent, but clearly not on the same level. How could he dare to gild his own lily by calling himself an "eternal rival"?

Might Guy fell silent.

Kyohiko patted him on the shoulder, offering comfort and affirmation with a sincere tone—

If there was no reward, it must be because he wasn't sincere enough.

Therefore.

He had to increase the dosage!

"If you aim for first place, you might achieve second or third. If you aim for second or third, you will at best reach fourth, fifth, or even lower. Guy, believe in yourself; you are definitely Kakashi's eternal rival!"

"Kyohiko-kun!"

Might Guy hugged Kyohiko. This time, he didn't wail; he was filled with excitement and joy.

What is a soulmate?

This is one!

Father, someone finally understands me!

As Might Guy laughed, tears streamed down his face without the slightest hesitation.

Kyohiko sighed inwardly—

Guy took Kakashi as his goal, while he himself had originally taken the future Guy as his goal.

Everyone had a bright future.

Just as he was feeling sentimental.

[Ninja psychological development is also a crucial part of the work of a Hokage. You have strengthened the resolve of a Genin and ignited his boundless fighting spirit.]

[Reward: Your fundamental taijutsu skills have been improved.]

Basic taijutsu techniques?

Kyohiko was pondering this when a wealth of knowledge surfaced in his mind, all of it consisting of techniques for exerting force through punches and kicks, with a particular focus on leg-based power generation.

He became increasingly certain—

The rewards were closely tied to the impact of the event and the other party's existing abilities.

For instance.

Yesterday's reward, where Kyohiko gained the complete trust of "himself," resulted in the enhancement of his strongest skill, the Body Flicker Technique.

As for Guy, his greatest assets at the moment were his robust physique and his taijutsu.