Sarutobi Hiruzen: Let's see what's going on-what the hell?! Please vote for the monthly tickets!!!

"What, have you heard of me?"

Rock Lee: "...I can't say I have!"

Might Guy collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"Then what was that just now?!"

Rock Lee laughed heartily. "I may not know your name, Teacher Might Guy, but I could feel it during your training just now—that was the Fire of Youth burning brightly!"

Might Guy was overjoyed. "Oh! You really get it!"

"How about it? Want to train with me?"

Rock Lee's mouth fell open in astonishment.

"I-I can?"

"Of course! I approve of you!"

Might Guy gave another thumbs-up, his teeth gleaming.

Naruto couldn't quite handle these two hot-blooded goofballs, but when he heard Might Guy approve of Rock Lee, he couldn't help chiming in too. "Um, um..."

"What about me?!"

Might Guy laughed heartily. "Your name's Naruto, right? I saw your training and all your hard work too. Of course I approve of you!"

Naruto was overjoyed as well.

"Right? Ahaha, ahaha..."

Might Guy sprang lightly into the air. Once again, he walked on his hands—but this time, he used just one finger!

"Come on, Lee, Naruto!"

"Try to keep up with me!"

Naruto and Rock Lee were stunned. "H-he's only using one finger?!"

"Is that guy really a monster?!"

The two exchanged a look, shocked but unwilling to back down.

"We can't lose to one finger!"

"Let's go, Lee!"

"Right, Naruto!"

The two of them were fired up again. They used both hands and raced after Might Guy as fast as they could.

Three trails of dust rose along the path circling Konoha.

Passersby coughed repeatedly and couldn't help frowning as they watched the three figures disappear into the distance.

"Honestly..."

"What lunatics..."

With Might Guy leading the way, Naruto and Rock Lee completed their goal of thirty laps almost without stopping.

To meet System Bro's requirements, Naruto even secretly took a few extra steps while walking on his hands.

When they finally stopped, he collapsed into a limp heap, sprawled across the ground.

Rock Lee had reached his limit too. His face was deathly pale as he lay on his back with arms and legs spread wide, panting heavily.

[Congratulations, host, on completing today's Taijutsu special training. Stamina +5. Current stamina: 90!]

Naruto was overjoyed.

90!

That was the best score he'd ever gotten!

Just then,

Might Guy laughed heartily, looking at them with deep admiration.

"As expected of the men I approved!"

"Hey, if you still have any strength left, want to learn a move from me?"

"I'm not bragging, but my Taijutsu as the Blue Beast, Might Guy, is unrivaled in the Shinobi World!"

Naruto and Rock Lee's eyes lit up.

"You... You're going to teach us Taijutsu?"

"R-really?!"

Chapter 16: Sarutobi Hiruzen: Let's see what's going on—what the hell?! Please vote for the monthly tickets!!!

Though both of them were already exhausted, the moment they heard they could learn a new move, they sprang back to life!

After all, both Naruto and Rock Lee had sorely lacked the chance to receive special training from a dedicated instructor...

They weren't Konohamaru, who'd had a personal tutor training him since childhood.

They also had no clan of their own, so they couldn't receive specialized training.

Might Guy's approval felt like an incredible gift from heaven.

"Hahaha, of course I mean it!"

"But learning my Taijutsu won't be easy!"

"Watch closely. This move is called..."

"Leaf Whirlwind!"

Might Guy instantly struck a pose, then his green-clad body shot forward. He moved so fast that the two could barely follow him!

In the next instant, he unleashed a ferocious Taijutsu attack.

His legs spun through the air like a whirlwind, making it impossible for an opponent to read his attack!

In that moment, a powerful kick burst forth!

Boom—

Might Guy's kick slammed into a large tree!

In an instant, bark flew and wood chips scattered. The blow nearly knocked the entire tree down!

"S-so amazing!"

Naruto and Rock Lee gaped.

Might Guy laughed heartily. "That was only thirty percent of my strength!"

"Otherwise, the tree would've fallen over!"

"Well? Want to learn it?"

The two eagerly answered, "Yes!"

"Great! Then let's get started!"

"Okay!"

They'd already spent the entire afternoon training, and dusk was falling. But Naruto and Rock Lee didn't want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Gritting their teeth and rallying their strength, they dragged their nearly crippled bodies into Might Guy's special training.

Leaf Whirlwind didn't look like a particularly powerful move.

But in reality...

In the original story, when Rock Lee first met Team 7, he used this seemingly simple move to instantly defeat Sasuke Uchiha, who was hailed as a genius!

If Naruto and Rock Lee could master it now, it would become a powerful trump card.

Might Guy explained the secrets of the move to them directly.

Naruto and Rock Lee immediately began training.

This was where the foundation Naruto had built up earlier paid off.

[Knowledge Absorption] activated!

His ability to understand and master the move increased dramatically!

What's more, his stamina had now reached 90. He didn't just outclass his peers—even some Genin who'd already graduated, and even certain Jonin, couldn't match him!

And so...

In just over half an hour, Naruto had grasped the basics of the move!

His technique was still far from polished, and his strength couldn't compare with Might Guy's.

But he'd taken his first steps, and was already starting to look the part!

Rock Lee, meanwhile, didn't make as much progress.

His body had certainly been prepared by his grueling training, but he was slower to grasp the technique.

Still, Rock Lee was no ordinary person.

He was a genius through hard work!

Even though he couldn't master it for a long time, he never stopped. He kept training with all his might.

Again and again!

By then, the moon had risen, shining over all of Konoha.

The surroundings gradually grew quiet.

Only Naruto and Rock Lee continued to train.

Might Guy nodded in approval.

"Good job, Lee, Naruto!"

"You've both done wonderfully!"

"You haven't mastered it completely yet, but you've figured out how to train..."

"From here on, it's up to you!"

"I'm off."

Naruto and Rock Lee exchanged a look, then hurriedly bowed.

"Thank you, Teacher Guy!"

"Hahaha, don't mention it. Remember what I said..."

"You have to let your youth burn!"

The two clenched their fists. "Osu!"

Under the moonlight, Might Guy laughed as he walked away.

Naruto glanced at Rock Lee. "Lee, are you going to keep training?"

Rock Lee's eyes were determined. "Yeah!"

"Naruto, my ability to understand things can't compare to yours. I'll just have to work even harder!"

Naruto felt a little guilty. Without the power of his traits, he wasn't sure he could've outdone Lee.

He wanted to stay and keep training with Rock Lee, but...

[It's time for dinner. Healthy, nutritious food is essential to the host's growth. Please eat on time!]

Naruto could only wave goodbye. "Well, I should head home for dinner."

"Tomorrow afternoon, same time, same place!"

Rock Lee smiled brightly. "Right! It's a promise!"

Watching Naruto walk away, Rock Lee didn't feel jealous or inferior at all.

Instead...