Konoha.
The Ninja Academy.
In front of the announcement board.
A crowd of six- and seven-year-old children huddled together. Some cheered, while others lowered their heads and sobbed.
Today was the day the results were posted.
Guy's consciousness stirred amid the noise.
"So loud..."
He struggled to open his eyes. Blurred figures swayed in his vision.
Children laughed and cried all around him, while their parents offered comfort or praise.
"Wait."
He looked down and saw a pair of short, stubby hands in a faded green Spandex Suit.
Farther down, two equally short legs were wrapped in green tights.
"These clothes... why do they look familiar?"
The next moment, memories surged into his mind.
Might Guy.
Six years old.
The Ninja Academy had posted its results today.
He had failed because his "ninjutsu aptitude was inadequate" and his "genjutsu aptitude was inadequate."
Now he stood blankly in front of the announcement board, staring at the list of accepted students, where his name was nowhere to be seen.
"..."
Guy took three seconds to process the fact.
Then he slowly formed a question in his mind.
Who had I become?
Might Guy?
The man who nearly kicked his way to the finale?
The Taijutsu fanatic who was always going on about "Youth" and wore a green Spandex Suit?
The Blue Beast who had even gotten Uchiha Madara to give him a thumbs-up and say, "I acknowledge your Taijutsu"?
"..."
He looked down at his little hands again.
Well, damn.
He was the six-year-old version, and the version who'd failed the entrance exam.
Before he could sort out his thoughts, a rough hand settled on his shoulder from behind.
He turned around.
A stubbled face met his gaze.
Thick eyebrows, wide eyes, a faded green Spandex Suit, and the same thick brows.
It was practically a larger version of himself.
But this larger version had reddened eyes and was doing his best to force a smile.
Might Duy.
His father in this life, Konoha's "Eternal Genin."
The man who had trained alone for twenty years and mastered the Eight Inner Gates so his son would never be looked down on.
And later, to protect him, opened the Gate of Death with nothing but his own flesh and blood.
He had kicked the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to pieces, but burned himself out in the process.
Duy had clearly seen the results, too.
He thought his son had gone numb with shock at failing, and his heart ached.
But he immediately took a deep breath.
Then he flung his arms wide and pulled little Guy into a tight embrace!
"Guy!"
His booming voice exploded beside Guy's ear, making his eardrums ring.
"It's all right! A man's life is even more fiery when it starts with failure!"
Guy could barely breathe in his arms.
The warmth coming through their clothes, and Duy's slightly trembling arms,
left him stunned.
In his previous life, he'd been an orphan. He had never experienced an embrace given so freely.
"Guy!"
Duy let go and took a step back, giving his trademark thumbs-up and flashing his bright teeth.
Tears still clung to the corners of his eyes, but he was smiling more brilliantly than ever.
"Youth means getting back up where you've fallen!"
"Come on! Dad made you some Red Bean Dumpling Soup!"
"Starting tomorrow, we'll train together, father and son, and show everyone what Taijutsu can do!"
The sunlight glinted off his White Fang, making it hard for Guy to keep his eyes open.
As he looked at the passionate fool before him,
the frustration and stubbornness lingering in his body seemed to catch fire in that light.
Warmth filled Guy's heart.
Without thinking, he copied Duy's pose.
He raised his thumb, too.
And showed his teeth.
Then he shouted back in the same booming voice:
"Okay, Dad!"
[Father-son bond formed. Monk Points +50.]
A mechanical voice sounded in his mind.
Guy—no, he should be called Might Guy now—
froze for a moment.
"System?"
[Monk System activated.]
[Host: Might Guy (six years old)]
[Current Monk Points: 50]
[Shop: Locked]
[Beginner's Gift Pack available to claim]
A simple virtual panel appeared in his mind.
Might Guy blinked. The panel was still there.
"Claim."
He gave the command silently.
[Beginner's Gift Pack opened]
[Obtained: 300 Monk Points]
[Obtained: 3 random draws from the Shaolin Seventy-Two Arts]
Three golden lights burst in his consciousness.
The first faded, leaving behind an old, worn manual with five golden characters shining on its cover.
[Vajra Leg: Lower-grade art]
[Powerful and domineering; kicks stone as if it were mud.]
The second light followed close behind.
[Vajra Finger: Lower-grade art]
[Finger strength pierces gold and shatters iron like paper.]
Two lower-grade arts.
Guy hadn't had time to look them over when the third light blazed so brightly it stung his eyes.
[Yijin Jing: Upper-grade art!]
[The Shaolin Temple's supreme treasure. It cleanses the meridians and marrow, transforming the body. Greatly increases physique, internal energy recovery, and cultivation aptitude.]
Guy's pupils contracted.
Yijin Jing!
The Shaolin Temple's supreme technique!
In the world of Naruto, it was a top-tier secret art that could transform the body and accelerate training!
And he was only six, right at the age when his body would grow rapidly. If he began practicing Yijin Jing now...
"Guy!"
Duy's big face suddenly appeared in front of him, interrupting his thoughts.
"Why are you frozen? Are you so moved you can't speak?"
Duy gave another thumbs-up, his teeth gleaming.
"It's all right! Dad understands! A man's fiery passion feels best when he lets it out!"
Might Guy stared at the face right in front of him.
His fool of a father probably thought his "youthful speech" had moved his son so much that he couldn't speak.
"Dad," Might Guy said suddenly.
"Hmm?"
"I'm going to get stronger."
Duy froze.
Guy looked up at him, his small face serious.
"Through Taijutsu. In my own way. One day, I'll make sure everyone remembers my name."
He meant it.
Now that he had inherited this body, he couldn't let Might Guy down.
Duy looked into his son's serious eyes, and his own reddened again.
"Guy—"
He spread his arms once more and swept Might Guy into a hug. His booming voice rang down the whole street.
"That's my boy! So fiery! Dad will wait for you! Dad will always wait for you! We'll work hard together, father and son! Youth is—"
"Dad."
Might Guy could barely breathe in his grip.
"Let go first... the Red Bean Dumpling Soup is going to get cold."
"Oh, right!"
Duy quickly released him and grabbed Might Guy's little hand.
"Come on! Let's eat dumplings! Then we'll sleep! Tomorrow, we're up early for training!"
As Duy pulled him along, Might Guy silently recited:
"Put all 300 of the beginner's gift pack's Monk Points, plus the 50 Monk Points from the father-son bond..."
"Into Yijin Jing."
[Monk Points -350]
[Yijin Jing proficiency increasing—]
[Current proficiency: 350 (Well-Rounded)]
Arts had five proficiency levels:
First Glimpse: 0–99
Somewhat Accomplished: 100–299
Well-Rounded: 300–599
Mastered: 600–999
Mastery of Perfection: 1000
When an art reached its maximum level, it gained a corresponding special effect.
A warm current rose from his lower abdomen and slowly flowed through his limbs and body.
His tired, aching body seemed to fill with renewed vitality.
Even his breathing grew deep and steady.
Might Guy took a deep breath.
He had already become well-rounded in Yijin Jing.
As for Vajra Leg and Vajra Finger,
he would have to train them himself, little by little.
That was the foundation of a Taijutsu ninja.
Now that he had come to this world, now that he had become Might Guy,
he would use these fists to forge a different future.
"Guy!" Duy called back from up ahead. "Hurry up! If you're too slow, Dad will eat all the dumplings!"
"Coming!"
Might Guy took off on his little legs and hurried after him.