Five Thousand Kicks Before Dawn

The next day, before dawn had even broken.

Might Guy was still deep in a dream.

In his dream, he was using the Vajra Leg to shatter a massive boulder.

Behind the rock, the shocked face of Uchiha Madara was revealed.

"Guy!"

The quilt was ripped away in one motion.

Dai's large face appeared before him, his teeth gleaming in the morning light.

"Youth does not permit sleeping in! Get up for special training!"

Might Guy opened his eyes, dazed and confused, and was dragged out of his blankets by Dai before he could even react.

"Quick, quick, quick! The day's plan is made in the morning! A man's blood must start burning before the sun even rises!"

Five minutes later.

Two green figures, one large and one small, were sprinting through the streets of Konoha.

"Guy! Follow your father's rhythm! One, two! One, two!"

Dai's booming voice was exceptionally loud on the chilly street.

The ramen shop owner, opening up early, poked his head out with a yawn.

Seeing the two green-clad figures, he shook his head.

"It's that eternal genin again..."

The auntie buying groceries nearby chimed in, her voice low: "I heard his son failed the exam too. He's no good at ninjutsu or genjutsu, sigh..."

"Is that the kid? Poor thing, he'll end up just like his old man..."

The voices weren't loud, but they were clear enough to reach their ears.

Might Guy's footsteps faltered for a moment.

Dai acted as if he hadn't heard a thing, his voice growing even louder:

"Guy! Pick up the pace! Let the morning breeze blow away all your worries! Youth is all about running!"

He turned back, gave Might Guy a thumbs-up, and his teeth flashed.

The sun hadn't risen yet, but his smile was more blinding than the sunlight.

Might Guy looked at that back.

This man was using his own way to protect his son's dignity.

"Dad," he quickened his pace to catch up, "how many times did you take the exam back then?"

Dai paused for a second, then burst into hearty laughter.

"Three times! Your father took the exam three times before I got into the Ninja Academy!"

"Back then, I was mocked as the loser of all losers!"

He ran while looking back, his expression as proud as if he were talking about some great achievement.

"But Guy, look at your father now, aren't I an excellent—"

He paused, his voice dropping a little: "—eternal genin?"

Then, he started laughing at himself.

Might Guy was amused as well.

The slight barrier in his heart melted away in that laughter.

Dai suddenly stopped in his tracks, his expression turning serious.

He crouched down and lowered his voice: "Guy, Dad is going to tell you a secret."

Might Guy's heart skipped a beat.

"It took your father twenty years to master a forbidden jutsu."

Dai leaned into his ear, his voice dropping even lower.

"It's called the Eight Inner Gates. Even though I can only be a genin in daily life, at the critical moment, I can unleash incredibly powerful strength!"

After he finished, he gave a thumbs-up again, his eyes shining with an intimidating intensity:

"So, Guy, as long as you work hard, there is nothing you cannot do!"

"Taijutsu can also become the strongest weapon!"

"To protect the people you want to protect!"

Might Guy looked into those eyes.

It was a pure, unwavering belief in his own path.

The final lingering emotions of the original host completely settled.

In its place was a brand-new resolve.

Since he had come here, he would live a life of unique brilliance.

And he would protect this foolish father before his eyes.

He looked up, revealing a smile identical to Dai's: "I'm not afraid! Youth is meant to be burned!"

Dai was stunned.

His eye sockets turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye.

He scooped up Might Guy and spun him around in place: "Good son! Well said! Youth is meant to be burned!"

Might Guy felt dizzy from the spinning: "Put me down—"

"I won't! Daddy is too happy!"

The two ran all the way to the back mountains of Konoha.

They reached a secluded clearing in the woods.

Dai pointed to a tree as thick as a thigh in front of them.

"Lesson one: before dawn, five thousand front kicks! Watch Daddy demonstrate!"

He took a deep breath and suddenly raised his leg.

Whoosh—

The sound of breaking air was sharp and piercing. Every kick was delivered with fierce momentum, the shadows of his legs blurring into one.

He kicked fifty times in a row without changing his expression.

"Did you see clearly?"

Dai retracted his leg.

"Follow this posture. Begin!"

Might Guy nodded.

He walked up to the tree, mimicked Dai's posture, raised his leg, and kicked.

One.

Two.

Three...

At first, he could keep up.

One hundred, two hundred, five hundred...

Although Guy's foundation was decent.

By the time he reached one thousand, his legs were already beginning to go weak.

At two thousand, his thigh muscles ached as if they were about to tear.

At three thousand, every lift of his leg required him to grit his teeth.

Sweat flowed from his forehead into his eyes, stinging painfully.

His spandex suit was long since soaked through, clinging to his body.

Dai sat to the side, remaining silent.

Might Guy gritted his teeth and continued to kick.

Since he was Guy, he had to work hard.

Inside his body, the warm current of the Yijin Jing flowed slowly.

Although his muscles ached, the speed of his stamina recovery was significantly faster than an ordinary person's.

It allowed him to barely keep going.

Three thousand five hundred...

Four thousand...

Four thousand five hundred...

"Four thousand nine hundred ninety-eight! Four thousand nine hundred ninety-nine! Five thousand!"

The final kick was completed.

Might Guy collapsed directly onto the grass, gasping for air.

His legs felt as if the bones had been pulled out, soft as two strands of noodles.

At this moment, on the horizon, the scorching sun had just appeared.

It shone on his face through the leaves of the forest.

It was warm.

It felt wonderful.

Dai crouched beside him and gave a thumbs-up: "Well done, Guy! Tomorrow, we increase it to five thousand five hundred!"

Might Guy rolled over and looked up at the sky.

The corners of his mouth slowly curled upward.

He had done it.

Through his own sheer willpower, he had done it.

[Vajra Leg: Entry Level: 5/99]

Five thousand front kicks, Vajra Leg proficiency increased by 5 points.

At this intensity.

It would only take 200 days!

In just 200 days, he could cultivate the Vajra Leg to the realm of Grand Perfection!

No!

Perhaps even sooner!

Feeling the strength gradually returning to his body.

Guy stood up.

He looked at Dai and flashed a set of white teeth.

"Dad, I want to practice a little longer."

Dai grinned and patted Guy on the shoulder.

"Good! Dad will head back to cook! Don't be too late!"

"A real man needs to keep his belly full!"

Dai strode away.

Might Guy walked over to another tree and began practicing the basic movements of the Diamond Finger.

He poked the trunk with his fingers, focusing on the exertion of force.

One.

Two.

Three.

His fingertips quickly became red and swollen.

But he did not stop.

The warm current of the Yijin Jing enveloped his fingers, recovering them slightly faster than they were being damaged.

The swelling would subside a little, he would poke again, and it would subside again.

By the time he reached over two hundred pokes, a faint sound of footsteps came from behind him.

Might Guy turned around.

A middle-aged man with silver hair, holding the hand of a young boy of similar age to him, stood not far away.

He had short silver hair and wore a Konoha forehead protector.

A short blade with a white hilt rested on his left shoulder.

Hatake Sakumo.

The White Fang.

Might Guy's pupils constricted slightly.

He looked down at the young boy.

White hair, a white mask, and bangs covering one eye.

Hatake Kakashi.

Five-year-old Kakashi.

The White Fang seemed to have brought his son to familiarize him with the training grounds as well.

He saw Might Guy training alone.

He saw his red, swollen, and broken-skinned fingers.

He saw his worn-out shoes.

Then he looked toward the horizon, where the sun had just begun to rise.

A flicker of something passed through his eyes.

He crouched down and said to Kakashi: "Kakashi, look at that child."

Kakashi raised his eyes to look at Might Guy.

His eyes held the coldness and detachment characteristic of a genius.

"I heard he failed the selection," White Fang said, his voice calm. "Because he lacks ninjutsu and genjutsu."

Kakashi said nothing.

White Fang continued, "But he hasn't given up. Before dawn, he was already out there training his taijutsu."

"His foundations are solid, and he possesses such perseverance."

He paused.

"Kakashi, remember my words—one day, he might surpass you."

For the first time, surprise flickered in Kakashi's eyes.

He looked earnestly at the green-clad boy who was busy jabbing at a tree.

Might Guy felt that gaze.

He did not turn around, continuing to strike the tree trunk, blow after blow.

White Fang stood up and took Kakashi's hand, preparing to leave.

After walking a few steps, he turned back.

He offered Might Guy a gentle smile.

Then, he turned and walked away.

Under the setting sun, the figures of the father and son gradually faded into the distance.

Might Guy stood where he was, watching that direction, motionless for a long time.

He recalled the timeline from the original story.

One year, at most.

When Kakashi is seven, this hero of Konoha will commit suicide due to rumors and gossip.

All because he chose to save his comrades over completing the mission.

Condemned by the entire village, condemned by the very people he saved, and in the end...

Might Guy clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

He wanted to rush over and tell him, tell him that saving his comrades was not wrong!

Tell him that words are fearsome, but he must hold on!

Tell him that his son would grow up to be an incredible ninja!

But he was merely a six-year-old boy who had failed the selection.

His voice carried no weight.

To speak out of turn would only seem bizarre.

It was still too early.

He could not intervene.

He could only wait patiently for an opportunity.

Or—

Become stronger, and more influential.

When that time comes, perhaps he can change something.

Guy's gaze gradually turned resolute.