Might Duy's Love, A Father-Son High-Five!

Konoha, Hokage Office Building.

Might Duy stood at the entrance, taking a deep breath.

He looked down at his green jumpsuit, washed until it had faded to white.

Then he patted his pocket, feeling the few crumpled mission payment receipts inside.

"I can do this."

He whispered to encourage himself.

"For Guy, I must do this."

He pushed the door open.

"Excuse me, is Lord Third in?"

The duty Chunin glanced up at him, recognized the Eternal Genin, and spoke in a flat tone:

"Lord Third is very busy today. If you have business, come back tomorrow."

Might Duy shook his head: "I will wait right here."

He walked to the door of the Hokage's office and stood still.

Motionless.

One hour.

Two hours.

Three hours.

The sun set, and the moon rose.

Might Duy was still standing there.

The duty Chunin changed shifts; the new Jonin glanced at him but said nothing.

Midnight.

The office door opened.

Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen walked out, puffing on his pipe.

He paused when he saw the person standing at the door.

"Might Duy?"

Might Duy immediately knelt down.

Dogezai.

His forehead pressed against the floor.

"Lord Third!"

His voice was loud, echoing through the empty corridor.

"I beg of you! Give Guy a chance!"

Third Hokage was silent for a few seconds, taking a drag of his pipe.

"Get up and speak."

Might Duy did not move.

"Lord Third, Guy failed the selection. I know, his ninjutsu is poor, and his genjutsu is no better. The examiner said he has no talent and will never become a ninja."

His voice trembled slightly.

"But Lord Third, he wakes up before dawn every day to train! Yesterday, he practiced five thousand kicks! Today, he struck a tree five thousand times! His fingers are so swollen he cannot even bend them!"

"He still has a wound on his arm—he got it from a Kunai while trying to do the right thing! He is only six years old!"

Might Duy looked up, his eyes bloodshot, but his gaze was firm.

"Lord Third, Guy... he is truly working hard. In his own way, through taijutsu."

"I stake my life on it! Guy will definitely become an outstanding ninja!"

The corridor was very quiet.

Third Hokage looked at the man kneeling on the floor before him.

An Eternal Genin.

It took him three tries to graduate from the Ninja Academy.

Twenty years later, he was still a Genin.

People in the village called him the Eternal Loser, and some laughed at him behind his back, saying his son was just like him.

But he never complained.

He was always cheerful, taking the hardest missions, doing the most exhausting work, and never slacking off.

Lord Third took a drag of his pipe.

"Dai, do you know what time it is?"

Dai was stunned for a moment.

"A time of war."

Lord Third said slowly.

"Every village is preparing for battle, and Konoha needs more ninjas. According to the rules, students who fail the entrance exam can still be admitted through a special recommendation."

Dai's eyes lit up.

"But they must demonstrate talent sufficient to compensate for their lack of ninjutsu."

Lord Third looked at him.

"Taijutsu can work. But if he doesn't meet the standard, it will only harm him after he enters. He won't be able to keep up with the curriculum, he'll be mocked by his classmates, and he'll end up dropping out."

Dai nodded heavily.

Before Dai could speak, Lord Third looked at him deeply, his tone meaningful:

"Furthermore, have you thought clearly about what Might Guy will face once he enters the Ninja Academy?"

Dai's expression stiffened.

But it was immediately replaced by a look of determination.

"I have thought it through! And Might Guy, he has thought it through too, we..."

"Twenty days."

Lord Third interrupted him.

"In twenty days, the Ninja Academy begins."

"Before the term starts, I will have Hatake Sakumo conduct an assessment. If he can demonstrate taijutsu at the level of a genin, he will be admitted."

Dai was stunned.

Hatake Sakumo.

The White Fang of Konoha.

That legendary ninja.

"What?" Lord Third raised an eyebrow, "No confidence?"

"I have it!"

Dai pressed his forehead to the floor again, his voice so loud the entire floor could hear:

"Thank you, Lord Third! Thank you, Lord Third!!"

Lord Third waved his hand: "That's enough, go back. Twenty days from now, at the Back Mountain Training Ground, eight o'clock in the morning."

Dai scrambled up, bowed three times, and turned to run.

He reached the door, turned back, gave a thumbs up, and his teeth flashed:

"Lord Third! Might Guy will definitely not let you down!"

Lord Third watched the green shadow disappear into the night and shook his head.

Yet, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

Dai sprinted all the way.

He dashed through the streets, cut through the alleys, and pushed open his front door.

The house was dark, and Might Guy was still asleep.

Dai stood by the bed, looking at his son.

Moonlight shone on his face; he was clutching a small handkerchief embroidered with little flowers.

Dai took a deep breath.

"Might Guy!"

He threw off the blanket.

"Wake up!!!"

Might Guy opened his eyes groggily: "Dad... it's not even dawn yet..."

"It's bright!" Dai pointed out the window, "The moon is just the sun of the night! Youth knows no day or night!"

Might Guy sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"What's wrong?"

Dai crouched down, placed his hands on his shoulders, his eyes shining intensely.

"Might Guy, Dad has some good news for you."

"Hm?"

"Twenty days from now, White Fang will personally conduct your assessment!"

Might Guy blinked in surprise: "An assessment on what?"

"Taijutsu!"

Dai's voice grew louder and more intense.

"If you can demonstrate taijutsu at the genin level, you'll be granted special admission! Lord Third said so himself!"

[System Notification: Quest Triggered, Entrance Assessment.]

[Objective: Reach "Minor Accomplishment" (Proficiency ≥ 100) in any two martial arts within twenty days.]

[Reward: Monk Points × 100, Random Beginner Gift Pack]

[Failure Penalty: None. However, eligibility for admission will be lost.]

Might Guy was now fully awake.

Special admission.

Twenty days.

White Fang's assessment.

He looked at Dai's excited face and suddenly remembered something.

"Dad... where did you go just now?"

Dai scratched his head: "I went to the Hokage Building."

"When did you go?"

"After you fell asleep."

Might Guy looked out the window.

The sky was already beginning to brighten.

He had slept through an entire afternoon and the whole night.

That meant Dai had stood at the Hokage Building for the entire night.

"Dad..."

"Oh, it's nothing!"

Dai gave a thumbs-up, his teeth flashing with a glint.

"What's one night of standing for a real man! What matters is you!"

He reached out his calloused hand.

"Guy, twenty days! Let's give it our all for twenty days! Let's show White Fang that a taijutsu ninja can be truly formidable!"

Might Guy looked at that hand.

Then he looked at Dai's bloodshot eyes.

It felt as if something was lodged in his throat.

He raised his hand.

He slapped his palm against Dai's.

"Smack!"

"Alright!"

Dai grinned: "That's my son!"

He turned and walked toward the door.

"I'm going to make breakfast! We start special training as soon as we eat! Time is tight, we can't waste a single second!"

He reached the doorway and looked back.

"Guy."

"Yeah?"

"Dad believes in you."

The door closed.

Might Guy sat on the bed, looking down at his hands.

His fingers were still swollen, but they were much better than yesterday.

The warm current of the Yijin Jing flowed slowly through his body, and his wounds had already scabbed over.

Twenty days.

Two low-grade ultimate techniques to reach minor accomplishment.

He looked at the system panel in the void.

[Vajra Leg: Initial Entry 5/99]

[Vajra Finger: Novice 5/99]

Small success requires 100 proficiency points.

In other words, within twenty days, each skill needs another 95 points.

Based on yesterday's speed, five thousand kicks gained 5 points, and five thousand finger strikes gained 5 points.

That is 10 points a day.

Twenty days, that is two hundred points.

Enough!

Might Guy grinned.

Besides, he was improving.

He would not stay in the same place forever.

As long as he persisted.

He could succeed!

Might Guy took a deep breath.

The system mission had no penalty for failure.

But losing his enrollment qualification was the greatest penalty of all.

He climbed up and put on his clothes.

He pushed open the door.

Training.

Might Guy walked to the Wooden Dummy in the courtyard.

"Time is tight, I cannot waste a single second."

Dai watched his son's back.

His eyes turned red again.

"Good!"

His loud voice rang out, startling the neighbor's dog into barking.

"Guy! Eat first! After you eat, Dad will practice with you! Twenty days from now, let everyone see."

Might Guy turned back, raised his thumb along with him, and flashed his White Fang:

"The power of youth!!!"