Konoha, Hokage Office Building.
Dai stood at the entrance and took a deep breath.
He looked down at his faded green clothes.
Then he felt around in his pocket, where a few crumpled mission payment receipts were tucked away.
"I can do this."
He quietly gave himself a pep talk.
"For Guy, I have to do this."
He pushed open the door.
"Excuse me, is Lord Third here?"
The on-duty Chunin looked up at him, recognized the Eternal Genin, and replied coolly:
"Lord Third is very busy today. Come back tomorrow if you need something."
Dai shook his head. "I'll wait here."
He walked to the Hokage's office and stood outside.
Without moving.
One hour.
Two hours.
Three hours.
The sun set, and the moon rose.
Dai was still standing there.
The on-duty Chunin was replaced by another shift. The new Jonin glanced at him but said nothing.
Midnight.
The office door opened.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi walked out, pipe in his mouth.
He froze when he saw the man standing outside.
"Might Duy?"
Dai immediately dropped to his knees.
He prostrated himself.
His forehead touched the ground.
"Lord Third!"
His voice rang through the empty corridor.
"I'm begging you! Give Guy a chance!"
The Third was silent for a few seconds, then took a puff from his pipe.
"Get up and talk."
Dai didn't move.
"Lord Third, Guy failed the entrance exam. I know he's no good at ninjutsu or genjutsu. The examiner said he has no talent and will never become a ninja."
His voice trembled slightly.
"But Lord Third, he gets up every day before dawn to train! Yesterday, he kicked five thousand times! Today, he jabbed a tree five thousand times! His fingers are so swollen he can't even bend them!"
"He's got an injury on his arm, too—it was cut by a kunai when he was helping someone! He's only six!"
Dai raised his head. His eyes were red, but his gaze was resolute.
"Lord Third, Guy... he's really trying. In his own way, through taijutsu."
"I stake my life on it! Guy will become an outstanding ninja!"
The corridor fell silent.
The Third looked at the man kneeling before him.
The Eternal Genin.
It had taken him three tries to graduate from the Ninja Academy.
Twenty years had passed, and he was still a Genin.
Some villagers called him the "Eternal Loser." Others laughed behind his back, saying his son would turn out just like him.
But he had never complained.
He was always cheerful, taking the toughest missions and doing the hardest work without ever slacking off.
The Third took a puff from his pipe.
"Dai, do you know what kind of times we're living in?"
Dai froze for a moment.
"Wartime."
The Third spoke slowly.
"All the villages are preparing for war, and Konoha needs more ninjas. According to the rules, a student who failed can still enter through a special recommendation."
Dai's eyes lit up.
"But he'll need to demonstrate talent enough to make up for his lack of ninjutsu."
The Third looked at him.
"Taijutsu could qualify. But if he doesn't meet the standard, enrolling him could do more harm than good. He'd fall behind, be mocked by his classmates, and eventually drop out."
Dai nodded firmly.
Before Dai could speak, the Third regarded him deeply and said meaningfully:
"Besides, once Guy enters the Ninja Academy, do you understand what he'll face? Have you thought it through?"
Dai's expression stiffened.
But determination quickly replaced it.
"I've thought it through! And Guy, he's thought it through too. We—"
"Twenty days from now."
The Third cut him off.
"The Ninja Academy opens in twenty days."
"Before then, I'll have Hatake Sakumo examine him. If he can demonstrate taijutsu at the level of a Genin, I'll make an exception and admit him."
Dai was stunned.
Hatake Sakumo.
Konoha's White Fang.
The legendary ninja.
"What?" The Third raised an eyebrow. "You don't believe he can do it?"
"I do!"
Dai pressed his forehead to the ground again. His voice rang out so loudly that the entire floor could hear him:
"Thank you, Lord Third! Thank you, Lord Third!"
The Third waved a hand. "That's enough. Go home. Twenty days from now, at eight in the morning, at the Back Mountain Training Ground."
Dai scrambled to his feet, bowed three times, then turned and ran.
At the entrance, he looked back and gave a thumbs-up, his teeth gleaming:
"Lord Third! Guy won't let you down!"
The Third watched the green figure disappear into the night and shook his head.
Yet the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
Dai raced all the way home.
He ran through the streets and alleys, then pushed open the door.
The house was dark, and Guy was still asleep.
Dai stood by the bed, looking at his son.
Moonlight fell across Guy's face. In his hand, he clutched a little handkerchief embroidered with flowers.
Dai took a deep breath.
"Guy!"
He yanked the covers off.
"Get up!!!"
Might Guy blinked sleepily. "Dad... it's not even dawn yet..."
"It's dawn!" Dai pointed out the window. "The moon is just the sun at night! Youth knows no day or night!"
Might Guy sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"What's going on?"
Dai crouched down and put both hands on his shoulders. His eyes shone so brightly they were almost frightening.
"Guy, I've got good news."
"Hm?"
"In twenty days, White Fang will examine you!"
Might Guy blinked. "Examine me for what?"
"Taijutsu!"
Dai's voice grew louder and louder.
"If you can demonstrate taijutsu at the level of a Genin, you can get into the academy through special recommendation! Lord Third said so himself!"
[System Notice: Quest triggered—Academy Entrance Examination.] [Objective: Within twenty days, train any two martial skills to "Minor Accomplishment" (proficiency ≥ 100).] [Reward: Monk Points × 100, random beginner's gift pack] [Failure Penalty: None. However, admission eligibility will be lost.]
Might Guy was wide awake now.
Admission through special recommendation.
Twenty days.
An examination by White Fang.
He looked at Dai's excited face, then suddenly remembered something.
"Dad... where did you go just now?"
Dai scratched his head. "To the Hokage Building."
"When did you go?"
"After you fell asleep."
Might Guy looked out the window.
Dawn was nearly breaking.
He had slept through the entire afternoon and night.
That meant Dai had spent the whole night standing at the Hokage Building.
"Dad..."
"Ah, it's nothing!"
Dai gave a thumbs-up, his teeth gleaming.
"What's one night on your feet for a man? You're what matters!"
He held out his rough, calloused hand.
"Guy, we've got twenty days! We'll give it everything we've got! We'll show White Fang that taijutsu ninjas can be strong, too!"
Might Guy looked at that hand.
Then he looked at Dai's bloodshot eyes.
Something seemed to catch in his chest.
He raised his hand.
And slapped it against Dai's.
"Smack!"
"Okay!"
Dai grinned. "That's my boy!"
He turned and headed outside.
"I'll go make breakfast! Once we've eaten, we'll start your intensive training! We're short on time, so we can't waste a second!"
He reached the doorway, then turned back.
"Guy."
"Yeah?"
"Dad believes in you."
The door closed.
Might Guy sat on the bed and looked down at his hand.
His fingers were still swollen, but they were much better than yesterday.
The warm current from the Yijin Jing flowed slowly through his body, and the wound had already scabbed over.
Twenty days.
Two low-grade secret techniques, trained to Minor Accomplishment.
He looked at the system panel floating in the air.
[Vajra Leg: Basic Proficiency 5/99]
[Vajra Finger: Beginner 5/99] ```
He needed 100 proficiency points to reach the next level.
That meant he still had to earn 95 points in each skill over the next twenty days.
At yesterday's pace, five thousand kicks earned him 5 points, and five thousand finger strikes earned him 5 points.
That was 10 points a day.
Two hundred points in twenty days.
That was enough!
Guy grinned.
Besides, he was improving.
He wouldn't be stuck at the same level forever.
As long as he kept at it,
he could succeed!
Might Guy took a deep breath.
The system's task had no failure penalty.
But losing his chance to enroll was the worst punishment of all.
He got up and got dressed.
He pushed open the door.
Time to train.
Might Guy walked over to the Wooden Dummy in the courtyard.
"Time is short. I can't waste a single second."
Dai watched his son's back.
His eyes reddened again.
"Good!"
His booming voice was so loud that even the neighbor's dog started barking.
"Guy! Eat first! After breakfast, Dad will train with you! In twenty days, we'll show everyone!"
Might Guy turned around. He and his father gave each other a thumbs-up, their teeth bared in matching grins:
"The power of youth!!!"