Friends (Seeking Collections and Recommendations!!)

The open clearing was visible.

A young boy with thick eyebrows, wearing a green bodysuit and sporting a bowl cut, was currently kneeling before the teacher in charge of the ninjutsu examination.

Amidst the mocking gazes of the surrounding youths, the thick-browed boy's face flushed red, yet he spoke with unwavering resolve.

"Please, give me one more chance! Teacher Morino!"

The teacher named Morino displayed an expression of impatience, waving his hand at the kneeling boy with a look of utter disdain.

"Might Duy, it is already clear that you are not cut out to be a ninja!"

"You cannot even perform the most basic Three Body Technique. Do you intend to rely on your taijutsu to duel enemies in the future?!"

"Just forget it. Give up on this delusional dream of becoming a ninja!"

Teacher Morino finished speaking.

Ignoring the kneeling Might Duy entirely, he called for the next examinee to continue the ninjutsu test.

No one paid any attention to Might Duy, nor did anyone sympathize with him.

Everyone watched him kneeling pointlessly on the ground with cold, detached, and mocking eyes.

"That guy, does he think winning the taijutsu test is enough? How can he be a ninja if he can't even use ninjutsu!?"

"It serves him right that he's so strong; he should just go be a porter. Jiu Nai's flour shop happens to need extra hands, hahaha!"

"Since he can't even release ninjutsu, heaven has destined him to fail as a ninja. Why waste any more time here? Get lost!"

Various jeers and sarcastic remarks filled the air, leaving Might Duy, still kneeling on the ground, feeling utterly disheartened.

Just then!

The noisy chatter came to a sudden halt.

The group of youths stared at Sosuke, who was walking toward them!

Sosuke paid no mind to the gazes of the others.

He simply walked with calm, steady steps toward the dejected figure kneeling on the ground.

"Clack!" "Clack!"...

Hearing the footsteps drawing closer, Might Duy, whose face was filled with frustration, stirred slightly.

Seeing a pair of shoes enter his field of vision, he lifted his head slightly, wanting to see who it was.

Sunlight streamed through the window glass, illuminating Sosuke's face as if he were bathed in holy light.

Wearing his black-rimmed glasses, he maintained his usual gentle smile.

Looking down at the kneeling Might Duy, he parted his lips softly.

"Are you going to give up on your youth just like that, Might Duy?"

In Might Duy's eyes, Sosuke appeared like a messenger from heaven—holy and noble.

"So... So... suke!!?"

Appearing before Sosuke in such a pathetic state made Might Duy's face flush deep red; he felt utterly ashamed!

Ignoring Might Duy's surprise, Sosuke maintained his generous smile and continued speaking to himself.

"The so-called rules exist only for those who cannot survive without following them."

"Might Duy, do you believe in your taijutsu? If you truly believe in its power, why do you need this proof of being a ninja?"

Behind Sosuke, Tsunade watched his back with a strange expression, her eyes filled with a hint of worry.

Orochimaru watched him, lost in thought.

Might Duy, who had been overwhelmed by shame in front of Sosuke, felt a deep realization upon hearing those words!

It was as if his burning fighting spirit had been reignited!

He suddenly stood up from the ground!

Around his body.

A layer of intense chakra burned fiercely, causing the surrounding air to flow rapidly, as if a whirlwind had swept across the entire field!

He looked at Sosuke with a face full of seriousness and reverence, then bowed deeply to him!

"Thank you! Sosuke, you have saved me. Youth should not be so easily neglected!"

"I should never have fallen because of such a small setback! It was you who made me understand all of this!"

"Thank you! Sosuke!"

Upon hearing Might Duy's words.

Sosuke smiled deeply, his eyes glinting, though he spoke in a very gentle tone.

"You are welcome, we are friends, Dai."

That single sentence left Might Duy in a state of disbelief!

After a moment of daze, he could not stop the look of excitement from spreading across his face, which turned bright red as he shouted loudly!

"It... it is a great honor! To be able to be your friend!! Sosuke!!"

The ninja academy students nearby were whispering among themselves.

"Isn't that the genius Sosuke from the next class who defeated Uchiha Tokino? Why is he hanging out with that ninjutsu-idiot!?"

"Don't you see who's behind Sosuke!? That's Princess Tsunade!!"

"That kid Might Duy actually knows someone like that!?"

"To get close to that ninjutsu-idiot, it seems this 'genius' title of Sosuke's is nothing but a rumor after all!?"

Tsunade frowned as she listened to the students' chattering nonsense, feeling a bit angry on Sosuke's behalf.

However, just as she was about to speak up.

A white-haired figure stepped out before her!

"You bunch of guys! Do you even know the name of the great Jiraiya!?"

"As fellow graduates, if you have something to say, don't say it behind our backs! Step out and fight the great Jiraiya fair and square!"

"Since Might Duy is Sosuke's friend, he is my friend too!"

"If anyone is badmouthing my friend, then come out and fight me!"

Jiraiya stood boldly in front of the crowd, ignoring the fury of the teenagers who wanted to beat him to a pulp.

Tsunade and Sosuke were both taken aback by his actions, then couldn't help but smile.

This guy... sometimes... he really is unexpectedly reliable!

Jiraiya even turned back at this moment.

He grinned, showing his snow-white teeth, and gave a thumbs-up with a laugh, a gesture that warmed Might Duy's heart.

He felt the urge to cry again, but he managed to hold it back with great effort...

Inside, he kept thinking.

Friends, huh... Thank you... Sosuke... and thank you too... my friend, Jiraiya.

Afterward, the group left.

However, just before leaving.

Sosuke turned his head slightly and glanced at Morino, who was standing to the side with an unreadable expression on his face.

His face was expressionless, and his voice was cold.

"Arrogantly attempting to limit everything with common understanding, little do you know, even the most beautiful butterfly blooms from a cocoon!"

"Morino, your ignorant actions today—you have no idea what kind of excellent ninja you might be costing this village!?"

Hearing Sosuke speak, everyone stopped and looked at him.

Morino's face turned from blue to white after hearing this, and he became angry out of shame.

"Kid, don't think that just because you have Princess Tsunade backing you, you can look down on everything!"

"Him!? A ninja who can't use ninjutsu!? Are you trying to make me laugh? Kid, come back and say that to me after you've experienced a real battle!"

"A battle, is it..."

Sosuke murmured, looking down, his dark frames hiding his true thoughts.

"I want to challenge you, Morino!"

"I will use my strength to prove just how fragile your so-called words are in front of me."

"And I will also prove that a ninja doesn't necessarily have to rely on ninjutsu..."

Sosuke said softly again, his face looking somewhat solemn.

But deep in his eyes, there was a look of eagerness to try.

Hearing Sosuke's words, the surrounding ninja academy students looked at him in shock!!

They were all wondering if this guy had gone crazy!?

Even Tsunade and Might Duy were trying to dissuade him!

"Sosuke, Morino is a Chunin! How could you possibly defeat him? Don't be impulsive."

Tsunade urged Sosuke anxiously.

Jiraiya also looked at Sosuke with a heavy expression, losing his usual playfulness.

However, he didn't just blindly dissuade him; he simply asked.

"Sosuke, how much confidence do you have? You have to realize, Morino is a Chunin!"

Hearing their words, Sosuke smiled and said softly.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

He then turned his head toward Morino behind him, a cold glint flashing in his eyes behind his frames.

Morino, standing behind him, looked at Sosuke with utter contempt.

"Kid, it seems defeating an Uchiha genius has made you lose your head?"

"Do you think that just because you've graduated from the academy, you can fight me? Today, I will teach you a lesson, you so-called genius!"

"I'll make sure you know that a genius! Before they've grown up, they better follow the rules!"