Guidance

"Could there be a ninja like me, one who only knows taijutsu?"

The moment he entered the noodle stand, Rock Lee impatiently asked the question, his face full of urgency.

Having heard far too many denials, he desperately needed a senior—someone like him who only knew taijutsu, yet had successfully become a ninja.

"Of course, it's impossible for someone to know only taijutsu. It's just that compared with ninjutsu and Genjutsu, his achievements in taijutsu were a much bigger reason he became a Jonin."

As Ryosuke ate his noodles, he answered Rock Lee's question. "Might Guy, a Jonin who calls himself Konoha's proud Azure Beast, has attained an extremely high level in taijutsu."

"When he was young, he was just like you. Aside from taijutsu, he was mediocre at ninjutsu and Genjutsu."

"But now, through his own efforts, he has become a renowned Jonin of Konoha. Many ninjas from his generation are still lingering at the Chunin or even Genin level. Of course, some have already stopped being ninjas."

"A... Jonin?"

At the mention of that distant, unreachable word, Rock Lee's eyes filled with longing. But he quickly became dejected again. "But my talent in everything besides taijutsu isn't merely mediocre. It's terrible."

"I don't think I'll ever learn ninjutsu in this lifetime. If I can't even learn the basic Three Body Technique, then becoming a ninja can only be a fantasy."

"How do you know it's a fantasy if you haven't tried?"

After slurping down several huge mouthfuls, Ryosuke's bowl was already empty.

It was not that the portion was too small. In the Ninja World, training was something that consumed a great deal of physical energy.

Over time, people here naturally developed larger appetites, especially clans like the Hyūga Clan, which specialized in taijutsu.

"Boss, another bowl of the same, please. How about you? Want another bowl?"

After ordering another bowl of ramen from Teuchi at Ichiraku Ramen, Ryosuke looked at Rock Lee beside him.

"N... no need."

Already embarrassed enough to be treated to a meal, Rock Lee waved his hand and returned to the main topic. "I've tried too many times. Ever since I learned I had no talent in other areas, I've focused solely on taijutsu."

"Every day, I try fighting different people. No matter the location, no matter whether they're in the same grade as me, I've challenged them all. But to this day, I haven't won a single match."

"Every failure shakes my resolve."

Smiling as he accepted the freshly made bowl of ramen from Teuchi, Ryosuke asked curiously, "Then... have you ever thought about giving up?"

"No."

Rock Lee answered without even thinking, but quickly corrected himself. "Not for now."

"I don't know whether I can keep enduring this kind of life, or whether I can succeed."

"Then have you considered... finding yourself a teacher? If you only rely on yourself to figure things out, your chances of success aren't high. But if someone is willing to guide your training, your progress will be completely different. Your chances of becoming a ninja will be much greater," Ryosuke suggested.

"The teachers at the academy can't teach me anything more about taijutsu. Wait... are you telling me to find Jonin Might Guy?"

Originally, Rock Lee had intended to say that none of the Ninja Academy teachers had deeply studied taijutsu. They only knew the basic Konoha Style Taijutsu and had no way to guide him.

But when he thought of the Jonin Ryosuke had just mentioned, he quickly realized something.

"Every morning, before the sun rises, Jonin Might Guy trains near the Forest of Death to warm up for a while before starting his day's missions."

Ryosuke looked at him with an unreadable smile. "But the Forest of Death is too dangerous for you right now. There's an abandoned Training Ground nearby, so you can wait for him there."

"As for Might Guy's distinctive appearance, he wears a green jumpsuit and has very thick eyebrows."

He was not worried that, because of his intervention, Might Guy would refuse to take Rock Lee as his disciple.

Beyond the personality he knew from the story, Ryosuke had also used the Hyūga Clan's intelligence network in real life to gather information on the personalities of every Jonin in the village.

Might Guy was fairly straightforward, and among ninjas, he seemed especially simple-minded. Of course, he was only simple-minded toward his companions.

And after interacting with Rock Lee until now, Ryosuke believed that as long as Rock Lee showed Might Guy the steadfast side of his personality, Might Guy would most likely guide his training for the sake of them being from the same village.

Becoming his disciple was only a matter of time.

Faced with the information he had been given, Rock Lee hesitated. "You... why do you know so much? And why are you helping me?"

This chance encounter that afternoon, and this peer named Hyūga Ryosuke before him, gave him a strange feeling. It was as though everything was firmly under Ryosuke's control.

Including that he would come here with him for noodles, and that he would become interested in Jonin Might Guy.

"Don't doubt it. Our meeting was merely a coincidence—perhaps it was fate's arrangement."

As though he had seen through Rock Lee's thoughts, Ryosuke smiled. "Let me introduce myself again. My name is Hyūga Ryosuke. I am a member of the Hyūga Clan's main family, and the man who will become the next Hyūga Family Head."

"The reason I know so much about Might Guy is because I deliberately gathered information on him."

"His achievements in taijutsu caught my attention. After all, the Hyūga Clan is a clan that primarily specializes in taijutsu. As for why I'm helping you..."

Ryosuke paused. "It's just making a friend. I told you already, I think highly of your future. Perhaps you will become a powerful ninja someday."

Although there were quite a few people in the village worth investing in, there were not many Ryosuke could reach given his identity and age.

Most of the clan heirs could be excluded, whether it was Ino-Shika-Cho, Sasuke Uchiha, Kiba Inuzuka, or Shino Aburame.

These people all held significant positions within their respective clans, and none of them lacked anything.

Excessively close ties and deliberate contact would not be a good thing for the Hyūga Clan, so Ryosuke had not looked into them.

For now, Rock Lee was the only relatively suitable candidate.

He came from a civilian family, and his talent was especially mediocre. In everyone else's eyes, he was completely ordinary.

Giving help in times of need was better than adding flowers to brocade. This was a good opportunity for an investment.

After the meal, Ryosuke said goodbye to Rock Lee.

That was the end of their contact for the day. If he acted too enthusiastic, it would instead make others uncomfortable.

When he returned home, Hyuga Hiashi was the only one in the house.

"Father."

Ryosuke spoke respectfully.

"I heard from Hinata that you stayed behind at the Ninja Academy alone. What is it? Was there someone among that class of students who caught your attention?" Hyuga Hiashi asked probingely.

"There was a decent kid. I got to know him."

Ryosuke nodded and did not hide it.

Hyuga Hiashi did not mind that Ryosuke, who had not even started school yet, referred to students already attending school as kids.

In his heart, Ryosuke was no longer a child.

"If you need anything, you can tell me at any time."

Hyuga Hiashi nodded. He did not ask who the person Ryosuke cared about was. Instead, he offered to bear whatever cost might come with building ties with that person.

Did any of you have any adverse reactions after getting vaccinated? I feel like I'm about to die—I've had diarrhea for four days already.