I Promise

"Wait. If it was already nearly full, why was I still so weak?" Zhou Yang had considered whether his growth was limited by his age, but the thought vanished as soon as it appeared. Age might indeed be a restriction for others, but not for Saiyans. Didn't Gohan become a Super Saiyan 2 even as a child? Zhou Yang had no choice but to consider other possibilities.

"Could the amount of ki just be the beginning of this training?" Once that thought emerged, it became impossible to stop. Zhou Yang remembered that in the earliest days of Dragon Ball, the strongest person in that world had been Goku and Krillin's teacher, Master Roshi. How old was Master Roshi? At least several hundred years old, probably. Though he had a lifestyle that prolonged his life, there was an old saying: even the best fighter feared youthful strength. Yet despite having passed his prime long ago, Master Roshi could still toy with the Goku, Krillin, and Tien Shinhan of that time. Even then, though, Master Roshi had not truly reached the stage of releasing ki outward. He only had an ability that gathered ki to strengthen all the muscles in his body. Zhou Yang suddenly froze. "Could the next level of using ki be integrating it into every part of the body? Like Master Roshi?"

Zhou Yang imagined his barely meter-tall body becoming as muscular as Master Roshi's, and the corner of his mouth twitched. The image was far too beautiful to contemplate.

But after thinking it over carefully, Zhou Yang realized the idea did not seem wrong. It was not as if he had to learn Master Roshi's method of gathering ki to strengthen his muscles. That was simply Master Roshi's martial path; Zhou Yang did not have to follow it. Besides, as long as he integrated ki into his body, even if his luck was terrible and he chose the wrong training method, his ki capacity would still increase. After all, it would leave more room in his body to contain it, wouldn't it?

Of course, for now, he could only think about it. His ki had not completely filled up yet!

While Zhou Yang was deep in thought, the doorknob suddenly moved. A small figure wearing a grayish-blue raincoat entered the room. Her movements were extremely light, as though she was afraid of waking someone. She placed her umbrella against the wall and slowly walked toward Zhou Yang. Then, as if stunned, she saw his open eyes. It seemed like she was holding something back.

Seeing mist gradually cloud those familiar eyes, Zhou Yang immediately wanted to comfort her. But before he could, the girl walked over, smacked him on the head, and ran out.

"F? What was that supposed to mean? Can someone explain this to me?"

Amid Zhou Yang's confusion, the door opened again. This time, it was thrown open so violently that it seemed ready to shake the whole building down.

One tall figure and one slender figure rushed in.

Before the tall figure even reached Zhou Yang's hospital bed, he started scolding him. "Hey! What's wrong with you, kid? Aren't you usually pretty smart? Why did your IQ suddenly drop to zero at a time like this?"

"Huh? What do you mean?" Zhou Yang was completely bewildered.

Then the one behind the tall figure, with a ponytail, poked her head out. "The teacher's real purpose in giving you that mission was never for you to complete it, nor was it to stop you from cheating."

"Cheating? I could cheat? Wouldn't that violate the ninja code?" Even if she was his wife, Zhou Yang refused to back down when his intelligence was being questioned.

"Were you a ninja before?" Another female voice spoke up. The voice was familiar, but Zhou Yang was not concerned with who had said it. He was focused on what she had said.

"Me? I wasn't a ninja?" Zhou Yang thought it over carefully and realized that he really had not been one. First of all, he had never attended the Ninja Academy, so he was not even a ninja student. Second, this mission had been assigned for him to become a Lower Ninja, so he was even less likely to already be a ninja. Zhou Yang suddenly wanted to curse out the middle-aged man in front of him. But after thinking it over, he did not seem to have lost out either. As a Saiyan, the fastest way to grow was not peaceful training, but constant battle. Thinking of the growth of ki within his body, Zhou Yang decided to let the other man off the hook. His stubborn pride simply would not let him admit that his IQ had dropped; it was the other man's fault.

But even if Zhou Yang did not say it, Hanzo could see it clearly!

"What was that look in your eyes just now, kid? Are you trying to blame me for not reminding you? Think about it. Would I, as your teacher, give my disciple a mission that was practically suicide?"

"But I won."

"But? Yes, you won this time, but what about next time? Can you guarantee it? No matter what, you only have one life!"

"Teacher, are you afraid of death?"

"No."

"Then do you think I am?"

Hanzo's gaze sharpened as he carefully examined the small figure lying on the bed, covered in bandages. That look in Zhou Yang's eyes reminded him of his younger self. He remembered having that same look when he had vowed to change the Ninja World. But as he grew older, he gradually matured. He came to understand that his own strength was insufficient to bring about true change, so he buried that dream deep in his heart. Yet when he looked at Zhou Yang, he felt that perhaps his dream could be realized after all.

Hanzo paused. "But you're still so young. Your future is limitless. If you die on the battlefield, then everything will be gone."

"In a place where human lives are as worthless as grass, who can truly guarantee that they will not die on the battlefield? I doubt even you, a Demi-God, would dare make such a promise. And how much wind and rain do you think a flower raised under careful protection can withstand?"

Hanzo understood Zhou Yang's words. Or rather, everyone present understood them. The path of a ninja was a pyramid. Most people fell off along the way, and only a small number could reach the top. Every one of those who reached the summit possessed unwavering will, great strength, and abundant combat experience—just like the God of Shinobi of old, Hashirama Senju.

At that point, Hanzo knew his words could no longer sway someone like Zhou Yang, so he gave up on continuing their verbal sparring. Still, he offered Zhou Yang one final reminder. "No matter what, I hope you will cherish your life. Not only for yourself, but also for your family."

Hearing that, Zhou Yang unconsciously looked at the small figure behind Hanzo—the most important person in his life, Zhou Nan. It seemed that his vow not to make Zhou Nan worry could no longer be fulfilled. Though that vow existed only in his own heart, he still felt sorry toward Zhou Nan.

Seeing the apology in Zhou Yang's eyes, Zhou Nan shook her head, showing that there was no need. She knew that ever since the two of them had become ninjas, their lives could no longer be as peaceful as before. Especially during such tense times.

She said understandingly, "I don't ask that you come back from the battlefield without a scratch. I only ask that you return alive. Can you promise me that?"

Zhou Nan's request was exceedingly modest, and she spoke so softly that it seemed she did not quite believe it could be fulfilled. But Zhou Yang gave a hearty laugh and declared firmly, "I promise you."