Masaichi Was Furious in the Office

"The human body cannot be overtrained, because repairing muscles takes time."

"We ninja are different from ordinary people. We have greater muscular endurance, but we still need rest days."

Masaichi had been getting along better and better with Might Dai, the Genin he had recently met.

The two of them shared the same hobby: getting stronger and staying fit!

Masaichi was teaching workout knowledge to Dai, who had trained his entire life. Could you believe it?

But what he said was indeed correct.

From the very beginning, Might Dai and Might Guy had been using the Eight Gates incorrectly.

Scientifically speaking, running could improve cardiopulmonary function and endurance, but it was aerobic exercise. Doing nothing but aerobic exercise for a long time would cause the body to lose muscle.

That was why the father and son, despite training their entire lives, did not look particularly muscular. Opening the Seventh Gate also put a strain on them, because their muscles had only been trained for endurance.

Masaichi could only say that Liu Zoro next door really knew how to work out.

Heavy-weight anaerobic lifting, then eating meat and sleeping afterward to let the body repair its muscles—after training like that for years, how could the explosive power behind his sword swings not be strong?

"What did you say? When you and Guy were hungry, you tightened your belts and went to sleep?"

Might Dai had only just learned that Masaichi was Guy's classmate.

"There's nothing I can do, Masaichi. With my salary... it might even be difficult to support myself. Youth has its indescribable obstacles too." Might Dai scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

It sounded ridiculous.

Konoha's supplies had mostly consisted of things like Military Ration Pills, which seemed capable of replenishing chakra but were actually not very nutritious.

It was only after Orochimaru brought in protein powder and sent Masaichi a cow every few days that he had been able to fill his stomach and experience the wonderful feeling of being full for the first time.

He wondered whether his son, assigned to the Hidden Mist Village front lines, was going hungry.

That was what ninja were like. Being short on money was normal.

Even Jonin lived miserably poor lives, because food alone cost a huge amount of money.

After chatting with Masaichi for a while, Might Dai went off to do the heavy-weight anaerobic training Masaichi had recommended—namely, punching trees.

Train for one day, rest for one day, and give the muscles a day to recover?

Dai did not know whether Masaichi's scientific fitness method would work.

Meanwhile, Masaichi prayed inwardly that his teacher would definitely succeed in the Hokage competition.

Minato was excellent, and he was also highly capable at handling government affairs.

But Minato had not mastered the core technology.

Come to think of it, could his teacher invent mobile phones?

When he had nothing to do, he really had nothing to do.

Uh.

It seemed he had worked out too hard?

"Masaichi, why does this protein powder have one less scoop every time I drink it?" Might Dai returned to Masaichi while clutching his yeast protein powder.

Right, anyone in the camp who said such nonsense had trained their muscles until their brains crashed. In other words, they had worked out too hard.

In the blink of an eye, it was time for Orochimaru and Masaichi to return to Konoha for rest and rotation.

The Hidden Cloud Village had recently been locked in a bitter struggle with the Hidden Rock Village, giving Konoha a temporary chance to catch its breath.

"Mmm~~"

Masaichi lay on the bed in his dormitory. His soft bed was still the most comfortable.

But before he had lain there for long, he was summoned to the Hokage's office.

"You're here?"

There was not the slightest sign of anger on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face over Sarutobi Soku's death. He watched Masaichi approach with a kindly expression.

Jiraiya and Minato's Team, who had returned for rest, were also in the office.

Orochimaru was there as well.

Jiraiya and Minato studied Masaichi curiously.

Minato had always heard about Masaichi from Obito. How should he put it? If things were as Obito described, he would probably find Masaichi deeply irritating.

Because Obito treated him like a brother.

Yet he...

There was no way Obito would say anything good about Masaichi.

"Long time no see."

"Obito, Kakashi." After hesitating for a moment, Masaichi still greeted Rin as well. "And Rin."

"Long time no see, Masaichi." Rin smiled sweetly. Masaichi had grown taller.

Kakashi gave a slight nod in response.

"Hmph." If he were not afraid of damaging the place where he would work in the future—the Hokage's office—Obito would have been ready to beat Masaichi up. Just seeing you pisses me off.

Minato exchanged a gentle smile with Masaichi as a greeting.

Masaichi returned it with an equally gentle smile.

What a coincidence—the two had bumped into the same "type." Both were warm little suns.

The moment Masaichi smiled, Minato knew they were rivals. He might not be able to beat Orochimaru in the competition for Fourth Hokage, so Masaichi was his rival for Fifth Hokage.

It was not that Minato had no hope in himself.

In truth, even his students did not think he had much hope.

But Masaichi, who knew the plot, could clearly see from Hiruzen Sarutobi's upcoming deployment order and the smile on his face whom he hoped would become the Fourth Hokage.

"Minato's Team will serve as a mobile unit, moving between the various battlefields to provide support..."

Outsiders might not understand the deeper meaning. Even Orochimaru did not see through it and thought it was merely a mission assignment, but Masaichi knew the implication was to let Minato's Team show their faces everywhere.

"Yes!" Minato nodded in acceptance. Obito was bursting with enthusiasm. All right! Let the Ninja World be filled with the great Obito's name! Though his usual missions involved escorting logistics.

"Orochimaru and Masaichi will remain in Konoha and help me handle documents."

"I'm getting on in years. A desk piled with documents every day... Heh, it seems I'm reaching retirement age too."

Anyone else hearing that would probably think he was grooming Orochimaru to become Hokage, but Masaichi knew better. Helping handle documents? Wasn't this just holding his teacher back and preventing him from earning merits on the battlefield?

All of the village's backbone forces were fighting outside.

Only a few ancient higher-ups remained in the village. What was the use of letting them know Orochimaru was good at handling documents?

After leaving the Hokage's office.

Rin had even suggested inviting Masaichi to a meal and bringing Anko along as well.

But seeing Masaichi's expression.

Did the Third Lord say something just now?

"Rin! Masaichi isn't a good person. You should stay away from him." Seeing Rin constantly watching Masaichi's departing back with concern, Obito became jealous.

"Hehe, and you're a good person?" Kakashi spread his hands and walked past Obito.

"Bastard!!"

"Youth really is wonderful, Minato." Jiraiya's expression was not very pleasant either. The old man had actually deceived him, saying that Minato was the one he favored more.

You could let Orochimaru become Hokage!

But you could not deceive him with empty promises and make him think Minato could become Hokage, forcing him to fight enemies with all his life.

"Minato, you're younger than Orochimaru. Youth is your capital."

"What do you mean, Master Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya patted Minato on the shoulder without explaining. If he told Minato that this was a competition for Hokage, then no matter how principled Minato was, he would inevitably develop some ambition. In the old man's eyes, ambition was unacceptable.