This was a lie.
In truth, Mikami Yu had relied on grinding the favorability of those "pretty girls" to obtain physique attribute points from the Gala System, forcibly raising his physical condition so he could barely keep training with the Might Duy father-and-son pair up to this point.
However, it seemed that 8 physique points were still a little insufficient. He had to find a way to add a few more.
Elsewhere.
Might Duy gave a thumbs-up, his eyes brimming with passion as he looked at Mikami Yu. "Excellent! Yu! This persistence is the brightest light of youth! Your physical foundation is already far stronger than before!"
"...Then do I now qualify to ask you about that 'secret technique,' Uncle Duy? I know it represents the ultimate mystery of Taijutsu, a forbidden technique that trades life for power. But I have the resolve! For the sake of protecting what I cherish!"
Mikami Yu forcibly suppressed his panting, sat up straighter, and adopted an incomparably serious expression.
He had already dealt with Might Duy before and had "coincidentally" witnessed him practicing the Eight Gates. Since they had discussed the matter previously, bringing it up again now did not seem abrupt.
Might Duy stared at the determination in Mikami Yu's eyes, fell silent for several seconds, then slowly stood up. He raised his thumb and flashed a gleaming smile. "Excellent! I can feel your resolve!
"But Yu, training in the 'Eight Gates' is extremely arduous. It requires you to forge your body day after day for ten years into a steel frame capable of withstanding that violent power! Pain, monotony, sweat, and even blood will all become routine! You should understand that!"
"I understand!"
Mikami Yu nodded without hesitation.
"Then... prove it to me!"
Might Duy pointed down the long road ahead and said loudly, "If you can complete the task of running ten laps around Konoha every day for ten consecutive days, I will teach you how to practice the 'Eight Gates'!"
"...Fine! Ten days it is! Uncle Duy, it's a deal!"
Mikami Yu said.
Since the boost from 8 physique points allowed him to persist through nine laps, another point or two should be enough for him to complete all ten. So if everything went smoothly, he could meet Might Duy's requirements and learn the Eight Gates in as little as half a month, or at most a month.
By then, it would only be January next year, still before the graduation exams.
There was time.
"Ha! Now that's what youth should look like! I believe in you, Yu!"
Might Duy laughed heartily, flipped back into a handstand, and called to his son, "Guy, let's continue! Charge toward the tenth lap!"
"Yes, Dad!"
Might Guy immediately followed with renewed vigor. On the way, he did not forget to turn back and flash Mikami Yu a broad, white-toothed grin. "Yu! I'll challenge you again!"
Watching the green-jumpsuit father and son turn once again into two moving scenes of "youth" and disappear into the distance, Mikami Yu leaned against the tree trunk. Fatigue washed over him like a tide, yet his eyes remained exceptionally bright.
Ten days, ten laps... He still had to keep grinding favorability!
For Mikami Yu, who was currently pursuing six Ninjutsu at once, it had already become somewhat difficult to max out all six of their favorability levels every day.
Unless he did nothing all day except talk and practice with them.
But...
Considering that every favorability level-up could increase his physique by 1 point, it might be more effective to focus first on the Ninjutsu closest to leveling up.
A weekend passed in the blink of an eye.
A new week arrived.
Early that morning, the notice board outside the Ninja Academy's teaching building was packed with students. The final exam rankings had been posted, drawing everyone over as they squeezed together and stood on tiptoe to look.
"Eh! The rankings are out! I'm finally not last this time!"
"Quick, see who got first!"
"Wow! It's Mikami Yu! Full marks!"
"How is that possible? Wasn't practical combat his weak point...?"
"His combat score is high too! Look! It's the same as Sarutobi Asuma's, but he left Asuma far behind in the academic subjects!"
"Kaimon Hyuga's ranking actually dropped that much..."
Amid the clamor, Mikami Yu's name stood at the very top of the list, exceptionally conspicuous.
Uchiha Obito was also squeezed into the crowd, standing on tiptoe as he anxiously searched for his name. When he finally found it far down the list, his head immediately drooped. "Ah... It's like this again..."
He instinctively turned toward Nohara Rin, only to find her standing with Mikami Yu, chatting and laughing. An inexplicable sense of disparity immediately welled up in his heart, making his face feel faintly hot.
Mm... he was seeing red.
First place and Nohara Rin... They should both have been his, Obito's!
Elsewhere.
Mikami Yu was not surprised by his first-place result. After all, getting full marks in academic subjects was basic stuff for him. Although the combat test had nominally been scored based on that match against Mizuki, his earlier victory over Kaimon Hyuga through clever use of the Three Techniques would certainly have been taken into consideration by the teachers during their evaluation.
What truly mattered was what effect this first-place ranking would have going forward.
Just as Mikami Yu lightly cleared his throat and was about to say something to Nohara Rin, a gentle voice came from beside him. "Mikami, congratulations. You really improved a lot this time."
"Thank you... Yuhi."
Mikami Yu turned and met a fair face and a pair of ruby-like eyes.
It was Yuhi Kurenai.
At this age, Yuhi Kurenai did not yet have the mature, long-haired beauty of her adult years, but her clothes already carried hints of her future style: a red inner layer paired with a white outer garment. It was just that her hands and thighs were not wrapped in bandages, so she somehow looked as though she were missing something.
At that moment, Yuhi Kurenai hesitated before speaking again. "Mikami, this may be a little presumptuous, but... could I ask you about the secret to improving practical combat scores? You know, my combat scores aren't very ideal either..."
"Hm?"
Mikami Yu paused slightly, then said, "There's... no real secret. The main thing is to study more and practice more..."
"Is there... anything more specific?"
Yuhi Kurenai blinked.
"Well... if I had to say something, it would be that you need to treat Ninjutsu like people. You can't practice just for the sake of practicing. Usually, you should talk to Ninjutsu more, raise their favorability, occasionally give Ninjutsu gifts, and then have special interactions with Ninjutsu during certain special events..."
"What I mean is, as long as you treat Ninjutsu with sincerity, Ninjutsu will definitely repay you. Mm, that's about it."
Mikami Yu said solemnly.
Yuhi Kurenai, however, parted her lips slightly and took a long while before making a sound. "...Huh?"
Before you continue