"Guy! The sun hasn't fully risen today, but our youth is already burning!"
"Yes, Father! I'll catch up to youth on my own two feet!"
Fang Xu's steps faltered.
Here they came.
Two green figures charged out from the intersection.
The same familiar bowl cuts, thick eyebrows, and impossible-to-ignore green, skintight jumpsuits.
Might Duy ran in front, with Might Guy close behind.
As they ran, both gave thumbs-ups, their teeth so bright they seemed to reflect light.
Guy spotted Fang Xu at once and waved excitedly.
"Fang Xu!"
He pushed off and charged straight over.
"You're out for a morning run today too! Wonderful! Your youth really hasn't stopped!"
Fang Xu stopped and nodded with a smile.
"Morning, Guy. Mr. Duy."
Might Duy stopped too, planted his hands on his hips, and nodded emphatically.
"Young Fang Xu! When I saw you yesterday, I felt the flames within your heart!"
"I never imagined you'd really be here again so early today!"
"This perseverance is the most beautiful proof of youth!"
The corner of Fang Xu's mouth twitched. That was laying the praise on a little thick.
It was only his second day of morning runs, but in the mouths of the Might father and son, he was practically becoming the embodiment of youth.
Guy looked utterly earnest too.
"Fang Xu, I thought for a long time about what you said yesterday, about progressing gradually!"
"Father was right. Recognizing your limits and then breaking through them step by step is youth too!"
Fang Xu nodded.
"I'm glad you can see it that way."
No sooner had he said that than Might Duy's expression suddenly turned serious.
He took a step back, as though about to announce something important.
Fang Xu's heart skipped a beat. That expression didn't look right.
Might Duy took a deep breath and suddenly reached into the small bag behind him.
"Young Fang Xu!"
"In recognition of your passionate youth, I've decided to give you a gift!"
A gift?
Fang Xu instinctively grew a little wary.
The next second, Might Duy pulled an outfit out of his bag.
Green... skintight... one-piece... exactly the same design as the ones Might Duy and Might Guy wore.
He had even thoughtfully folded it into a neat bundle.
The smile on Fang Xu's face nearly cracked.
He stared at the green, skintight jumpsuit, his mind briefly going blank.
Seriously? This was actually happening?
Beside him, Guy clenched both fists in excitement.
"Fang Xu! This is a special training suit Father prepared just for you!"
"Once you put it on, you can burn with youth alongside us!"
Might Duy held the green, skintight suit high, his tone as solemn as if he were handing over some supreme treasure of the Shinobi World.
"That's right!"
"It's the same special training suit Guy and I wear!"
"It's light, snug, and suitable for running, jumping, push-ups, handstand walking, and any passionate Taijutsu training!"
"Young Fang Xu, I acknowledge your youth!"
"Accept it!"
As Fang Xu stared at the outfit, only one thought remained in his mind.
Refuse. He had to refuse.
He could practice Taijutsu, go on morning runs, and seek advice from Might Duy and his son. If he really got the chance someday, he even wanted to learn the Eight Gates.
But this outfit was absolutely out of the question.
This wasn't clothing. It was a device for changing Konoha's entire art style.
If he wore it to the Ninja Academy, what would Kurenai Yuhi think? What would Rin Nohara think? What would Kakashi think?
And how would Asuma and Obito, those two who already loved picking fights, laugh at him?
Most importantly, he, Fang Xu, had only just put Obito in his place with his good looks the day before yesterday.
If he changed into this green, skintight suit today, wouldn't he be ruining his own image on the spot?
But the problem was, Might Duy looked completely sincere, and Guy was brimming with anticipation.
The father and son genuinely treasured this thing.
Saying outright, "It's too ugly. I don't want it," wouldn't be refusing a gift. It would be stabbing them in the heart.
Fang Xu's mind raced. He couldn't offend them, and he couldn't accept it. He also had to make his words pleasant to hear.
Ideally, after he refused, not only would they not be angry, they would think he really understood.
A breath later, Fang Xu's expression changed.
He neither backed away nor showed any disgust. Instead, he stepped forward and gazed solemnly at the green, skintight suit.
Might Duy and Guy both froze for a moment.
Fang Xu spoke slowly.
"Mr. Duy, I can't accept this outfit."
Might Guy immediately grew anxious.
"Why? Fang Xu, don't you like youth?"
Might Duy was a little surprised too.
"Young Fang Xu, could it be that you aren't ready to burn with youth yet?"
Fang Xu shook his head.
"No."
He raised a hand to point at the green, skintight suit, his tone utterly earnest.
"It's precisely because I respect youth that I can't accept it lightly."
Might Duy froze.
Guy was stunned too.
Fang Xu continued, "This isn't an ordinary outfit."
"It represents the honor of those who practice Taijutsu."
"It represents sweat shed day after day, the perseverance to get back up after falling, and the conviction to break through limits with effort rather than be bound by talent."
Might Duy's hands trembled slightly.
Guy's mouth slowly fell open.
Fang Xu spoke with growing assurance.
"Mr. Duy, you and Guy wear it because you're worthy of it."
"You train every day, unafraid of being laughed at or misunderstood."
"Through your actions, you prove that Taijutsu can burn with the most brilliant youth too."
"But what about me?"
Fang Xu raised a hand and pressed it to his chest.
"I've only done morning training for two days."
"I haven't even built up basic endurance, let alone reached the threshold of true Taijutsu."
"If I put it on now, as I am, it wouldn't be an honor. It would be a desecration."
"It's not that I don't want to accept it. I'm simply not worthy of accepting it yet."
Might Duy stood rooted to the spot.
Guy's eyes began to redden too.
Fang Xu looked at them, his tone growing even more solemn.
"Mr. Duy, this outfit should go to someone truly worthy of wearing it."
"Someday, when my Taijutsu training reaches a standard I can approve of."
"When I can stand tall and say that I haven't let my own sweat go to waste."
"If you're still willing to give it to me then, I'll accept it with both hands."
"But right now, I can't tarnish this honor on a momentary impulse."
His words came to an end.
Silence settled around them for a moment.
Might Duy looked down at the green, skintight suit in his hands, his lips trembling.
The next second, tears spilled from his eyes.
"Young Fang Xu!"
He jerked his head up, tears streaming from beneath his thick eyebrows.
"To think you could understand it this deeply!"
"That's right! This isn't ordinary clothing! It's the battle garb of youth!"
"I merely sensed your passion at first. I never imagined you'd already seen its true meaning!"
Guy burst into tears too.
"Fang Xu! You're incredible!"
"I used to think this outfit was just great for training. I never imagined it held such profound youth!"
Fang Xu inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
That did it.