Konoha Village.
Ninja Academy.
In front of the bulletin board.
A group of six and seven-year-old children crowded together. Some cheered excitedly after seeing their names on the list, while others lowered their heads and cried in disappointment.
Today was the day the Ninja Academy entrance results were announced.
Guy's consciousness slowly awakened amidst the noisy crowd.
"So loud..."
He struggled to open his eyes and saw blurry figures swaying before him.
The sounds of children's laughter and sobbing mixed together with the comforting voices of parents.
"Wait."
He lowered his head and saw a pair of short, sturdy little hands wearing a faded green jumpsuit.
Below that were two small legs wrapped in green tights.
"These clothes... why do they look so familiar?"
In the next instant, a torrent of memories surged into his mind.
Might Guy.
Six years old.
Today was the Ninja Academy admission day.
Because his Ninjutsu talent was judged as below average and his Genjutsu talent was equally poor, he failed the entrance assessment.
At this moment, he stood blankly before the bulletin board, staring at the admission list without finding his name anywhere.
"..."
Guy spent several seconds digesting the situation.
Then a single question slowly surfaced in his mind.
Who did I become?
Might Guy?
The man who nearly kicked his way to the end of the Fourth Great Ninja War?
The Taijutsu fanatic who constantly shouted about youth while wearing a ridiculous green jumpsuit?
The Blue Beast of Konoha whom even Uchiha Madara acknowledged after witnessing the terrifying power of Night Guy?
"..."
He looked down at his tiny hands once more.
Good grief.
Not only had he become Might Guy, but he had become the six-year-old rejected version.
Before he could completely sort out his thoughts, a rough hand suddenly pressed down onto his shoulder from behind.
He turned around.
A familiar face entered his sight.
Thick eyebrows.
Large eyes.
The same green jumpsuit.
The same absurdly thick brows.
It looked almost like an older version of himself standing there.
Only this older version had slightly reddened eyes while forcing himself to smile.
Might Duy.
The original owner's father.
Konoha's so-called "Eternal Genin."
The man who silently trained for twenty years in order to master the Eight Gates so his son would never be looked down upon.
The same man who would later open the Gate of Death with his own body in order to protect Guy from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Although he annihilated most of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, he also burned away his own life in the process.
Duy had clearly already seen the list.
He believed his son was devastated by the rejection, and pain flashed through his eyes.
But in the very next moment, he inhaled deeply.
Then he suddenly spread his arms and tightly hugged little Guy!
"GUY!"
The booming voice exploded beside Guy's ear and made his eardrums buzz.
"It's okay! A man's youth only burns brighter after experiencing failure!"
Guy was squeezed so tightly he could barely breathe.
The warmth through the clothes and the slight trembling in Duy's arms made him freeze for a moment.
As an orphan in his previous life, he had never experienced such an unconditional embrace before.
"Guy!"
Duy released him, stepped backward, raised a shining thumbs-up, and revealed a grin full of sparkling white teeth.
Tears still lingered at the corners of his eyes, but his smile remained unbelievably bright.
"Youth means standing back up after falling down!"
"Come! Papa made your favorite red bean dumpling soup!"
"Starting tomorrow, we father and son will train together and prove ourselves to everyone through Taijutsu!"
The sunlight reflected off those dazzling white teeth, making Guy narrow his eyes slightly.
Looking at the hot-blooded fool standing before him, the unwillingness lingering deep inside the original body's memories seemed to ignite once more.
Guy felt warmth spread through his chest.
Almost instinctively, he copied Duy's posture.
He raised his own thumbs-up.
He bared his teeth.
Then shouted back in the same passionate tone:
"Okay! Papa!"
[Father-son bond established. Monk Value +50.]
A mechanical voice suddenly echoed within his mind.
Guy, no, Might Guy now, froze slightly.
"System?"
[Monk System activated.]
[Host: Might Guy (Age 6)]
[Current Monk Value: 50]
[Mall: Locked]
[Newbie Gift Pack: Available]
A simple translucent panel appeared within his consciousness.
Might Guy blinked several times, but the panel remained there.
"Open it."
He silently gave the command.
[Newbie Gift Pack opened.]
[Obtained: Monk Value Γ300]
[Obtained: Shaolin 72 Supreme Techniques Random Draw Γ3]
Three spheres of golden light instantly exploded inside his mind.
The first sphere dissipated and transformed into an ancient martial arts manual.
Five golden characters radiated from its cover.
[Great Vajra Leg: Low Grade Supreme Technique]
[Violent and domineering. Stone shatters like mud beneath its kicks.]
The second sphere followed closely behind.
[Great Vajra Finger: Low Grade Supreme Technique]
[Finger force pierces metal and crushes iron like paper.]
Two Low Grade Supreme Techniques.
Before Might Guy could carefully examine them, the third sphere erupted with a dazzling golden brilliance.
[Muscle-Tendon Change Classic: High Grade Supreme Technique!]
[The supreme treasure of Shaolin Temple. Cleanses meridians and marrow, transforms the body, greatly increases Physique, Internal Energy recovery speed, and Cultivation aptitude.]
Might Guy's pupils contracted slightly.
The Muscle-Tendon Change Classic!
One of Shaolin's supreme cultivation arts!
Placed within the Naruto world, this was an extraordinary secret technique capable of changing one's physique and dramatically accelerating cultivation speed.
Most importantly, he was only six years old, currently in the best stage for physical growth.
If he started cultivating the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic now...
"Guy!"
Duy's large face suddenly appeared directly in front of him, interrupting his thoughts.
"Why are you spacing out? Are you too moved?"
Duy raised another thumbs-up while his teeth sparkled brilliantly.
"It's okay! Papa understands! A man's hot blood should flow freely!"
Might Guy stared silently at the overly enthusiastic face before him.
This idiot father clearly believed his son had been overwhelmed by his speech about youth.
"Papa," Might Guy suddenly spoke.
"Hm?"
"I will become strong."
Duy froze slightly.
Might Guy raised his head and looked directly into his father's eyes.
"Using Taijutsu. In my own way. One day, I will make everyone in Konoha remember my name."
Those words came directly from his heart.
Since he had inherited this body, he absolutely could not disgrace the name of Might Guy.
Looking at the determination in his son's eyes, Duy's own eyes instantly turned red once again.
"Guy!"
He spread his arms and hugged Might Guy tightly for a second time, his loud voice echoing across the street.
"As expected of my son! Such youthful spirit! Papa will wait for that day! We father and son will work hard together! Youth is!"
"Papa..."
Might Guy struggled for air while being squeezed tightly.
"Can you let go first... the red bean dumpling soup is getting cold."
"Oh! Right, right, right!"
Duy hurriedly released him and grabbed Might Guy's small hand.
"Come on! Let's eat dumplings! After eating, straight to sleep! Tomorrow morning begins our special youth training!"
Might Guy allowed himself to be pulled forward while silently thinking:
"The 300 Monk Value from the newbie gift pack, plus the 50 from the father-son bond."
"Use all of it on the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic."
[Monk Value -350]
[Muscle-Tendon Change Classic proficiency increasing...]
[Current proficiency: 350 (Proficient)]
The proficiency ranks for Supreme Techniques were divided into five stages:
Initial Mastery: 0-99
Small Success: 100-299
Proficient: 300-599
Mastery: 600-999
Perfection: 1000
Once a Supreme Technique reached Perfection, special effects would be unlocked.
...
A warm current slowly rose from his lower abdomen and spread throughout his entire body.
His previously exhausted and aching body instantly felt refreshed with renewed vitality.
Even his breathing became deeper and steadier.
Might Guy slowly exhaled.
The Muscle-Tendon Change Classic had already reached the Proficient stage.
As for the Great Vajra Leg and Great Vajra Finger...
He would cultivate those techniques properly through hard work little by little.
That was the true foundation of a Taijutsu ninja.
Since he had come to this world and become Might Guy...
Then he would use these fists to forge a completely different future.
"Guy!" Duy shouted from ahead while turning around. "Hurry up! If you're any slower, Papa's going to eat all the dumplings himself!"
"Coming!"
Might Guy immediately moved his short little legs and chased after him.