Konoha Village, Hokage Office Building.
Might Duy stood quietly at the entrance while taking a deep breath.
He lowered his head and looked at his faded green training suit, the fabric already worn nearly white from years of washing. Then he subconsciously touched his pocket again, confirming that the crumpled mission payment slips were still there.
"I can do this."
He softly muttered to himself.
"For Guy... I definitely can."
After steadying his emotions, Duy finally pushed open the door and entered the building.
"Excuse me, is Lord Third still here?"
The Chunin on duty looked up from the desk. The moment he recognized the visitor as Konoha's famous Eternal Genin, his expression immediately became indifferent.
"Lord Third is extremely busy today."
"If you have business, come back tomorrow."
Duy shook his head firmly.
"I'll wait here."
After speaking, he quietly walked outside the Hokage's office and stood there motionlessly.
One hour passed.
Then two hours.
Then three hours.
The sun gradually set beyond the horizon, and night slowly covered Konoha.
Yet Duy remained standing there without moving.
The Chunin responsible for guard duty eventually changed shifts. The newly arrived Jonin briefly glanced at him but chose not to say anything.
Midnight eventually arrived.
At last, the office door slowly opened.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, walked out while smoking his pipe.
When he saw the figure still standing outside the office, even he looked slightly surprised.
"Might Duy?"
The moment he heard the Third Hokage's voice, Duy immediately knelt down heavily.
His forehead struck the floor directly in a deep Dogeza.
"Lord Third!"
His loud voice echoed through the empty corridor.
"I beg you! Please give Guy another chance!"
Hiruzen quietly looked at the kneeling man for several moments before slowly exhaling smoke from his pipe.
"Stand up first and explain yourself."
Duy did not move at all.
"Lord Third, Guy failed the Academy selection."
"I know his Ninjutsu is poor, and his Genjutsu is poor too."
"The examiners all said he has no talent and that he won't become a proper Ninja in the future."
His voice trembled slightly as he spoke.
"But Lord Third... Guy truly works hard."
"He wakes up before dawn every single day to train."
"Yesterday, he completed five thousand kicks."
"Today, he stabbed his fingers into a tree five thousand times until they swelled so badly he couldn't even bend them anymore."
"And he still got injured protecting someone from bullies! He's only six years old!"
Duy slowly raised his head.
His eyes were bloodshot from exhaustion, but his gaze remained firm and unwavering.
"Lord Third... Guy really is working desperately hard in his own way."
"He believes in Taijutsu."
"And I guarantee it with my life!"
"One day, Guy will definitely become an outstanding Ninja!"
The corridor became completely silent.
Hiruzen quietly observed the kneeling man before him.
Might Duy.
The Eternal Genin.
A man who had needed three attempts just to enter the Ninja Academy.
Twenty years had passed, yet he still remained a Genin.
Many villagers secretly mocked him behind his back, calling him Konoha's eternal dead last. Some even said his son would inevitably become another failure exactly like him.
Yet through all these years, Duy had never complained once.
Every day, he still smiled brightly while accepting the most exhausting missions and doing the hardest work in the village without resentment.
Hiruzen slowly took another puff from his pipe.
"Duy."
"Do you understand what era we are currently living in?"
Duy looked slightly startled.
Hiruzen spoke slowly.
"This is an era of war."
"Every village is preparing for conflict, and Konoha urgently requires more Ninja."
"According to the Academy's rules, students who fail the standard assessment may still be admitted through exceptional recommendation."
Duy's eyes instantly brightened.
However, Hiruzen calmly continued:
"But in exchange, they must possess another talent capable of compensating for their deficiencies in Ninjutsu and Genjutsu."
His gaze settled deeply on Duy.
"Taijutsu is acceptable."
"But if Guy lacks sufficient ability, entering the Academy will only hurt him."
"He will fail to keep up with the curriculum."
"He will be ridiculed by his classmates."
"And eventually, he may give up entirely."
Duy nodded heavily.
Before he could respond, Hiruzen continued speaking in a meaningful tone.
"And once Guy becomes a Ninja..."
"Have you truly considered what kind of path awaits him afterward?"
Duy's expression stiffened briefly.
But almost immediately, determination replaced the hesitation in his eyes.
"I've already thought it through!"
"And Guy has too!"
"We..."
"Twenty days."
Hiruzen interrupted him calmly.
"The Academy officially begins in twenty days."
"Before then, I will have Sakumo Hatake personally evaluate him."
"If Guy can demonstrate Taijutsu ability equivalent to a Genin, he will be admitted through special exception."
Duy froze completely.
Sakumo Hatake.
Konoha's White Fang.
One of the village's greatest heroes.
Seeing his stunned expression, Hiruzen slightly raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"No confidence?"
"I have confidence!"
Duy immediately slammed his forehead against the floor once more.
His voice practically shook the corridor.
"Thank you, Lord Third!"
"Thank you very much!!"
Hiruzen helplessly waved his hand.
"Alright, go back."
"Twenty days from now, eight in the morning."
"Back Mountain Training Ground."
Duy hurriedly stood up before bowing repeatedly several times.
Then he turned around and rushed away at full speed.
When he reached the entrance, he suddenly stopped and looked back.
He raised a shining thumbs-up toward Hiruzen, his white teeth gleaming brightly.
"Lord Third!"
"Guy definitely won't disappoint you!"
Hiruzen silently watched the green figure disappear into the darkness of the night.
Then he slowly shook his head.
However, a faint smile still appeared at the corners of his mouth.
Duy sprinted through Konoha's streets all the way home.
He rushed through alleys, crossed rooftops, and finally pushed open the front door.
The house was dark and quiet.
Might Guy was still sleeping soundly.
Duy quietly stood beside the bed while looking at his sleeping son.
The moonlight illuminated Guy's face.
In his hand, he still subconsciously clutched the small handkerchief embroidered with flowers.
Duy inhaled deeply.
Then suddenly shouted:
"GUY!"
The blanket was instantly thrown aside.
"WAKE UP!!!"
Might Guy slowly opened his eyes in confusion.
"Dad... it isn't even dawn yet..."
"It is!"
Duy pointed dramatically toward the window.
"The moon is simply the sun of the night! True youth doesn't distinguish between day and night!"
Might Guy sat up while rubbing his eyes helplessly.
"What happened?"
Duy immediately crouched beside the bed and grabbed his shoulders excitedly.
His eyes practically shone with light.
"Guy! Dad has wonderful news for you!"
"Hm?"
"Twenty days from now, Senior White Fang is personally going to assess you!"
Might Guy froze briefly.
"Assess me for what?"
"Taijutsu!"
Duy's voice grew louder with excitement.
"If you can demonstrate Genin-level Taijutsu ability, you can enter the Academy through special admission!"
"Lord Third personally agreed to it!"
[System Prompt: Mission Triggered β Academy Entrance Assessment]
[Objective: Within twenty days, cultivate any two Martial Skills to Small Success (Proficiency 100 or higher)]
[Reward: Monk Value Γ100, Random Elementary Gift Pack Γ1]
[Failure Penalty: None]
[However, Academy admission eligibility will be lost]
At this point, Might Guy was completely awake.
Special admission.
Twenty days.
Sakumo Hatake's assessment.
As he looked at Duy's excited face, he suddenly realized something.
"Dad..."
"Where did you go just now?"
Duy scratched the back of his head casually.
"The Hokage building."
"When did you go?"
"After you fell asleep."
Might Guy slowly looked toward the window.
The sky was already beginning to brighten.
In other words, Duy had remained outside the Hokage Office the entire night.
"Dad..."
"Oh, it's nothing!"
Duy immediately raised a thumbs-up while grinning brightly.
"A single night means nothing for a true man!"
"What matters most is you!"
As he spoke, he extended his rough, calloused hand toward Might Guy.
"Guy!"
"We only have twenty days!"
"Let's give everything we have during these twenty days and show Senior White Fang that Taijutsu Ninja can become powerful too!"
Might Guy quietly looked at the hand in front of him.
Then he looked at Duy's exhausted, bloodshot eyes.
Something suddenly felt stuck in his chest.
Slowly, he raised his own hand.
Then he firmly high-fived Duy.
Smack!
"That's the spirit!"
Duy laughed loudly.
"As expected of my son!"
Then he turned and walked toward the kitchen.
"I'll prepare breakfast immediately!"
"After eating, we begin special training!"
"Time is precious! We can't waste even a second!"
Just before entering the kitchen, he suddenly stopped and looked back.
"Guy."
"Hm?"
"Dad believes in you."
The kitchen door slowly closed afterward.
Might Guy sat silently on the bed while looking down at his hands.
His fingers remained swollen, although they were much better than yesterday.
Meanwhile, the warm current of the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic slowly flowed through his body, and the wounds on his arm had already formed scabs.
Twenty days.
Two Low Grade Supreme Techniques needed to reach Small Success.
He focused on the System panel within his mind.
[Great Vajra Leg: Initial Mastery 5/99]
[Great Vajra Finger: Initial Mastery 5/99]
To reach Small Success, each technique required at least 100 proficiency points.
In other words, he still needed ninety-five more proficiency points for each skill.
According to yesterday's training speed, five thousand kicks provided five points, while five thousand finger strikes provided another five points.
That meant ten proficiency points per day.
Within twenty days, he could gain two hundred total proficiency points.
More than enough.
A grin slowly spread across Might Guy's face.
Besides, his body was continuously improving.
His speed would not remain stagnant forever.
As long as he continued persevering...
Success was inevitable.
Might Guy slowly inhaled deeply.
Although the System mission technically had no punishment for failure, losing the opportunity to enter the Ninja Academy would already be the greatest possible penalty.
He immediately got out of bed and changed clothes.
Then he pushed open the door and walked toward the courtyard.
Training.
Time was limited.
He could not afford to waste even a single second.
Meanwhile, Duy quietly watched his son's determined back from the kitchen doorway.
His eyes reddened once again.
"Alright!"
His loud voice instantly echoed through the house loudly enough to make the neighbor's dog bark.
"Guy! Eat breakfast first!"
"After breakfast, Dad will personally train with you!"
"Twenty days from now, let's shock everyone!"
Might Guy turned around immediately.
Just like Duy, he raised a thumbs-up and revealed a grin full of white teeth.
"The power of youth!!!"