Upon concluding a lap around the third training ground, Tatsuma and Minato, in silent accord, gradually reduced their pace. They transitioned from sprinting to jogging, allowing themselves a moment to catch their breath. The young man with a head resembling a watermelon fell behind momentarily, only to recognize it and seamlessly switch to jogging as well.
Another lap around the third exercise ground, and the trio decided to come to a halt. Minato and Tatsuma turned their attention to the middle-aged man standing beside them, who hadn't broken a sweat. In awe, Minato exclaimed,
"Ninja-sama, your Taijutsu must be powerful, right?"
Upon being addressed as Ninja-sama for the first time, Might Duy found himself momentarily taken aback. He then awkwardly scratched his head and responded,
"Ahaha~ I'm just a Genin, not particularly skilled in Ninjutsu, so I channel my efforts into physical training. Don't call me sama, just call me Might Duy!"
Tatsuma also observed this emblematic Konoha Genin, the man destined to later instruct Might Guy in the Eight Inner Gates and the ardor of youth.
Ninjas are those who endure what ordinary people cannot, and Might Duy, who has embraced self-discipline throughout his life, unquestionably stands as one of the finest examples of a ninja.
However, Might Duy's prowess doesn't quite live up to some exaggerated claims, and he falls short of the formidable force that the future Might Guy becomes, mainly due to a lack of encounters with stronger opponents. In Tatsuma's estimation, reducing the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to only three may already be Duy's limit.
This contrast becomes evident when examining Might Guy's childhood. Father and son did engage in joint training, and during a running session, Might Duy succumbed after completing 1,500 laps. In stark contrast, the young Might Guy, still a child, achieved a remarkable feat of 5,000 laps. Furthermore, Duy's focus remained exclusively on Taijutsu, as it was the only discipline available to him, while Guy made a deliberate choice to specialize in Taijutsu.
Guy possessed both Fire and Lightning Chakra Nature Transformations, and his chakra capacity brimmed with energy. It can be affirmed that Guy, driven by the desire to embody his father's discipline and carry forward his ninja way and dreams, made the conscious choice to forsake other paths.
Undoubtedly, whether it's Might Duy or Might Guy, in comparison to Tatsuma, who, even as a "Genin," falls slightly short in terms of strength, they both stand out as exceptionally formidable ninjas.
Confronting this distinctive elder, Tatsuma spoke with a bright smile, "Uncle Duy, you are the most diligent ninja I've ever seen. I often catch sight of you training around the Hokage Building."
Tatsuma didn't finish his sentence before halting, noticing Might Duy, who appeared stiffened and almost petrified. After a brief pause, Duy leisurely remarked, "Uncle? But I'm only 18 years old."
18 years old??? Is this guy really 18?
Both Minato and Tatsuma sported big question marks above their heads as they observed Might Duy, with his thick eyebrows, large eyes, a face marked by the passage of time, and even a dense stubble, leaving them in silence.
After a moment of quiet reflection, Tatsuma suddenly realized that Duy lived to the age of 35, perishing in the Third Great Ninja War. So being 18 now makes sense.
"So, practicing Taijutsu can expedite maturity? Minato, it looks like we've got a lot more training ahead of us!"
Unable to withstand the eerie silence any longer, Tatsuma broke the awkwardness. After all, it was he who broached the subject. Hearing this, Minato promptly nodded and remarked, "Yes, maturity is what garners trust!"
"Is that what you guys meant... by that?"
Duy suddenly gazed at the two with tears streaming down his face. Then, overwhelmed with guilt, he confessed, "I thought you were implying that I looked old. It seems... I haven't fully embraced youth! I actually doubted youth! It's settled then; tonight, I'll run a hundred laps around the exercise ground before sleeping. If I can't complete it, I'll do five thousand fingertip push-ups!"
With these words, Might Duy, paying no mind to Minato and Tatsuma, initiated his solo run, persistently expending sweat and passion under the night sky.
Watching Duy vanish into the distance, Tatsuma glanced at his breakthrough in talent that exceeded 1000 points, then turned to Minato and said, "Minato, you go back first. I want to train a bit more tonight."
"Is it to catch up with Big Brother Duy's pace? Impressive, Tatsuma! Count me in; I'll endure longer than you!"
Seeing Minato turn his own words against him, Tatsuma flashed that infectious smile, sprinted off, and chased after Duy's figure.
Under the night sky, two equally mischievous boys were added.
As a result, on the day of the final exams, Minato and Tatsuma, both with dark circles under their eyes, bloodshot eyes, and unsteady steps, supported each other as they arrived at the Academy.
Minato's appearance was relatively fine, but Tatsuma's image posed an even greater challenge to describe. His naturally curly hair, left unwashed, had transformed into a stylish explosion resembling an afro. Such was the perpetual dilemma of natural curls!
"You two."
Observing their states, Sarutobi Atoma opened his mouth, hesitated, and then inquired, "Can you still proceed with the exam? Should I give you some time to rest, consider placing you in a different class, and conduct the exam later in the afternoon?"
"I'm fine! However, Minato, despite having excellent talent, he's too fatigued. Let him take the exam in the afternoon," Tatsuma, always aiming to project strength, politely declined Sarutobi Atoma's suggestion.
Upon hearing Tatsuma's words, Minato, who had lost two laps the night before, gritted his teeth. The desire to win and lose had been stirred within him, and he said, "It's okay, sensei. I can do it too! And my grades will be better than Tatsuma's!"
Under normal circumstances, a Minato who had suffered a setback might have boldly declared his intention to top the class. However, in their current condition, he dared only to claim superiority over Tatsuma.
Atoma looked at the two students. He knew Tatsuma had a strong desire to win, so he anticipated Tatsuma rejecting his proposal. However, he didn't expect Minato, the well-behaved kid, to be swayed as well.
Respecting the students' choices, Atoma allowed them to wait in the designated area. As they waited, they noticed someone in a situation similar to theirs — Nara Shikaku.
Sitting down next to Shikaku, Tatsuma looked at him and asked, "Hey~ Shikaku, did you train all night too?"
Shikaku replied weakly, "No, I found a tough position earlier in shogi and stayed up all night trying to solve it."
"Did you manage to solve it?" Curious about Shikaku's exhausted appearance, Minato inquired. Shikaku's face turned completely gray upon hearing this, revealing a corpse-like pallor. After a moment, he regained some vitality and mumbled, "Give me one more day, just one more day, and I'll solve it right away. Why do we have to take exams, wasting time?"
Tatsuma, looking at Minato, then back at Shikaku, said, "Why don't you apply to take the exam in the afternoon?"
"Waste another afternoon?" Shikaku rolled his eyes and remarked, and Tatsuma chuckled, uttering his customary phrase, "You really are something."
The first round of the final exam still involved Ninja Tool Throwing, but this time the distance was extended to ten meters. The self-selected ninja tools were changed to Kunai and Shuriken as mandatory, with Senbon as an optional choice that could earn extra points.
Soon it was Shikaku's turn, but as he stepped forward, he executed a move reminiscent of Jiraiya's Ninja Art: Throw Everything Out Jutsu. Unfortunately, not a single projectile hit the target. Under Sarutobi Atoma's murderous gaze, Shikaku returned to Tatsuma's side and took a seat.
"Tatsuma! Minato! You two better perform well."
Sarutobi Atoma gritted his teeth and shot an intense glare at Tatsuma and Minato. Tatsuma smiled slightly, deliberately assuming a proud posture, and said, "Just Ninja Tool Throwing, easy peasy with hands!"
However, as he picked up a Kunai and gripped it forcefully, his right hand instantly cramped. He collapsed to the ground, holding his right hand with his left, exclaiming, "Ah! It hurts, it hurts~"
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