In the blink of an eye, months passed, and spring arrived for the second year.
At the Konoha Training Grounds, a green figure flashed through the trees, throwing punches and kicks that whipped up the wind.
"...998, 999, 1000! Phew~ One thousand roundhouse kicks, complete!" Musashi landed on the ground, sweat dripping from his chin.
Having just finished intense exercise, he moved slowly to cool down, waiting for his heavy breathing to steady before finally resting.
"It's been six months, and Big Brother Guy still isn't back," Musashi muttered to himself.
As the conflict escalated, more and more ninjas were being deployed on missions. Now, aside from the Police Force, most of Konoha's forces were gone. The training grounds had been empty for a long time.
The shadow of war was looming, and prices in Konoha were skyrocketing.
Although the war hadn't directly hit him yet, he felt a creeping sense of unease.
In a chaotic world of warring ninjas, the life of a civilian was frighteningly fragile.
He refused to remain insignificant, so he trained his Taijutsu harder than ever.
He took out a lavish bento box for lunch and wolfed it down.
"The price of these 'Ninja Training Bentos' is getting ridiculous."
"Thank goodness the books are selling okay. I'm fine for now."
After finishing his lunch, he pulled something out of his bag.
The "Guts" (Perseverance) Weighted Training Gear from the Konoha Ninja Tool Shop!
He bought this with the profits from his collaboration with Daiki Nojiri.
Six months ago, they started publishing books together. One wanted to challenge Make-Out Paradise, and the other wanted to fatten his wallet. It was safe to say both were making great strides toward their goals.
He had three strict rules for Daiki:
1. Never discuss plot points in front of acquaintances.
2. Never let anyone except Daiki's uncle know that Musashi was the co-author.
3. The most important rule: Absolutely never let Ayame find out!
If Ayame found out they were the masterminds behind the rising star of adult literature, "Midnight Butcher," well...
See you at the Valley of the End!
Musashi carefully strapped on the "Guts" weights. Break time over. It was time for afternoon strength training.
Half an hour later, a sudden voice interrupted him.
"Musashi, stop."
"Big Brother Guy!?" Musashi looked up in surprise and delight at the familiar figure walking toward him.
"Big Brother Guy, you're finally back! Did the mission go well?"
Might Guy walked over slowly, a look of approval in his eyes. He extended his right hand. "Yes, the mission just ended."
"Come on, Musashi. Attack me with everything you've got. Show me if your Youth has grown lazy while I was gone."
Guy's expression wasn't as lively as usual. Watching him, Musashi had a hunch about what was wrong.
Seeing Guy raise his right hand into a defensive stance, Musashi didn't waste words. He unstrapped his weights, threw them aside, and assumed a fighting stance.
"Big Brother Guy, watch out."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he exploded into motion. A whip-like kick smashed toward Guy with a howling wind.
Bang!
Whoosh~ Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sounds of heavy impact echoed across the training ground.
Musashi didn't hold back at all. He opened with full power.
He knew his own limits. Even if he used every ounce of strength he had, he wouldn't cause Guy any trouble. There was no need to hold back.
This was Guy testing him.
Huff... huff...
"Alright, Musashi." A few minutes later, seeing Musashi gasping for air, Guy called off the test.
"You didn't disappoint me. Musashi, it seems you haven't slacked off one bit!"
"Big Brother Guy, even if I'm alone, I will never slack off. The time of Youth allows for no waste. That is my Ninja Way!"
"Excellent. Musashi, you work even harder than I did at your age. And your talent is greater than mine."
Hearing Guy's praise, even Musashi couldn't help but feel a flutter of joy in his heart.
But now wasn't the time to celebrate. He looked at Guy and asked:
"So, Big Brother Guy, did something happen? You look like you have something on your mind."
Guy's voice was heavy. "Even you can tell, huh?"
"Something did happen. My father... died in battle. He sacrificed himself to stop the Mist Ninjas and buy us time."
"Big Brother Guy!" His guess was confirmed, and Musashi's heart sank.
He wanted to offer comfort, but he didn't know where to start. When someone's father dies in war, no words can really take away the grief.
"Don't be sad for me, Musashi." Guy tried his best to force the corners of his mouth up, as if smiling would make the pain less real. "Dying in battle is a ninja's destiny. Besides, Father died for the village. He protected us and upheld his Ninja Way!"
"Big Brother Guy... when my father passed away, he told me that 'burning leaves will illuminate the new buds.' Maybe in another world, they are happy that they were able to follow their Ninja Way and the Will of Fire." Musashi brought up his own (technically fake) dad, hoping to make Guy feel a little better.
"Yes! ...Sob~" Two streams of hot tears rolled down Guy's cheeks.
He quickly wiped them away.
Once he composed himself, Guy got down to business.
"Musashi. I came to find you for something important. Your progress and hard work have only confirmed my decision."
"Big Brother Guy, what is it? If it's something I can do, I'll do it even if it costs me my life," Musashi said.
"You don't need to risk your life."
" The war is getting worse. Soon, I will be sent on a new mission. I came here to teach you my technique."
"A technique?" Musashi's heart began to pound violently.
"Yes. A technique. The ultimate Taijutsu secret that only my father and I practice in all of Konoha—The Eight Gates!" Guy's expression was solemn.
Happiness hit Musashi so hard he was dazed.
The thing he had been plotting to get for so long had arrived so suddenly.
"Big Brother Guy, why teach me this so suddenly?"
"Like I said, this is a Taijutsu that only my father and I practiced. Now, Father is gone, and I am about to return to the battlefield... Musashi!"
"Training this technique requires immense pain and discipline! Among everyone I know, your 'Guts' and talent make you the most worthy candidate for this jutsu!"
Musashi: "Big Brother Guy, thank you for acknowledging me like this."
Might Guy: "Musashi, you don't need to thank me. Your hard work earned this. But The Eight Gates is not only difficult to learn, it is extremely dangerous!"
"This technique removes the body's internal limiters to grant temporary, immense power. When all eight gates are open, it becomes the 'Formation of the Eight Gates.' Depending on the user, it grants instant, overwhelming power. But after opening the Eighth Gate, the user will die as their life force burns out."
"My father, Might Dai, spent twenty years mastering this technique. He used it once and died a hero. Musashi, do you still want to learn such a jutsu?"
Musashi didn't hesitate for a second. He said firmly, "Big Brother Guy, whether it takes twenty years or thirty, I will master this technique! To protect the people important to me with my own power... even if it means death, I will have no regrets!"
"Musashi!" Guy's eyes turned red again. "I knew I wasn't wrong about you."
"When Father taught me The Eight Gates, he said there is a strict condition for using this technique—Self-Constraint! You must remember this! Use this technique only to protect what is most precious to you."
"I will remember, Big Brother Guy!"
The next afternoon, Might Guy left for the battlefield again.
He left Musashi with his notes on training the Eight Gates and a box of high-grade recovery pills.
"Musashi, train hard! The Leaf will protect you while you grow. I look forward to our flames of Youth meeting again!"
"Protect us while we grow?" Musashi murmured to himself.
The war was intensifying. He felt the dark clouds gathering directly over his head.
In the midst of a Great Ninja War, could Konoha really protect them while they grew up?
---
The Hokage's Office
The atmosphere in the room was suffocating.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the document in front of him, his eyes dark.
"Danzo, I will not agree to this plan!"
Opposite him, Danzo stood leaning on his cane. He had expected his old friend's reaction.
He spoke slowly and deliberately. "Hiruzen, this is a carefully considered plan."
"You must agree."
"Impossible." Hiruzen slammed his pipe onto the desk.
"This is madness!"
"They are just children!"
"So what if they are children?" There was no emotion in Danzo's eyes.
"They are citizens of Konoha."
"And since they are of Konoha, they must bear their responsibilities."
"Danzo!" Hiruzen raised his voice. "The war hasn't reached that point yet!"
"I won't even let Academy students graduate early, let alone... your plan involves children who haven't even started school yet!"
Danzo said coldly, "Hiruzen, you misunderstand my intent."
"I'm not sending them to die."
"Root needs more seeds."
"Only on the battlefield can these mediocre talents transform. Only then can I select the talent Konoha needs."
"I've seen the files of the Academy students. They are either clan heirs or useless mediocrities. There is no one suitable among them."
Seeing Hiruzen still refusing, Danzo softened his tone slightly.
"Hiruzen."
"Cast aside your weak thoughts. The ninja world is never without war."
"Since they will participate sooner or later, why not start them early? Even the Uchiha know to let their descendants experience the battlefield early. Why can't others?"
"Only war can filter out the proper seeds."
"Compared to the brutal competition of the Mist, the Black Ops of the Cloud, and the training policies of other major powers, my plan is very mild."
Hearing the names Danzo mentioned, Hiruzen hesitated.
He wanted to argue further, but Danzo cut him off.
"Enough, Hiruzen."
"Just implement my plan."
"You know that even if you don't agree, I have ways to arrange for them to participate."
Hiruzen frowned deeply.
A moment later, he spoke in a low voice.
"Cut the number in half."
"One hundred and twenty is too many. Konoha cannot withstand such a loss."
Danzo said, "I won't put them on the front lines. The losses won't be that high."
"Danzo, don't give me that. We both know the situation on the battlefield. Sixty, max."
"One hundred."
"Sixty."
"Eighty."
"Sixty."
Danzo hesitated for a moment, then stopped arguing.
Hiruzen suddenly added, "Also, cross Musashi Ryomiya's name off the list."
"His father sacrificed himself for Konoha. He's the only one left in his family, and he struggled just to get back to the village."
Danzo countered, "Precisely because he came from the outside, we need to verify his loyalty to the village even more."
"Hiruzen, don't worry about the list. I will handle the arrangements."
Hiruzen picked up his pipe, and thick smoke began to swirl around him.
A moment later, Danzo walked out of the Hokage's office with the signed document.