"No wonder the Chidori needs the Sharingan to unleash its full power."
Kyōhiko realized that with his current Body Flicker Technique, he was facing a similar issue.
His eyes and body couldn't quite keep up.
Although not as fatal as with Chidori, it still hindered his combat performance.
The solution was simple.
Either strengthen his eyesight so his vision could match his speed,
or train his body so it could fully handle his movement.
The first required talent. Minato Namikaze was the prime example.
The second required perseverance. Might Guy was the best example.
Keep training!
Kyōhiko's eyes burned with determination as he began practicing the Body Flicker, combining it with punches, kicks, and kunai strikes.
At first, his speed was overwhelming.
Later, his speed slowed slightly, but his moves became sharper and more precise.
High above, Jiraiya sat on a tree branch, hidden among the leaves by a concealment jutsu. His face betrayed his astonishment.
As one of the Sannin, of course he could see what the boy below was training.
Mastering speed.
Kyōhiko's Body Flicker was already excellent, but speed wasn't always better. If it exceeded one's control, it became a weakness in battle.
His Body Flicker was impressive. Some Jonin might not even have his level of mastery.
But that wasn't what shocked Jiraiya most.
What truly surprised him was the boy's understanding.
He knew that speed wasn't about going faster and faster, but about being in control first, and only then increasing speed.
Control was often more important than raw speed.
A simple truth, but one most shinobi only realized after life-and-death battles.
"Amazing."
Another Minato, perhaps?
Jiraiya's gaze grew complicated.
This wasn't his first time seeing the boy.
In fact, Kyōhiko often passed by the bathhouse on his way to train. A few times, Kyōhiko almost exposed Jiraiya's presence, but because of that, Jiraiya remembered him well.
Hardworking, relentless.
Every day he trained without fail. What impressed Jiraiya most was his mindset.
Kyōhiko wasn't the only one who trained hard.
Jiraiya also remembered another boy in flamboyant green clothes who trained diligently, though in a very different direction.
That one focused on pure taijutsu.
But Kyōhiko—ever since Jiraiya had seen him, he had only trained taijutsu, Body Flicker, and Substitution Jutsu. He had clear goals, not blind practice.
And now, having mastered Body Flicker, he was innovating further, working on controlling speed itself.
This kind of awareness was rare.
A genius.
Just like Minato back then.
Perched on the tree, Jiraiya stared down at the sweating boy, his mind filled with memories.
As one of the Sannin, he could easily stay hidden. There was no way Kyōhiko could sense him yet.
Until dusk, when Kyōhiko finally collapsed under the tree, exhausted.
Looking up at the shifting shadows of the branches, he blinked.
Wait, that shadow doesn't look right.
Kyōhiko sat up.
"Who's there?"
Whoosh!
Something like a bird darted away into the night sky, vanishing among the leaves.
…
Konoha Ninja Academy.
A group of students who had already become shinobi sat in a classroom.
The teacher hadn't arrived yet.
Most of them were leaning out the windows, laughing as they watched someone training below.
Except for two.
One was Might Guy.
He was in the corner, doing a one-handed handstand, training his body. Compared to the others, his posture had a strange artistic flair.
The other was Kyōhiko.
He was watching Guy.
Finally, Guy couldn't hold it anymore.
Kyōhiko had always been a quiet presence in class. Since transmigrating, he had focused only on training and becoming stronger, not on building relationships. He was low-key, with little connection to others.
As for Guy, they barely knew each other's names and faces.
So—
"Kyōhiko-kun, am I bothering you with my training?"
Guy asked a bit nervously.
Kyōhiko shook his head. "No, I actually admire you."
"Admire me?"
Guy was stunned. He quickly flipped upright, sat next to Kyōhiko, excitement and disbelief on his face. But then, with a trace of self-doubt, he muttered, "You must be joking, right? I almost failed my early graduation exam."
"At least you passed, didn't you?"
Kyōhiko said casually.
Then, more seriously:
"Guy, I've been observing you. Your ninjutsu talent isn't great, and your comprehension is just average…"
All flaws.
Guy's face darkened with bitterness.
But then—
"But you have something no one else does: unshakable perseverance and the courage not to care what others say. That itself is a talent. Guy, you're definitely a genius of hard work."
"A genius… of hard work?"
Might Guy froze.
For the first time in his life, someone other than his father had called him a genius.
He blushed slightly.
"M-me? A genius?"
"Why not? The Hokage once said perseverance is the greatest talent of all. Most people just can't keep it up. Look around this classroom. Besides you, who else is training right now?"
Kyōhiko said quietly.
Guy looked around.
It was true.
Everyone else was idle. Only Kyōhiko himself was still playing with kunai in one hand and practicing hand seals with the other.
And one more.
The kunoichi Kurenai Yūhi.
She sat silently at her desk, not joining the noisy crowd.
Guy turned back to Kyōhiko with curiosity.
"Did the Hokage really say that?"
That's the part you focus on?
Of course Sarutobi Hiruzen had never said it. That was a quote from the future Hokage, Ryōmine Kyōhiko!
Kyōhiko restrained himself, abandoning the idea of exploiting the system too quickly.
Just then, Guy suddenly hugged him.
"But I'm so grateful to you, Kyōhiko. You're the first person besides my father who has ever acknowledged me!"
And then he burst into tears.
Even Kyōhiko, usually calm, was caught off guard.
That escalated fast.
Guy's crying drew everyone's attention.
The sight was so rare that everyone stopped laughing at the younger students outside and turned to watch.
Kyōhiko squinted, feeling utterly embarrassed.
Even worse—
He had gotten no system reward for it, making him feel like a clown.
Guy cried.
Kyōhiko reflected.
Their emotions were not aligned at all.
Just then, a girl's voice broke the awkward silence, redirecting everyone's attention.
"Guy-kun, may I ask—who was the first person?"
Right! Who was the first?
Everyone leaned in curiously.
Guy stopped crying.
With everyone staring at him, he didn't feel shy at all. Instead, he puffed up proudly and said:
"Of course—it's my eternal rival, Kakashi Hatake!"
Kakashi.
At the mention of that name, the class first went quiet in respect, then erupted in disbelief.
Huh? You?
And then—
"Hahahahaha!"
The whole room burst out laughing, except for Kyōhiko and Kurenai.
"Tch, I can say Kakashi is my eternal rival too!"
"Haha, me too!"
"Count me in!"
The classroom filled with laughter.
Kakashi had graduated at five and become a Chūnin at six.
And here was Guy—graduating at seven, still just a Genin. Talented, sure, but nowhere near Kakashi's level. And yet he dared to say "eternal rival"?
Guy fell silent.
Kyōhiko patted his shoulder, speaking sincerely, determined this time to mean it.
No reward meant he hadn't been genuine enough.
So he doubled down.
"If you aim to be number one, you might reach second or third. But if you only aim for second or third, you'll never go higher than fourth or fifth. Guy, believe in yourself—you truly are Kakashi's eternal rival."
"Kyōhiko-kun!"
Guy hugged him again. This time, not with sobs, but with joy and excitement.
What is a true friend?
This was it.
Father, someone finally understands me!
Guy laughed and cried at the same time, tears streaming without restraint.
Kyōhiko thought—
Guy took Kakashi as his goal. He himself had taken the future Guy as his goal.
Both of them had bright futures.
He was still marveling when—
[ Mental fortitude is also a crucial aspect of a Hokage's work. You strengthened a Genin's resolve and ignited his fighting spirit. ]
[ Reward: Your basic taijutsu techniques have been improved. ]
Basic taijutsu techniques?
Kyōhiko felt his mind fill with new insights—moves and methods of using fists and legs, especially the mechanics of leg strikes.
He was more convinced than ever.
Rewards depended on the significance of the event and the other person's strengths.
For example, yesterday, when he gained "his own" full trust, his strongest jutsu, Body Flicker, improved.
Now, with Guy, whose greatest strength was his body and taijutsu, the reward was an upgrade in taijutsu.
(End of Chapter)