Chapter 5
"What's it to you?" Are you kidding me? Showing up at my door to interrogate me? Who died and made you Hokage?
The masked guy didn't mention that Root had waited all day at the mission desk, or that someone spotted Ayato buying sunglasses and sent him here.
"The Hokage orders you to join a special ANBU division." Root always hid behind the ANBU brand when going direct.
"Pass." Ayato waved him off and opened his gate.
ANBU = Third's lapdogs. Root = Danzo's meat puppets. "Special division" is code for slavery with extra steps. Only a lunatic would sign up.
"This is a direct order from the Hokage!" the mask barked.
"Then tell him to come ask me himself." Ayato strolled into his yard.
The mask followed.
"Defy the Hokage and you're done as a ninja."
Ayato fished out his forehead protector and flicked it at the guy's feet.
"Keep it. I quit."
"…What?" The agent froze. Someone in Konoha voluntarily ditching ninja status? Unheard of. Script.exe had stopped working.
"You'll regret this." Shunshin—gone.
Ayato flopped onto his lounge chair. "Take the headband with you, drama queen."
He left the metal plate in the dirt. Ninja rank was worthless to him—no money, no jutsu, no perks. Tsunade would hook him up when she returned. Worst case, he'd bribe her. Family discount.
Root HQ
"He refused?" Danzo looked like someone had peed in his tea. The "Will of Fire" brainwashing usually worked like a charm. Kids were raised to obey the Hokage blind. Quitting ninja life over Root? Impossible.
"What else did he say?"
"If it's real, the Hokage can come ask him personally."
Danzo snorted. "Cocky little shit." "Dismissed. I'll handle it."
Crutch tapping, Danzo limped out. He had bigger fish anyway—Ayato was just a side project. Let's see how long you last, brat.
Back in the yard, Ayato had already forgotten the encounter. Zero ambition = zero leverage. His only living relative was Tsunade—untouchable and outside the village's grip. As long as no one played dirty, he was untouchable too.
"No more classes means way more time. Just grinding bodyweight is inefficient now." He needed a coach.
"Tomorrow. I'll hit up Might Guy."
Guy would teach anyone who showed passion. Worst case, Ayato could fake the green-spandex energy for a day. But Guy's heart was bigger than his lungs—no need to fake it.
Endgame power always circled back to taijutsu. Fact.
Next Morning – Might Guy's Training Ground
Ayato rolled out of bed, washed up, and beelined for the mountain clearing. Easy to find: the spot with the most battered training posts and two green lunatics screaming reps.
"Five hundred straight punches—then three thousand kicks!" "Five hundred finger-stand push-ups—or two thousand jump ropes!"
Even from a distance, Guy's baritone and Lee's squeaky echo bounced off the trees. Counting out loud is their cardio, I guess. Respect.
He strolled through the tree line. Sure enough: two lime-green blurs pummeling wooden dummies. Neji and Tenten weren't here yet—either sleeping in or avoiding the morning circus.
"Hey, kid!" Guy called, upside-down on one hand. "Here to ignite your youth with us?"
Ayato opened his mouth. Option A: "YES, LET THE POWER OF YOUTH EXPLODE!"Option B: Straight ask.
Two caterpillars yelling in his face? Tolerable. Wearing the green suit himself? Death first.
"Sensei Guy, please teach me taijutsu." Bow. Respectful.
Guy flipped upright. "Where's your jonin?"
"Don't have one."
"Ah." Guy flashed a thumbs-up, teeth sparkling like a flashbang. "Then welcome! Let us bathe in youth together!"
Lee vaulted over, saluting. "Sensei!"
Ayato squinted. Pretty sure those teeth just caused retinal damage.
"You on missions today?" Guy asked.
Head shake.
"We're heading out after warm-up. Join us—then more training!"
"Works for me." Free mission tutorial, why not?
"Race to the team rally point—FULL SPEED!" Guy and Lee blasted off in a green streak.
Ayato stood there. …Where's the rally point?