I, Konoha's Sage of Life

This era was still quite different from the one Naruto experienced in the future.

The selection for the Chūnin and Jōnin exams was decided entirely by the village. The joint Chūnin Exams, after all, were a product of post-war diplomacy, a strategy for peacetime inter-village competition.

Thus, this Jōnin exam was an internal affair within Konoha.

During wartime, the promotion process for Jōnin was usually straightforward. However, the current situation was unique—the war was nearing its end.

Yes...

The Third Hokage had mentioned to Kyoichi that the war on the frontlines had essentially concluded. Sunagakure had sued for peace, and ninjas from both sides had begun withdrawing. The conflict was in its final stages, and some shinobi were even expected to return to the village soon.

Discussions about the ninja academy graduation exams were also underway.

"Looks like I need to speed things up. With so many little lambs, it'd be a shame not to shear them."

Kyoichi silently schemed.

Based on his understanding of the system, teaching the next wave of lessons on the Body Flicker Jutsu could bring him significant rewards.

But...

Simply teaching children only provided so much.

"This system... it needs more research."

From what he could gather from the beginner rewards, the benefits he'd earned so far weren't particularly impressive. There had to be a way to unlock higher rewards!

The next day, Kyoichi had no classes scheduled. He left a shadow clone to practice swordsmanship while he went out for physical training.

The streets were noticeably busier.

It seemed some ninjas had already returned!

Kyoichi spotted a familiar figure.

Clad in green...

Might Guy.

At the age of seven, Guy had graduated from the ninja academy. During one exam, he even went up against Obito, cutting off his hand seals mid-attempt at a Grand Fireball Jutsu.

After jogging a little further, Kyoichi saw another "familiar face."

Might Duy!

Dressed identically, except for a bit more facial hair, he was essentially a larger version of Guy.

Might Duy?

Kyoichi's mind lit up.

Now that was a promising target!

While others might underestimate him, Kyoichi knew full well how strong Might Duy's body was.

In the original story, despite lacking formal taijutsu techniques, Duy used sheer physical strength and the Eight Gates Formation to single-handedly annihilate the infamous Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

If he mastered actual taijutsu techniques, the results would be unimaginable!

Kyoichi felt a surge of excitement.

If he could guide Duy, the system's rewards would surely be extraordinary.

However...

Rushing in to offer unsolicited advice might just make Duy think he was crazy. He'd have to take it slow.

With that thought, Kyoichi continued his run as usual.

At first, Duy didn't notice him.

But by the second lap, Duy began to take note of the young man running tirelessly around the village.

A ninja with such dedication to physical training? And so young—no older than fifteen or sixteen!

Duy's curiosity was piqued.

By the third and fourth laps, Might Guy couldn't hold back anymore.

Kyoichi smirked inwardly.

Kids are so impatient—they just can't resist a challenge.

As Guy picked up the pace, Kyoichi followed suit.

Thanks to his awakened Senju bloodline, Kyoichi's recovery was swift. While his body wasn't as robust as Duy's, he thought to himself: If I can't outrun your dad, I can at least outrun you!

After an hour, Guy noticed something unsettling—Kyoichi wasn't even out of breath. This older boy had clearly been holding back. If he pushed himself, he could easily overtake Guy without much effort.

Just as Guy debated whether to remove his weights...

"Guy! You fool!"

Thud!

A dull, heavy sound.

Might Guy went flying after being kicked by his father.

In an instant, Might Duy darted over and cradled his son's head, tears streaming down his face.

"You idiot! Hard training isn't for showing off or competing out of pride!"

"Yes, Father, I understand now..."

Duy took a deep breath.

No wonder Kisame had called Guy a "rare beast." The sheer eccentricity of this father-son duo was already clear.

The two of them hugged each other and wept openly.

Even though Kyoichi had seen this dynamic in the anime, experiencing it in real life filled him with secondhand embarrassment. In his time, these two would've been considered the pinnacle of "socially fearless" individuals.

They were too much.

Even to the bystanders, the sight was awkward.

Kyoichi debated whether to quietly slip away and return later.

Fortunately, the crying soon stopped.

"Thank you for your patience with my son!" Duy said gratefully.

Though he wasn't sure of Kyoichi's rank, Duy could sense that the boy was at least a Chūnin, possibly higher.

"It's just training. No harm done."

Kyoichi shook his head and continued jogging. After a while, he stopped in a wooded area to practice some techniques.

Specifically, taijutsu techniques.

Kyoichi was practicing the Leaf Whirlwind, a cornerstone move in Guy's Strong Fist style. Many advanced techniques were derived from this basic move, and its difficulty level wasn't particularly high.

In fact, Kyoichi's shadow clone had already mastered the move after half a day's training.

At first, Duy and Guy didn't pay much attention.

But after passing by several times and seeing Kyoichi repeatedly practicing the spinning kick, their curiosity was piqued.

Finally...

"Aren't you two supposed to be running?"

"Ah... apologies! We couldn't help but watch your training. We meant no disrespect!"

Duy immediately bowed in apology.

While ninja training wasn't usually a private affair, openly observing another's technique could easily cause misunderstandings.

"It's nothing. This move is still a work in progress. If you're interested, feel free to join me. By the way, my name is Kanda Kyoichi. I teach at the ninja academy. And you are?"

"You're a teacher at the academy?"

Guy was surprised.

Kyoichi didn't look much older than him...

"Yes, I am. And you?"

"Sensei, I am Might Duy, and this is my son, Might Guy," Duy introduced them formally.

"You both have incredible physiques. Would you like to collaborate on developing taijutsu techniques?"

"Well..."

"You'd really teach us?"

Duy hesitated, but Guy's excitement was palpable.

This technique was exactly his style—he wanted to learn!

"It's just taijutsu," Kyoichi said nonchalantly.

He demonstrated again, this time kicking a tree with a spinning motion.

The sturdy trunk shook violently.

"See? It's just a basic spinning kick. But when combined with physical strength and chakra, it can achieve varying levels of power."

To prove his point, Kyoichi aimed at a nearby rock.

Boom!

The rock shattered with a single kick.

"Amazing! Father, did you see that?"

Guy turned to Duy, eyes shining with admiration.

He desperately wanted to learn.

But...

Duy had once told him it took him twenty years to master the Eight Gates. If he got distracted by learning other techniques, it might hinder his progress.

Guy hesitated.

Duy was also unsure.

Both father and son were outcasts in the village, often ridiculed and looked down upon. This young Chūnin, despite his youth, was friendly and even offered to teach them taijutsu...

"Sensei, I..."

"It's just taijutsu."

Kyoichi didn't push them. Instead, he continued practicing.

Guy began mimicking the movements.

Duy hesitated for a moment but ultimately chose not to stop his son.

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