Chapter 117: Different Paths
Koshino's voice reached him, and Guy was momentarily stunned. His pupils began to shrink slowly, and his thoughts drifted back to that afternoon.
That day, like any other, Guy was being trained by his father, Might Duy.
But that day was different. Guy hadn't endured the strict training and was listening to his father's lecture when two ordinary chunin from the same village approached.
They began mocking his father right in front of Guy!
"Look! Is that strange guy training someone?"
"Is that training? It looks more like torture!"
"And why wear such tight clothes to train? It's disgusting!"
"A perpetual genin trying to teach a child to succeed, how ridiculous!"
The mocking voices came one after another, accompanied by endless ridicule.
Who doesn't respect their own father?
And who can stand by and listen to others mock and ridicule their father?
So, hearing the taunts and ridicule from those two Konoha chunin, Guy clenched his fists tightly, ready to step forward and stand up for his father, Might Duy.
However, before Guy could make a move, Might Duy stepped forward, shielding Guy. His face was still beaming with a bright smile.
He gave a thumbs-up to the two mocking Konoha chunin and replied with a smile, "Thank you! Thank you for your encouragement. We'll definitely keep working hard!"
With that, the two Konoha chunin left, snickering. Might Duy turned to Guy and continued to smile,
"Guy, your youth has just begun. Don't waste it! With so many people cheering for us, we must keep pushing forward and not let them look down on us!"
"Father, just now... that didn't seem like praise, did it?"
"Not praise? No, it's a different kind of praise! Guy, you'll understand your father's heart someday!"
His face still carried that familiar bright smile, and he still made that familiar thumbs-up gesture.
At that time, Guy looked at his confident father. He didn't say anything, but inside, his emotions were a jumble, indescribable.
So the next day, Guy went to find those two Konoha chunin without telling his father, intending to settle the score.
The result was predictable. How could young Guy be a match for two Konoha chunin?
Even though those two chunin were quite ordinary, they still beat Guy badly enough to send him to the hospital.
But it was precisely on that day in the hospital that Guy's life took a turning point!
Because in the hospital, during a heart-to-heart talk with his father, Might Duy, after Guy was discharged, he first spoke of his own steadfast ninja way and passed on to Guy the forbidden technique he had developed himself!
The divine technique known as the Eight Gates!
Recalling the bits and pieces of his father's teachings, Guy was naturally stunned, losing his composure in front of Koshino.
But it wasn't long before Guy snapped back to reality. His eyes suddenly became much more determined, and he nodded firmly, saying, "Koshino, I think I understand a bit of what you meant."
"When Father was teaching me, he said that true victory isn't about defeating strong opponents but about protecting what is most important to you!"
"And when he taught me the secret technique, he also said that practicing it requires an additional strict condition, which is self-imposed rules!"
"I think... I think..."
Guy, whether from nervousness or uncertainty, continued to stammer, "I think that's Father's ninja way!"
"Protection and self-restraint? Yes, that's indeed Captain Duy's ninja way!"
Finally seeing the confusion and uncertainty in Guy's eyes, Koshino, fully understanding Might Duy's unique spirit,
recalled the fierce battle to protect the Blade Squad, breaking through the half-step spiritual energy 'quality' change with biwa juzo and Fuguki Suikazan.
He confidently stated, "In the ninja world, there are many powerful ninjas, but who can always adhere to their self-imposed rules?
Who can stay true to their heart, and who can persist in protecting what is most important to them?"
"In our Konoha Village, the First Hokage and the Second Hokage dedicated so much of their effort to protect it.
Now, the Third Hokage and the Fourth Hokage have inherited the will of the First and Second Hokage, tirelessly defending our village, even at the cost of their lives."
"And as for those ninja from the Mist, even if some of them are incredibly strong, so what?"
"They lack self-restraint and can even kill their own comrades! They don't understand protection; they are merely weapons fighting for their masters!"
"So, Guy, even though Captain Dai is just a mere Genin, with his determination and unwavering heart for the ninja way, when Uncle Shikaku and I say Captain Dai is a legend, it's not an exaggeration!"
"To rid us of arrogance, Captain Dai leads by example, willingly bearing the title of the 'incompetent' squad leader! To protect those important to us, Captain Dai has been severely injured multiple times.
So, if for nothing else, for Captain Dai's dedication, he is a good leader!"
"Serving in his squad, I feel nothing but honor, not a hint of shame!"
"Surely."
With a faint smile on his face, Koshino looked outside the tent and continued, "Surely, Genma, Ebisu, you feel the same way, right?"
"Genma, Ebisu?"
Hearing Koshino's words, Guy couldn't help but be taken aback.
Until Genma Shiranui and Ebisu, looking rather embarrassed, slowly stepped into the tent, Guy's dim eyes regained their sparkle!
"Guy, we're really sorry for what we said about Captain Dai earlier."
"Actually, just like Koshino said, we understand Captain Dai's dedication!"
As they entered the tent, Genma Shiranui and Ebisu immediately apologized to Guy.
And Guy, being someone who doesn't hold grudges, couldn't harbor any resentment after hearing their apologies.
Especially later, when Guy, Genma Shiranui, and Ebisu all looked at the severely injured Might Dai with respect, Koshino took a deep breath.
Having come to this world, Koshino's sole goal was to survive.
Only by becoming strong could he survive in the perilous ninja world, so "living" gradually became a shackle for Koshino, a limitation on his development!
In that fierce battle with the Mist ninja, Koshino first broke free from his shackles and gained unexpected rewards.
Unfortunately, at that time, Koshino was still in a state of confusion and didn't understand why his spiritual energy suddenly surged.
But after learning about the ninja way from Might Dai, understanding the concept of protecting important things and self-restraint, Koshino suddenly realized.
Especially when Koshino had this realization, his spiritual energy subtly changed, making him understand Shikaku's intention in having him join Might Dai's squad.
Just as Guy, Genma Shiranui, and Ebisu reconciled, and the squad's atmosphere became harmonious again,
feeling the joy of breaking free from his shackles and the subtle changes in his spiritual energy, Koshino was about to leave the tent.
Seeing Koshino about to leave, Ebisu couldn't help but ask curiously, "Koshino, where are you going?"
"Where? Naturally, to learn from Captain Dai and uphold my own ninja way!"
Hearing Ebisu's question, Koshino maintained his smile and replied, "Having realized what Uncle Shikaku wanted to teach me through Captain Dai, I suddenly found that my ninja way seems a bit different from Captain Dai's.
Captain Dai's way is about protection and restraint, while mine, besides protection, is not about restraint but indulgence!"
"Since only by indulging myself can I truly uphold my ninja way."