"No wonder Chidori requires the Sharingan to unleash its full potential."
Kyohiko’s current Body Flicker Technique also has similar issues.
His vision and body can’t quite keep up.
While not as fatal as Chidori, it still affects his combat effectiveness.
The solution—
Either enhance his vision to keep up with his body.
Or train his body to match his speed.
The former requires talent, like Namikaze Minato.
The latter, Gai is the best example.
Keep training! Kyohiko’s eyes were filled with determination as he began using the Body Flicker Technique in combination with punches, kicks, and kunai attacks.
At first...
The speed was overwhelming.
Later, the speed gradually decreased, but his movements became sharper and more precise.
Above, Jiraiya sat perched on a tree, hidden among the leaves with a concealment jutsu, his face filled with astonishment.
As one of the Sannin—
He could clearly see what the boy below was training.
Mastering speed!
The boy’s Body Flicker Technique was incredibly strong, but speed isn’t always better. If it exceeds one’s control, it can become a weakness in battle.
His Body Flicker Technique is exceptional.
Some jonin might not even match the boy’s skill in this technique.
But that wasn’t what truly shocked Jiraiya.
What really surprised him was—
The boy had realized that speed isn’t about being as fast as possible, but about being able to control it before increasing it.
Mastering speed is often more important than increasing it.
It’s a simple truth, but many ninjas only grasp it after life-and-death battles.
"Truly remarkable!"
Another Minato?
Jiraiya’s gaze was complex.
This wasn’t the first time he’d seen this boy.
In fact, Kyohiko often passed by the bathhouse during his training.
A few times, Kyohiko had almost exposed Jiraiya’s hiding spot, but it was precisely because of this that Jiraiya had taken notice of him.
Hardworking and diligent.
He trained relentlessly every day without fail, but what truly impressed Jiraiya was the boy’s mindset.
Kyohiko wasn’t the only one who worked hard.
Jiraiya also remembered a flamboyantly dressed boy in green who trained tirelessly, but their approaches were completely different.
The green-clad boy focused on taijutsu.
While the one before him—
From the start, he only trained in taijutsu, Body Flicker Technique, and Substitution Technique, with a clear goal in mind, not just aimless practice.
Now, after mastering the Body Flicker Technique through sheer effort, he was independently researching how to control his speed.
This level of awareness is rare.
A genius!
Just like Minato back in the day.
Jiraiya sat in the tree, his eyes fixed on the boy below, lost in memories and thoughts.
As one of the Sannin, his concealment was far beyond what Kyohiko could detect.
By evening, Kyohiko collapsed under the tree, exhausted.
He gazed up at the swaying shadows of the leaves, blinking, then—
In the moonlight, one of the shadows seemed... off? Kyohiko sat up.
"Who’s there?"
"Whoosh!"
A bird-like figure seemed to dart away into the night, disappearing among the trees.
...
Konoha Ninja School.
A group of newly graduated genin sat in the classroom.
The teacher hadn’t arrived yet.
Most of them were leaning out the windows, laughing at the younger students training below.
Except for two.
One was Might Gai.
He was in the corner, doing one-handed push-ups, his training a stark contrast to the others, filled with a unique artistic flair.
The other was Kyohiko.
He was watching Gai.
Finally, Gai couldn’t take it anymore.
Before Kyohiko’s arrival, Gai had been an outcast in the class. After crossing over, Kyohiko had focused entirely on training and getting stronger, leaving no time for socializing. He kept a low profile in class.
His relationship with Might Gai was merely knowing each other’s names and faces.
So...
"Kyohiko, am I disturbing you with my training?"
Gai asked nervously.
Kyohiko shook his head. "No, I actually admire you."
"Admire me?"
Gai was stunned, then flipped back to a standing position, sitting next to Kyohiko. His face showed a mix of excitement, disbelief, and a hint of insecurity. "Are you mocking me? I barely passed the early graduation exam."
"But you passed, didn’t you?"
Kyohiko said nonchalantly.
Then, he spoke earnestly. "Gai, I’ve been watching you. While your ninjutsu talent isn’t great, and your comprehension is average..."
He listed all of Gai’s weaknesses.
Gai’s face grew more and more bitter.
But then—
"You have something no one else has—perseverance and the courage to ignore others’ opinions. That’s a talent too, Gai. You’re definitely a hardworking genius!"
"A hardworking genius?"
Might Gai was stunned.
For the first time in his life, someone other than his father had called him a genius.
He couldn’t help but feel a bit shy.
"I... I’m not a genius."
"Why not? The Hokage once said that perseverance is the greatest talent, but most people lack it. Look around the classroom. Besides you, who else is training?"
Kytohiko whispered.
Gai looked around—
No one.
Everyone else was relaxed, except for Kyohiko, who was still deftly handling a kunai in one hand while practicing hand seals with the other.
And then there was—
That kunoichi named Yuhi Kurenai.
She was also sitting quietly, not joining the noisy crowd.
Gai scanned the room, then looked back at Kyohiko curiously.
"Did the Hokage really say that?"
Was that the point?Of course, Sarutobi Hiruzen never said that. It was the future Hokage, Ryoho Kyohiko, who said it! Kyohiko collected his thoughts, abandoning the idea of quickly reaping rewards.
At that moment, Might Gai suddenly hugged Kyohiko.
"But I really want to thank you, Kyohiko. You’re the second person, after my father, to believe in me!"
Tears streamed down his face.
Even Kyohiko, usually calm, was caught off guard.
This change—
Completely unexpected!
Gai’s crying drew everyone’s attention.
It was the first time they’d seen such a scene, and it was quite a spectacle. Everyone stopped mocking the younger students and turned to watch.
Kyohiko felt utterly embarrassed.
Even worse.
He had paid the price but received no reward, making him feel like a fool.
Gai was crying.
Kyohiko was reflecting.
Their emotions were not in sync.