"Hm? Who are you?"
Might Duy planted his hands on the ground and twisted his head to look behind him. A young man he'd never seen before stood there.
He was sure he'd never seen this kid. Someone this good-looking? He'd definitely remember.
"My name is Chiba. I overheard you were looking for a mission. I happen to have a decent commission. Interested?" Chiba asked with a smile.
"Yes! Yes, of course, young man!"
At Chiba's words, Might Duy flipped over in an instant, his face lighting up. He grabbed Chiba's hand like it was a lifeline.
"Whatever the job, leave it to your youthful Duy! I swear I'll give it my all!"
Duy's neck flushed red with excitement.
This kid had an air about him. Didn't seem like the type to be short on cash. Gai's school fees—they were saved!
"My place is nearby! Come on, come on, I'll make you some tea! We can sit and talk properly!"
Duy's enthusiasm was overwhelming. He held Chiba's hand, refusing to let go, adamant about taking him home.
…
Duy's house was on the village outskirts. The walls were peeling, the whole place looked dilapidated, like it might collapse at any moment.
Not 'nearby'? Twenty kilometers and you call that 'nearby'?
Inside, Chiba plopped down on a worn-out sofa and accepted the tea Duy poured, feeling a sense of resignation.
He'd barely taken a sip when Duy, rubbing his hands together, couldn't wait any longer.
"So, young man… that commission you mentioned?"
"…"
Chiba set his cup down without a word. Now he understood why Might Duy struggled to get work.
The boss opens the door, you jump in. The boss looks young, you act like his brother. The boss offers tea, you refuse. The boss drinks his own tea, you interrupt him…
Who'd want to hire that? It was just asking for trouble.
Chiba shook his head inwardly. "I heard your taijutsu is good. Reliable and affordable. I'd like to hire you to coach me. Once a week. Let's say… one hundred thousand ryo per month. How does that sound?"
Compared to Gai—who nearly kicked the plot into its final arc—Duy might seem weaker. But anyone who could open the Eight Gates, who could whittle the infamous Seven Ninja Swordsmen down to the 'Three Lucky Charms'… Duy's potential was no joke. A perfect target for healing.
A ninja like Duy, who only trained taijutsu with no money or resources, had to be riddled with hidden injuries.
But if Chiba just offered treatment out of the blue, that unconditional kindness would only make Duy suspicious. So, Chiba planned to establish a client relationship first. It was a safer approach.
"No problem! Absolutely no problem!"
Hearing 'one hundred thousand ryo,' Duy's eyes sparkled. He wouldn't dream of objecting. He agreed on the spot.
Seeing this, Chiba chuckled to himself. No rush. He made small talk with Duy instead.
After a while, Chiba dropped the line, casual as can be.
"Duy-san, I'm actually a medic-nin. Your body seems to have some minor issues. Want me to check you over?"
Whoosh!
At those words, Duy shot up from the sofa as if on springs.
"N-no! No need, young man! Don't check me!"
The honest man broke into a flustered sweat, waving his hands frantically, his refusal a jumbled mess.
"Maybe… maybe I shouldn't take the job. Find someone else. I've got no money. Really. My kid's schooling costs so much…"
Duy knew the drill. A medic-nin like Chiba—a full check-up followed by personalized treatment? That would cost a fortune.
He might not only lose the hundred thousand ryo, he might even end up owing money after the examination!
Duy, you fool. When is a deal ever this good? And even if it were, it wouldn't land on a perpetual Genin like you!
Regret washed over Duy. He'd pegged Chiba as one of those unscrupulous doctors who lured people in with tricks just to charge exorbitant medical fees.
He'd wasted half his day. Best to just cut his losses and usher the kid out.
"Duy-san, you've got it all wrong. It's not what you think."
Chiba saw Duy's suspicion. It tugged at his heart. He quickly explained.
"I'm not a scammer. Honestly, I don't need the money. It's just… when I see a potential patient, my hands get itchy. I want the practice, to build more experience."
"How about this? I'll examine and treat you, and in return, you can charge me a little less for the training. I get practice, you get rid of some hidden health risks. We both win," Chiba said.
Duy listened, uncertain. "Just… a smaller fee? That covers all the medical costs?"
Truth was, Duy knew his body had problems. But saving every ryo for Gai's future… he could never justify seeing a doctor.
Chiba's offer… it was tempting.
And it made sense. If this kid really was out to scam money, why target someone who so obviously had none?
For his age? For his… lack of bathing?
"Right!"
Chiba nodded. "If I wasn't worried you'd think I was a fraud, I'd offer to treat you for free. I just really enjoy healing people."
"That wouldn't do, young man! I can't let you work for nothing!"
Duy hurriedly waved the idea off. He hesitated, then clenched his teeth. "I'll take sixty thousand. The other forty thousand… that's my payment to you. Don't think it's too little!"
"Of course not. It's a deal, then." Chiba smiled. "Now, why don't you lie down? Let me start the examination?"
"…Alright."
Duy complied, lying back down. After their interaction, he instinctively felt this young man wasn't a bad person.
Zzzt… zzzt…
Chiba placed his hand over one of Duy's chakra points. His chakra, fine as silk threads, pricked into Duy's meridians, beginning the diagnosis.
Quite a few hidden injuries here. If I can fix these, the rewards will be awesome!
Excitement flickered in Chiba's heart. He got straight to work, beginning the treatment. As injury after hidden injury was repaired, an expression of astonishment bloomed on Duy's face.
At first, Duy had just been humoring him.
Chiba looked so young. And he'd admitted he needed patients for practice. How skilled could he really be?
But now… as each hidden, stagnant injury inside him was cleared, Duy felt an incredible lightness. His whole body felt fluid and limber. He felt ten years younger.
"Young man… your medical skills are amazing. I'm the one taking advantage of you."
Duy couldn't help but voice his admiration, thoroughly impressed by Chiba's ability.
Chiba smiled without a word and continued.
…
Some time later, Chiba slowly withdrew his chakra. The system's prompt chimed in his mind.
Ding! Treatment successful. Host awarded «Constitution Enhancement»!
Simultaneously, a warm current surged into Chiba's body from nowhere, relentlessly strengthening his bones, meridians, and flesh.
"Ah… just a constitution boost, huh…"
A flicker of disappointment. Not that «Constitution Enhancement» was bad. It was just… he'd been hoping for the «Eight Gates». The letdown was inevitable.
Mastering the «Eight Gates» meant having a trump card, a guaranteed last-resort counterattack in any situation. It was also a defense against many chakra-nullifying techniques.
…Sigh. The higher the hope, the harder the fall.
"Duy-san, let's call it a day for now. When you're free, just come find me at the address I gave you."
Without the reward he wanted, Chiba stood up, ready to leave.
"Right, right."
Duy stood up too. The moment he was upright, he froze.
Lying down, the change hadn't been so obvious.
But standing… his body felt weightless, like he was on clouds. An agility he'd forgotten. Joints that used to creak and catch now moved with seamless fluidity.
This kid… he'd actually cured all his hidden ailments?!
These injuries had plagued Duy for years. Hospital treatment? Forget forty thousand ryo. Four hundred thousand might not have covered it. And now…
Overwhelming gratitude welled up in Duy. His eyes grew misty. "Young man! Your youthful Duy will train you in taijutsu with everything he's got!"
"Mm. Good. I'll be in your care then, Duy-san." Chiba smiled, his response a little distracted.
"Oh, and young man."
Just as Chiba was about to push the door open, Duy seemed to reach a decision. He called out, his voice dropping to a near-whisper.
"Have you ever heard… of the Eight Gates?"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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