---
Such an existence, if it displayed exceptional talent, would be a major concern for Konoha.
"Is it really that serious? Maybe you're overthinking it?"
The mongoose scratched its head, muttering about how small its brain was, how limited its memory was, and how slow it was to process things. But despite its doubts, it wasn't willing to back down.
"Maybe you're right, but there's no harm in preparing for the worst. Only those who are cautious enough can survive for a long time."
Ye Dou didn't feel like arguing. He stood up and approached the mongoose, signaling for it to bring out today's haul.
At this, the mongoose perked up with excitement. Without hesitation, it stuffed an entire large intestine into its mouth, swallowing it raw before digging into its pocket.
Out came kunai, shuriken, ninja swords, explosive tags, smoke bombs...
It was as if the mongoose had raided an entire ninja shop. The sheer variety and quantity of stolen goods could equip a small battalion.
"How was that, Ye Dou? Not bad, huh? It only took me a few minutes to clean out his entire shop, inventory and all!"
"Now, be a little generous with the food. These weapons will sell for a fortune—probably worth more than what some of the Konoha clans have lying around!"
The mongoose puffed out its chest and raised its tail proudly.
It didn't need food to survive, but in its words, this was called "having ambition" and was the ultimate way to avoid becoming a lazy bum.
Ye Dou rejected the idea outright. "Forget it. I'm not selling these."
Shuriken and explosive tags weren't exactly contraband in Konoha, but an orphan dealing in weapons? That would raise too many eyebrows.
Especially after their recent run-in with the ninjutsu shop owner. If, in a few weeks, someone started selling weapons on the black market, anyone with half a brain would connect the dots.
Besides, Ye Dou had his own use for these weapons.
He gazed at the mountain of shuriken on the ground and spread his fingers slightly. Suddenly, the shuriken began to levitate, suspended in mid-air.
The mongoose's eyes widened in shock.
Hundreds of shuriken spun rapidly, reflecting the light with a chilling gleam. The sheer volume created a deadly swarm—like a hive of angry hornets ready to strike.
But the moment was short-lived. In seconds, Ye Dou's chakra reserves were drained, and the shuriken clattered back to the ground.
Even so, the display left the mongoose speechless with excitement.
"Ye Dou, that was insane! With just that move, you could wipe out most of the chunin and even some jonin in Konoha in an instant!"
A technique like this—a fully controllable shuriken barrage—was nearly impossible to evade.
But Ye Dou shook his head, catching his breath. "Compared to Fujitora, I'm still far behind."
After all, the Gravity Fruit, now turned into Gravity Blood, had a unique advantage: it bypassed the Devil Fruit's usual awakening stage.
But to truly wield it effectively, he still needed a far greater chakra reserve.
---
[Daily Life of Master and Apprentice]
The night passed without further incident.
The next morning, as Ye Dou stepped out of his wooden house, Might Guy suddenly leaped down from a nearby tree.
His perfectly brushed teeth gleamed like polished ivory, and his ridiculous bowl-cut hairstyle remained unchanged—looking more like a kappa than a human.
"Ye Dou! Let's start today's journey of YOUTH!"
With a fiery spirit, Guy clenched his fists and struck a passionate pose.
Ye Dou remained silent. He simply strapped on his training weights and began his morning jog toward the village.
These weren't ordinary weights—Guy had given them to him just the day before. While they weren't as effective as gravity-based resistance, they were still expertly designed by a taijutsu master.
Ye Dou knew that a jonin of Guy's caliber wouldn't be left idle for long. Sooner or later, he'd be sent on missions, leaving Ye Dou with plenty of time to train alone.
As the sun rose, the streets of Konoha were bustling with activity. Merchants, shinobi, and villagers moved about, while dogs barked and birds chirped.
Then, suddenly—
A black-clad Ye Dou darted around a corner, with Guy hot on his heels.
Dressed in his iconic green jumpsuit, Guy was running full speed while shouting into a handheld megaphone.
"Ye Dou! Is this the limit of your youth?! Run faster! Let your sweat carve the path to victory!"
"Push forward! Do you see the sun? Chase it! There lies the end of our YOUTH!"
People stopped to stare.
Passersby, shopkeepers, and even stray animals paused to watch the spectacle unfold.
Ye Dou, despite years of training himself to ignore unwanted attention, felt his lips twitch. Even he couldn't pretend not to notice the utter absurdity of the situation.
Taking a deep breath, he suppressed his frustration and continued running as if the maniac behind him didn't exist.
---
After their run, they returned to the training grounds.
Under Guy's guidance, Ye Dou pushed his body to its limits, realizing just how crude and inefficient his previous training methods had been.
He had made rapid progress in just two months, largely thanks to the Gravity Fruit's effects. Unlike traditional weight training, gravity-based resistance strengthened not only his muscles but also his bones and internal organs.
But while his methods had been effective, they were nowhere near as refined as Guy's brutal yet masterful taijutsu regimen.
It was harder. More painful. More exhausting.
Yet, despite his expression remaining neutral, Ye Dou felt exhilarated. He followed Guy's training regimen without question, absorbing every lesson like a sponge.
By noon, Guy disappeared into the forest, returning with a haul of wild game. Without hesitation, he built a fire and began roasting the meat.
After their meal, training resumed.
Guy observed Ye Dou closely.
The boy's unwavering focus, his relentless pursuit of strength—
Even for someone like Guy, who had dedicated his life to hard work, it was impressive.
Thinking back to his own youth, he couldn't help but feel a bit humbled.
Had he ever trained with this much intensity at that age?
Maybe… just maybe…
Ye Dou was even more of a monster than he had thought.