Chapter 17: Healthy Legs

Haruna was resolute in her demand, and since Might Guy was an outstanding direct disciple of the Hokage, the Third Hokage agreed without hesitation.

Yet no one, not even Guy himself, understood why she chose him.

Guy accepted this S-rank mission, but remained utterly perplexed.

“Little Haru, may I ask why you specifically chose me?” Guy asked with genuine puzzlement. “I’ve reviewed your records—you’re not specialized in taijutsu, nor have you shown any prior interest in it.”

Training in taijutsu demanded far more hardship than mastering genjutsu or ninjutsu.

Guy, always earnest, explained kindly, “Though we’re both elite jonin, I specialize in taijutsu and am not so adept at teaching other disciplines.” Especially when it came to someone like Haruna—a somewhat fragile girl with average talent in taijutsu—he found himself at a loss.

“Our Third Squad is a taijutsu-focused team. My subordinate, Rock Lee, trains daily by running ten laps around the village on his hands.”

Neji, skilled in gentle fist techniques, and Tenten, proficient with ninja tools, could easily complete six or seven laps, though not to Lee’s extreme level.

Could Haruna manage that?

If she couldn’t even run ten laps around Konoha upright—and judging by her school results, even one lap might exhaust her—Guy worried deeply. He truly feared he couldn’t help her much.

She had already lost two years, missing her prime training period; she couldn’t afford more wasted time under his guidance.

In Guy’s eyes, the best jonin instructor was undoubtedly Kakashi Hatake.

But even he was aware of the complicated history between the brown-haired girl and Kakashi.

He guessed that Haruna had rejected Kakashi out of lingering resentment or dislike.

“Asuma might suit you better; he excels in both ninjutsu and taijutsu,” Guy encouraged gently. “Don’t be afraid to change your mind—I can speak on your behalf.”

Guy was a good man.

Haruna smiled gratefully, then said, “I heard from Jonin Hatake that you are Konoha’s finest taijutsu ninja.”

“Oh, no, no! Why would Kakashi say such things behind my back?” Guy waved his hands, flashing a dazzling smile, clearly pleased by the compliment.

Haruna smiled back. “If you’re the strongest taijutsu ninja, then I made the right choice.”

Guy looked puzzled.

“You just said the prerequisite for becoming your student is running ten laps around Konoha on your hands?”

Guy scratched his head apologetically. “It’s not a strict requirement—you’ll be taught regardless. It’s just a suggestion… Ah, sorry, I’m not good with words.”

“That’s fine.” Haruna thought for a moment. “Running upside-down is a bit difficult for me. How about running fifty laps upright around Konoha within half an hour?”

“…?!” Guy’s eyes widened in shock.

“Fifty laps around Konoha, not just the ninja academy’s training field?” he confirmed.

“Yes.”

“Half an hour?” His voice rose.

“Yes.”

Guy’s expression suggested he thought she was mad.

Fifty laps upright wasn’t much to him; he could do that easily, even running on one hand.

But what was Haruna’s level? And she was voluntarily limiting herself to half an hour!

Rock Lee couldn’t even run fifty laps in half an hour without opening the fourth gate of the Eight Gates!

And Lee trained extremely hard; opening the fifth gate caused lasting physical damage.

Konoha wasn’t a small place. As the world’s strongest military organization, its territory rivaled that of prosperous cities.

What did Haruna have that allowed her to run that far?

It was a harsh question, but Guy instinctively doubted.

Haruna completely understood his confusion; she too had been astonished upon first discovering her abilities.

It was at that moment she knew she truly possessed the right to challenge fate.

“Let me prove it,” the girl said humbly.

“To see if I am worthy of being taught by Konoha’s strongest taijutsu ninja.”

The survival wisdom of an orphan always found fitting words when she needed them.

Guy couldn’t help but smile at her praise.

Yet…

Sighing inwardly, he resolved to keep a close watch on Haruna.

He feared she might strain herself to the point of muscle breakdown.

*

Haruna stared steadily at the path ahead and exhaled slowly.

If her assumptions about her ability’s mechanism were correct, in the next half hour, barring any mishaps, she should become the fastest person in the world.

But failure was also possible—then she would become a laughingstock in Guy’s eyes.

Before, even if she did nothing, she never wanted to be wrong.

She hated being embarrassed in front of others.

Running laps upright around the village, if she faltered, it would be a public disgrace, seriously lowering her standing in the eyes of the Third Hokage and Guy.

They might even think she was only fit to be a remote operator.

Yet, she still had to challenge herself.

The timid and cautious could never appreciate the beauty of the cliff’s blossom.

“Three,” Guy began counting for her.

“Two.” Guy’s mind wandered, wondering how to preserve her dignity if she failed.

“One.” Still clumsy with words… ah?

Whoosh—

A blur like a gale swept past, tousling Guy’s short hair.

Ignoring everything else, the watermelon-headed jonin brushed stray hair from his eyes, his small pupils filled with shock.

Wait?! What just streaked by?! That speed at startup?!

That shadow—was it Haruna?!

Wow!!!

Before the brain could register, Guy’s body instinctively reacted, excitedly chasing after.

Since Guy reached adulthood, no one in Konoha had his physical strength, not even Kakashi.

Yet at that moment, every hair on his body stood erect with excitement!

Before he fully processed, he had already burst forward in pursuit!

He hadn’t mistaken it—the girl sprinting like an arrow was Haruna!

Guy barely had time to marvel at her astonishing performance before he realized her speed was still increasing.

Yes, increasing—not just improving, but soaring!

At first, Guy could calmly run beside her, evaluating her speed and physical condition.

But within two seconds, he realized this was not her full effort.

As she sped by, Guy could almost hear a faint tearing sound in the air; her speed was approaching the speed of sound!

What was her previous level? How could she suddenly approach sonic velocity?

No, she might even be faster.

As long as one remains human, bound by Earth’s gravity and physiological limits, stride length must decline with speed.

Even the strongest humans have limits.

Yet Haruna’s legs seemed to have no threshold.

Muscle fatigue, blood flow—none of these existed for her. Nothing in the world could stop her from striding forward.

Cold, so-called limit data simply could not constrain her speed; it only held infinite potential to extend.

To keep up and fulfill his coaching duties, Guy even had to open the Eight Gates!

Anyone who knew would be shocked.

A jonin needing the Eight Gates just to follow a genin?!

When did Konoha’s genin get this strong?

Guy felt a surge of anticipation, not questioning the strangeness, only hoping she would create a new miracle.

Unfortunately, she did not.

Guy sensed Haruna had not reached her limit; she simply felt running just under sonic speed was enough to pass the test and stopped accelerating.

Guy felt regretful.

He now had to open the fifth gate just to keep pace.

If Haruna truly broke the sound barrier, Guy suspected he’d have to open the sixth or even seventh gate.

Guy didn’t mind the pain and damage; he cherished talent and wanted to uncover Haruna’s true ability.

So he shouted encouragingly, “Speed up, Haruna! Let youth blaze! This is far from your limit!”

Approaching sonic speed was not yet her ability’s peak.

Because she was using the initial live-stream reward: the “Healthy Legs Limited-Time Experience Card.”

At first, Haruna thought it simply made her legs stronger, but after an accidental trial, she realized it was far more complex.

Any hindrance would be absolutely excluded if it didn’t fit the “Healthy Legs” definition.

It was a conceptual-level powerful ability.

Fatigue? Cell death? Poor circulation? Torn tendons or muscles?

At her boldest, she even stabbed her own leg with a kunai.

Her legs were as hard as diamond, producing a metallic clink.

She struck harder.

The kunai broke.

Her legs remained unscathed.

She tested other activities and concluded: during activation, her kicks might be unstoppable even by the Third Hokage.

Because any block would be judged as harmful to her health and thus ruthlessly excluded.

It was unclear if the esteemed Orochimaru could even breathe after such a kick.

Therefore, surpassing sonic speed by running wasn’t difficult; all constraints that would hold her back were considered unhealthy.

If she could use the ability indefinitely, she felt she might even chase light itself.

But it was only a trial card, limited by usage time and her own training level.

The more extreme the use, the faster the time drained.

To exceed light speed, she might have to risk everything.

So Haruna held back. She only wanted to prove herself to Guy, master a special skill, and enhance the concept of “health.”

She found that applying taijutsu techniques made it easier than relying solely on “healthy legs.”

Hence her need for Guy’s recognition and instruction; he was profoundly skilled in taijutsu leg techniques.

Though she regretted not accelerating as Guy urged, to outsiders she was already fast enough!

That day, the people of Konoha saw two black shadows streaking around the village, each lap stirring air and dust like a near sonic boom!

At first, the jonin on duty thought it was an enemy attack and urgently informed Jonin Kakashi.

The naked eye could not follow these mysterious lap runners; Kakashi had to activate his three-tomoe Sharingan to barely discern them.

“Guy is running laps, and—Haruna?” Kakashi said doubtfully.

What had Guy taught Haruna?

How could she reach such speed?

Had Guy recklessly taught her the Eight Gates and let her open them?

Kakashi felt his blood pressure spike and his vision blur.

That idiot Guy!

Haruna—Haruna!

“I’m going after her!”

With a grim expression, Kakashi dashed off, the crackling sound of his Chidori piercing the air.

Thus, everyone heard a chorus of electric surges as Kakashi vanished in lightning, chasing with full force.

Ah, it seemed even during the off-season, the people of Konoha had plenty of entertainment.

*

Guy, intercepted by Kakashi, was displeased.

“Kakashi! Don’t interfere with Haruna and me burning our youthful spirit! We’re in the middle of a trial and haven’t finished yet!”

Kakashi lifted his forehead protector, revealing his distinctive three-tomoe Sharingan.

He glanced coldly at Guy, ignoring reprimand for the moment, and hurriedly reached to carry the girl.

“I’m taking you to the Konoha hospital now!”

“This is ridiculous! How can you train her in the Eight Gates with that fool Guy?”

Guy didn’t know what Kakashi was thinking but remained enthusiastic.

“Who says Haruna can’t rest after opening the Eight Gates? At her age and speed, she’s a prodigy perfectly suited to master the Eight Gates.”

“Kakashi!” This time he was truly angry.

“You taught such a dangerous secret technique to a normal student without permission and claim she’s qualified?”

He glared at his friend, disappointed, unable to understand his irresponsibility.

“Ah… ah?! Right!” Guy suddenly realized.

“I haven’t taught Haruna the Eight Gates yet.” He looked at her blankly. “Then why are you so fast?”

Haruna had expected this question.

She brushed her bangs aside, calm and unflustered, not a drop of sweat on her face.

She looked as normal as if she had just taken out the trash downstairs.

Who could imagine she had just completed fifteen and a half laps around Konoha in ten minutes?

Konoha was no backwater; as the world’s strongest ninja village, its territory was even larger than some prosperous cities.

Haruna looked at the silver-haired jonin—for he was the one who had coldly declared she lacked the qualities of a ninja.

“Who knows? My guess is…”

“I’m probably an undiscovered genius.”

Kakashi opened his mouth to speak but met the girl’s clear, calm gaze.

Recalling the recent sonic boom…

He suddenly fell silent.