Chapter 181: The Secret to Controlling Might Guy and His Son
"Haha, if I could get promoted, who would ever want to stay a Genin forever?"
Might Dai laughed heartily, though a trace of loneliness flickered in his eyes.
If he were truly content being a Genin, he wouldn't have trained in the Eight Gates for ten long years — day after day, year after year, never giving up.
Twenty years of focusing on a single Taijutsu — it was an ordeal that tested not just the body, but the soul.
Although he had finally mastered the Eight Gates as he wished, it had taken far too long. His years of poor performance had already labeled him a failure — a man no one wanted on their team.
Forget A-Rank or even B-Rank missions; he could barely get assigned to D-Rank ones.
Most D-Rank missions were subsidized by the village to give new graduates field experience — not to give veterans a slow road to retirement.
Still, Dai didn't see it as entirely bad. The suffering had forged his will into iron. Every loss, every sneer from others — they had tempered his spirit.
If his youth had been wasted, then so be it — it was all so his son, Might Guy, could have a chance to walk a brighter path.
"The current situation in the ninja world is chaotic," Mugetsu said gravely. "The Lands of Lightning and Earth are both plotting against the Land of Fire. Konoha's military strength is stretched thin. Under these circumstances, it's unreasonable for a Taijutsu master like you, Might Dai, to remain a Genin."
His tone carried a quiet conviction.
With the exception of Special Jonin, ninja ranks only had three levels — and every promotion represented a clear divide in status and responsibility.
Genin were the foundation, following orders without the right to command.
Chunin acted as squad leaders during low-priority missions.
Jonin, however, were the true pillars of the village — the ones entrusted with leadership and critical operations.
Mugetsu then told Maito Dai about the ambush his team had encountered during their C-Rank mission.
"If things continue this way," Mugetsu sighed, "the ninja world will only grow more unstable. I wouldn't be surprised if a full-scale war breaks out soon."
"Has it really come to that?" Maito Dai's expression turned solemn.
As a lifelong Genin, he was rarely privy to any war-related intelligence. No one ever told him such things.
"Because of my position," Mugetsu continued, "I have easier access to the Third Hokage. If you're willing to demonstrate the Eight Gates, I'm confident I can help you get promoted. Even if not to Jonin, a Chunin promotion should be within reach."
In truth, after Mugetsu became an intern teacher, he hadn't entirely resigned from his other duties. He simply stopped attending the Academy on fixed schedules. That flexibility granted him certain access to the Hokage's inner circle.
Maito Dai could already use up to the Sixth Gate without suffering serious backlash. By all standards, that put him on par with an elite Jonin.
Given the village's current wartime need for power, Mugetsu was certain Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't ignore such strength.
Hiruzen might hesitate to promote him directly to Jonin because of his reputation and lack of prior contributions, but Chunin? That was perfectly reasonable.
There were two main paths to becoming a Chunin:
The first was through the Chunin Exams, held twice a year in Konoha. Exceptional performance there earned promotion.
The second was by accumulating merit — completing enough missions and earning recognition for consistent contributions.
In Konoha, nearly everything revolved around missions.
Even Mugetsu's teaching counted as one, and most wartime operations were recorded as mission data as well.
Naturally, Maito Dai couldn't participate in the Chunin Exams right now — Guy's birthday was tomorrow, after all.
While his completed missions didn't quite meet the quota, his overwhelming strength could more than compensate for it.
Once he reached Chunin rank, he would finally have opportunities to prove himself. From there, promotion to Special Jonin would only require a few battlefield achievements — something well within reach.
Jonin, however, was another matter entirely. Konoha's current standards for Jonin were notoriously strict.
A specialist like Maito Dai, who focused solely on Taijutsu, would find it nearly impossible to reach that level unless he made a truly remarkable contribution in war.
"Even opening just Six Gates already places your strength above most Jonin," Mugetsu said earnestly. "Becoming a Chunin would be more than justified."
He then looked him straight in the eye.
"Maito Dai… what do you think of my proposal?"
The older man stared back, his weathered face slowly breaking into a wide grin.
"Excellent! You truly are Teacher Mugetsu!"
Maito Dai gave a firm thumbs-up, his voice ringing with admiration.
"Thank you so much!"
Maito Dai stood up and bowed deeply to Mugetsu, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.
While Mugetsu was speaking, countless thoughts raced through Dai's mind.
His first instinct was to think of how to repay such kindness — but the realization hit him quickly: he had nothing to offer.
Mugetsu already knew his only area of expertise, the Eight Gates, and even then, Mugetsu's strength was unfathomable.
Without using a single Ninjutsu, just opening two gates, Mugetsu already possessed strength surpassing Dai's own Six Gates. There was nothing he could teach him.
Yet Dai still agreed to Mugetsu's proposal — not for himself, but for Might Guy.
He had walked this path for decades and knew all too well how costly training the body could be.
Supplements, ointments, recovery tonics — all of them were expensive.
Without money, the path of Taijutsu meant hidden injuries, slower progress, and a limited future.
It hadn't mattered before. He had accepted his fate quietly.
But now, the opportunity to change things stood right before him — and if he didn't seize it, he would no longer deserve to call himself a father.
He might feel guilty for accepting Mugetsu's favor without repayment, but he would feel far worse if he missed the chance to make his son's path easier.
"You don't need to be so formal, Might Dai," Mugetsu said with a gentle smile. "I'm doing this for Konoha as much as for you."
With Dai's agreement, the matter was settled. Tomorrow, Might Guy would receive a surprise far greater than he could imagine.
"I also have something for you," Mugetsu added, reaching into his ninja pouch. "It's a special medicine for Taijutsu practitioners — it eliminates hidden injuries and restores internal balance. Consider it an early gift to celebrate your promotion."
He handed over a small container wrapped neatly in sealing paper.
Now that such medicines could be bought with money, they weren't as rare as before.
Helping Dai now was an investment — in both him and Guy's future.
"Eliminate hidden injuries?" Dai repeated, shaking his head firmly. "I'm already this old. It'd be a waste on me. Give it to Guy instead."
He had accumulated a lifetime's worth of hidden injuries; one small vial couldn't possibly fix them all. Better to let his son benefit instead.
"I've already set one aside for Guy," Mugetsu replied calmly. "This one's extra. Go ahead and take it — you'll feel the effect immediately."
He placed the medicine in front of Dai, his tone light but firm.
Though he trusted Dai, Mugetsu still preferred to see him take it on the spot. The medicine was far too potent — and if rumors spread, it could cause unnecessary trouble.
"Besides," Mugetsu added with a small grin, "I'm still not as skilled in the Eight Gates as you. I'll need you to personally guide Guy more in the future."
That final statement hit perfectly.
Mugetsu had already figured out the secret to handling the Might father and son.
To influence Guy, he needed to start with Dai.
And to earn Dai's trust, he only needed to mention Guy.
Hearing those words, Maito Dai didn't hesitate any longer. Without a second thought, he picked up the medicine and swallowed it.
Warmth spread through his body almost instantly — a gentle current flowing through his muscles and bones, washing away the aches that had plagued him for years.
His limbs felt light, his breathing smoother, and for the first time in decades, he felt young again.
"This…!" Dai's eyes widened slightly. He could tell immediately that this was no ordinary medicine.
Its effect was far too powerful — almost unbelievable.
He clenched his fists and exhaled deeply. He knew he owed Mugetsu yet another debt.
If this medicine could be taken more than once, his stagnating strength might even rise again.
"Might Dai," Mugetsu said softly, "try to stay at home tomorrow. The Third Hokage will likely want to see your strength with his own eyes. If necessary, I'll send a shadow clone to fetch you."
Dai nodded firmly and raised his thumb in his signature gesture. "No problem!"
"The tea's ready!" Guy's cheerful voice echoed as he jogged over, carefully pouring tea for both men.
After taking a sip, Mugetsu smiled. "Thank you. I'll be going now."
He stood, offering a polite nod before stepping out into the moonlit night.
Guy scratched his head, watching Mugetsu's retreating back. "He really just came to chat, huh?"
Then he turned to his father with curiosity shining in his eyes.
"Dad, did Teacher Mugetsu need something from you?"
"Haha!" Dai laughed heartily, setting his cup down. "It's something amazing — something brimming with youth! When it's done, Guy, it'll definitely shock you!"
Mugetsu had told him not to tell Guy yet — not until everything was certain.
There was no point raising his son's hopes if things didn't go as planned.
"What's so mysterious?" Guy muttered, his curiosity burning even brighter.
Dai only smiled, saying nothing.
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