His training could not be delayed.
He couldn't move the Hyūga Flower.
Given the circumstances, he had no choice but to buy weighted training equipment. That way, even when Hyūga Kahuo was present, it wouldn't hinder his physical conditioning.
Fortunately, after two months of intense training, his strength and endurance had reached a solid standard, allowing him to engage in weighted training.
Although this method was far inferior to all-encompassing gravity suppression techniques like the ones used in the Room of Spirit and Time (if such a thing existed in this world), he had no better options.
Weighted training tools were well-developed in this world, as demonstrated in the Chūnin Exams.
When Rock Lee faced Gaara, he merely removed a few seemingly ordinary weights, and yet, they crashed into the ground with such force that they created craters. This proved how advanced ninja technology was due to the influence of chakra.
It was evident that the Sage of Six Paths' vision for Ninshū had originally been to uplift humanity. However, while chakra facilitated technological progress, it also fueled ambition, leading to ceaseless conflicts.
When he arrived at the ninja shop, Ye Dou walked in directly, but his gaze soon locked onto a familiar figure.
Thick eyebrows, a gleaming bowl-cut hairstyle, a tight green jumpsuit, and a dazzling smile…
"Life is like the brilliance of summer flowers, and death like the falling leaves of autumn!"
Standing before him was none other than the Blue Beast of Konoha, the man who nearly ended the Fourth Great Ninja War with a single kick—Might Guy!
"Guy-sensei, if I remember correctly, you replaced your weighted gear just six months ago. Are you changing it again so soon?"
"Hahaha!" Might Guy let out his signature laugh, flashing a thumbs-up while striking an exaggerated pose. "Youth knows no limits! Training must push beyond the peak!"
The store owner chuckled awkwardly. He was used to Guy's boundless energy and simply took back the old weights. Then, he assured Guy that a new set would be prepared soon.
Unlike his father, Might Guy wasn't a boastful man—yet his sheer strength made him terrifying. As one of Konoha's elite jōnin, on par with Kakashi Hatake, even the store owner treated him with utmost respect.
Ding dong!
"Welcome—"
The store's doorbell rang, and the shopkeeper instinctively greeted the new visitor. However, upon seeing Ye Dou enter, his welcoming smile instantly faded into a scowl.
"You again? What do you want this time?"
"Shopping."
Ye Dou was direct. He knew he wasn't exactly welcomed, so he wasted no time and went straight to examine the weights that Might Guy had just removed.
Heavy.
Even with his body accustomed to intense physical conditioning, Ye Dou couldn't help but acknowledge the sheer weight of these training tools. These weren't just for any ordinary person.
Still, he calmly turned to the shopkeeper and asked, "How much for these weighted tools?"
The shopkeeper named a price—one that Ye Dou couldn't afford at the moment.
"I'll be back."
Setting the weights down, Ye Dou left the shop without hesitation.
As he stepped outside, he murmured in a low voice, "Did you get it?"
"I did," a small voice answered near his ear. It was a mongoose, his companion. "But the time was too short—I only managed to grab two sets. Not sure if they're the right weight for you."
While Ye Dou had been distracting the shopkeeper, the mongoose had stealthily navigated through the store, snatching what it could.
Ye Dou had never planned to pay for these weights.
Even if the gear he needed wasn't at Might Guy's level, every ninja required rigorous physical training. That meant weighted tools were always in high demand—and expensive.
So, borrowing was his best option.
Of course, he felt no guilt. After all, he wasn't the one who stole them.
"Don't worry. We'll have another chance soon."
Ye Dou wasn't sure yet what weight class was optimal for his training, so two sets might not be enough. Fortunately, the mongoose could always make another trip.
Sure enough, within moments, a furious scream erupted from the shop.
The store owner stormed outside, his voice screeching like a pig about to be butchered.
"You! It must be you! You stole my merchandise, didn't you?!"
Moments ago, everything was intact. But after Ye Dou left, two sets of weights mysteriously vanished.
There were only three customers in the shop—Might Guy, a known and respected jōnin, wouldn't steal. That left Ye Dou as the prime suspect.
The mongoose, seeing the commotion, wasted no time. While everyone's attention was on Ye Dou, it rushed back inside to snatch even more items.
It no longer cared what it took—scrolls, kunai, training tools—anything it could carry. The more it stole, the more excited it became.
Don't ask how it managed to fly away. Right now, it was a thief with a guilty conscience!
[Scene: The Robbery at the Ninja Shop]
A crowd of villagers had already gathered outside, whispering among themselves and pointing at Ye Dou.
The shopkeeper's face was red with fury as he grabbed Ye Dou by the collar.
However, his rage turned to shock.
Ye Dou's grip clamped down on the shopkeeper's wrist like an iron vice—completely unmoving, completely unshakable.
Expressionless, Ye Dou stared at him as though the man wasn't even human—just another insignificant insect buzzing around him.