Naruto: System of Zoro

Chapter 6 - Might Duy

*Konoha Village – Back Mountain Forest*

"Three-Sword Style: Demon Slash!"

With a sharp cry, Kazane swung his blades.

A massive tree, thick enough that two grown men could barely wrap their arms around it, was instantly sliced into multiple clean sections. The heavy logs crashed onto the forest floor, sending leaves and debris flying.

He exhaled, surveying the scene. Around him lay a battlefield of fallen trees, each one neatly cut, the remnants of his relentless training. At this point, he could probably pass as a lumberjack rather than a swordsman.

"System, open the panel," he commanded internally.

A familiar screen materialized before his eyes.

---

**Host:** Hatake Kazane

**Gender:** Male

**Occupation:** Swordsman

**Strength:** Genin

**Sword Techniques:**

- One-Sword Style Iaido: Death – Lion Song

- Thirty-Six Troubles Wind (Locked)

- Three-Sword Style: Demon Slash

- Tiger Hunt

**Items:**

- Wado Ichimonji

- Zoro's Green Headband

- Zoro's Training Manual

*"A low-tier cannon fodder, but lucky enough to escape death."*

---

A month had passed since the last combat assessment. Ever since obtaining Zoro's training manual, his swordsmanship had improved drastically. The refined techniques had changed the very foundation of his fighting style, making his previous training obsolete. His movements had become too sharp, too intense to practice at home. The risk of collateral damage—or worse, unwanted attention—was too high. That was why he had relocated to the secluded back mountain forest, where few people ever ventured.

Still, he felt himself hitting a wall. His swings were faster, sharper, and more precise, but there was a limit to how much technique alone could push him forward. He needed to build his body to keep up.

It was time to start weighted training.

In this world, weighted training was a well-established method. He had seen it before—Lee's seemingly simple leg weights, which turned out to be monstrous in mass.

But Kazane was different.

He possessed Zoro's physique, a body built for absurd levels of strength. He was confident that, when it came to sheer physical conditioning, even Lee and Guy wouldn't surpass him so easily.

If he were to face Hyuga Nami again, he wouldn't need to rely on tricks to secure victory. Not that it mattered—the academy's combat tests weren't real fights. True swordsmanship was meant to kill. But against a taijutsu specialist, a single misstep could be fatal.

He let out a slow breath, pushing those thoughts aside. The upcoming assessment was unimportant compared to what lay ahead.

The real concern was the looming Ninja World War.

He was still too weak.

At this rate, he couldn't even defeat his younger brother.

With that bitter thought lingering in his mind, Kazane turned back toward the village.

---

*Konoha Streets*

As he walked through the bustling roads of Konoha, he found himself caught between two conflicting emotions—familiarity and distance. The village was lively, with merchants calling out their wares, children laughing as they chased each other, and shinobi moving purposefully through the streets.

To an outsider, this scene might seem peaceful. But Kazane knew better. War was coming.

His footsteps slowed as his thoughts drifted.

*A year has already passed since I came to this world…*

*I wonder if my parents are okay…*

*Is she okay?*

Shaking his head, he pushed the thoughts aside and continued walking.

As he passed by a ninja tool shop, he came to an abrupt stop.

Weights.

He needed them for training. Since he was already here, he might as well step inside.

Just as he reached for the door handle, he froze.

A familiar figure stood inside.

A green bodysuit. Thick eyebrows. A straight posture radiating unwavering determination.

At first, Kazane thought it was his classmate, Might Guy. But no—Guy was still too young to look like this.

Lee wasn't even born yet, which meant there was only one possible answer.

The man standing there, inspecting a set of training weights, was none other than—

Might Duy!

The Eternal Genin of Konoha.

Might Guy's father.

Kazane's breath hitched slightly.

It was common knowledge that some of Konoha's strongest shinobi were technically "Genin." But among them, this man might be the strongest of all.

Duy was a man who had spent years being mocked, belittled, and underestimated. And yet, he never wavered.

He trained relentlessly. He endured humiliation.

And in the end, he proved them all wrong.

Kazane had always respected him.

No—he respected all of them. Duy, Guy, and Lee.

Strictly speaking, Kazane was no different.

"We may not be geniuses, but through sheer effort, we surpass them."

---

*Inside the Ninja Tool Shop*

The shopkeeper let out a frustrated sigh as he struggled to move a heavy pile of weights. The metal plates clanked loudly, nearly toppling over.

With a loud *boom*, the ground trembled as something heavy was set down.

"Sorry about that!"

Duy's voice rang out, cheerful yet apologetic.

The shopkeeper shot him an exasperated look. "Geez, you could at least help me move them!"

Duy laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

The shopkeeper sighed again, shaking his head. "You've been buying weights from me for years. You train harder than anyone, and yet…" His voice lowered slightly. "You're still a Genin. Why do you even persist?"

For a moment, Duy was silent.

Then, he turned slightly, his expression calm but unwavering.

"So that when the time comes, I can protect those dear to me."

He spoke with absolute conviction, without hesitation, without regret.

With that, he picked up his newly purchased weights and walked out, not looking back. His posture steady and unshaken. He didn't look back, nor did he need to. His conviction was absolute.

The shopkeeper remained frozen, watching him disappear into the crowd, his expression unreadable.

Kazane, who had witnessed the entire exchange, tightened his grip slightly. He already knew the truth about this man—Might Duy wasn't just an ordinary Genin. He was the one who would one day *single-handedly* defeat the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist.

The weight of that knowledge settled in Kazane's mind as he exhaled and stepped forward.

"Boss, give me the same set of weights that man just bought. A set of 50-kilogram weights."

The shopkeeper snapped out of his daze, turning toward him with a surprised look. "You want weights too?"

The shopkeeper let out a heavy sigh and disappeared into the back, returning shortly with a set of standard 50kg weights. Unlike Duy's, which were custom-made, these were the heaviest ones available off the shelf which make the shopkeeper wish they won't buy again anytime soon.

Kazane picked them up, testing their weight. They weren't light, but they were manageable. He nodded. "This should last me a while."

He then reached into his pocket and pulled out two carefully folded schematics, placing them on the counter. "Also, I need you to custom-make these for me."

The shopkeeper unfolded the papers and studied them. One of the designs was simple—additional weight plates shaped for more efficient attachment. The second, however, made him frown.

"This one I get," the shopkeeper muttered, tapping the first design. "But what the hell is this second one?"

Kazane answered seriously, "It's for training my teeth."

The shopkeeper blinked. "...Your *teeth*?"

"A ninja should strengthen every part of their body," Kazane said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Including their jaw."

The shopkeeper rubbed his temples. "You kids are getting crazier by the day," he muttered. "Fine. Come back in three days."

Kazane nodded, slinging the weights over his shoulder before stepping out onto the street.

---

*Konoha Village – Streets*

Despite the crowd of pedestrians, spotting Might Duy wasn't difficult. His bright green jumpsuit practically *demanded* attention.

Kazane watched as Duy walked with that same unwavering confidence, carrying his weights as if they weighed nothing at all.

A thought crossed Kazane's mind.

If there was anyone in this village whose training he could learn from, it was Duy.

Without hesitation, he followed.

---

*Back Mountain Forest – Might Duy's Training Ground*

It was a secluded clearing, far from the village, surrounded by towering trees and uneven terrain. It wasn't an official training ground, but the sheer damage to the area suggested that it had been used for years.

Kazane hid his presence as he observed from a distance.

And the moment he saw what Duy was doing, his breath hitched.

Duy's training was beyond brutal.

He sprinted back and forth at ridiculous speeds, his body weighed down by what must have been hundreds of kilograms. Every movement left deep footprints in the soil. When he struck the air with his fists and kicks, Kazane could *hear* the force behind them—sharp, cutting winds that rustled the trees.

His routine was relentless. Every time he reached what looked like his limit, he pushed himself further. Sweat dripped from his body like rain, but he never slowed down.

Kazane clenched his fists.

If the shopkeeper saw this, would he still have asked why Duy persisted?

Most people in Konoha saw Might Duy as a fool. A man who had wasted years chasing an impossible dream.

But Kazane could see the truth.

This man was a monster.

And if Kazane could learn from him—

A grin slowly formed on Kazane's face.

"Watching him train is worth more than any book," he muttered under his breath.

For the next several minutes, he memorized every detail of Duy's regimen, comparing it to his own training. The gaps in his methods became painfully clear.

His training had too many flaws.

Duy might have been a Genin, but when it came to *taijutsu*, no one in Konoha could compare.

After a while, Duy finally stopped, his breathing heavy but controlled. He wiped the sweat from his brow before turning his gaze toward the trees.

Kazane stiffened.

For a brief moment, he thought Duy had noticed him.

But after a few seconds, Duy simply shook his head and resumed his routine.

Kazane exhaled and turned away. He had seen enough for today.

He had his own night training to do.

---

One Month Later..

Ever since discovering Duy's training ground, Kazane had returned often, watching whenever he had time.

Sometimes, Duy trained alone. Other times, Guy was with him, working just as hard under his father's guidance.

With each session Kazane observed, he incorporated new elements into his own training.

And in just one month, the results were undeniable.

His body had strengthened significantly, adapting fully to the weighted training. His swordsmanship had improved, becoming sharper and more fluid. Even his balance had improved due to the extra weight on his legs.

As for the *jaw-training weights*…

The shopkeeper had given up questioning him.

Each time Kazane returned to buy replacements, the man simply stared at him in stunned silence before handing over the next set.

But despite all his progress, there was one thing that frustrated him.

He had yet to see Duy open the Eight Gates.

He had waited for an entire month, but not once had Duy used them during training.

"One last time today," Kazane muttered to himself as he made his way to the back mountain. "If I could just see the Eight Gates in action…"

---

The moment Kazane arrived, he immediately noticed something was different.

Might Duy and Might Guy were standing in their usual training spot.

But today, there was no warm-up. No drills.

Instead, both of them stood still, their postures straighter than usual.

They looked serious.

Kazane's heart skipped a beat.