27 Chen

Jin and co. made their way back to Fugaku's place, only to be reminded by his mom that he was currently in a meeting with the heads of the clan. With no other solution, they decided to just train.

With that thought, they entered Fugaku's house and went straight to the courtyard.

Jin was doing his regular training routine, which included multiple exercises such as push-ups, sit-ups, and practicing against a wooden dummy, amongst other things. As he trained, he started to question his own ambition.

Hideki wanted to become Hokage, and Fugaku wanted to become a good clan head. But he had never really thought of what he wanted to do with himself ever since he was reborn. Of course, he wanted to experience family bonds and enjoy life in general, but was that it?

"Should I just focus on killing the Raikage?" The recent mission had somewhat shown him that he couldn't really be a hypocrite and just be driven by revenge. He had people to protect and he would sacrifice everything for them One may call him stupid for it, but once one tastes loneliness, they know how important other people are.

"That's it!" He thought of Naruto's ninja way and reminisced. Naruto valued his friendships above anything else. Over the course of the show, he went to the ends of the Earth for each of his friends, doing anything and everything he can to ensure their happiness and safety. Naruto taught him that friendships are bonds that we should always cherish.

The only difference was that he had a family, and he would protect them from every and anything. So that none have to suffer the same fate as his father. This not only includes his cousins but the whole clan as well, he would find a way to break the curse of hatred and propel them to the top of the ninja world.

A strong, determined voice snatched him off his little world.

"Why are you just standing there Jin? Start working, the spring of youth is not eternal so we have to make use of it while we can!"

It was none other than Duy, he had come to visit his friends after having not seen them for a while. When Jin looked at him, he noticed that his muscles were more defined, and his eyes were firmer than ever. Somehow seemed intimidating

"Duy! Long time no see!" Hideki was the first one to run up to Duy, he was short compared to him, Duy was about two years older than them after all.

"Indeed, have you been training? There is never time for rest, even on a mission, you have to give your very best." Duy hit his chest and emphasized. "I never slack a single day! You guys have already graduated, and I haven't yet. I have to work even harder!" Looking closer, Jin realized that Duy had started wearing bandages around his hands.

With a bad premonition, he walked up to him and grabbed his arm.

"Hey! What are you-"

Before Duy could react, Jin removed the bandages on Duy's left arm. What

followed was the sight of multiple bruises and signs of irreparable scarring.

"Duy. Why do you go so far?" Jin was genuinely worried for his friend. Duy was one of the only people around his age that he was truly friends with. He knew this was because of all of the hard work he put in, but he still felt like his heart was being twisted.

"That's..." Duy looked down in shame. He knew himself that what he was doing was going a little too far. Hideki, seeing all of this happen in front of him had no words. He quickly went to get some first aid equipment from Aiko.

"I... I can't use ninjutsu. I can't use genjutsu. The number of times I have been called worthless were so many that I can't count them anymore. I have never had a single friend because others ignored me and made fun of me, and that made me be all by myself most of the time." Duy's tears started falling like two waterfalls as his face twisted into sadness. "Ever since I became friends with you guys, I have felt accepted, loved. I now know what true friendship is like... I am just afraid that if you guys drift too far away, I will be left behind and forgotten!"

Even his parents had neglected him ever since they found out he had no talent. His life had been miserable up until now. Jin understood this better than anyone else, the sense of loneliness can be heartwrenching, especially for a kid. The fact that Duy became such a good-natured guy with his head held high up was a miracle.

"You guys have just completed an A-rank mission, Aiko-san told me about it. I am still at the academy, and to top it off, some kid called Minato has been a rising star as a first year. I just feel left behind. So I decided to make up for it by working ten times... no, one hundred times harder than any genius!" Duy's head had been set on a goal. There was no stopping him now.

Jin thought back to Rock Lee. He couldn't believe how similar to him Duy was, Only that Duy was dealing with this on his own, while Lee had the support of Guy. Jin's respect for Duy became so big that it overcame his worry.

"Duy. Even if you are left behind, I swear that I will never forget you. You are my friend, and always will be, no matter how strong you are."

Hideki soon came back and treated Duy before taking him to the hospital. He had deep cuts on his hands that if left untreated, could become infected.

As they left, Jin started thinking to himself. Duy had no master, he had no one to help him out. Could he find someone suitable?

After thinking for a while, he remembered a filler episode where Lee went to ask for guidance from the legendary Konoha taijutsu hero, Chen. At the time, Chen's disciple would have died in the war, thus leading him to close himself off and faking his death.

"He shouldn't have a student by now... right?" Jin was skeptical. He decided to ask the Hokage, so he left Fugaku and ran there.

When he arrived, Hiruzen was smoking on his pipe and doing paperwork. Typical Hokage stuff.

"Ohhh! Jin-chan, have you come to keep this old man company?" Hiruzen was genuinely happy to see this little kid. At times, when talking to him, he felt like he was talking to an adult peer.

"Sorry old man. I have come to ask you a question regarding the taijutsu hero, Chen-san." Jin went straight to the point. Duy's future was at stake here after all.

"Hmmmmm... Let me see..." Hiruzen took out his crystal ball and seemed to look for something before he finally smiled. "Here!"

His face then immediately went dark, this man was hitting on women again.

"He's at the steak house in central Konoha, the one next to the Kunai store. You know it?"

"Yes, thank you old man."

"Stop calling me that, I am only twenty-nine years old." Hiruzen did not know why he called him an old man. Did he look old?

"No way. Bye!" With a laugh, he left in a hurry, making it to the steak house in no time.

"Now, where is he..." Jin looked around and saw a short-statured man with dreadlocks hitting on some women that were clearly not enjoying it.

"Oh god..." He decided to approach, and seeing the opportunity, the women ran to him and started calling him a little cute boy, pinching his cheeks in the process.

Jin couldn't do anything about it, but he started sweating cold when he saw that Chen was getting mad.

"State your name, kid!" He was mad that a kid seemed to be more popular than him, Konoha's taijutsu master. A vein popped out on his forehead.

"My- My name is Jin... Jin Uchiha..." The pressure that Chen was exerting was too much for him to handle. The people in the bar ran away, as the owner ran up to the two. The girls had already left by then.

"You two! LEAVE IMMEDIATELY! You are not welcome here!" The owner was pissed. His whole clientele had just abandoned him because of these two.

After having been kicked out of his favorite restaurant, Chen wasn't happy. Instead of taking it out on a kid, he decided to suck it up and leave.

"Wait! Mr. Chen the hero, I have a friend that can't use ninjutsu or genjutsu, He is strong enough to be close to me in strength! An Uchiha! The fact is that he has been working very hard... And I can't help but worry for him." Jin went on his knees and performed Dogeza. He had never felt so sincere in his entire life. "Please, please accept him as your disciple."

Seeing the kid perform such a sincere dogeza, Chen was slightly moved. A kid that was able to have friends go out of their way like this must be a good one.

"What's his name?"

"Might Duy! It is Might Duy, sir!" JIn's eyes lit up, it seemed this would work.

"Hmm, good name. Where is he?" Chen's curiosity was piqued,

"He is at the Konoha hospital! I suggest we wait for him to leave and watch him from the shadows. You will be surprised by what you see, trust me."

"I like the idea... Meet me tomorrow morning at two in the training grounds, well go on from there."

"Thank you so much!" Jin was exhilarated, if this worked, he would not have to worry anymore.