The Eight Gates…
A Forbidden Jutsu that removed the body's natural limits and forced out an explosive surge of power in a short span of time.
No one knew who created it.
Records within the Sarutobi clan dated back to the Warring States era, mentioning a shinobi who used this technique and unleashed dozens of times his usual Chakra.
When activated, the practitioner's body would emit blood-red steam.
"Gate of Opening, Gate of Healing, Gate of Life, Gate of Pain…"
Might Duy opened four Gates in one breath.
The Gate of Pain was the final safe threshold of the Eight Gates.
Beyond that point, once the technique ended, the body would suffer real damage.
The Chakra surging from him grew increasingly violent.
Kakashi had long since discarded his little prodigy pride. He stared at Duy in stunned disbelief.
Just moments ago, the scruffy, unremarkable comic figure had been standing there.
Now he looked like a beast ready to tear the world apart.
A thought rose in Kakashi's heart.
Father was right not to let me graduate early…
Real shinobi are everywhere. One by one, they're stronger than me. What kind of genius am I? Just a kid entertaining myself at the academy.
I kind of miss the academy… Even if most of my classmates aren't strong, at least they're normal.
Graduate?
Kakashi made up his mind.
Until he had a true killing move in hand, he would not graduate.
Minato Namikaze was equally shocked as he watched Duy.
A similar realization surfaced in his mind.
He might have some talent.
But from now on, he could never underestimate anyone.
He needed to work even harder.
In a way, Might Duy's ability had already benefited the village. It had instilled caution into two of Konoha's brightest talents.
"Third Hokage, this technique is the only result of more than twenty years of my training…"
"Please give me a little more time. I'm close to grasping how to open the Gate of Death…"
"Hokage, I am willing to burn my youth for the village at any time!" Duy declared, his voice ringing with conviction.
Guy looked up at his father, eyes brimming with admiration.
His father… was this powerful?
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slowly.
If Duy truly mastered the Gate of Death…
That combat power might rival, perhaps even surpass, Sakumo Hatake.
"I hope you never have to open the Gate of Death, Duy," Hiruzen said quietly.
"But as Hokage, if the day comes when the village requires it, I will personally assign you that mission."
Recalling Duy's pose, Hiruzen raised his own thumb in return.
"Your youth has added a bright foundation to Konoha."
Seeing the Third Hokage mirror his gesture of youthful approval, Duy felt as though flames were igniting deep in his chest.
"Hokage, thank you for your support!" he shouted, giving a thumbs-up of his own. "Might Duy will always await your call!"
The Anbu and members of the security forces who had rushed over after sensing the Eight Gates Chakra were left staring in confusion.
Was this really the same eternal Genin, the so-called King of Cat-Finding, the village's resident comic performer?
Even if the Gate of Pain did not produce an overwhelming aura…
It was certainly far beyond the level of a Genin. Few ordinary Special Jonin could reach this intensity.
Fugaku Uchiha, who had just arrived, felt his teeth ache.
Judging from the scene, the Third Hokage had gotten up at dawn to train again?
Was he really this relentless?
"You're here?" Hiruzen glanced over, nodding slightly at the security force and Patrol Unit. "Your response speed this time was excellent. Keep it up."
"Hizashi, why are you on duty again today?" Hiruzen asked. "Rest when you should. Don't overwork yourself."
Whenever he trained in the early morning, he often saw Hizashi Hyuga patrolling the village. The beige squad leader coat and long black hair made him recognizable even beneath a mask.
It was as if he were on duty twenty-four hours a day.
Warmth flickered through Hizashi's heart. "Third Hokage, I'm not tired!"
For him, simply walking freely through the village was a blessing he once never dared imagine.
Let alone wearing the squad leader's coat.
Fugaku, however, felt bitterness rising in his chest.
Hizashi was a special case.
Since Hiruzen had granted Minato authority to inspect security operations, Fugaku had crossed paths with the blond Chunin several times.
To his surprise, this previously unremarkable Chunin had displayed astonishing ability.
Even many Uchiha with the Sharingan struggled to track Minato's speed.
And now even a village clown had been unearthed as a hidden talent by the Hokage?
What was this, turning stone into gold?
The Hokage's faction continued to grow stronger.
The Uchiha, meanwhile, remained stagnant. The gap felt suffocating.
In that moment, Fugaku understood the old clan head's repeated warning.
Endure. Only endure.
Pray their ancestors would bless them with another prodigy like Izuna or Madara.
Otherwise, the chances of the Uchiha standing toe-to-toe with the Senju line were slim.
"…Sigh."
Fugaku shook his head.
His feelings toward Hiruzen were complicated.
On one hand, he had grown up under subtle hostility toward the Hokage's side.
On the other, seeing the smiles of Uchiha who had joined the Patrol Unit made him genuinely grateful.
"Forget it. Let the clan head worry about it," Fugaku grumbled inwardly. "Blame him for always preaching patience. I stayed home with Mikoto so much that now I'm somehow about to become a father."
"What should we name the child?" he wondered, while outwardly standing at attention but mentally drifting far away.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen began adjusting Duy's position.
"Sakumo, how about transferring Duy to the Anbu?"
"You mean have him open the Eight Gates the moment he meets the enemy and beat them to death with Leaf-style taijutsu for assassination missions?" Sakumo replied dryly.
"Not impossible," Hiruzen chuckled.
In truth, although Anbu across the nations wore masks and kept identities secret, years of conflict meant each village had a rough idea of the others' top combatants.
Once someone moved, their identity was often obvious.
If one truly wanted no trace left behind, there could be no survivors.
"Then how about making Duy a physical training instructor? Temporarily as an external member."
"Given his circumstances, it would be a waste to have him exhaust himself on low-level missions. He should focus on roles where his talents shine, and he should also have time with his son."
"That would suit him well," Sakumo agreed. "Physical conditioning is crucial for the Anbu. If it's Duy, I believe he can make a significant impact."
"You are now a Special Jonin," Hiruzen said, patting Duy's shoulder. "I will continue to watch your progress."
Duy felt dizzy.
He had revealed the Eight Gates without ulterior motive.
In front of a Hokage so devoted to the village, hiding his strength out of misplaced restraint had felt shameful.
"T-Third Hokage… Can I really do this?" Duy stammered. "I'm truly…"
He wanted to say he was truly foolish.
The reason so many shinobi avoided teaming with him was not because they were wrong.
It was because he genuinely had flaws as a ninja.
"If you can't do it well, then work until you can. That is your way of youth, isn't it?" Hiruzen said firmly.
Duy fell silent for a moment, then drew in a deep breath.
"Hokage, I will give it everything I have!"
Sakumo stepped forward and extended a hand.
"Let's go. We're colleagues now. I look forward to working with you."
"Sakumo-san, please guide me!"
Hizashi watched the scene unfold and smiled faintly.
The Hokage had once again cast his light upon a lost shinobi.
Several days later.
Hizashi Hyuga returned to the Hyuga clan compound for the first time in a while.
He intended to speak with Tenzo Hyuga, his clan head and father.
The Anbu required more Byakugan users.
Coincidentally, Tenzo also wished to speak with Hizashi.
He had received a letter from distant relatives in Kirigakure, the Kaguya Clan.
Its contents were… highly unusual.