The Third: Are surprises always this thrilling now? Where's my fast-acting medicine?

In the blink of an eye, Saturday arrived.

Duy and Guy came to the Sanshou Herbal Medicine Shop as promised.

Tamaki saw Guy and Duy, the duo dressed in green bodysuits and sporting bowl cuts.

"Uncle Duy, Guy, welcome. My uncle is inside. Let's go over and have him check Guy's physical condition first."

Guy and his father, Duy, exchanged a glance. "Okay, sorry for the trouble, Tamaki."

The three went to the reception room, where Ichite Ki was already waiting.

The moment Ichite Ki saw Duy, he was somewhat surprised. The man's physical condition was really not good, with all sorts of problems visible to the naked eye.

"Uncle, this is Uncle Might Duy and his son, Guy."

Before Ichite Ki could speak, Duy said, "Thank you very much, Lord Yishou, for taking time out of your busy schedule to examine my son."

"You're too polite. Let's check Guy's condition first."

"All right. Sorry for the trouble."

With that, Guy stepped forward and sat down, and Ichite Ki began the examination.

Once the examination began, Ichite Ki was somewhat startled. Guy's physical strength far exceeded that of his peers, and the Chakra in his body was not weak either. He was an excellent prospect.

Unfortunately, if he only had Taijutsu, as Tamaki had said, it would be hard for him to raise his ninja rank, unless he became strong enough!

A moment later, Ichite Ki spoke. "Guy is in good condition. I looked over the medicinal bath formula from before, and there are some things that can be changed. Have Tamaki bring it over later."

"That's good. Thank you, Lord Yishou."

"If you have time, I can examine you as well, Mr. Duy."

"Oh, can you?"

"No problem."

"Then I'm sorry for the trouble, Lord Yishou."

"You're too polite, Mr. Duy."

With that, he began examining Might Duy as well.

A moment later.

"Mr. Duy, your physical condition doesn't look promising."

After a careful examination, Ichite Ki discovered that Duy's condition was worse than it looked.

"Mr. Duy, do you know your own condition?"

"I have a rough idea."

Duy's tone betrayed a lack of confidence.

Seeing this, Ichite Ki did not say much more. This was not something he could forcibly turn around.

However, judging from his examination of Duy just now, the Taijutsu technique Tamaki had mentioned would not be too ineffective.

After the two chatted on and off for a bit, Ichite Ki felt it was time to get to the point.

"Mr. Duy, judging by your appearance, you practice Taijutsu, correct?"

Hearing this, Tamaki knew they had reached the main point.

"Yes. My son and I both practice the Eight Gates Released Formation, a Taijutsu technique."

Although he was surprised by Might Duy's honesty, Ichite Ki did not pause and continued.

"Would it be convenient to let me take a look at the technique? If it's a technique the village doesn't have, I can submit it to the Third on your behalf. There's a reward for submitting techniques that haven't been recorded by the village."

"Sure."

With that, Duy took a scroll from behind him and handed it to Ichite Ki.

Of course, the copy Might Duy brought out was not complete. It only covered the basic training and descriptions of the effects of opening the Eight Gates. The specific methods of opening them and the accompanying forbidden Taijutsu techniques, such as Front Lotus, were not included.

Ichite Ki took the scroll. Although he still had doubts about the power of this Taijutsu, he decided to read it first.

As he read, Ichite Ki's expression grew increasingly grave.

"May I ask how many gates you can open, Mr. Duy? I hope you'll tell me the truth." Ichite Ki had his own assessment of Duy's physical condition. Through his examination, he had already discovered some traces.

"The truth?" At first, Duy was still rather playful, but after Ichite Ki stared fixedly at him,

he said, "I can't be absolutely sure about the Eighth Gate, but I can open the Seventh."

The Seventh Gate!

At least the Seventh Gate!!!

He understood the logic behind this Taijutsu, but precisely because he understood it, he was even more astonished by just how impressive Duy's Seventh Gate was.

This was a technique that required extraordinary physical talent plus uninterrupted, high-intensity training to master. In his judgment, an ordinary person opening three gates would already be quite impressive. Anything beyond that belonged to the domain of Taijutsu specialists.

But if this technique was brought to its limit, its floor was Kage Level!

At this point, whether the village had recorded the technique itself no longer mattered. Although, as far as Ichite Ki knew, it most likely had not.

Even if the village had the technique, it did not matter, because Might Duy had opened the Seventh Gate!

The Seventh Gate was already the power of an elite Jonin, approaching Kage Level. Even if he could only hold his own for a short time, that could not erase the fact that the man before him was extremely powerful.

In the Shinobi World, strength spoke for itself. The man before him had earned his respect.

However, the technique was not without its problems.

"Mr. Duy, you understand this technique's flaws, don't you?"

"Yes. It requires immense talent and focus in Taijutsu."

"Not immense talent and focus, but talent found in one person out of ten thousand, and nearly all of one's time." Ichite Ki made a rare complaint, and Duy, sitting across from him, scratched his head sheepishly.

Yes, that was the flaw. The talent requirement alone was enough to bar almost everyone, and the focus required meant there was almost no time to practice other Ninjutsu or Genjutsu.

This was a technique that staked everything on a single bet!

Ninjutsu, Taijutsu and Genjutsu were a ninja's main means of fighting. Taijutsu alone would not take one far. This technique relied more on releasing the body's potential and extracting a vast amount of Chakra in a short time. Once that time was up, the show was over.

Compared with a conventional Kage Level fighter, if a user of this technique could not defeat their opponent the moment they met, then once the time limit for opening the gates expired, they would very likely be pinned to the ground and ground into the dirt by a conventional Kage Level expert.

But could those reasons deny the value of this technique?

No. On the contrary, the technique was still highly valuable.

No matter how briefly it lasted, Kage Level was still Kage Level!

Even if there truly were no other suitable candidates in the village, the man before him had already proven the technique's value.

He could open the Seventh Gate!

Even if it was only for his sake, the technique had value!

Ichite Ki was somewhat at a loss for words and turned to look at Might Guy.

Even if this child's future achievements only reached the Fifth or Sixth Gate, that would be enough. That was already the strength of a Jonin, and even a Jonin who specialized in Taijutsu was worth building a specialized squad around.

Yes, ninja had three means at their disposal: Ninjutsu, Taijutsu and Genjutsu. But when one of them was strong enough—and a Jonin was strong enough—ways could be found to make up for the others. That was also the point of a squad.

But judging by Guy's current physical condition, his achievements would not stop at the Fifth Gate.

"Mr. Duy, what do you think of my proposal? If you find it suitable, we can go to the Hokage Building and meet the Hokage later."

"Also, I hope you and Guy can help my nephew improve a Medical Ninjutsu technique called Life Return, a technique that can speed up the body's self-repair."

Duy's eyes lit up when he heard what the technique did, but before he could speak,

"There's an initial version of the technique now. You can take a look first, Mr. Duy."

As he spoke, Ichite Ki handed him a scroll.

Duy reached out and took it. His years of training had also given him considerable medical knowledge, and he now had a rough understanding of the technique's effects.

What surprised him even more was the technique's ultimate effect: by taking in large amounts of nutrients, it could quickly repair internal and external injuries in a short time.

According to the technique's effects, as long as a person had not lost or been disabled in a limb, or lost a large part of their torso, they could be healed with it.

This was a technique extremely well suited to the Eight Gates Released Formation. It could heal the user!

If the technique's ultimate effect was achieved, the cost of opening the first seven gates of the Eight Gates Released Formation could be almost entirely disregarded.

Duy sank into deep shock and a vision of a wonderful future.

"Mr. Duy, do you have time to help improve this technique?"

Hearing Ichite Ki's words, Duy came back to his senses.

"You're too polite, Lord Yishou. Guy and I are the ones getting the better end of the deal by learning this technique."

Duy pursed his lips, as if he had made a decision. He took another scroll from behind him and handed it over, saying, "This is the complete Eight Gates Released Formation."

Guy wanted to say something from the side, but Duy stopped him.

Ichite Ki did not stand on ceremony. Since there was a more direct way, it would also save him the trouble of arguing with the Third.

He reached out and took the scroll, then handed it to Tamaki and said to Duy, "Only Tamaki will learn this technique."

Hearing Ichite Ki's words, Duy also breathed a sigh of relief.

His decision to give them the Eight Gates Released Formation had been a sudden impulse, intended to build good relations with a Medical Special Jōnin and a genius who could create his own Medical Ninjutsu at the age of six.

These were all plans he had made for Guy. Guy was still young and needed a great deal of investment. Building good relations with two medical-nin would help Guy walk the path of the Eight Gates Released Formation more smoothly.

As for the Eight Gates Released Formation spreading, he was not worried about that. Ichite Ki had already mentioned submitting it to the village today, and when the time came, Ichite Ki and Tamaki could exchange for it as well.

Duy suddenly felt a little relieved. Many of his original plans had come to nothing, but the result was better than he had expected.

"Mr. Duy, how about we go see Lord Hokage now?"

It was not that he had never considered going to the Hokage before, but he needed to prove the technique's value. A path that led nowhere was not worth investing in, and he also could not find the right person.

"Then I'm sorry for the trouble, Mr. Yishou."

Soon, Ichite Ki took Tamaki, Might Duy and Might Guy with him to the Hokage's office.

This time, after they announced themselves, the wait was a little longer. The Hokage was indeed very busy.

After entering, they once again saw the Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sitting behind a desk piled with scrolls. Two masked Anbu stood beside him, as before.

Tamaki took a look. One wore a white owl mask, and the other a pig mask painted with blue-green fangs. One was thin and the other fat.

Ichite Ki led the others in bowing to Hiruzen Sarutobi, then spoke:

"Lord Hokage, we came mainly for two things. First, Genin Might Duy here wishes to submit a Taijutsu technique, the Eight Gates Released Formation. Once mastered, opening all eight gates can grant power comparable to Kage Level for a short time, and Might Duy here can already open the Seventh Gate. This is the technique's scroll. Please take a look."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Ichite Ki, somewhat at a loss for words. Lately, every surprise this man brought him had been bigger than the last.

First, there had been the Uzumaki bloodline awakening—oh, no, a suspected awakening. Now he had brought a Taijutsu technique that could rival Kage Level once mastered, along with a living specimen.

You're making it look like I, the Hokage, have a very poor grasp of the strength in the village.

Thoughts aside, Hiruzen Sarutobi took the scroll. He knew Ichite Ki's character and that he would not lie about such things, but some appropriate exaggeration was still possible.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi read the scroll, Ichite Ki continued:

"This technique has very high requirements. First is extraordinary physical talent, and such people are rare. Second is prolonged, high-intensity, uninterrupted training. The practitioner must focus on Taijutsu."

After saying that, he fell silent.

Might Duy was somewhat nervous, his palms sweating.

Before long, Hiruzen Sarutobi finished reading the scroll. He was somewhat shaken by the concept behind the Taijutsu and was also considering its requirements.

At the same time, he was wondering whether, as Ichite Ki had said, the ninja before him named Might Duy already possessed the strength of an elite Jonin.

Although that strength came at the cost of serious injury or even disability afterward, strength was strength.

All that remained was to verify its effects.

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down the scroll.

"I understand the technique's situation. I'll arrange the reward later. As for Genin Might Duy, Fukurou, arrange a ninja strength test at the elite Chunin to Special Jōnin level."

Then he turned his head. "Ki, I'll have to trouble you to be present for the test."

"Yes, Lord Hokage," both replied.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage."

Might Duy was somewhat excited. If it were the regular Chunin Ninja Exams, it would be hard for him to pass relying solely on Taijutsu. A strength test would be much easier.

Moreover, given the elite Chunin to Special Jōnin level, he would have to open at least the Fifth Gate, and injury would be unavoidable. That was why Ichite Ki was being arranged to attend and assist.

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had not stated the reward on the spot, everyone understood that as long as Might Duy's strength met the standard, he and his son would no longer have to scrimp and save in their training.

Hearing the replies from the people before him, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a little weary. Noticing Ichite Ki's calm expression, he felt even wearier.

The Senju Clan has already dispersed. Can't you just behave yourself?!

If Ichite Ki could have heard the Third's thoughts, he would have answered: no.

"Lord Hokage, the second matter is this."

As he spoke, he handed over another scroll.

"This is a new Medical Ninjutsu technique, named Life Return."

"Life Return?" Hiruzen Sarutobi was not a medical-nin, so he only gave the scroll a cursory look. "Tell me what the technique does, Ki."

"Once mastered, the user takes in a large amount of nutrients over a short period, then uses the technique to increase cell activity, ultimately promoting their own body's recovery. At present, it can probably cut recovery time in half."

"Self-healing? A very good technique. I'll have someone verify its effects later, and then arrange a reward for you."

"Not for me. For Tamaki."

"Tamaki?" Shock appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face as he stared at Ichite Ki and Tamaki. "You mean...!"

"Yes. Tamaki created this technique, and this isn't even the final version."

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt as though his heart was seizing up.