Three Days to Open the First Gate

The arrivals were none other than Konoha's advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, known as Konoha's crouching dragon and fledgling phoenix. Their status was practically equal to that of the Hokage.

The moment the two appeared, everyone except the Hokage, Danzo, Hyuga Hiashi, and the other big shots immediately bowed in salute.

"Enough."

Utatane Koharu waved a hand, signaling everyone to dispense with the formalities.

"You're Xiao Yun? Not bad, not bad."

Mitokado Homura looked at Xiao Yun with a smile, his eyes full of approval.

"Since the two advisors are here, I'll be direct. I do not agree to let the Third Hokage train Xiao Yun. I ask that you approve handing Xiao Yun over to the Anbu for training."

Danzo was the first to speak.

"Mm, that is precisely why we came. Xiao Yun's talent is unprecedented. Konoha must exercise the utmost caution in his training."

Utatane Koharu said solemnly.

"We will now announce the final decision of the five Daimyo of the Land of Fire."

Mitokado Homura took out a scroll and slowly unfurled it.

Whoosh.

Everyone dropped to their knees in unison.

"The Daimyo decree: Xiao Yun possesses heaven-defying talent, unmatched throughout history. After careful consideration by the five Daimyo, the final decision is this: the Third Hokage shall assume full responsibility for Xiao Yun's training. No department of Konoha may contend for him further. End of decree."

After Mitokado Homura finished reading the contents of the scroll, his subordinates took it and passed it around for everyone to verify its authenticity.

"I object. The Third Hokage is too reckless. If Xiao Yun is handed over to him, everyone knows what happened last night—Xiao Yun nearly died. For the sake of Konoha, I ask that the two advisors discuss it again with the Daimyo. This is absolutely a foolish decision."

Danzo angrily threw the scroll in his hand to the ground.

"Danzo, mind your attitude! This is the joint decision of the Daimyo."

Mitokado Homura's expression darkened.

"I spoke out of turn!"

Danzo lowered his head and hurriedly admitted his mistake.

"Third Hokage, Xiao Yun is in your hands."

With that, the two turned and left, while everyone else gradually dispersed as well.

"Lord Hokage, I was worried just now that Danzo would use this as an excuse to take Xiao Yun away. How did you manage to get the Daimyo to issue such a decree?"

Kakashi Hatake looked at the Third Hokage in confusion.

"Heh heh, contend with me? Shimura Danzo is still too green for that."

The Third Hokage gave a mysterious smile.

Kakashi Hatake frowned slightly. No wonder the Third Hokage had not said a word earlier—he had clearly been prepared all along. What an old fox. But how had he done it?

A day later, Xiao Yun had fully recovered. This was thanks to the Spring Returns to Earth ninjutsu he had cast after his Wood Release Chakra evolved, whose healing effects had nearly doubled.

"Teacher Guy, I'm back."

With a travel bag slung over his back, Xiao Yun arrived at Might Guy's training ground.

"Xiao Yun!"

"Junior Brother!"

Might Guy and Rock Lee, who had been training, stared at Xiao Yun in disbelief. He had recovered already?

When Xiao Yun had been carried down Jier Mountain the day before yesterday, he had been covered in blood, with fractures all over his body and barely clinging to life.

The Third Hokage had even flown into a rage over it and ordered Might Guy to remain where he was and await punishment. Yet only one day had passed—how was Xiao Yun completely unharmed already?

"Teacher Guy, I know what happened. Tenten said that when Xiao Yun was unconscious the day before yesterday, Lady Tsunade exhausted all her Chakra and used medical ninjutsu to save Junior Brother. I heard Lady Tsunade even fainted for a while."

"I see! No wonder you recovered so quickly. So Lady Tsunade stepped in. That explains it."

Might Guy nodded, looking enlightened.

What? Tsunade fainted while saving me?

Xiao Yun frowned slightly. Why had no one told him? She was still pregnant.

Wait... could that woman have fallen for me?

There's a ninety percent chance that's it!

"Xiao Yun, time waits for no one. If you feel all right, let's begin training in the Eight Inner Gates now."

Might Guy truly was a training fanatic.

"Okay!"

The first layer of the Chaos Heaven Gate—the Eight Inner Gates. This technique unlocked the body's limits and unleashed power beyond the imagination of ordinary people. However, once all eight gates were opened, the user's body would be unable to withstand the impact of that immense power and would wither away.

But if one wished to cultivate the eight layers after the Chaos Heaven Gate, the Eight Inner Gates had to serve as the foundation. Otherwise, there was nothing to discuss.

Huff.

After introducing the Chaos Heaven Gate, Might Guy let out a long sigh. An unconcealable look of dejection appeared on his face as he said, "To be honest with you, when I open the seventh gate, my body already shows signs of collapsing. Opening the eighth gate would almost certainly mean death. I may never be able to cultivate the second layer of the Chaos Heaven Gate in this lifetime."

"But you are different, Xiao Yun. After what happened the night before last, I am almost certain that you can glimpse its mysteries."

"Yes, I believe Junior Brother can definitely do it."

Rock Lee looked at him with admiration. If he had previously been somewhat unconvinced by Xiao Yun and a little jealous of him, he was now completely won over, utterly convinced.

After all, on his first climb up Jier Mountain, Xiao Yun had reached the fifth level in one breath. Whether anyone would surpass him in the future was hard to say, but no one before him had ever done it.

Xiao Yun's eyes were also filled with endless anticipation. After all, Might Guy had nearly kicked Naruto to its ending with just the Eight Inner Gates. If he learned the second layer of the Chaos Heaven Gate, wouldn't he be able to crush the Otsutsuki with ease?

"Good. Enough chatter—let's begin cultivating the Eight Inner Gates! Youth, burn!"

Might Guy sprang to his feet.

Over the next few days,

Xiao Yun finally learned what devilish training truly meant. Every night, in the dead of night, he was dragged out of bed and had two-hundred-pound iron weights tied to his limbs.

Three hundred push-ups, a five-kilometer sprint, a ten-kilometer jog, two kilometers of swimming... even a production team's donkey would cry at the sight of it.

Xiao Yun gritted his teeth and endured all of that, but what he could not bear was Might Guy insisting that he wear that green jumpsuit of his.

That was simply unbearable. It was way too ridiculous!

He was, after all, a handsome guy. When it came to looks, the only person he acknowledged was the webnovel author called Hao the Most Handsome of Blue Star. Coupled with his own otherworldly temperament, he could even rival that man.

But if he put on that outfit, he would look like a complete idiot no matter how he looked at it. His head could be chopped off and his blood could flow, but his looks and bearing could not be lowered!

In the future, he still had to become the Hyuga Clan's stud. He would not change, even if it killed him!

Three days later, at dawn,

Xiao Yun, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly let out a loud roar. Chakra surged rapidly through his body and rushed toward the Gate of Life.

Hah!

Hah!

Hah!

"Eight Inner Gates, First Gate—Opening Gate—Open!"

Xiao Yun roared again and again as blue vapor burst from the surface of his body.

He had opened the first gate just like that? In three days?

Might Guy and Rock Lee were dumbfounded. This was too insane. It had taken Might Guy an entire year to open one gate, yet Xiao Yun had done it in three days?

"Xiao Yun, you really are a damn genius."

Might Guy rubbed his eyes, and after a long while, those were the only words he could manage.

"Is this the power after opening the Eight Gates?"

Xiao Yun looked at his hands in disbelief. He could clearly feel that his strength had practically gone off the charts. Perhaps he could even arm-wrestle Tsunade now.

Right!

He had not seen Tsunade in a long time. Last time, she had fainted while saving him, and he had yet to visit her. He did not know whether she was feeling better, nor whether her lower belly had begun to show.

"Teacher Guy, I'd like to take half a day off tomorrow to visit Lady Tsunade."

Xiao Yun said.

"Mm! By both reason and sentiment, you should go see her. Oh, here are three thousand. Bring her a gift."