Hyuga Momona

The Eight Gates cultivation method was recorded very simply.

Because it was too concise, some parts were always vague and unclear. But with the Second Hokage's annotations at the front, its meaning could still be understood.

Overall, it told you the locations of the gates, then had you try to force them open yourself.

It described several simple methods for opening the gates for you to study.

It was best if you succeeded, but it did not matter if you failed.

You could just try again next time.

Since it only contained the first three gates, Hyuga Kazuya did not spend much time memorizing all its contents.

Judging solely by the difficulty of cultivating the first three gates, the Eight Gates was far too simple. Almost anyone could cultivate it; only their eventual achievements would differ.

"The person who created this ninjutsu was truly a genius. They actually discovered invisible gates within the human body and used them to gain such powerful strength."

After reading the scroll, Hyuga Kazuya could not help but sigh in admiration for its creator.

Compared to the buff-type ninjutsu he had developed himself, it was simply heaven and earth apart.

Buff-type techniques ultimately still relied on basic human reactions or external forces acting upon the body.

But the Eight Gates was different. It directly opened up an entirely new path.

It benefited Hyuga Kazuya immensely and gave him countless ideas.

"Should I try opening the first gate now?"

After thinking it over, Hyuga Kazuya decided that, to be safe, he should wait.

His next Enlightenment was already very close. It should come within the next couple of days.

That was precisely why he had become so excited after obtaining the Eight Gates and the Lightning Style Training Method, almost unable to suppress his emotions.

The Eight Gates and the Lightning Style Training Method could be considered two of the strongest Taijutsu in the Shinobi World.

As long as he used Enlightenment to master these two ninjutsu, Hyuga Kazuya could beat his chest and declare that among those currently known in the Shinobi World, not a single one could fight him!

He read through the Eight Gates scroll again, making sure to thoroughly understand every sentence written on it.

After a long while, having reread it who knew how many times, Hyuga Kazuya closed the scroll.

He sorted through his thoughts and relaxed his mind.

Then he opened the Lightning Style Training Method scroll beside him.

According to the cultivation method recorded on the Lightning Style Training Method scroll, one used the properties of lightning to activate the body's flesh, granting tremendous strength, speed, and other abilities.

"Wait!"

"This isn't right. Why does it only mention strength and speed? What about defense?"

His brows furrowed tightly. Hyuga Kazuya had already discovered what this incomplete training method lacked.

Defense!

The Third Raikage had been known as the strongest shield, a man who could take a Rasengan to the face.

Having strength and speed but no defense would just make him a glass cannon.

"As expected, this Lightning Style Training Method is missing something."

Following his usual habit, Hyuga Kazuya reread it from beginning to end, over and over again.

Then, relying on some of his common knowledge about the human body from his previous life...

Hyuga Kazuya discovered that it was not merely lacking defense. It was also missing some of the most important elements.

For example, human cell division had a limit. Even if Hyuga Kazuya believed that the limits of cell division in this world were higher than in his previous life, they certainly could not divide infinitely.

And using Lightning Style to stimulate the body into activity was essentially stimulating cell division. How could a person's cells possibly keep dividing forever?

So, the scroll was not only missing defense. It was also missing methods to reduce Lightning Style's consumption of vitality, or replenish vitality.

"No wonder Cloud kept the loss of the Lightning Style Training Method such a secret. So they never believed that anyone who practiced their Lightning Style Training Method would live very long."

However, they did not know that there were geniuses in this world beyond human comprehension. A typical example was Orochimaru. It was simply that Orochimaru had no interest in such straightforward Taijutsu.

Otherwise, Orochimaru would have taught Cloud a lesson.

Of course, Hyuga Kazuya was also among those geniuses beyond human comprehension, but only when he was under Enlightenment.

In his normal state, Hyuga Kazuya did not consider himself stupid, but neither did he think his intelligence could compare to Orochimaru's.

In other words, while in a state of Enlightenment, he might have a chance to complete the Lightning Style Training Method.

He might even have a chance to complete the Eight Gates as well.

Time always passed quickly when one was not paying attention.

In the blink of an eye, night had fallen.

"Is it already evening?"

Hyuga Kazuya, immersed in ninjutsu, was awakened by a maid.

"Yes, Young Master."

"Alright, I understand. I won't be eating at home tonight. Tell Uncle for me."

Afterward, Hyuga Kazuya put away the scrolls and the notes he had written, then left the Hyuga clan grounds.

He headed for Kakashi's house.

Although Teacher Minato had not said where they would be having dinner, Kakashi's house was closest to the Hyuga clan grounds. If Kakashi was not home, it would not be too late to go to Minato Namikaze's house.

And if that still did not work, did he not have the Byakugan?

In daily life, the Byakugan was far more useful than all sorts of other fancy eyes.

"Master Kakashi is not home. He said that if you came looking for him, I should tell you that he went to Teacher Minato's house."

The Hatake Clan's maid recognized Hyuga Kazuya. She recognized this great villain who had beaten Kakashi senseless in their home last time, but her professional ethics still compelled her to relay Kakashi's message.

"Mm, I understand."

Now that he knew the location of the dinner, Hyuga Kazuya did not linger and headed straight for Minato Namikaze's house.

By then, the sun had already begun to set, and the lights along the streets were gradually turning on. Konoha's bustling nightlife had begun.

Looking at the crowds flowing through the streets and the many young couples laughing and fooling around, one could not help but feel envious.

Young couples?

"Wait, where's my 'wife'?"

Having returned to the village that morning and then obtained such powerful ninjutsu as the Eight Gates and the Lightning Style Training Method, Hyuga Kazuya had been so excited that he had completely forgotten about Hyuga Momona.

He had gone out on a mission for more than ten days, returned for an entire day, and still had not gone to see Hyuga Momona.

Standing in the middle of the road, Hyuga Kazuya felt as though he had arrived at a crossroads.

On one side was Teacher Minato, and on the other was Hyuga Momona.

"How should I choose?"

In his previous life, Hyuga Kazuya would not have hesitated in the slightest. How could a teacher compare to a wife?

But in this extraordinary world, Hyuga Kazuya actually hesitated!

In the end, considering Minato Namikaze's personality, Hyuga Kazuya took a step back and prepared to turn around.

"Big Brother!"

A crisp, pleasant, familiar voice came from behind him.

Amid the bustling marketplace stood a girl wearing a red patterned coat and a long black dress. Her beautiful hair fluttered in the wind, her hands tucked behind her back, and a smile rested on her delicate face. She was like a beautiful sight amid the lively streets.

"Momona, why are you here?"

Seeing that it was Momona, Hyuga Kazuya no longer needed to go back. He walked to her side and looked at the girl he had not seen for more than ten days.

She was still as adorable and beautiful as ever.

"I heard Big Brother had returned, so I went to find you during the day. But Elder Yang said you were busy and told me to come again tonight."

"Then when I went tonight, you had already left. But I have the Byakugan, so I found you easily. Big Brother, were you about to head back just now?"

"Yes. I missed Sister Momona, you see. I was originally going out to have dinner with my teacher, but I missed Sister Momona too much, so I was going to skip it."

Out of habit, he pinched Momona's pretty cheeks. It seemed he had gone more than ten days without doing so, and he wanted to make up for all that missed time by using both hands to squeeze her cheeks.

Hyuga Momona's little face flushed red.

"Big Brother, you're awful."

"Hehe, Momona, do you want to come to Teacher Minato's house for dinner with me?"

"Teacher Minato? Sure, sure! I miss Sister Kushina too."

"Sister Kushina?"

Hyuga Kazuya asked curiously. He did not want his little darling to be led astray by Kushina, that Crimson Chili Pepper.

"Yes, yes! Sister Kushina is really nice. She took me to eat lots of delicious food and play with lots of fun things."

"I see. Then let's go to Teacher Minato's house."

Hyuga Kazuya could only pray in secret that Kushina would not lead Momona astray!

The two walked hand in hand through the bustling streets, savoring the peace and reassurance of the moment.

Before long, they arrived at Minato Namikaze's house.