Might Guy Was Injured

Might Duy looked at Might Guy on the hospital bed. To Haku's surprise, the father and son didn't clutch each other and weep over their youth.

You still came to this point, Father!

Yeah. I thought I could endure it. Sigh, who would've thought...

Guy understood his current condition very clearly.

I thought I could endure it, but I still ended up like this. I probably don't have much time left, do I?

He had been speaking to Might Duy at first, but then he turned to Haku directly.

As Guy looked at Haku, Might Duy turned to look at him as well.

Facing the father and son, Haku knew he couldn't lie. Besides, the two of them seemed to have long expected this day.

Yeah, Duy. If Father rests properly, he should still have three years left. This injury damaged his foundation. He won't be able to use too much strength from now on.

Heh heh! Hahaha! What a great outcome. The family records said that those who opened the last two gates all went to the Pure Land on the spot. Having three years left is really not bad.

After hearing Haku's conclusion, Might Guy first burst into laughter, marveling at his own good fortune. Then he turned to Might Duy and spoke seriously.

Duy! Are you ready?

Yeah! I'm ready, Father!

Good! Tomorrow, go apply to graduate early. From now on, I'll teach you our family's inherited technique—the Eight Inner Gates Formation Technique.

As Might Guy spoke, he looked toward Haku.

Haku, you've trained in the Eight Gates too. Which gate can you open now? After using the Eight Gates, do you feel like your Chakra becomes difficult to control? It gets harder and harder to open the later gates.

It sounded like a question, but his tone was utterly certain.

Yeah. I can open the fourth gate now. It's getting harder after that, and I still have no idea how to open the fifth gate.

Then join us when the time comes!

After saying that, Might Guy seemed tired. Or perhaps he had thought of something painful. He had no interest in talking further and sent the two of them outside.

Haku, you're definitely amazing now, right? The Eight Inner Gates Formation Technique will surely flourish in your hands!

Outside the hospital, Might Duy spoke to Haku.

My talent is limited. Or rather, the Shinobi talent of the Might Family has always been limited. Our ancestors could only find another path and create the Eight Inner Gates Formation Technique, a Ninjutsu meant only for risking one's life.

Father wanted so badly for someone from the family to become a Chunin. He always fought desperately on every mission, but in the end...

As Duy spoke, tears began streaming from his eyes.

My talent is ordinary too. I had no hope of becoming a Chunin, which is why Father went to the orphanage and adopted you.

Listening to Might Duy, Haku finally learned that this had been one reason for adopting him. But Haku could accept that reason. Over the years, the Might father and son had long become his family.

Duy! I'll make the Might Family name resound throughout the Shinobi World.

This time, Haku didn't refuse when Might Duy clutched him and wept.

Might Guy's injury was like a signal. From that day onward, more and more wounded shinobi were withdrawn from the front lines and returned to the village for treatment.

The village began accepting fewer missions outside its borders. More and more shinobi returned to gather in the village, while more and more entered and left the ninja tool shops.

It wasn't just the shinobi without missions who became busy. As more injured shinobi returned to the village, Haku had more chances each day to practice medical Ninjutsu. His proficiency with the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique was steadily approaching the proficient level. By Haku's estimate, he should reach that level before his next mission, after which he could practice more advanced Ninjutsu.

Time quietly passed while Haku remained busy at the hospital.

One day, Might Guy came to find Haku.

Haku, I'm preparing to have Might Duy graduate early. I've already given him everything I need to teach him.

Hearing Guy's words, Haku understood that Guy couldn't wait for Duy to graduate normally. By Haku's estimate, Guy should still have several years left, but that was under the condition of resting quietly. Teaching Taijutsu to others would accelerate the depletion of Might Guy's vitality.

It seemed Guy understood that situation himself.

The shinobi force the village is organizing should be leaving soon. Since you're Lord Orochimaru's disciple, I expect you'll be heading to the front lines soon as well.

Yeah. While treating the shinobi returning from the front lines, I heard them say the situation there is getting more and more dire. I should be heading to the Kumogakure front, which Teacher Orochimaru is in charge of.

Hearing Haku admit that he was going to the front lines, Might Guy nodded as though it were only natural. He didn't try to persuade Haku otherwise. From the moment one became a shinobi, one had to bear such responsibilities.

Yeah. I also came to tell you about the attack I suffered.

I was attacked in the forest while withdrawing from the Kumogakure front back to the village.