Morning Peacock?

Might Duy opened the sixth gate, his entire body's Chakra surging like a raging river. It circulated at such high speeds that his blood began to boil, putting immense pressure on his blood vessels and causing his skin to take on a strange, dual-toned blue and red hue.

"Aaaaah!"

Might Duy roared, veins bulging on his face. He stepped into the air and launched himself forward like a cannonball. His speed was so immense that he pierced and shattered the very air, triggering a piercing sonic boom.

"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"

BOOM!

At this moment, his extreme speed finally underwent a strange transformation. The friction between Might Duy's leg and the air generated crimson flames, which, accompanied by a terrifying sonic boom, slammed into Crow Ghost.

Beneath his mask, Crow Ghost's face was filled with horror. The strength erupted by this Eternal Genin was already approaching that of an elite Jonin!

How is this possible?!

Crow Ghost gritted his teeth. The dark experiences of Root allowed him to calm down quickly. He caught sight of Might Duy's eyes and immediately released two genjutsu enhanced by his Sharingan.

"Mist Servant Technique!"

"False Surroundings Technique!"

The Mist Servant Technique could make the opponent see one after another black phantom figures, while the False Surroundings Technique could make the opponent mistake one location for another. Used in tandem, the effect was powerful enough to trap even a fellow Jonin!

Simultaneously, Crow Ghost activated the Body Flicker Technique. As long as Might Duy hesitated for even half a second, he would be able to escape successfully!

But Might Duy did not hesitate for even 0.1 seconds!

At this moment, the flow of Chakra within his body had long since surpassed the limits of the human body; it was impossible for him to be affected by such genjutsu.

BANG!

BOOM!

The crimson flames, accompanied by a shrill sonic boom, slammed directly into Crow Ghost's waist and abdomen. The latter was like a bullet fired from a chamber, dragging a fifty-meter trail through the snow before finally stopping after smashing through a tree as thick as a bowl.

CRACKLE!

The crimson flames burned in the snow like a peacock spreading its tail, lingering for a long time!

"Cough! Pfft~" Crow Ghost spat out a mouthful of blood, which slowly trickled down the edge of his mask.

Might Duy stomped heavily on the air, his entire body once again turning into a phantom as he shot toward Crow Ghost.

"You!"

Crow Ghost gritted his teeth, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan spinning wildly, but the injury to his waist and abdomen was rapidly devouring his vitality, making it impossible for him to continue the fight.

BANG!

Might Duy kicked out again with his flaming leg. BOOM! Countless wood chips exploded outward along with the flames, piercing into nearby tree trunks like a meteor shower.

At the critical moment, Crow Ghost used the Substitution Technique to escape and flee for his life.

Might Duy panted heavily. The flow of Chakra in his body was making his blood vessels feel like they were about to explode. Seeing Crow Ghost leave, he slowly 'closed the gates'.

Not far away, Houka stood wide-eyed and slack-jawed, trembling all over, unsure if it was from fear or excitement.

That was definitely the Eight Inner Gates! That move just now, it should be the Morning Peacock—no, it's the prototype of the Morning Peacock! I actually got to see it!

While Houka was dazed, Might Duy walked over and pulled him into a hug.

"Houka, I'm so sorry for letting you fall into such danger!" Might Duy apologized very sincerely. "This will absolutely never happen again, I promise!"

Houka was stunned once more. It was he who had attracted the enemy, and he had almost implicated Guy as well, yet Might Duy was apologizing to him?

Hoo! Hoo!

Might Duy took deep, continuous breaths; clearly, opening the sixth gate was a heavy burden for him.

"Uncle Duy, you... no, it was I who implicated you and Guy, I'm the one who should be apologizing!" Houka said hurriedly. "Uncle Duy, are you injured? Let me take a look!"

Houka wanted to use the Mystical Palm Technique to heal Might Duy, but he was stopped.

"Don't worry, it's just physical exhaustion. The Mystical Palm Technique won't have any effect," Might Duy said with a smile, patting Houka on the head.

Just then, a figure moving so fast they seemed to vanish arrived in an instant from the distance, white hair fluttering slightly in the snow.

"Duy, it really was you!"

The person who appeared was none other than the legendary ninja who shook the entire shinobi world, the captain of the Konoha Anbu, Hatake Sakumo!

From the moment Might Duy opened the sixth gate to the moment he repelled Crow Ghost, less than 10 seconds had passed. Given that this small forest was remote, even an ordinary Jonin would not have been able to arrive at the scene so quickly even if they had reacted in time, yet Hatake Sakumo had managed it!

Houka stared wide-eyed at this legendary ninja from the original story, a chill running through his heart.

"Lord Hatake!" Might Duy breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing it was Hatake Sakumo.

"What happened just now? The commotion here was quite large." Hatake Sakumo glanced at Houka. It was hard to imagine that this invincible ninja, whose name made the entire shinobi world tremble, had eyes that were exceptionally calm and steady, like a neighborly uncle, making one feel at ease.

Might Duy said, "A Jonin from the Uchiha clan appeared just now, trying to kidnap Houka, but I stopped him."

Hatake Sakumo smiled. "A Jonin from the Uchiha clan? Duy, your strength truly did not disappoint me."

Might Duy gave a wry smile.

"Let's leave this place first. The Anbu will take over the investigation later," Hatake Sakumo said.

Guy was still unconscious in the small forest. Might Duy did not wake him, but instead gently carried him on his back.

"Are you Uchiha Houka?"

After leaving the small woods, Hatake Sakumo suddenly became interested in the boy beside him.

"Yes, Lord Hatake!" Uchiha Houka felt slightly constrained; after all, this man was a legend!

"Do you know who I am?" Hatake Sakumo smiled.

Uchiha Houka hurriedly looked at Might Duy and replied, "Uncle Duy just called you that a moment ago."

Hatake Sakumo nodded and asked again, "What are your thoughts on what just happened?"

Uchiha Houka felt miserable; he was only seven years old, so he wished these big shots would stop asking him for his opinion on everything. He had no opinion at all—he just wanted to tag along with them!

"Lord Hatake, I don't know." Uchiha Houka played the innocent child.

Hatake Sakumo gave him a meaningful look and did not ask again.

In fact, the Third Hokage, having taken a liking to the boy's talent, had already notified Hatake Sakumo to keep an eye on Uchiha Houka, otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered speaking to him.

Swish! Swish!

Under the dim moonlight, three ninjas wearing animal masks sprinted through the forest, tracking a trail of blood.

Eventually, they arrived at a small river.

"Target found!"

"Death confirmed!"

"Both eyes gouged out; unable to confirm if he is from the Uchiha clan!"

After a brief discussion, the three decided to take the corpse back with them.

"This is... watch out!"

Boom!

Three Explosive Tags had been tied to the corpse, and in a brilliant flash of fire, they completely incinerated the body!

"Bastards! Are you two alright?"

"I'm fine."

"The trail is broken; we won't be able to answer to the captain now."

These three ninjas belonged to the Anbu and had been sent by Hatake Sakumo to track Crow Ghost, but with things having reached this point, it was clear someone was interfering from the shadows, destroying all clues.

After the three ninjas left, the river fell into silence.

Half an hour later, the three ninjas reappeared like ghosts, searched the area quietly, and finally left.

Another half hour passed, and the riverbed suddenly split open. A ninja wearing a Cyan Crow Mask crawled out, the flesh on his waist and abdomen mangled—his injuries were extremely severe!

Within just a few breaths, the downstream of the river was stained red by his blood.

"Damn it, Might Duy, I'll remember this!" Crow Ghost struggled out of the river, the three tomoe in his pupils spinning frantically! (To be continued)