Hokage: You Call This Guy a Savior?!

"Why bring up my teacher?" Keiichi tensed.

"What a coincidence, then. I regret to inform you that your teacher is already dead."

Hearing this, Keiichi remained composed, refusing to believe a word from Kabuto Yakushi.

Trying to rattle me, are you? Do you really think I can't see through that?

"What? You don't believe me? If you want to blame someone, blame him for growing suspicious of me. He happened to hear things he shouldn't have, so I had no choice but to kill him."

Although Keiichi's expression remained calm, his hand gripping the Kunai began to tremble involuntarily.

"I must admit, his Invisibility Technique was quite impressive. Had he not shown a flaw at the very end, I wouldn't have noticed him either."

At these words, Keiichi finally flew into a genuine rage. Gekko Hayate's Invisibility Technique was a top-secret matter within the Leaf Village; ordinary people had no way of knowing it. Could Kabuto Yakushi have really killed him?

Although he hadn't spent much time with this teacher and often complained about him, he had to admit that the man had truly treated him like a student.

It was precisely because he felt that sincerity that he had come to regard Gekko Hayate as his true mentor.

A teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime; even if their time together was short, Keiichi still felt a deep sense of gratitude toward him.

You...

How dare you kill him?!

"Warm-up over. Next, I will use everything I have to kill you, seriously and properly, Kabuto Yakushi," Keiichi said with an exceptionally solemn expression, forming hand seals.

"Eight Inner Gates, release!"

With 100 Magic Modification Points in hand, he had scoured the shop, constantly debating how to spend them to reach the strength of a formal Jonin in such a short time.

Bloodline?

Even if he went all-in, he would only see a 10% increase at most, which would be of no help in the current situation.

Ninja tools?

Could a mere 100 points buy a tool capable of defeating a Jonin?

Not to mention the Magic Modification requirements wouldn't be met.

Ninjutsu?

He browsed through every available technique before finally locking onto the Eight Inner Gates.

He knew well that this ninjutsu had severe drawbacks; without a body tempered like that of Might Guy or Rock Lee, he could easily end up killing himself.

Hadn't even Kakashi dared only to open the first gate?

In truth, he had a better option: unlocking Sage Mode. But that required 200 points—he didn't have enough.

That was why, while Naruto and Kabuto were fighting, he had been hesitant; he wanted to gamble on the annual gift pack, hoping to pull something game-breaking.

But the lesson of the Obito Goggles taught him—

You had best not gamble.

After much deliberation, he set his sights back on the Eight Inner Gates.

It cost only 50 points to unlock, making it the second cheapest S-rank ninjutsu.

The cheapest was the 30-point Dead Demon Consuming Seal, which had even more terrifying side effects—use it, and you're guaranteed a coffin.

The Eight Inner Gates, at least, only carried the possibility of death.

If the system could sell it for such a low price, there had to be a reason, right?

The key was that [Spirit: Iron Wall] gave him a certain degree of confidence; perhaps, after reinforcing his physical body, he could offset some of the side effects of the Eight Inner Gates.

Initially, he hadn't intended to use this technique. If he could force Kabuto Yakushi to retreat, he could save those 50 points—wouldn't that be the best outcome for everyone?

But Kabuto Yakushi's admission of killing Gekko Hayate had thoroughly enraged Keiichi, causing him to lose his cool.

Thus, he chose to exchange without hesitation and immediately activated the Eight Inner Gates.

"Gate of Opening, open!"

The Brain Domain Limit was released; the power previously restricted could now be exerted to its maximum, and his body entered a state of overload.

"Gate of Healing, open!"

His physical strength entered an unrestricted state. At this moment, he could refine chakra without restraint and felt not a shred of fatigue.

"Gate of Life, open!"

At this instant, 'energy' radiated from Keiichi's body. His skin turned a deep crimson, and he broke through his 100% limit. His strength, speed, and reaction time increased drastically. Fat was rapidly converted into energy, causing the moisture squeezed out from his pores to turn into a faint mist under his soaring body temperature.

However, having opened only the third gate, Keiichi already felt himself teetering on the edge. His subconscious warned him that if he continued, death was inevitable.

In fact, even with only three gates open, his body had already undergone massive changes—

Ninjutsu: 4

Taijutsu: 4

Genjutsu: 3→5

Ken-8

Strength: 4→8

Speed: 4→8

Spirit: 3→∞

Seal: 5

His strength, speed, and spirit had all surged by a massive margin!

Seeing Keiichi in this state, Kabuto Yakushi felt a terrible premonition welling up in his heart and hurriedly retreated, attempting to create some distance.

But just as he took his third step, his intuition forced him to freeze. He turned around in a panic, only to see that Keiichi had appeared behind him out of nowhere, nearly causing them to collide.

How did his speed become this fast?!

Kabuto's reaction was half a beat too slow. A leg, swinging like a battle-axe, kicked him from the side. He hurriedly raised his arms to block, only to feel an impact like a heavy hammer, sending him flying backward.

How did his strength also become this powerful?!

Before he could even land, Keiichi caught up with incredible speed and kicked him square in the bridge of his nose, instantly twisting and distorting his entire face.

Damn it!

When did he learn the Eight Inner Gates?!

If he couldn't guess it now, Kabuto Yakushi would have wasted all those years serving as a spy!

But for the life of him, Kabuto couldn't understand how Keiichi had adapted to such a sudden, massive change in his body.

I can keep up...

My body can finally keep up!

Keiichi was exceptionally excited. Ever since he unlocked his Sharingan, he had been plagued by the fact that his body couldn't keep up with his eyes. But the moment he opened the Eight Inner Gates, a balance was finally struck between the two!

And so, not only could he clearly see every move Kabuto Yakushi made, but his body could also react accordingly. This was the reason he was able to suppress his opponent in every aspect!

Kabuto Yakushi didn't understand how he adapted to such a sudden physical transformation, but he didn't know that Keiichi had always been struggling with his body failing to keep up with his thoughts!

Keiichi remained extremely calm, refusing to waste a single second, doing everything in his power to inflict damage on Kabuto Yakushi.

Because he knew very well that the Eight Inner Gates had a time limit, and his Iron Wall had one as well. Once the duration ended, his strength would plummet to the bottom, and he would be at the mercy of Kabuto Yakushi.

He would never allow that to happen!

Kabuto Yakushi clearly understood Keiichi's intentions as well, so his strategy was to avoid the brunt of the assault and wait for the Eight Gates state to end.

They were both well aware of each other's trump cards.

Naruto clenched his fists, watching the battle between the two with immense tension. He understood perfectly that this was the crucial moment to decide the victor—a struggle where life and death were on the line!

If Kabuto Yakushi truly won, the outcome for both of them was easy to imagine.

So, he prayed silently, hoping that Keiichi would win and teach this traitor to the Leaf Village a harsh lesson!

However, Kabuto Yakushi was, after all, a formal Jonin. Even with the empowerment of the Eight Inner Gates, Keiichi couldn't find an opening for a fatal blow when the opponent was solely focused on evasion.

Keiichi was strong right now, and Kabuto Yakushi had sustained consecutive injuries, but none of them were fatal—he just looked more miserable than before.

After only five minutes, Keiichi felt the mist surrounding his body beginning to dissipate. This was a very bad sign, indicating that the duration of the Eight Inner Gates was about to end!

His body had no more fat left to burn.

Seeing this, Kabuto Yakushi, despite being battered and bruised, couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips. The dawn of victory was right before his eyes!

Don't worry, I will return the humiliation I've suffered to you a hundredfold!

I will send you to meet your master in the underworld!

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique."

Keiichi suddenly stopped in his tracks, formed seals with his hands, and spat a fireball directly from his mouth.

At the same time, he activated [Spirit: Sure-Hit].

Hmph!

Is he at the end of his rope?

Kabuto Yakushi couldn't help but sneer inwardly. To think he would rely on such a slow-moving ninjutsu to cause damage—it was truly too stupid...

However, just as he was about to dodge, a dark shadow suddenly leaped from the calm lake surface and slammed into his lower back, nearly causing him to trip and fall.

What the hell is that?!

"Magikarp, Magikarp!"

Splash!

Chapter 58: The Death of Kabuto Yakushi

Keiichi looked closely and realized that the Magikarp, originally used only to assist in Naruto's special training, had delivered a critical assist at this very moment!

Unable to dodge in time, Kabuto Yakushi was engulfed by the raging flames and struck dead on.

To be hit by a Great Fireball—could there be anything more humiliating than this?!

Watching the flames rush toward him, this thought flashed through the mind of Kabuto Yakushi.

Though the power of the Great Fireball was immense, it was still insufficient to kill a jonin. Before the smoke had even fully dissipated, Keiichi dove straight into it, relying almost entirely on instinct to pinpoint Kabuto's location before throwing a punch with all his might.

Kabuto was completely dazed at that moment; the searing pain had just swept across his entire body when his chin took a heavy blow, sending him flying half a meter into the air before a follow-up kick sent him crashing back onto the shore.

He rolled across the ground like a discarded rag several times before finally lying motionless, his fate hanging in the balance.

Keiichi knew deep down the importance of finishing an opponent, so he pulled a Kunai from his ninja pouch and prepared to rush over and end him.

However, the very moment he prepared to act, his body suddenly collapsed into the water; had a Magikarp not been supporting him from below, he surely would have sunk to the bottom.

The time limit for the Eight Inner Gates had expired!

Why did it have to be at such a critical moment!

Keiichi stared at the half-dead Kabuto, unwilling to give up, his eyes practically spitting fire.

But his body was severely overdrawn, completely unresponsive, and unable to move an inch.

At that moment, Naruto crept toward Kabuto, his movements cautious and careful.

Naruto, kill him quickly!

Keiichi desperately wanted to roar these words, but at this moment, he couldn't even manage to open his mouth.

The side effects of the Eight Inner Gates were even greater than he had imagined; it was a stroke of luck that he could still breathe at all.

Naruto seemed to hear Keiichi's inner plea; he gripped his hands tightly, raised the Kunai, and prepared to strike.

But at that very moment, an image of Haku suddenly flashed through his mind, causing him to hesitate. He did not know if he would regret his actions after killing Kabuto.

He had suffered through countless nightmares before, all of them centered on the scene where he had accidentally killed Haku, leaving him with a hollow, lost feeling upon waking.

And just as Naruto wavered in his indecision, Kabuto suddenly opened his eyes. Though he was severely injured and his limbs were equally immobile, he spat a blade out from his mouth and flicked it forward with his tongue.