Might Duy looked at Guy.
Suddenly, he grinned.
"Dad's never opened all Eight Gates."
"But Dad knows that one day, he will."
Guy's heart clenched.
He knew.
Of course he knew.
But he couldn't say it.
Duy reached out.
He placed his hand on Guy's head.
And ruffled his hair.
"Guy."
"I'm teaching you the Eight Inner Gates not so you can open the Gate of Death."
"I'm teaching you so you'll have a choice."
He paused.
"Having a choice is better than anything else."
Guy looked up at him.
Moonlight fell across his stubbled face.
His eyes shone.
Just like always.
And yet, somehow, different.
"Dad..."
"Yeah?"
"I'll learn."
Duy grinned.
"Good."
"But you have to promise Dad one thing."
"What?"
Duy looked at him.
So serious it was frightening.
"Don't open the Eighth Gate unless there's no other choice."
Guy froze.
Duy continued.
"My greatest wish in life is to watch you grow up."
"To watch you get married."
"To watch you have children."
"To watch you become a stronger ninja than me."
"So—"
He raised his thumb.
His teeth flashed.
"Guy, you have to live."
"Being alive is the greatest Youth of all!"
Guy looked at that hand.
At that face.
At those eyes.
A warm current welled up inside him.
It wasn't the Yijin Jing.
It was something else.
He couldn't explain it.
But he knew.
This time.
His foolish dad.
Wouldn't die.
Never!
"Okay!"
He raised his thumb.
And touched Duy's hand.
Smack!
Under the moonlight.
The father and son's shadows stretched long.
Duy began teaching him.
Each move, one at a time.
Each gate, one at a time.
"Gate of Opening! Watch your breathing! Don't hold your breath!"
"Gate of Healing! Feel your body's limits! But don't push past them!"
"Gate of Life! This is the dividing line! Once you open this gate, you've truly mastered the Eight Inner Gates!"
Guy tried again and again.
The first time, he failed to open the Gate of Opening.
The second time, he failed again.
The third, fourth, and fifth times.
He kept at it until dawn.
At last, he—
"Gate of Opening!"
Boom!
A wave of air burst outward.
It was much smaller than Duy's.
But he'd done it.
Guy stood where he was.
His whole body was burning hot.
His heart pounded like a drum.
But he grinned.
Duy rushed over.
And wrapped him in a tight hug.
"Guy!!! You opened it!!! You opened it!!!"
Guy's eyes nearly popped out from the squeeze.
"Dad... let go..."
"Never!!! You only trained for one night!!! One night!!! It took Dad three months to open the first gate!!!"
Guy's eyes were still bulging.
But the corners of his mouth curled upward.
Duy let go of him.
Then stepped back.
He raised his thumb.
Tears and snot streamed down his face.
"Guy! You're a genius! A true Taijutsu genius!"
Guy panted.
And looked at his flushed arms.
The Gate of Opening.
It was only the first gate.
But he could feel it: power surging through his whole body.
His speed, strength, and reflexes.
Everything was different.
He looked up at Duy.
"Dad."
"Yeah?"
"Let's keep going."
Duy blinked.
"Aren't you tired?"
Guy grinned.
"You can't stop when you're young."
Duy grinned too.
"Okay!"
The sun rose.
Then set.
Then rose again.
Three days.
Three whole days.
Guy and Duy stayed in the valley, never going to school.
When they were hungry, they ate dried rations.
When they were thirsty, they drank from the stream.
They trained until they collapsed, then woke up and kept going.
On the first day, Guy opened the first gate.
On the second day, he opened the second gate.
On the third day—
"Third gate! Gate of Life! Open!"
Boom!!!
A wave of air burst outward.
Green steam rose from Guy's body.
It was faint.
But it was there.
He stood in place.
His whole body was flushed red.
His veins bulged.
His heart pounded as if it might explode.
But he remained standing.
Duy stood a short distance away.
Watching him.
His eyes reddened.
"Guy..."
Guy turned his head.
And grinned.
"Dad, I opened it."
Duy rushed over.
This time, he didn't hug him.
He just stood in front of him.
And looked at him.
"Does it hurt?"
Guy shook his head.
"It doesn't hurt."
"How does it feel?"
Guy thought for a moment.
"It feels—"
He raised his hand.
Clenched his fist.
"Like I could punch a Ninja Bear to death."
Dai smiled.
"Really?"
Guy nodded.
Dai pointed at a boulder twenty meters away.
"That one."
Guy looked over.
The boulder was taller than he was.
He walked over.
Stopped in front of it.
Took a deep breath.
He opened the Gate of Life all the way.
Raised his leg.
"Leaf Hurricane!"
Whoosh—
Bam!!!
He hadn't used Vajra Leg.
It was just raw physical strength, combined with the simplest Taijutsu.
The boulder split down the middle.
It split cleanly in two!
Guy landed, panting heavily.
Dai walked over and stood beside him.
He looked at the split boulder.
He was silent for a long time.
Then he said,
"Guy."
"Yeah?"
"You're stronger than Dad."
Guy turned to look at him.
Dai met his gaze.
"I mean it."
"It took Dad twenty years to reach the Sixth Gate."
"You've only trained for three days, and you've already opened three gates."
He paused.
"Someday, you'll become a very powerful ninja."
Guy looked at him.
That face.
Still the same goofy expression.
But he couldn't hide the pride in his eyes.
Guy felt warmth spread through him.
"Dad."
"Yeah?"
"When I open the Eighth Gate, I'll kick something for you to see."
Dai froze for a moment.
Then he burst out laughing.
"Good! I'll be waiting!"
He gave Guy a thumbs-up.
His teeth gleamed.
"But before then—"
"Let's eat!"
Guy grinned too.
"Okay!"