Three Days, Open Three Gates!

Might Duy looked at Guy.

He suddenly grinned.

"Dad has never opened the Eight Inner Gates."

"But Dad knows that one day, you will."

Guy's heart gave a sharp tug.

He knew.

Of course he knew.

But he couldn't say it.

Duy reached out.

He placed his hand on Guy's head.

He ruffled his hair.

"Guy."

"Dad taught you the Eight Inner Gates, not so you would open the Gate of Death."

"It was to give you a choice."

He paused.

"Having a choice is better than anything else."

Guy looked up at him.

The moonlight shone on that stubbled face.

His eyes were bright.

Just like always.

And yet, different.

"Dad..."

"Hm?"

"I will master it."

Duy grinned.

"Good."

"But you have to promise Dad one thing."

"What is it?"

Duy looked at him.

His expression was frighteningly serious.

"Unless it is an absolute last resort, you are not allowed to open the eighth gate."

Guy froze.

Duy continued.

"My greatest wish in this life is to watch you grow up."

"To watch you get married."

"To watch you have children."

"To watch you become a ninja stronger than I ever was."

"So—"

He gave a thumbs up.

His teeth flashed.

"Guy, you must live."

"To live is the greatest form of youth!"

Guy looked at that hand.

He looked at that face.

He looked into those eyes.

A surge of warmth welled up in his heart.

It wasn't the Yijin Jing.

It was something else.

He couldn't put it into words.

But he knew.

This time.

This foolish father.

Will not die.

Absolutely not!

"Good!"

He gave a thumbs up.

And pressed his hand against Dai's.

Snap!

Under the moonlight.

The figures of father and son were stretched long.

Dai began to teach.

One move, one stance at a time.

Opening the gates one by one.

"Space Gate! Watch your breathing! Don't hold your breath!"

"Gate of Healing! Feel the limits of your body! But do not push past them!"

"Gate of Life! This is the watershed! Opening this one is what truly defines the Eight Inner Gates!"

Guy tried again and again.

The first time, Space Gate.

He failed.

The second time, another failure.

The third, the fourth, the fifth.

Until the break of dawn.

He finally—

"Space Gate!"

Boom!

A shockwave exploded outward.

Although much smaller than Dai's.

It had indeed opened.

Guy stood in place.

His whole body was burning hot.

His heart hammered like a drum.

But he grinned.

Dai rushed over.

And pulled him into a hug.

"Guy!!! You opened it!!! You opened it!!!"

Guy's eyes rolled back from the crushing grip.

"Dad... let go..."

"I won't!!! You only practiced for one night!!! One night!!! It took your father three months to open the first gate!!!"

Guy rolled his eyes.

But the corners of his mouth were curled upward.

Dai released him.

He stepped back.

And gave a thumbs up.

Tears and snot streaming down his face.

"Guy! You are a genius! A true taijutsu genius!"

Guy panted.

Looking at his reddened arms.

Space Gate.

It was only the first gate.

Yet that feeling, the power in his entire body was boiling.

Speed, strength, reaction.

Everything was different now.

He looked up at Dai.

"Father."

"Hm?"

"Continue."

Dai was stunned for a moment.

"Aren't you tired?"

Guy grinned.

"Youth is something that cannot stop."

Dai smiled as well.

"Good!"

The sun rose.

Then it set.

Then it rose again.

Three days.

Three whole days.

Guy and Dai stayed in this valley, not going to the academy.

When hungry, they ate dry rations.

When thirsty, they drank from the stream.

They trained until they collapsed to sleep, then continued upon waking.

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 shockwave exploded outward.

Green steam emerged from Guy's body.

Although it was faint.

It was undeniably there.

He stood there.

His whole body was flushed red.

Veins bulged.

His heartbeat was so fast it felt like it would burst.

But he stood his ground.

Dai stood not far away.

Watching him.

His eyes turned red.

"Guy..."

Guy turned his head.

He grinned.

"Father, I opened it."

Dai rushed over.

This time, he didn't hug him.

He just stood in front of him.

Looking at him.

"Does it hurt?"

Guy shook his head.

"It doesn't hurt."

"Then how does it feel?"

Guy thought for a moment.

"It feels—"

He raised his hand.

Clenched his fist.

"It feels like I could kill a Ninja Bear with one punch."

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.

Stood firm.

Took a deep breath.

Gate of Life, fully opened.

Raised his leg.

"Leaf Hurricane!"

Whoosh—

BANG!!!

He didn't use the Vajra Leg.

It was pure physical strength, combined with the most rudimentary taijutsu.

The boulder cracked down the middle.

Split clean in two!

Guy landed, panting heavily.

Dai walked over and stood beside him.

Looking at the split boulder.

He was silent for a long time.

Then he said.

"Guy."

"Yeah?"

"You are stronger than Dad."

Guy turned his head to look at him.

Dai was looking at him too.

"Really."

"Dad trained for twenty years just to reach the sixth gate."

"You only trained for three days, and you've already opened three gates."

He paused.

"You will definitely become a great ninja one day."

Guy looked at him.

That face.

Still the same goofy expression.

But the pride in his eyes could not be hidden.

A warmth spread through Guy's heart.

"Dad."

"Yeah?"

"When I open the eighth gate, I'll kick it for you to see."

Dai was stunned.

Then he burst into laughter.

"Good! Daddy will be waiting!"

He gave a thumbs-up.

His teeth flashed.

"But before that—"

"Let's eat first!"

Guy laughed as well.

"Good!"