They're Back, All of Them

Every day, he trained with Might Guy, practiced Chakra control, and had not touched ninjutsu lately.

The more precise his Chakra control became, the faster he would be able to cast ninjutsu in the future. Even high-level ninjutsu would become much easier to learn.

When he had time, he would chat with Itachi about life and ideals, teaching him from a young age not to become extreme. Or he would bully the Inuzuka Clan's Ninja Hounds.

Several peaceful days passed like that, though each day of training was fulfilling.

He also used the five hundred thousand ryo he had earned from selling the Rusted Katana for a draw.

After many days, Uchiha Qingfeng finally remembered his cheat again.

He opened the System. Ever since he had completed that one task about bothering the Pharmacy, no new tasks had appeared in the mission tab. This System was truly a bit of a scam.

Recharge successful. Congratulations, warrior! You received 510,000 Gold Coins at a 2% discount!

As an exclusive Level 1 member, he got an extra ten thousand Gold Coins from the 2% discount. Better than nothing.

He had wanted to save up one million for a ten-pull, but unfortunately, he had no way of making money.

Draw!!

As expected, the first pull was a "Thank You for Your Patronage"! Sure enough, recharge discounts were all scams. A few extra empty pulls had appeared, and it had all been taken back. The System would never suffer a loss.

Congratulations, warrior! You have obtained the potion "Xuzhu Royal Body Strengthening Secret Medicine."

The one he had drawn the first time was just about finished. The more of this body-strengthening stuff, the better.

Congratulations, warrior! You have obtained the potion "Shining World Instrument."

Maybe it could detoxify him if he drank it?

The descriptions were always so vague.

Congratulations, warrior! You have obtained "Master Potion x2."

Congratulations, warrior! You have obtained the potion "Mental Stimulant Potion."

"Drink it, and perhaps something terrifying will happen. Throwing it away may not be a bad choice."

Qingfeng had gradually figured out the System's habits. Throwing it away was impossible. He would find time to drink just a little and test it, but only once his body was strong enough.

All five Treasure Chests had been opened. Other than one "Thank You for Your Patronage," everything else had been potions.

The Master Potion restored Chakra. He had just finished the first bottle, and now he had gotten two more. Sure enough, he should sell them to recover some money.

After Minato Namikaze, the Golden Flash, took office as the Fourth Hokage, all personnel from the enemy nations at the front lines withdrew. Danzō Shimura had also completed his mission, and all the united force's Ninja had returned.

Although they also received a warm welcome from the village, the spectacle was clearly not as grand as when Minato returned.

The Uchiha Ninja led by Uchiha Fugaku, the Hyuga Clan brothers Hiashi and Hizashi, and Orochimaru had all returned.

The entire village visibly became livelier, especially the Dumpling Shop and Ichiraku Ramen, which were packed almost every day.

As usual, Uchiha Qingfeng followed Might Guy out to train.

The results of many days of training had begun to show. What had originally taken an entire morning—one hundred laps—could now be completed in just two hours.

Even running while doing a handstand only took four hours now. He was far stronger than when he had started.

It felt like he was almost there. Once today's training was over, he could temporarily bring his Taijutsu training and Chakra control practice to an end.

After running one hundred laps, the two rested briefly on the mountain behind Hokage Rock.

The portrait of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had already taken shape. It looked like it would be finished in a few more days.

"Qingfeng, let's have another Taijutsu match!"

Hearing Guy's words, Uchiha Qingfeng immediately stood up. Calling it a Taijutsu match was misleading—Qingfeng attacked while Guy defended, with Guy feeding him moves.

"Konoha Whirlwind!"

Uchiha Qingfeng seized the initiative, opening with a kick.

"You're still too slow, and you don't have enough power."

Using the same move, Guy leaped up and kicked Qingfeng straight back.

A third of a bottle of Body Strengthening Secret Medicine had once nursed his frail body back to the level of an ordinary person. Now that he had finished an entire bottle, his physical strength had caught up to that of a Taijutsu Ninja. Even when clashing head-on with Guy's ordinary Taijutsu, he would only be knocked back instead of injured.

"Konoha Great Whirlwind!"

"Konoha Violent Whirlwind!"

The two traded blows back and forth. Guy was the one advancing, while Qingfeng was the one constantly being kicked back.

After more than half an hour of frenzied combat—or rather, getting beaten up—they finally stopped when their Chakra ran low. Qingfeng sat on the ground, gasping for breath.

This kind of sparring was actually more effective than simply running laps.

So Guy had been right. Five hundred laps first every day as a warm-up!

Guy's surprise toward Qingfeng continued to grow. When Qingfeng had first begun training, his body had been weaker than even an ordinary person's. Yet in just over ten days, he had become this strong. Was this what a Taijutsu genius was like?

Guy himself had trained since childhood to attain his current physical strength.

"Qingfeng, your body has reached the standard. Do you want to learn my secret technique?"

A secret technique? Could it be the Eight Inner Gates Formation? That thing would kill you if you went all out with it. It was incredibly powerful and had nearly kicked its way to the ending, but it had only nearly done so.

Still, there was no denying how strong it was. Like Kakashi, opening a few Gates for a brief burst of power was quite useful.

"What secret technique?"

"It's a secret technique that can open the Chakra limiters within your body, depending on your physical strength."

It really was the Eight Inner Gates Formation.

"Teach me!"

Right there on the mountain, Might Guy explained the Eight Inner Gates Formation to Qingfeng in detail.

Once one's physical strength met the requirements, one could open the eight Gates in sequence: the Opening Gate, Resting Gate, Gate of Life, Wound Gate, Gate of Closing, Gate of View, Gate of Wonder, and Gate of Death.

Qingfeng's physical strength had already reached the standard. The Eight Inner Gates Formation was a technique he could grasp with just a little understanding, especially with Guy guiding him at his side.

"Guy, how many Gates can you open now?"

Might Guy revealed his familiar shining teeth. "Under normal circumstances, I can already open Six Gates!"

Uchiha Qingfeng understood. Under normal circumstances, Guy could only open Six Gates, meaning he could open six without suffering any harm. But under abnormal circumstances, he could force open the Seven Gates, though he would have to pay a price.

Back then, Might Duy had forcibly opened the Seven Gates and killed four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist with a single Daytime Tiger, losing his life as a result.

As long as his body was strong enough, opening Seven Gates without harm would not be a dream. Qingfeng also had the System's cheat Body Strengthening Potion. If he kept at it, he really could achieve it.

Qingfeng sensed the eight Gates within his body. Now that he had learned it, he had to give it a try.

"Eight Inner Gates Formation, Opening Gate—Open!"

Qingfeng felt the Chakra in his body surge wildly. If he did not build up combat experience now, then when would he?

"Guy, let's try again."

He opened directly with Konoha Violent Whirlwind. A head-on clash was the romance of Taijutsu Ninja.

Unfortunately, even against Guy without the Eight Inner Gates Formation open, he was still kicked back with a single blow.

"Resting Gate—Open!"

The restrictions on his brain and fatigue were lifted, allowing him to unleash one hundred percent of his abilities.

"Konoha Great Whirlwind!"

This time, when Guy faced Qingfeng's incoming kick, he no longer countered with the same move. He reached out, grabbed Qingfeng by the ankle, and flung him away.

"Gate of Life—Open!"

The strain on his body suddenly increased. His skin turned slightly flushed from the rush of blood, and visible green energy radiated from him, but his body had become even stronger.

Guy did not know what to say anymore. The first time he had opened the Gates, he had only opened the first one, and afterward he had been weak for two full days.

Was this a genius? And a Taijutsu genius at that.

This time, it was a proper fight. Every movement Guy made was within Qingfeng's perception.

Guy without the Eight Inner Gates Formation open against Qingfeng with three Gates open—a one-on-one battle between men. Now this was a true back-and-forth fight!