Might Dai

"What do you all think of Nawaki-sensei's strength?"

Sarutobi Asuma rested his hands behind his head and said indifferently, "I've never seen him make a move, and he doesn't have much of a reputation in the village. I don't think he's very strong."

"Sensei might be a Special Jonin."

Perhaps because he was born into the Hokage's family, he had seen many Jonin and Anbu ninjas. Under the subtle influence of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, his perspective was relatively broad.

Uzuki Yugao's background was never explained in the original story; she likely came from a minor clan or a slightly wealthy commoner family.

Yuhi Kurenai, however, was likely the descendant of a prestigious family. According to the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, they were once a renowned Konoha clan on par with the Uchiha, a force capable of rivaling them. The Yuhi clan possessed a Kekkei Genkai—an extraordinary talent for genjutsu, which was somewhat reminiscent of the Blood Dragon Eye.

Perhaps due to a decline in talent and few appearing in the story, they had faded from history just like the Senju Clan.

"I heard the First Hokage and the Second Hokage were both from the Senju Clan. Since Sensei's surname is Senju, he shouldn't be too bad, right?"

"Exactly, exactly. I wonder what nature transformation Sensei specializes in? We've never seen him use any, and I wonder how his genjutsu is." Yuhi Kurenai was still more interested in learning genjutsu.

Uzuki Yugao boldly guessed, "Maybe Sensei can use Wood Release."

Sarutobi Asuma kept the same expression, "Only the First Hokage could use Wood Release. No one has been able to use it since."

Yuhi Kurenai nodded in agreement.

Seeing that the conversation had reached its end, the group headed home.

At the Sarutobi household of the Third Hokage.

Upon returning home, Sarutobi Asuma was asked by Sarutobi Biwako about his training.

"Tomorrow, Sensei is going to spar with a Genin named Might Dai, and he told us to go watch."

Just then, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had just walked through the door, interjected in surprise.

"Oh? Nawaki actually took the initiative to challenge a Genin to a spar?"

"It's just a spar with a Genin. Maybe that Might Dai couldn't even beat me."

"Father, aside from the Senju surname, Nawaki doesn't seem to be a famous Jonin in the village. His strength might not even be as good as the guards in our family, right?"

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, stood with his hands behind his back, squinting his eyes with a mysterious smile.

"Asuma, you are far too confident. You still have a long road ahead. Tomorrow, you will see just the tip of the iceberg regarding your teacher's strength."

After saying this, Sarutobi Hiruzen returned to his room.

It seems I'll have to find some time tomorrow to watch with the crystal ball. I wonder to what extent Nawaki has grown.

The next day.

Konoha Training Ground.

When Li Yu arrived at the training ground, he found Might Dai warming up and supervising Might Guy as he did push-ups.

"1989, 1990, 1991!"

Seeing Might Guy struggling to keep going, he shouted, "Guy! The medal of youth cannot exist without hot-blooded passion!"

"You're making us watch your intense training first thing in the morning."

"He said he wanted us to watch the youthful duel between his father and a Jonin."

A man wearing sunglasses and a headband, along with another person also wearing a headband with a bow tied in front and a senbon in his mouth, stood nearby.

Li Yu couldn't help but sigh inwardly, Two guys with headbands and one bowl-cut kid; from a distance, you'd think it was a trio of melon-heads.

Seeing Li Yu's arrival, Might Dai leaped over, his eyes gleaming as he shouted, "Let us have a youthful duel! I have been waiting impatiently for this!"

"Yugao, Asuma, Kurenai, go join Shiranui Genma and Ebisu. Try to stay back a bit."

The three nodded sensibly and quickly moved away.

"I'm looking forward to it as well." This time, Li Yu intended to use pure taijutsu to spar and test the results of his recent training.

The two performed the Seal of Confrontation and took their stances.

Might Dai charged straight at Li Yu, launching a flurry of punches and kicks.

Might Dai's strikes were heavy and powerful, but Li Yu used taijutsu to parry and block them with ease, handling the situation comfortably. Although the punches carried great force, the speed was still lacking.

A series of dull thuds echoed across the field as Li Yu gauged Might Dai's strength.

Without the Eight Inner Gates, Might Dai's taijutsu was likely somewhere between the level of a Chunin and a Jonin.

Watching from the side, Uzuki Yugao looked at the exchange and asked curiously, "Why are they only using taijutsu for the spar?"

The others turned their gaze toward the two, who were focused entirely on the fight. Hearing the question, Might Guy turned his head and said, "Father only uses taijutsu. He spends all his time on it."

Seeing the strange looks from the group, he confidently gave a thumbs up.

"Youth is never late! Father's youth will surely shine brilliantly!"

His teeth gave off a flash effect with a "ding," blinding everyone present.

"Tch, he's clearly not a match for Sensei in taijutsu at all, yet he talks such a big game."

Li Yu pushed Might Dai back with a single punch and spoke, "Might Dai, if this is the extent of your strength, don't expect to earn my recognition."

Might Dai stepped back and steadied himself, his gaze turning serious. "In that case, let me show you the results of my many years of taijutsu training."

He took a deep breath and let out a loud shout. "Eight Inner Gates: Gate of Opening!"

"Open!"

"Gate of Rest, open!"

"Gate of Life, open!"

Visible veins began to bulge across Might Dai's head, and his skin gradually darkened.

"Oh, already at the third gate so quickly? I wonder how many more you can open."

"Gate of Pain, open!"

His entire body became enveloped in green energy, and veins began to bulge all over his frame.

"Gate of Closing, open!"

More green energy surged around him, emitting a shockwave that blew away the gravel and debris on the ground.

At this moment, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was smoking his pipe in his office, stopped mid-puff. "Could this be the forbidden technique of the Leaf: the Eight Inner Gates?"

"It is truly remarkable that he can already open the fifth gate."

"It's not over yet? Is he going to open the sixth gate?"

Only the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, could identify the situation at a glance.

The companions standing nearby were stunned, their mouths hanging open in O-shapes. "What kind of ninjutsu is this?"

Unfortunately, no one answered. At this moment, Might Guy clenched his fists, his eyes shining with golden light, his whole body trembling—youth was burning.

"Gate of View, open!"

With Might Dai at the center, the ground sank fifty centimeters, accompanied by a web of deep cracks.

"I'm still a bit unpracticed with the sixth gate. Sorry to keep you waiting."

A figure completely wrapped in green energy charged at Li Yu at high speed, his fist whistling through the air as it headed straight for Li Yu's abdomen.

Li Yu did not underestimate him; he crossed his arms in an X-shape, preparing to defend against the blow with all his might.

"Bang!"

With a deafening roar, the ground within a twenty-meter radius beneath them cracked inch by inch, sending dust flying into the air.

"Leaf Whirlwind! Leaf Great Whirlwind!"

Li Yu withstood the successive, heavy-hitting strikes one by one, causing the ground to collapse violently until the two of them vanished from the onlookers' sight.

Seeing that raw power wasn't working against Li Yu, Might Dai switched to a rapid-fire assault, frantically changing his attack angles.

"Bang! Bang!"

The loud impacts rang out repeatedly. Relying on the Senju Clan's taijutsu and his powerful sensory abilities, Li Yu blocked Might Dai's strikes, though he still took several hits.

"Got you."

Li Yu unleashed a Strength of a Hundred punch, striking Might Dai squarely in the abdomen.

"Bang!"

Might Dai slammed diagonally into the wall of the earthen pit, then burst back out of the dirt and flew into the air.

Utilizing the third gate, the Gate of Life, he was able to tread on the air. After landing, he released the Eight Inner Gates, dropped to one knee, and clutched his stomach, trembling uncontrollably while gasping for air.

Might Guy quickly rushed over to help Might Dai up, asking with a worried expression, "Father, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, just a bit exhausted."

Li Yu felt he had a sufficient grasp of Might Dai's strength while using the sixth gate of the Eight Inner Gates; it was already on par with an elite jonin.

Relying on a recovery speed that rivaled the First Hokage, Li Yu quickly healed the areas where he had been struck and shook the dust off his body, though the sixth gate had still left him looking somewhat disheveled.

He used the Body Flicker Technique to appear before Might Dai. "Might Dai, your strength is quite impressive; you shouldn't be a genin."

"I recognize your strength."

Might Dai, who had been weak just a moment ago, instantly regained his spirit. With tears welling in his eyes, he embraced Might Guy.

"Ah!"

"Guy, someone has finally acknowledged me."

"Yes, Father."

Watching the two of them sobbing uncontrollably, their young companions silently took a step back, swallowing the words they had intended to say.

Seeing the deep bond between father and son, Li Yu felt it inappropriate to interrupt, so he turned toward the twenty-meter-wide crater, formed hand seals to perform Earth Release, and slammed a single palm onto the ground.

The crater, over a dozen meters deep, along with the tunnel Might Dai had smashed into the earth, was rapidly filled in.

A ripple spread from Li Yu's hand, causing the ground to sink a few centimeters as he reinforced the surface of the massive Konoha Training Ground.

Having finished all this, Li Yu stood up with a relaxed expression and turned around, saying, "Yugao, Kurenai, Asuma, let's go. We still have today's training to complete."

Watching Li Yu fill in such a massive crater with ease, Uzuki Yugao asked, "Teacher, is this Earth Release? To restore the ground so effortlessly..."

Sarutobi Asuma, meanwhile, crouched on the ground, tapping it periodically with a look of astonishment in his eyes. "The ground sank, and it's become incredibly hard. Just how much chakra does this require?"

"That's right, it's Earth Release. Once you've mastered it, you can utilize all sorts of variations."

"As for the question of chakra, that's even simpler: just train your body more."

With a chakra reserve like Li Yu's, the innate talent of the Senju Clan was still a significant factor; he feared that telling the truth would dampen his students' enthusiasm for training.

Along the way, seeing the even more adoring gazes of his students, Li Yu felt quite satisfied, explaining the Eight Inner Gates ninjutsu as they walked.

Hokage Office Building.

Behind his crystal ball, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, set aside his pipe and summoned the Anbu waiting outside.

"Go to the training ground and bring that genin named Might Dai to see me."

Three ninjas wearing Anbu masks quickly acknowledged the order, left the Hokage Office Building, and headed straight for the Konoha Training Ground.

Watching the three Anbu ninjas depart, Sarutobi Hiruzen adjusted his Hokage hat, looked out the window, and muttered to himself, "Nawaki, it seems your taijutsu is not weak at all; you truly do have a shadow of the First Hokage in you."