"How strong do you think Teacher Nawaki is?"
Sarutobi Asuma clasped his hands behind his head and said casually, "I've never seen him fight, and he isn't famous in the village. He doesn't seem that strong."
"Teacher might be a Special Jōnin."
Perhaps because Asuma had been born into a prominent Hokage family and had seen plenty of Jōnin and Anbu Ninja, growing up around Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, he had a broader perspective.
The original story never explained Uzuki Yugao's background. Perhaps she was from a small clan or a relatively well-off civilian family.
Yuhi Kurenai should have come from a distinguished family. According to Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, they had once been one of Konoha's famous clans, on par with the Uchiha Clan. Kurenai's clan possessed a Kekkei Genkai: an exceptionally powerful talent for genjutsu. In that respect, it was somewhat like the Ketsuryūgan.
Perhaps their numbers had dwindled, and few of them appeared in the story. Like the Senju Clan, they had faded from history.
"I heard the First and Second Hokage were both from the Senju Clan. Since Teacher's surname is Senju, he should be pretty strong, right?"
"Exactly! I wonder what nature transformations Teacher specializes in. I've never seen him use any. I wonder how good he is at genjutsu." Yuhi Kurenai was more interested in learning genjutsu.
Uzuki Yugao boldly guessed, "Maybe Teacher can use Wood Release."
Sarutobi Asuma still wore the same expression. "Only the First could use Wood Release. No one's been able to use it since."
Yuhi Kurenai nodded in agreement.
Once they had talked enough, they each headed home.
The Sarutobi family home
When Sarutobi Asuma returned home, Sarutobi Biwako asked him about his training.
"Tomorrow, Teacher's going to spar with a Genin named Might Duy. He told us to come watch."
Just then, Sarutobi Hiruzen walked in and responded in surprise.
"Oh? Nawaki actually proposed sparring with a Genin?"
"It's just a spar with a Genin. Maybe this Might Duy can't even beat me."
"Father, aside from the Senju name, Senju Nawaki doesn't seem to be a famous Jōnin in the village. Could he really be weaker than our clan's guards?"
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi clasped his hands behind his back and narrowed his eyes with a mysterious smile.
"Asuma, you're that confident? You still have a long way to go. Go watch tomorrow, and you'll see just a glimpse of your teacher's strength."
After saying this, Sarutobi Hiruzen returned to his room.
"I should make some time tomorrow to watch through the Crystal Ball. I wonder how much Nawaki has grown."
The next day
Konoha Training Ground
When Li Yu arrived at the training ground, he saw Might Duy warming up while supervising Might Guy, who was doing push-ups beside him.
"1989, 1990, 1991!"
Seeing that Might Guy was about to give out, Duy cheered him on. "Might Guy, the badge of youth comes from the blood you sweat!"
"Making us watch you train this early in the morning..."
"He said we were here to watch his father's youthful showdown against a Jōnin."
One wore sunglasses and a headband. The other also wore a headband, with a bow tied over his forehead, and had a Senbon between his teeth.
Li Yu couldn't help thinking, "Two headbands and one bowl cut. From a distance, they look like three melon heads."
When Might Duy spotted Li Yu, he leaped over, his eyes shining as he shouted, "Let's have a youthful showdown! I've been waiting for this!"
"Yugao, Asuma, Kurenai, go meet up with Genma and Ebisu. Stay as far back as you can."
The three nodded in understanding and quickly moved away.
"I'm looking forward to it too." This time, Li Yu planned to test his progress by competing with pure Taijutsu.
The two formed the Seal of Confrontation and took their stances.
Might Duy charged straight at Li Yu, leading with a flurry of punches and kicks.
Might Duy's blows were heavy and forceful, but Li Yu parried them with ease, handling the attacks smoothly. Duy hit hard, but he was still too slow.
A series of muffled thuds rang out across the training ground. Li Yu had more or less figured out Might Duy's strength.
Without opening the Eight Inner Gates, Might Duy's Taijutsu was somewhere between Chunin and Jōnin level.
The others watched from the side.
Watching the two fight, Uzuki Yugao asked curiously, "Why are they only using Taijutsu?"
The others turned their attention from the engrossing fight. Hearing her question, Might Guy turned around and said, "My father only knows Taijutsu. He spends all his time training in it."
Under their strange looks, he confidently gave a thumbs-up.
"Youth never comes too late. My father's youth will shine brilliantly!"
His teeth flashed with a "ding," blinding everyone around him.
"Tch, his Taijutsu is no match for Teacher's. He makes it sound so impressive."
Li Yu knocked Might Duy back with a punch and said, "Might Duy, if that's all you've got, you'll never earn my approval."
Might Duy stepped back and stood firm, his expression turning serious.
"In that case, I'll show you the results of my years of Taijutsu training!"
He took a deep breath and shouted, "Eight Inner Gates: Gate of Opening!"
"Open!"
"Gate of Healing, open!"
The veins on Might Duy's head began to bulge, and his skin gradually darkened.
"Oh, he's already at the third gate? I wonder how many more he can open."
"Gate of Pain, open!"
Green energy gradually enveloped his body, and his veins began to bulge all over.
"Gate of Limit, open!"
Even more green energy surrounded him. A shockwave burst from his body, scattering the stones and debris on the ground.
In his office, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped smoking his pipe.
"Could this be Konoha's forbidden technique, the Eight Inner Gates?"
"He's impressive. He can already open the fifth gate."
"He's still not done? Is he going to open the sixth gate?"
Only Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, could recognize what was happening at a glance.
The others standing nearby were stunned, their mouths hanging open.
"What kind of technique is that?"
Unfortunately, no one answered. At that moment, Might Guy clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming as his body trembled. His youth was gone.
"Gate of View, open!"
With Might Duy at the center, the ground sank half a meter and cracked all around him.
"Sorry for the wait. I'm still not quite used to the sixth gate."
A figure completely engulfed in green energy sped toward Li Yu. His fist cut through the air as it shot straight for Li Yu's abdomen.
Li Yu didn't underestimate him. He crossed his arms in front of himself, preparing to defend against the blow with all his strength.
"Boom!"
With a tremendous crash, the ground within twenty meters of them split apart as dust billowed into the air.
"Leaf Whirlwind! Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
Li Yu withstood several powerful attacks in succession. The ground caved in violently, and the two of them vanished from everyone's sight.
Seeing that brute force wasn't enough to overcome Li Yu, Might Duy launched a rapid assault, constantly shifting his attacks.
"Boom! Boom!"
One crash after another rang out. Drawing on the Senju Clan's Taijutsu and his powerful perception, Li Yu blocked Might Duy's punches and kicks, though he still took quite a few hits.
"Got you!"
He landed a Strength of a Hundred strike on Might Duy's abdomen.
"Boom!"
Might Duy shot diagonally upward into the earthen wall of the crater, then burst through the soil and flew into the air.
With the help of the third gate, Gate of Life, he could step on the air. After landing, he released the Eight Inner Gates, dropped to one knee, and clutched his abdomen. His whole body trembled uncontrollably as he panted heavily.
Might Guy hurried over to help Might Duy up, his face full of concern. "Father, are you all right?"
"I'm fine. I'm just a little exhausted."
Li Yu felt he had a good understanding of Might Duy's strength with the sixth gate of the Eight Inner Gates. He was already at Elite Jōnin level.
Thanks to his recovery rate, which rivaled the First's, Li Yu quickly healed the places where he had been hit. He shook the dust off himself. The sixth gate had still left him looking a little worse for wear.
He used the Body Flicker Technique to appear in front of Might Duy.
"Might Duy, you're very strong. You shouldn't be a Genin."
"I acknowledge your strength."
Might Duy had seemed weak moments ago, but now he perked right up. With tears in his eyes, he embraced Might Guy.
"Ah!"
"Might Guy, someone finally acknowledged me!"
"That's right, Father!"
Watching the two cry their eyes out, the others silently took a step back and swallowed the words they had been about to say.
Seeing that the father and son were having an emotional moment, Li Yu didn't want to interrupt. He turned to the crater, twenty meters across, formed Hand Seals, and slapped one hand against the ground to use Earth Release.
The crater, over ten meters deep, and the hole Might Duy had smashed into the wall quickly filled in.
A pulse spread from Li Yu's hand. The ground sank a few centimeters as he reinforced the entire training ground.
After finishing, Li Yu stood up easily and turned around. "Yugao, Kurenai, Asuma, let's go. We still have today's training to finish."
Seeing Li Yu fill such a huge crater so effortlessly, Uzuki Yugao asked, "Teacher, was that Earth Release? You restored the ground so easily."
Sarutobi Asuma crouched on the ground, tapping it now and then with a look of astonishment. "The ground sank, and it's become incredibly hard. How much chakra did that take?"
"That's right. It was Earth Release. Once you've mastered it, you can perform all kinds of transformations."
"As for chakra, that's simple. Just train your body more."
With a chakra reserve like Li Yu's, the Senju Clan's natural talent was crucial. He couldn't very well tell them the truth and discourage them from training.
On the way, Li Yu was pleased to see the students looking at him with even greater admiration. As they walked, he explained the Eight Inner Gates to them.
Hokage Office Building
Behind the Crystal Ball, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi put away his pipe and called to the Anbu outside.
"Go to the training ground and bring that Genin named Might Duy to me."
Three Ninja wearing Anbu masks promptly took their orders and left the Hokage Office Building, heading straight for the Konoha Training Ground.
Watching the three Anbu Ninja leave, Sarutobi Hiruzen adjusted his Hokage hat and gazed out the window, speaking to himself.
"Nawaki, it seems your Taijutsu isn't weak, either. You really do have a bit of the First's shadow."