Youth That Never Ends, Eight Inner Gates: Open!

Watching his father rush to the front, Might Guy was filled with confusion.

"Why? Dad, you're only a genin, why would you rush into this?"

Ebisu and Shiranui Genma were even more stunned; Might Guy's father was by no means a powerhouse, let alone against the elite Mist Hidden shinobi before them—there was simply no chance of victory.

"Another Konoha ninja has arrived?"

"Looks like the father of that bowl-cut kid. How tragic, father and son dying together. I'll show some mercy and send you out of this world without pain, using my Executioner's Blade."

Biwa Juzo's expression was cruel, his Executioner's Blade eager for action. Might Duy, who had remained silent for so long, revealed his usual smile.

"Is there any other reason? Protecting what is precious—that is the youth and spirit of a man. You must live on, Guy."

"Now, this is the moment for youth to burn! Eight Inner Gates, Open!"

The energy soared to the heavens, a vigorous vitality burning incessantly. The emerald flames and the terrifying chakra that had condensed into a physical form radiated an unprecedented brilliance at this moment.

"Run, Guy! I'll hold them off!"

"Dad!"

"Incredible chakra, but you don't think you can defeat us, do you? Lightning Style: Lightning Fang!"

Lightning descended from the sky, and the thick, confusing fog obscured their vision. Terrifying electric light stirred up countless silver sparks, aimed directly at the four of them.

The next moment, without any concealment, a wide-open taijutsu strike charged forward, instantly kicking away the lightning that would have been fatal to an ordinary ninja.

"I will never, ever allow you to harm the budding sprouts that have yet to grow. I will never allow you to lay a hand on Guy. This is the full power of my burning life—prepare yourselves!"

Bang!

Rumble, rumble. Streaks of lightning flashed, and a light drizzle fell, sliding down the fox mask.

"Autumn rain? A rare weather."

Walking through the rain, he flicked a kunai casually. Droplets of blood mixed with the rainwater, washing away the thick, metallic scent of gore.

The cold, emotionless figure vanished from the spot, leaving only severed limbs and wreckage behind.

A moment later, a squad of Mist Hidden ninja, battle-worn and scarred, hurried over, their eyes filled with unbearable pity.

"Damn it, that guy again. How could Konoha produce such a monster? No one has even seen his true face; his Flash technique is even better than the Yellow Flash."

"Flash Phantom Moon, killing hundreds of ninja from various villages in just two months. A genius who has never made a mistake. They say he's from the Uchiha clan, but no one has actually seen his face. Who knows if it's true or not."

The Mist Hidden ninja wore grave expressions, gritting their teeth. This guy, who excelled in Flash techniques, was the natural nemesis of these aimless, opportunistic assault squads.

"Forget it if we didn't find him. Didn't we get something good this time?"

The man with long, gray-blue hair in the lead said indifferently. Inside a transparent test tube in his hand, soaked in a pale yellow solution, was an eye with a pure white pupil.

"It took a great deal of effort, and in the end, we only snatched the Byakugan through luck. The Hyuga clan went as far as splitting into a Main House and Branch House for its sake."

"Now, the Byakugan, known as one of the three great ocular powers, belongs to the Mist."

A strange light flickered in his single eye as the Mist Hidden jonin, Ao, turned to the others.

"Immediately notify the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to cover our return to the Mist Hidden Village. This is an important bloodline limit; we must not let those two Flash ninjas from Konoha set their sights on it!"

"Yes!"

As the figures vanished, Ao turned and shouted.

"We depart first. We will stake our lives to return the Byakugan to the Mist. Move out."

Near the border of the Land of Fire, at the designated meeting point, Uchiha Hanazuki's eyes turned cold as he asked in a chilling voice.

"Duy hasn't returned yet?"

"No. I just saw the back of Duy's child, Might Guy, but he left a long time ago and hasn't come back. It seems very foggy over there."

Kosuke's explanation left Hanazuki silent for a moment. His eyes flickered, and he finally gave a low instruction.

"Prepare emergency medical supplies. It is highly likely that Duy has run into trouble. I'll be right back."

After Hanazuki left, Kosuke's wrinkled face became increasingly grim. Had his ominous premonition come true? Could he only pin his hopes on the squad leader?

"Don't let anything happen, Duy. Don't you want to see the day your child becomes a jonin?"

Meanwhile, on the battlefield between the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and Might Duy.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were panting, and those who had been slightly careless were covered in wounds.

"That spandex-wearing bastard, he's heavily injured after taking just one kick? Visible chakra, simple yet powerful taijutsu—who the hell is this guy? His name isn't in the ninja handbook!"

Kuriarare Kushimaru's tone was devoid of emotion, his entire being as cold and heartless as the Anbu mask he wore.

"A taijutsu master of Konoha, you are worth us remembering your name. Who exactly are you?"

Munashi Jinpachi, the wielder of the Blastsword: Splash, shouted sharply. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen, standing amidst the dust and smoke, were on high alert.

"The eternal genin of Konoha, the hot-blooded man whose youth never ends, Might Duy!"

"Might Duy, is it? We'll remember that. Now, please die here forever. As a sign of respect, we will hold nothing back. Lightning Style: Lightning Dragon Tornado!"

"Longsword Ninja Art: Spider Thread Stitch."

"Explosive Blade Ninja Art: Blast Break Heavy Death."

"Devour his chakra, Samehada!"

"You must live on, Guy... protect the treasures you hold most dear."

Just as Might Duy was about to ignite everything and pour his final remaining chakra into his death points, a point of cold chakra precisely sealed the other seven of the Eight Inner Gates, and a familiar, indifferent voice sounded from behind him.

"Didn't I tell you to focus on stalling for time? If you burn through this last bit of chakra, you'll have absolutely no hope of surviving, Duy."

"Cap... Captain, you've finally arrived..."

The severe burden the Eight Inner Gates placed on his body had brought Might Duy to the brink of collapse, but this was not entirely without a solution.

Kurama, please. I never imagined the technique I conceived would actually be used here.

Vitality so abundant it was visible to the naked eye converged into golden, curse-mark-like patterns, temporarily locking Might Duy's body in place, just as three figures sped toward them.

"Dad! Dad!"

"He won't die for now; let him rest over there for a moment. I have things to discuss with these fellows. Just what have you all done to my team members? You bastards."

Among the three, Ebisu, who found the voice very familiar, looked up blankly and saw the Uchiha crest on the back of that black cloak, finally realizing the truth.

"Hua Yue, they are the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist Hidden Village, every one of them an elite jonin! We can't beat them, we have to run!"

"Body Flicker Technique... are you that bastard, Flash Phantom Moon? To think you're just a brat! Are those fools who died by your hand idiots?!"