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 just 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 capable of facing the elite Mist Village 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, a father and son dying together. I'll be merciful and send you off to the next world without pain—using my Executioner's Blade."

Biwa Juzo's expression was cruel, his Executioner's Blade eager for the kill. Might Duy, who had remained silent for a long time, 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, it is the moment for youth to burn! Eight Inner Gates, Open!"

The energy soared to the heavens, a vigorous vitality burning continuously. 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: Fang of Lightning!"

Lightning descended from the sky, the thick, confusing fog obscuring their vision. Terrifying electric light sparked with countless silver flashes, aimed directly at the four of them.

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

"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 my life burning at its limit—prepare yourselves!"

Bang!

Rumble, rumble. Streaks of lightning flickered as a light drizzle began to fall, sliding down the Demon Fox Mask.

"Autumn rain? A rare weather."

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

The cold, heartless figure vanished from the spot, leaving behind only broken limbs and wreckage.

A short while later, a squad of Mist Village ninjas, scarred and weary from the fires of war, hurried over, their eyes filled with unbearable sorrow.

"Damn it, that guy again. How can Konoha produce such a monster? No one has even seen his true face. His Body Flicker Technique is even better than the Yellow Flash."

"Flash Illusion Moon. A genius who has killed hundreds of ninjas from various villages in just two months without a single mistake. They say he's an Uchiha, but no one has actually seen his face. Who knows if it's true or not."

The Mist ninjas wore grave expressions, teeth gritted. This guy, who excelled at the Body Flicker Technique, was the natural nemesis of their aimless, opportunistic assault squads.

"Forget about finding him. Didn't we get something good this time?"

The man with long, ash-blue hair in the lead said indifferently. Inside a transparent test tube in his hand, soaking 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 succeeded because of luck. The Hyuga clan would go to any lengths, even splitting into main and branch houses, for this."

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

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

"Notify the Seven Ninja Swordsmen immediately to cover our retreat to the Mist Village. This is a vital bloodline limit; we must not let those two Konoha flash-ninjas set their sights on us!"

"Yes!"

As the figures vanished, Ao turned and shouted.

"We move out first. We will bet 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 low voice.

"Duy hasn't returned yet?"

"No. I saw the back of Duy's child, Might Guy, just a moment ago, but he's been gone for a long time. There seems to be a very thick fog over there."

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

"Prepare emergency medical supplies. It's highly likely something has happened to Duy. I'll be back shortly."

After Hanazuki left, Kosuke's wrinkled face became even more 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?"

Among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Kuri Kushimaru, wielder of the Blast Sword: Splash, shouted sharply. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen, standing amidst the dust and smoke, were on high alert.

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

"Might Duy? We'll remember it. 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."

"Blast Art: Hair-Breaking Binding 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 channel his final remaining chakra into his lethal pressure points, a cold prick of chakra precisely sealed the other seven of the Eight Inner Gates. 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 strain 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, I'm counting on you. I never imagined I'd be using this technique I conceived here.

A vitality so vigorous it was visible to the naked eye converged into golden, curse-mark-like patterns, temporarily locking Might Duy's body in place as three figures rushed over at high speed.

"Dad! Dad!"

"He won't be dying just yet. Let him rest over there for a moment. I have some things to discuss with these fellows. Just what have you all been doing to my team member? You bastards."

Among the three, Ebisu, who found the voice incredibly familiar, looked up in a daze. Upon seeing the Uchiha crest on the back of the black cloak, he finally realized who it was.

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

"Body Flicker Technique... so you're the bastard known as Flash Illusion Moon? To think you're just a brat! Are the fools who died by your hand all idiots?!"