Eight Gates (2)

Hokage's Office

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat alone in the Hokage's chair, staring at the report in his hands as he sank into thought.

The report was simple, even overly brief. Its only testimony was so casual that anyone could tell it had been fabricated.

However, this matter involved the Hyuga Clan and the father-son pair, Genin Might Duy and Might Guy. The two of them would be easy enough to deal with, but the Hyuga Clan was another matter.

Moreover, judging from the scene described in the report, there seemed to have been no one else there besides those three.

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly thought of something. He took a crystal ball from a drawer and rapidly formed hand seals. "Telescope Technique."

As soon as Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, mist suddenly filled the crystal ball. It quickly dispersed, revealing an image of a Konoha street within the ball.

Hiruzen Sarutobi continuously controlled the flow of chakra, shifting the image inside the crystal ball again and again.

Before long, relying on his memory of the scene, Hiruzen Sarutobi skillfully found the small forest where the incident had occurred.

A passage over a hundred meters long lay before him. Trees had been knocked down along it, dirt had been churned up, and scorch marks were clearly visible. From time to time, scattered flames reignited.

"This..." Hiruzen Sarutobi could not imagine what kind of attack could have caused such destruction!

This was already within Konoha's boundaries. Even if surveillance was not everywhere, all kinds of sensory barriers covered the area. How could someone have infiltrated this place without a sound? It could only have been someone from the village!

But what had been his purpose? And who exactly was he?!

Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his weary head, took out his pipe tobacco, and began puffing away.

"Someone!" Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly called out into the air.

As soon as his voice fell, a masked figure appeared before him.

"Go bring Might Duy here."

"Yes!" The ANBU did not hesitate. With a flicker, he vanished from the office.

Inside the riverside cabin

Veins bulged around Hyuga Iwa's Byakugan, and he could not help frowning. Just moments ago, Might Duy had suddenly coughed up blood without any warning, leaving the two of them deeply worried.

"Whew, I feel much better after coughing up that stagnant blood. Don't worry, I'm fine."

Duy forced an ugly smile. Afraid that the two would not believe him, he even rolled up his sleeves and struck a pose.

"How can you be fine? You coughed up blood!" Guy immediately shouted in rebuttal. "Iwa, hurry and check my father! What's wrong with him?"

"Don't worry, Guy. I would have checked even if you hadn't asked, so quiet down a little." Hyuga Iwa then looked at Duy, his face turning stern. "Uncle Duy, could you stop making those ugly poses? Can't you see how worried we are about you?"

"Oh~" x2

After being scolded by Hyuga Iwa, the two quickly shut their mouths and looked at him expectantly.

Hyuga Iwa activated his Byakugan and used its penetrating vision to observe Duy's body for a while. Although Duy claimed to be fine, Iwa still discovered many tiny internal injuries. Many of them appeared to have been there for a long time. Though the situation was not serious now, minor injuries could accumulate, and sooner or later they would lead to severe consequences.

However, Hyuga Iwa also knew this was a drawback of taijutsu training. Extreme training would inevitably cause internal injuries to build up. Without a good way to handle them, they would only accumulate with time until they erupted all at once after reaching a certain point.

It took Hyuga Iwa quite a while to finish the examination. After considering it for a moment, he said, "Uncle Duy, your control over the Sixth Gate isn't good enough, and it has caused great damage to your body. Also, your long-term practice of the Eight Gates has placed a heavy burden on your body. That stagnant blood was actually from internal injuries rupturing and bleeding. If you ignore them for too long, they will eventually erupt all at once. By then, treatment will be difficult."

Duy's eyes immediately lit up. "So it can be treated now?"

Duy actually knew about his own condition. Decades of fighting, physical training, and practicing the Eight Gates had placed a tremendous burden on his body, leaving him with many internal injuries he could not deal with himself.

But his family was ordinary civilians. They did not have enough money to hire someone for treatment, much less buy expensive medicine. He could only treat himself as best he could, dragging things out until the injuries piled up and his body constantly felt unwell.

But from Hyuga Iwa's words, it sounded as if he had a way to treat him?

Duy's heart immediately stirred.

After all, Hyuga Iwa was different from other Hyuga Clan members. Duy had always seen the relationship between him and his son Guy. Over the past few years, Guy had received plenty of care from him, and Duy had long regarded him as half a son. Therefore, he had no doubts whatsoever about Hyuga Iwa's words, nor did he feel embarrassed to accept his help.

Hyuga Iwa nodded. "Yes, it can be treated, but it will take time. Some of those internal injuries have been there for years, so they can't be healed in a short while."

"Iwa, please help treat my father! As long as you're willing, I'll do anything you ask!"

Guy grabbed Hyuga Iwa's hands, tears glimmering in his eyes as he pleaded.

Hyuga Iwa's face darkened at once, and he said unhappily, "Guy, what kind of person do you take me for? When did I ever say I wouldn't treat Uncle Duy? Go sit somewhere else. If you come over and cause trouble again, I'll really leave."

"Huh? Oh! I'll go sit over there right away!" The moment Guy heard Hyuga Iwa's words, he instantly turned into an obedient child. He went to sit alone in a corner and looked at Hyuga Iwa eagerly.

Several black lines flashed across Hyuga Iwa's forehead. He ignored him and focused on the treatment.

Hyuga Iwa took a deep breath, then controlled his chakra and gathered it in his hands. A faint white glow immediately covered them, giving off a warm feeling.

"Palm Technique?"

Duy cried out in surprise when he saw it.

"Mm. I only learned it recently, so Uncle Duy, bear with it during the treatment. My control still isn't very good."

"It's fine. Your Uncle Duy may not have much, but I have thick skin and tough flesh. It won't matter."

"..."

"Uncle Duy, I'll only give you an initial treatment today. I still need to think carefully about the follow-up treatment and may need to prepare some medicinal herbs. So recently, it's best if you avoid fighting anyone as much as possible, in case things get worse. Especially the Eight Gates—don't practice it for now."

As Hyuga Iwa treated him, he explained the precautions Duy needed to take. After thinking for a moment, he continued, "Uncle Duy, how about you tell us about the Eight Gates while I'm treating you?"

Duy was stunned for a moment, then immediately smiled. "I don't mind, but won't you be distracted if you do that, Iwa?"

Hyuga Iwa smiled. "It's fine. I can handle this much control."

"You really are amazing, Iwa. Better than any medical ninja I've ever seen."

"You flatter me, Uncle Duy."

As Duy received treatment, he propped up his head and thought for a while before speaking. "Then I'll explain the precautions for the Eight Gates. You two probably already know what the eight gates are. The Eight Gates removes the restrictions of these 'gates,' allowing one to gain immense power. Many ninja actually know this, but do you know why, until now, not a single ninja has truly mastered the Eight Gates?"

"Because their bodies aren't strong enough?" Combining it with what he already knew, Hyuga Iwa blurted it out.

Duy paused, then said with a bitter smile, "That's right. That's the reason. Of course, that isn't the only reason."

After thinking for a moment, Duy continued, "The body is one reason. Another is the method for opening these 'gates'! Because I couldn't use any ninjutsu, I spent my entire life training taijutsu.

"During my training, I developed a special technique for opening the 'gates.' Every gate has a different opening method. Only through these methods can you open the 'gates' relatively safely and gain immense power. Otherwise, if you blindly try to open them, you will only damage your own body and may even cause irreversible injuries.

"And what I want to teach you is the gate-opening method I developed!"

After hearing Duy's words, Hyuga Iwa could not help nodding. Indeed, most ninja in the Shinobi World knew of the existence and locations of the Eight Gates. But why, even now, was Duy the only person who could proudly say, "I have mastered the Eight Gates"?

The main reason was that most people's bodies were not strong enough. That alone determined that they could not learn the Eight Gates. As for those whose bodies were strong enough, they generally did not have the same problem as Duy, who could barely use ninjutsu. As a result, they would hardly bother studying gate-opening methods just to gain great power.

One had to know that Duy had spent decades deeply immersed in taijutsu before he had only barely developed this gate-opening technique.

Other than Duy, what ninja would be willing to devote so much effort to taijutsu?

Even so, Duy's gate-opening method was still incomplete. At present, he had only barely mastered a relatively safe method for opening the Sixth Gate. As for the Seventh and Eighth Gates, their opening methods remained only theories in his mind!

Hyuga Iwa quickly understood what Duy meant, and he was astonished by Duy's inhuman perseverance.

Then, using both his hands and feet, Duy explained the gate-opening techniques to the two of them.

Hyuga Iwa did not know what Guy thought after hearing it, but as a medical ninja, scenes of opening the gates immediately appeared in his mind. Some things suddenly enlightened him, and his knowledge of acupoints and the human body improved considerably as well!

After hearing his father's words, Guy, who had already been bored, was instantly seized by the urge to open a gate. He quietly moved to an inconspicuous spot, recalled the gate-opening technique in his mind, took a deep breath, and forcibly opened a gate for the first time!

With a bang, green vapor suddenly erupted from Guy's body, burning like blazing flames.

"Hm?" Hyuga Iwa suddenly frowned and instantly turned toward Guy in the corner. Flames of vapor rose from his entire body, his face was taut, and beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his cheeks and fell to the ground.

"Hmph!" Hyuga Iwa immediately understood what Guy had done. He had definitely tried to open a gate!

Hyuga Iwa snorted coldly. His figure flickered, and he suddenly appeared beside Guy, chopping him on the head with his palm. "Why haven't you stopped yet? Why are you in such a rush? Don't you know that if you mess this up, you'll be the one who gets hurt!"

"Oh~"

The joy on Guy's face did not last long before Hyuga Iwa mercilessly interrupted it. Rubbing his head, he unwillingly closed the First Gate.

"From now on, unless Uncle Duy and I are watching, you are strictly forbidden from opening gates on your own. Otherwise, you'll regret it!"

Duy wholeheartedly agreed with Hyuga Iwa's words. Opening gates was no joke. One mistake could leave permanent damage to the body, and that would not be worth it.

The treatment had been interrupted, and Hyuga Iwa did not intend to continue. The initial treatment was already complete. As for how to proceed afterward, he needed to return and study it carefully. There would be no answer in such a short time, so there was no need to rush.

Just as Hyuga Iwa was about to speak, a figure appeared at their door.

Hyuga Iwa gave Duy and Guy a look, then walked over and opened the door.

A masked ninja wearing ANBU attire stood outside, his hand raised as though he was about to knock.

"Sir, what can I do for you?" Hyuga Iwa asked after examining the ANBU.

"Might Duy, Lord Hokage wants you to go over immediately." The ANBU did not seem inclined to say more. After delivering the message, he stepped aside and fixed his gaze tightly on Duy.

Duy paused, then quickly asked, "Now?"

"Yes."

"Alright, let's go. Oh, right, what do you two want to eat? Make it yourselves. Don't wait for me."

Duy did not hesitate. After giving a few instructions, he followed the ANBU away.

"Uncle Duy..."

A strange light flickered in Hyuga Iwa's eyes as he called out to Duy.

"Hm?"

"Oh, it's nothing. Go on, Uncle Duy. Don't keep Lord Hokage waiting too long."

Hyuga Iwa said nothing more, but he knew that with their understanding of each other, Duy should understand what he wanted to convey.

Hyuga Iwa hoped Duy would not reveal what had truly happened today, but given Duy's personality, he did not know what choice he would make!

Duy smiled without saying anything. He quickened his pace and caught up with the ANBU.

When Duy arrived at the Hokage's Office, several Konoha higher-ups had already gathered inside. The moment he pushed open the door and entered, they all looked at him in unison, making cold sweat break out across his body.

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Might Duy, then said, "Might Duy is here. Ask whatever questions you have."

"Is he Duy?" Utatane Koharu looked at Duy in confusion. Only after confirming it did she slowly ask, "Might Duy, what do you have to say about what happened in the forest near your home today?"

Duy glanced at Utatane Koharu, knowing she was one of the village's higher-ups. Then he looked at the Hokage before saying awkwardly, "I'm sorry, Lord Hokage. I acted rashly this time. I caused great damage to the village while demonstrating the Eight Gates to Guy. I am willing to accept punishment."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes immediately lit up. "The Eight Gates? The Eight Gates mentioned in the Sealing Jutsu?"

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

"Oh? I never expected the Eight Gates to possess such power." A hint of interest appeared on Danzo's cold face as he spoke.

"Yes, Lord Danzo. I improved the Eight Gates and barely managed to open the Sixth Gate, so I wanted to test its power. I never expected to cause such destruction. I am willing to accept punishment."

Duy's attitude was very cooperative because he knew his earlier excuse would definitely not fool the village higher-ups. Rather than have it uncovered later, it was better to confess now. Perhaps they would consider his circumstances and punish him more lightly.

After all, with the strength he possessed after opening six gates, even if there was still a gap, he was likely not much weaker than the village's Jonin!

Sure enough, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately made a decision after hearing this. "Mm, then let this matter end here. You may all leave. Duy, stay behind. I have some things to ask you."

Hearing the Third Hokage dismiss them, they knew Hiruzen Sarutobi had already made his decision and did not want them to know certain things. Thus, they said no more and rose to leave.

At the moment the door closed, Danzo finally recalled Duy's files. He gave Duy a deep look, then left without looking back.

No one knew what Hiruzen Sarutobi and Duy discussed. They only knew that early the next morning, Duy received a Chunin forehead protector and the corresponding appointment letter from the Hokage. The village also gave an ambiguous explanation for the forest destroyed in the incident.

Though the village had no intention of publicizing it, rumors still spread throughout Konoha. Yet the truth remained hidden in the hearts of only a few who knew...