Cultivating the Eight Gates, Healing Hidden Injuries

Setsuna had always been a man of action. The very next day, he sought out the Third Hokage and requested permission to cultivate the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Although the Flying Thunder God Technique was an S-rank ninjutsu, it was not actually a forbidden technique. Forbidden techniques either consumed enormous amounts of the user's energy or inflicted severe harm, even death, upon the user. The Flying Thunder God Technique naturally did not fall into that category.

Therefore, Setsuna merely needed to have contributed enough. After discussion with the Third Hokage, it was determined that Setsuna's achievement in repelling the Hidden Cloud Village ambush last time was sufficient.

After receiving permission, Setsuna quickly went to find Minato Namikaze, who was naturally generous with his instruction.

When they arrived at Training Ground Three, where Setsuna often trained, Minato began teaching with great confidence.

"The Flying Thunder God Technique is actually quite simple." Minato raised his fingers one by one. "First, inscribe the Flying Thunder God formula. Second, sense the Flying Thunder God formula. Third, teleport over."

Setsuna waited for a moment. When he realized Minato had nothing more to say, he could not help asking, "That's it?"

The question seemed to remind Minato of something. He clapped his hands and said, "Before teleporting over, you must prepare a plan in your mind. Otherwise, if you teleport over and freeze up, you'll only create an opportunity for the enemy."

Setsuna fell silent, beginning to wonder whether Minato was messing with him.

But when he saw Minato's clear gaze and recalled Minato's rather ridiculous naming habits, Setsuna sighed. Fine. It seemed Minato truly had no talent for teaching.

Setsuna humbly asked, "I should be able to inscribe and sense the formula, but how exactly do I teleport?"

Minato blinked, seeming not to understand Setsuna's question. "If you can sense it, can't you just teleport there? It's like your brain giving your body an order. Just follow the order."

Setsuna sighed. Was this how geniuses trained? He had disturbed him.

If all else failed, once he became strong enough to beat up aliens, he could go seize the God Tree and plant it himself. The God Tree Fruit seemed to come with spatial abilities, an immortal body, and an undying physique. If Frieza found out about it, he would drool himself to tears.

Setsuna nodded. "I roughly understand. I can handle the rest of the training myself."

Minato did not think anything was wrong and said earnestly, "The Flying Thunder God Technique really isn't difficult. You just need more practice."

After Minato left, Setsuna stopped thinking about the Flying Thunder God Technique and focused wholeheartedly on training.

Before long, Guy's voice rang out from beyond the training ground.

"Big Brother Setsuna, I knew you'd be here."

"Guy, what is it?"

"Big Brother Setsuna, let me introduce you. This is my father, Might Duy..."

Before Guy could finish, Might Duy appeared in front of Setsuna as if he had flashed over. He said sincerely, "Little Brother Setsuna, thank you very much for taking care of Guy. To show my gratitude, I'd like to teach you the only move I know."

Might Duy was somewhat worried that Setsuna would refuse. After all, he was merely an obscure Genin. Most people would not think he possessed any impressive techniques, and narrow-minded people might even see it as an insult.

"Huh? Then thank you very much, Uncle." Setsuna naturally would not refuse.

He had previously been thinking of an excuse to visit and ask for guidance. He had not expected Might Duy to take the initiative to teach him the Eight Gates. The man really was straightforward.

Of course, he did not feel undeserving of it. He had genuinely been teaching Guy how to cultivate "qi."

Might Duy was even more moved than Setsuna. He saw respect in Setsuna's eyes.

"Watch closely. This is the Eight Gates!" Might Duy clenched both fists, and tangible chakra erupted from his body. It was difficult to imagine that a Genin could possess such an amount of chakra.

"Father actually learned such an incredible technique!" Guy was shocked, yet also felt a little ashamed.

Although he believed in his father, he occasionally felt embarrassed by his father's humility and even doubted whether people like them could truly keep the flames of youth burning.

While he had been doubting himself, his father had already carried his convictions this far. Compared to him, his father was the true strong one.

Might Duy only demonstrated briefly before withdrawing his power and earnestly explaining the key points of cultivating the Eight Gates.

As expected, his body already had problems. Hidden injuries had accumulated within him. Even opening only the first three gates couldn't be sustained for long. Setsuna understood. This was likely why, in the original timeline, three of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had still survived after encountering Eight Gates Duy.

Might Duy's physical foundation certainly could not compare to Might Guy's during the Fourth Great Ninja War. Even with all Eight Gates opened, there would inevitably be a gap in power. Yet with the might of all Eight Gates unleashed, even if his strength were reduced tenfold or twentyfold, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen should still have been instantly killed. The damage was far beyond excessive.

Yet in the end, even after opening all Eight Gates, Might Duy had allowed three of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to escape. That was enough to show that his body had long since developed problems.

That was hardly surprising. Guy had greater talent and had stood on the shoulders of a "giant" like Might Duy, so he could naturally avoid many detours. But Might Duy had no resources and no guidance. He could only bury himself in bitter training alone, and he had probably injured himself long ago.

"So, did you both remember the key point I explained about opening the Gate of Life?" Might Duy asked.

"I remembered it." Guy nodded heavily, and a burst of chakra aura immediately erupted from him.

"You learned to open the Gate of Life after hearing it only once?" Might Duy exclaimed in shock.

The next moment, a chakra aura also erupted from Setsuna's body.

Might Duy stared in astonishment. Was this what a genius was? To a genius, was his bitter cultivation merely experience and proficiency?

Setsuna felt rather emotional. He really had to return to a familiar field to regain his confidence.

As for ninjutsu cultivation, sorry, he truly wasn't familiar with that.

After his shock faded, Might Duy became excited. This was the meaning of inheritance. He saw the future in the two children.

"Good, then next..." Just as Might Duy was about to continue explaining the Gate of Rest, Setsuna interrupted him. "Uncle, could you let me try to treat your body?"

"Huh? All right." Although he did not understand Setsuna's intentions, Might Duy did not refuse his goodwill.

Setsuna tapped more than a dozen points across Might Duy's body in quick succession. Suddenly, Might Duy coughed up a large mouthful of black blood.

Guy looked extremely worried and hurriedly asked, "Big Brother Setsuna, what's wrong with Father?"

Setsuna explained, "These are hidden injuries Uncle accumulated while cultivating the Eight Gates."

Might Duy straightened up and swung an arm, his face full of shock. "My body really does feel much lighter. I thought it was just because I was getting older."

"That's great. Thank you, Big Brother Setsuna." Guy sighed in relief, then asked, "Does that mean Father is completely healed?"

Setsuna shook his head. "Not yet. I merely used Acupoint Striking to force out the hidden injuries that had accumulated within Uncle's body. But the depletion in his body still needs to be replenished with medicinal cuisine."

"Medicinal cuisine? How do we make that?" Guy asked blankly.

"Don't worry, leave it to me." Setsuna was very confident. He was, after all, a gourmet hunter certified by the Gourmet Universe, so he had some understanding of medicinal cuisine.

In the Gourmet Universe, he might not even qualify as a kitchen assistant, but in the Naruto Universe, please call him Chef Qianqiu.

"How could that be? It's too much trouble for you." Might Duy felt deeply embarrassed. He had come to repay a favor, yet he had received even more kindness instead.

Setsuna waved a hand. "It's nothing. Guy and I also need to prepare medicinal cuisine during our training. Adding one more person is no trouble at all."