Might Duy's Eight Gates Lesson

"Muscle strain?"

Yakushi Nonō patiently listened as Mikami Yu finished speaking, then adjusted her glasses and said gently, "For this sort of thing, the best approach is still to regularly have a medical ninja examine you. Use professional Medical Ninjutsu and massage techniques to eliminate hidden injuries.

"If that isn't possible, then at the very least, do a set of gentle stretching exercises before bed every night, then drink a glass of warm milk. Using sleep to promote physical recovery is also quite effective."

As she spoke, Nonō gave a simple demonstration of her stretching exercises in the quiet corridor.

They looked rather like radio calisthenics.

However, as Mikami Yu watched Nonō hopping around as she exercised, he involuntarily recalled transforming into Nonō at the training ground a few days ago. His expression became slightly awkward.

As for that,

Nonō gave it no further thought. After finishing her demonstration, she wrote another note and handed it over. "The Nara Family's secret Muscle-Soothing Paste and Bone-Rejuvenating Oil—applying these two medicines to the joints of your limbs and the acupoints around your waist and abdomen after intense exercise can effectively nourish your meridians and reduce strain...

"Massage it like this until it heats up and absorbs, and that'll do."

"I see... Thank you, Teacher Yakushi!"

Mikami Yu gave a slight bow of thanks, then hurriedly turned and left with Nohara Rin and Obito, who had been waiting nearby.

That afternoon,

Mikami Yu exchanged all ten thousand ryo he had earned from Yuhi Kurenai for several jars of medicated paste from the Nara Family Pharmacy.

Then, he took out some of them and shared them with Nohara Rin and the father-son pair, Might Duy and Might Guy.

There was no need to mention Rin.

Might Duy was so moved that tears filled his eyes, and he could not help shouting, "Ah, this is proof of the bond of youth! Let our hot-blooded passion burn even fiercer under the nourishment of this ointment!"

Mikami Yu: "..."

How should he put it? When it came to being cringey, the Might father and son truly stood alone...

And so,

Time flew by amid sweat and the circulation of chakra. In the blink of an eye, it was January of Konoha's forty-sixth year.

Early that morning,

As the thin mist began to brighten with dawn, three figures—two standing on their hands and one running normally—charged out of the mist-shrouded area together, then stopped near Konoha's entrance.

There, Mikami Yu let out a long breath. His chest heaved violently, sweat dripped from his chin, but his eyes were bright and the corners of his lips curled upward. "The 'Ten Days, Ten Laps' achievement, complete!"

As the three of them came to a stop one after another,

Might Duy turned around, his eyes instantly bursting with a radiance more dazzling than the sun. His gleaming white teeth shone brightly as well. "Wonderful, Yu! This is youth's most brilliant medal! The sweat you burned and your iron-like perseverance—I, Might Duy, have truly received them!"

"Come! To the training ground that belongs to youth!"

"All right!"

Mikami Yu nodded in response.

The three did not return to the residential district. Instead, they headed straight into the depths of the dense forest on the side of the village, stopping in a hidden clearing surrounded by giant trees.

At that moment, Might Duy motioned for Mikami Yu and Might Guy to sit on the tree roots. The rare levity on his face had completely vanished, leaving only an almost reverent seriousness.

"Yu, Guy, listen carefully!"

"The Eight Gates is an ultimate taijutsu secret art that unlocks the body's internal restraints and releases astonishing chakra! It took me twenty years to comprehend it. Each gate opened causes one's strength to surge severalfold. When all Eight Gates are opened, one may even obtain strength close to that of the Hokage, but the price is equally severe..."

That was a lie. Even the Hokage wasn't that strong.

Mikami Yu thought.

The upper limit of the Eight Gates varied from person to person. Adult Might Guy was a Jonin himself, so when he opened all Eight Gates, his strength approached the Six Paths Level. Duy, on the other hand, was only a Genin, so his upper limit was much lower than Guy's. But considering that he could kick the Seven Ninja Swordsmen into the Auspicious Trio, Kage Level strength was a certainty.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi might not have been able to withstand it.

Of course, the Eight Gates' flaw was also obvious: its burst duration was far too short. If he could not kill his opponent within the first few minutes, he would most likely die himself.

So Mikami Yu's short-term plan was only to train until he could open the third or fourth gate, giving himself another trump card for survival.

"...Therefore, to train in the Eight Gates, you must possess the resolve to willingly burn away everything in order to protect what you cherish in your heart, rather than merely pursuing power."

As Might Duy spoke, his gaze blazed as he looked at Mikami Yu. "Yu! Tell me, is your resolve already as steadfast as a rock?!"

"Yes! Uncle Duy! I have long been prepared for this resolve!"

Mikami Yu replied loudly.

"Good! Then I shall now teach you how to open the first three gates!"

At once,

Might Duy began pointing at the acupoints on his body, explaining how to open the Eight Gates.

Opening, Healing, Life, Pain...

Mikami Yu had seen this knowledge about acupoints in books at the Konoha Library, so it was not unfamiliar to him. Though Might Duy's teaching skill was not particularly good, it was at least far more specific than when Naruto taught Konohamaru the Rasengan. Not to mention that Might Guy was there to supplement the explanation.

Thus, Mikami Yu quickly gained a rough understanding.

However, compared with Might Duy's explanation, more of his attention was on the Gala System. The latter had yet to issue a mission, and it would probably have to wait until Might Duy personally activated the Eight Gates, just like when Obito had used the Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu before.

Very soon,

Might Duy clenched his fists and spread his legs slightly apart. "Now, I will personally demonstrate the Eight Gates... First Gate of Opening, open!"

"Second Gate of Healing... open!"

"Third Gate of Pain..."

With each low shout,

The veins all over Might Duy's body bulged. The chakra within him fell into a violent state, and his short black hair began to float like seaweed. Invisible shockwaves turned into rippling rings that spread throughout the training ground, startling flocks of birds into flight.

Under those circumstances, Might Duy began throwing punches and kicks, moving so fast that afterimages trailed behind him.

It was also at that moment

that the Gala System finally reacted—

[Ding! An extraordinary potential target has been detected: "Eight Gates." A limited-time encounter mission has been triggered!]

[At the training ground west of the village, you are drawn in by an explosive aura of youth. An energetic young girl with short red hair and wheat-colored skin is frantically tempering her body in an almost self-destructive manner. Every strike carries a thunderous roar that breaks through her limits. The flames burning in her eyes seem capable of igniting the souls of others.]

[Warning: This target is extremely proactive. The conquest process may involve enormous risks and may cause irreversible effects on the host's body and mind. Do you still wish to encounter her: Yes/No]