Eight Gates Acquired

Kumogakure had sent a Jinchūriki to take part in the Chunin Ninja Exams.

That was a serious development.

The destructive power of Tailed Beasts was plain for all to see. Every ninja village that possessed one had experienced that particular brand of trouble.

If Kumogakure could prove it could fully control two Tailed Beasts, its chances of winning the war would rise dramatically.

And then...

The undecided ninja villages would side with Kumogakure, greatly increasing both the size and strength of its forces.

Hiruzen Sarutobi made a decision on the spot.

"Bring Might Duy here!"

As things stood, Konoha had no better option.

He knew Kazan's strength well. The boy had already reached the level of a Jonin.

Even Shinku Yuhi had said that in a fight to the death, he would most likely be the one who died.

But if Kazan's opponent was a Jinchūriki who could fully control a Tailed Beast, even he would be outmatched.

Their only chance was for Kazan to master the Forbidden Technique, the Eight Gates Released Formation.

That way, even if Kazan ultimately lost, the fight would not be entirely one-sided.

Konoha would still achieve its goal of showing its strength.

Before long,

Might Duy arrived at the Hokage Building, overwhelmed at having been summoned.

"Lord Hokage!"

Duy dropped to one knee, visibly excited.

For a Genin who had never risen in rank to be summoned by the Hokage—perhaps this was his chance.

"Duy, it's been a long time since we last met, hasn't it?"

"Yes, Lord Hokage. Almost thirty years."

Duy was thirty-three now. The first time he had met Hiruzen Sarutobi was when he entered the Ninja Academy, on the day Hiruzen personally spoke about the Will of Fire at the opening ceremony.

The two had barely seen each other since.

"Has it really been that long?"

Hiruzen sighed at how quickly time had passed.

"Yes. I'm sorry I never became an outstanding ninja. I'm still a Genin to this day." Duy looked ashamed.

"No. You've already become an outstanding ninja. Others may not know how strong you are, but I do. You've simply kept that strength in check."

Hiruzen looked at Duy as though he could see right through him, moving Duy deeply.

So Lord Hokage has been watching over me all along!

Once Duy was moved, he wanted to cry.

He and his son were both quick to tears. Whether happy or sad, they expressed it by crying.

"..."

Hiruzen watched in silence. This father and son were among the few people he preferred not to deal with.

Their ways were simply too unusual.

He decided to skip the small talk. "Duy, I called you here to give you an S-rank mission."

"An S-rank mission? Me?!"

"That's right. I know you've mastered the Eight Gates Released Formation. I want you to teach it to Kazan as quickly as possible."

The Forest of Death exam would end in five days.

After that came the one-on-one selection matches, where they would be tested in direct combat.

Once the final sixteen were decided, the last stage of the Chunin Ninja Exams would begin.

The final contests would take place in one of Konoha's largest Training Grounds, before the daimyo and representatives of other ninja villages.

At most, Kazan had four or five days.

"But Lord Hokage, the Eight Gates Released Formation isn't a technique to be used lightly."

"It took me over twenty years to master it, and I still don't dare use it casually."

The strain it placed on the body was too great.

Even now, opening the Seventh Gate made Duy's body protest. If he opened the final gate, the Gate of Death, his body would likely shatter after a single blow.

"You needn't worry about that. Kazan is more gifted than you think."

To persuade him, Hiruzen took Duy to the Back Mountain, where Kazan usually trained.

The fist marks across the mountainside were proof enough that Kazan's body met the requirements for training in the Eight Gates Released Formation.

"This is where Kazan usually trains. His body holds enormous potential."

"What's more, he created his own Taijutsu technique. It trains the body from the inside out, making it nearly indestructible."

"If you agree, I'll arrange for Kazan to teach you Iron Body in exchange for the Eight Gates Released Formation!"

Duy hurriedly waved his hands.

"That's not it, Lord Hokage. I'd actually planned to teach the Eight Gates Released Formation to Kazan and Guy from the beginning. I just didn't think the time was right!"

Aside from his own son, Kazan was the child Duy liked and admired most.

He had watched Kazan grow up, too. From the start, Duy had considered passing on the only Secret Technique he knew to him.

The time simply had not been right.

But now...

Seeing all this, Duy had no reservations left.

"Lord Hokage, bring Kazan here. I'll teach him the Eight Gates Released Formation myself!"

"Good!"

Hiruzen immediately ordered ANBU to bring Kazan back from the Forest of Death.

Before long,

ANBU found Kazan in the middle of training.

"Lord Kazan, Lord Hokage wishes to see you. Please come with me."

"Do you know what it's about?"

"Lord Hokage will explain it himself. Please come with me now."

"Got it."

Kazan didn't waste words. He said goodbye to his teammates and left the Central Building of the Forest of Death with the ANBU operative.

Whoosh!

Kazan leaped up and strode through the air, each step propelling him forward at tremendous speed.

The ANBU operative below stared in shock. This mighty master... no, Lord Kazan truly was gifted. He had even developed a technique for walking on air.

Moments later, Kazan's Observation Haki picked out Hiruzen Sarutobi and Might Duy.

Uncle Duy's there too?

Could this be about the Eight Gates Released Formation?

Kazan's pulse quickened. He sped toward them and landed like a comic-book hero, smashing a deep crater into the ground.

"Old Man Third Hokage, what did you need me for?"

Hiruzen was unsurprised. He already knew Kazan had created a technique called Geppo.

Duy, on the other hand, stared in disbelief.

"Moving through the air by stepping on it at high speed... How...?"

As far as Duy had imagined, that should have been possible only by opening the final gate of the Eight Gates Released Formation, the Gate of Death.

And yet here Kazan was...

"Something unexpected has come up in the Chunin Ninja Exams."

"One of the Genin Kumogakure sent this time is the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki. She may even have complete control over the Two-Tails!"

"Is it Yugito Nii?" Kazan asked, already knowing the answer.

"You know her?"

"I've seen her. My Observation Haki sensed a monster living inside her."