The Eight Gates of Life released the restraints on the channels carrying chakra through the human body, allowing the user to instantly gain dozens of times their normal strength.
The eight gates were the Gate of Opening, Gate of Healing, Gate of Life, Gate of Pain, Gate of Limit, Gate of View, Gate of Wonder, and Gate of Death.
Everyone had these eight gates within their body, keeping their chakra reserves within certain limits.
The Eight Gates of Life forcibly removed those limits, granting a dozens-fold increase in strength.
Because the gates were forced open, the user's body also suffered severe, permanent damage.
Zhou Cheng quietly weighed his options.
The Eight Gates of Life can only be a last resort to save my life. I can't use it casually.
The Eight Gates of Life is a forbidden technique in Konoha. An outsider like me shouldn't be able to learn it.
If I use it in public, I'll definitely be investigated again.
If I want to secretly familiarize myself with the Eight Gates of Life, I'll have to find a way to shake off the ANBU watching me first!
Having no strength and no backing really is a pain!
Am I destined to become the Third Generation's student?
No, no. I need to think of another way!
Right, Hinata belongs to the Hyuga Clan. Her taijutsu style shouldn't be too different from Neji's.
When she gets here, I can spar with her and familiarize myself with Gentle Fist and Eight Trigrams Palm ahead of time!
For the entire afternoon, Zhou Cheng had his shadow clones practice taijutsu to improve their proficiency.
Meanwhile, his real body continued depleting his chakra, then molding more.
Watching him from a distance, Uzuki Yugao could only call him a monster.
He was so talented, yet he still worked so hard.
How was anyone else supposed to keep up?
Judging by the strength he had shown so far, the outcome of tomorrow's match against Neji Hyuga was still anyone's guess!
In just one month, he had caught up with the most gifted genius in the Hyuga Clan's history.
Zhou Cheng's talent was truly terrifying.
Meanwhile, in the Hyuga Branch Family's compound.
Neji Hyuga was training in a spacious courtyard.
This was part of his daily routine.
He was not merely a genius, but also disciplined and hardworking.
Talent determined the floor, while effort determined the ceiling.
A middle-aged man who also possessed the Byakugan stood in the corridor bordering the courtyard.
His expression was stern and unsmiling.
He was Hyuga Hiashi, the current head of the Hyuga Main Family.
Tomorrow was the day of the match against Zhou Cheng, with the title of genius on the line.
The Hyuga Clan absolutely did not want to lose, nor could they afford to.
Hyuga Hiashi had always publicly proclaimed that the Hyuga Clan was Konoha's strongest.
If they lost tomorrow to an outsider with no backing whatsoever...
Then the Hyuga Clan's reputation and prestige would plummet.
What was more, Zhou Cheng had only truly begun training a month ago.
Neji had trained for seven full years longer than him. There was no way he could lose.
In the courtyard, Neji continued practicing his taijutsu.
As he trained, his gaze occasionally flicked toward his uncle.
Each glance was steeped in hatred.
The divide and hatred between the Hyuga Clan's Main Family and Branch Family had existed for a long time.
Father, it won't be long now.
As long as I remain the greatest genius...
I can humiliate those people in the Main Family.
Zhou Cheng, a person's abilities are determined at birth. Born a genius, I am destined to be strong.
I won't let anyone steal my title as a genius.
The more Neji thought about it, the more his emotions began to waver.
Naturally, Hyuga Hiashi noticed something was off.
"Ahem!"
Hyuga Hiashi coughed to remind Neji to concentrate.
Neji stopped moving and steadied his breathing.
He cursed bitterly to himself.
Hmph. Spare me your fake concern.
Your precious Main Family heiress hangs around Zhou Cheng every day. She's destined to be weak.
Then he began performing his signature taijutsu techniques.
"Gentle Fist-Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
Only the Hyuga Main Family was entitled to learn this fighting technique, yet Neji had figured it out through sheer talent.
Hyuga Hiashi's eyes held complicated emotions, though his expression remained unchanged.
"Gentle Fist-Rotation!"
It was another ninjutsu that only the Main Family was allowed to learn.
Hyuga Hiashi's expression still did not change, but his gaze grew even more conflicted.
"Eight Trigrams Air Palm!"
"Eight Trigrams Air Split Palm!"
Neji performed several techniques reserved exclusively for the Main Family in one go.
He had figured out every one of them himself through his exceptional talent.
Hyuga Hiashi finally could not maintain his composure any longer. He turned and left.
He felt utterly helpless.
Why is Hinata's talent so... when she's the Main Family's eldest daughter?
Thankfully, I still have Hanabi!
Hanabi can definitely do it!
Neji also stopped training in the courtyard.
Performing several Gentle Fist taijutsu techniques in succession had consumed quite a bit of chakra. He needed a rest.
"Zhou Cheng, how could I possibly lose to you when I'm this strong!"
That evening, at Zhou Cheng's home.
Hinata and Ino arrived with ingredients to cook dinner, as usual.
Ino could hardly bear going a day without seeing him, and she was more than happy to cook for Zhou Cheng.
Even Hinata did not know why she always wanted to visit Zhou Cheng's home at this time of day.
Was it to see Naruto, who also came every day?
Was she only cooking for Naruto, with Zhou Cheng and the others merely benefiting along the way?
She had thought so before, but ever since Zhou Cheng had said those things to her that night...
She had somehow begun to feel that visiting his home was not entirely about Naruto.
A little while later, Naruto arrived.
He had long since made himself at home here and behaved very casually.
"Zhou Cheng, you know what?"
"I went to see Sakura today, but she was bringing food to that guy Sasuke."
"It made me so mad!"
At Naruto's blunt words, Hinata's hands visibly paused.
Zhou Cheng shook his head with a wry smile, grumbling inwardly.
Naruto, you're more hopeless than the most oblivious guy alive!
Maybe only Sasuke could bend you the other way!
Hinata's devoted to you, and here you are, telling her to her face that you went looking for another girl!
Ah, there's no helping you!
Zhou Cheng's kindness toward Hinata had no romantic feelings mixed into it.
He only wanted her to become more cheerful and outgoing.
She was just a pitiful girl, born into a great clan and lonely since childhood.
Her father had always been strict with her, hoping she would grow strong.
Later, when he realized her talent was lacking, he left her to her own devices and turned to training her younger sister instead.
Perhaps growing up under her father's harsh discipline was what had made her so shy and withdrawn.
They sat together and finished dinner.
Then they discussed a few questions about ninjutsu.
For the most part, though, Zhou Cheng spoke while the other four listened.
Under Zhou Cheng's patient guidance, Naruto, Hinata, and Ino had improved by leaps and bounds.
They were already far stronger than they had been at the beginning of the story in the other timeline.
Naruto, in particular, had gained a deeper understanding of ninjutsu and chakra.
He had also learned a little about chakra nature transformation.
With Zhou Cheng's guidance, he had already mastered several wind release ninjutsu.
He no longer relied solely on charging in with Multiple Shadow Clone like he had in the original story.
Finally, Zhou Cheng turned to Hinata.
"Hinata, could you spar with me using taijutsu?"
"I'd like to learn more about Gentle Fist to prepare for tomorrow."
"Of course, Neji is your cousin. If it puts you in an awkward position, you don't have to!"
Hinata's brows knitted tightly. On one side was her cousin.
On the other was her good friend.
She was caught between the two.