Might Duy quietly looked at Guy beneath the moonlight before suddenly breaking into a grin. His voice carried the same familiar warmth as always as he said, "Dad has never regretted learning the Eight Gates. But Dad also knows that one day, you will surpass me and truly open all Eight Gates."
Guy's heart suddenly tightened.
He knew exactly what Duy meant.
Of course he knew.
But he could not say it aloud.
Might Duy slowly reached out before placing his rough hand atop Guy's head and vigorously rubbing his hair into a mess.
"Guy."
"Dad is teaching you the Eight Gates not because I want you to open the Gate of Death."
His expression gradually softened as he continued speaking.
"It is because I want you to have a choice. In this world, being able to choose is more valuable than anything else."
Guy slowly raised his head and looked toward him. The moonlight illuminated Duy's stubble-covered face clearly. Those eyes were still bright and passionate exactly like usual, yet tonight, they somehow felt different.
"Dad..."
"Hmm?"
"I'll learn it."
Might Duy instantly grinned widely again.
"Good!"
However, his expression suddenly became serious once more.
"But before that, you have to promise Dad one thing."
Guy blinked.
"What thing?"
Might Duy looked directly into his eyes with a frighteningly solemn expression.
"Unless there is absolutely no other choice, you are never allowed to open the Eighth Gate."
Guy froze slightly.
Might Duy slowly continued speaking.
"Dad's greatest wish in this life is watching you grow up. I want to see you become an adult. I want to see you get married. I want to see you have children. And I want to see you become an even stronger Ninja than your father."
Then suddenly, his serious expression disappeared once more.
He raised a thumbs-up toward Guy, and his white teeth gleamed brightly beneath the moonlight.
"So, Guy... you absolutely must stay alive."
"Living itself is the greatest form of youth!"
Guy quietly stared at that raised thumb before looking toward Duy's face and those bright eyes once more.
A strange warmth gradually surged upward inside his chest.
It was different from the warmth generated by the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic.
This feeling...
He could not properly describe it.
But one thing was absolutely certain inside his heart.
This time, this foolish father of his would not die.
Absolutely not.
"Okay!"
Guy suddenly grinned before raising his own thumb as well.
Then the father and son bumped their fists together beneath the moonlight.
Pow!
Their shadows stretched long across the empty valley floor.
...
Might Duy officially began teaching the Eight Gates that very night.
Every breathing method, every movement, every method of opening the gates, and every dangerous detail was explained seriously by Duy without hiding even the slightest thing.
"Gate of Opening! Pay attention to your breathing rhythm! Never hold your breath forcefully!"
"Gate of Healing! Carefully feel the limits of your muscles and tendons, but don't recklessly push beyond them!"
"The Third Gate, Gate of Life! This is the true dividing line of the Eight Gates! Once you reach this point, your body will truly begin releasing forbidden power!"
Guy continuously trained according to Duy's instructions again and again.
The first attempt to open the Gate of Opening failed completely.
The second attempt also failed.
Then came the third attempt, the fourth, the fifth, and countless more.
Time quietly passed through the night.
By the time dawn finally approached, Guy had already failed dozens of times.
Then suddenly—
"Gate of Opening..."
Guy inhaled deeply before roaring loudly.
"OPEN!!!"
Boom!!!
A powerful shockwave instantly exploded outward from his body. Although it was far smaller than the shockwave generated by Duy earlier, it had undeniably succeeded.
Guy stood frozen in place.
His entire body felt boiling hot, and his heartbeat thundered wildly inside his chest.
Yet despite that, the corners of his mouth slowly rose upward into a grin.
Might Duy stared blankly for half a second before suddenly rushing forward and grabbing Guy tightly in a crushing embrace.
"GUY!!!"
"YOU OPENED IT!!!"
"YOU REALLY OPENED IT!!!"
Guy's face immediately turned green from being squeezed too hard.
"D-Dad... loosen up a little..."
"I WON'T LET GO!!!"
Might Duy's voice practically shook the valley.
"You only trained for a single night!!! ONE NIGHT!!! When Dad first learned the Eight Gates, it took me three entire months just to open the First Gate!!!"
Guy rolled his eyes helplessly, but the smile on his face never disappeared.
Finally, Duy released him before taking several excited steps backward and raising another thumbs-up toward him while tears and snot flowed down his face together.
"Guy!!!"
"You truly are a Genius!!!"
"A real Taijutsu Genius!!!"
Guy slowly exhaled while looking down toward his own reddened arms.
The Gate of Opening.
Only the very first gate.
Yet the sensation was completely different from normal.
Every ounce of power within his body felt as though it were boiling violently. His speed had increased, his strength had increased, and even his reflexes had changed entirely.
Guy slowly raised his head toward Duy again.
"Dad."
"Hmm?"
"Let's continue."
Might Duy froze.
"Aren't you tired?"
Guy suddenly grinned widely.
"Youth isn't something that stops halfway."
For a moment, Duy stared at him blankly.
Then he suddenly burst into loud laughter.
"GOOD!!!"
...
The sun rose.
Then set.
Then rose once more.
Three entire days passed just like that.
For three full days, the father and son remained inside the secluded valley without returning to school even once. When they became hungry, they ate dry military rations. When thirsty, they drank stream water directly from the mountains. Whenever they collapsed from exhaustion, they slept where they fell. Then once they woke up, they resumed training immediately.
On the first day, Guy successfully opened the First Gate.
On the second day, he successfully opened the Second Gate.
Then finally, on the third day—
"Third Gate..."
"Gate of Life..."
"OPEN!!!"
BOOM!!!
An even stronger shockwave exploded violently outward.
Green Chakra steam slowly rose from Guy's body. Although still somewhat faint compared to Duy's, it undeniably existed.
Guy stood motionless in place.
His skin had turned completely red while bulging veins spread visibly across his arms and forehead. His heartbeat pounded so violently it almost felt like his chest would explode apart.
Yet despite all of that, he remained standing.
Might Duy stood several meters away while staring toward him silently.
His eyes had already turned red.
"Guy..."
Guy slowly turned around before grinning brightly.
"Dad."
"I opened it."
Might Duy immediately rushed over again.
However, this time he did not hug him.
Instead, he simply stood directly in front of his son while staring at him silently.
After several seconds, he finally asked quietly, "Does it hurt?"
Guy shook his head.
"Not really."
Duy blinked slightly.
"Then how does it feel?"
Guy thought carefully for several seconds before slowly raising his fist.
"It feels like..."
He clenched it tightly.
"...I could kill a Ninja Bear with one punch."
Might Duy immediately laughed.
"Really?"
Guy nodded confidently.
Without another word, Duy suddenly pointed toward a massive boulder over twenty meters away.
"Then try that one."
Guy turned his head.
The boulder towered several times taller than his own body.
Without hesitation, he slowly walked toward it before stopping directly in front of the giant stone. The Third Gate remained fully opened, and green steam continued rising around him.
Guy inhaled deeply.
Then he raised his leg.
"Konoha Senpu!"
Whoosh!!!
Boom!!!
This kick did not use the Great Vajra Leg, nor did it use any other martial technique.
It was simply raw physical strength enhanced by the Gate of Life combined with ordinary Taijutsu.
Yet the result was terrifying.
The giant boulder split apart directly from the center.
The entire stone separated cleanly into two enormous halves.
Guy landed back on the ground heavily while breathing roughly.
Meanwhile, Might Duy slowly walked over before standing beside him.
The father and son silently stared at the shattered boulder together for a long while.
Finally, Duy quietly spoke.
"Guy."
"Hmm?"
"You are already stronger than Dad was at your age."
Guy turned toward him.
Duy also turned toward Guy, his expression unusually calm.
"I'm serious. Your father trained for twenty entire years before reaching the Sixth Gate. But you..."
Duy's eyes gradually filled with pride.
"You trained for only three days and already opened the first three gates."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"In the future, you will definitely become an incredible Ninja."
Guy quietly looked at him.
That same silly expression.
That same bright smile.
Yet the pride inside Duy's eyes could not be hidden at all.
Guy suddenly felt warmth spread through his chest once more.
"Dad."
"Hmm?"
"When I eventually open the Eighth Gate..."
Guy grinned brightly.
"...I'll show it to you personally."
Might Duy froze completely.
Then he suddenly burst into loud laughter beneath the moonlight.
"GOOD!!!"
"Dad will definitely wait to see it!!!"
He raised another enthusiastic thumbs-up, his teeth sparkling brightly beneath the moonlight.
"But before that..."
Duy suddenly rubbed his stomach pitifully.
"Let's eat first!"
Guy instantly laughed as well.
"Okay!"