As if punishing Fenghuo for overexerting himself, a lingering drowsiness clung to him for two full days before finally fading.
"Fenghuo! Lying in bed wastes your youth! It's time to get up and train!"
Early that morning, Might Duy appeared at Fenghuo's doorstep, hands planted firmly on his hips, his voice echoing across the house with spirited intensity. The morning sun hadn't yet fully risen, and the clouds behind him almost seemed to roar with him. But beside him, Kai was behaving strangely.
Fenghuo rubbed his temple, offering a weak smile. "Uncle Duy, you're just in time."
He always seemed to arrive right when Fenghuo recovered—like some sort of spiritual weather vane more accurate than any fortune teller.
Fenghuo summoned a shadow clone to handle the housework, and his true self followed Might Duy out the door.
Kai remained uncharacteristically quiet, head lowered, thick eyebrows nearly knitting together in distress.
"Kai, are you okay?" Fenghuo asked, frowning. The boy's brows looked like they might strangle each other.
"I… I…" Kai hesitated, gritting his teeth. His brows scrunched even further.
Might Duy glanced at them and sighed. Just two days earlier, he had made the decision to begin teaching Kai the Hachimon Tonkō—the Eight Gates Technique. But Kai hadn't reacted the way Duy had expected.
Instead, Kai had become upset—furious, even—when he learned that Fenghuo hadn't been invited to learn it as well. From his perspective, it was unjust. After all, Fenghuo had freely shared his self-developed taijutsu, including techniques like the Konoha Whirlwind.
"If Fenghuo can't learn the Eight Gates, then I won't either!" Kai had shouted, refusing to accept what he saw as an unfair decision.
'Such a stubborn child,' Duy had thought with a helpless smile.
In truth, just yesterday, Duy had sought the counsel of Hatake Sakumo, the famed White Fang of Konoha. Though Sakumo wasn't an expert in the Eight Gates, he respected the risks involved. More importantly, based on the insights from the Third Hokage, Lady Tsunade, and even Yuhi Makoto, Sakumo acknowledged something vital: Fenghuo was a child with the Will of Fire—someone worth believing in.
Sakumo's response was simple: "Yes."
That one word lifted a weight off Might Duy's shoulders. He realized then that he had already accepted Fenghuo as a disciple in his heart. The only thing holding him back was fear—fear of others' opinions. But now, even the White Fang had given his blessing.
The three of them—Duy, Kai, and Fenghuo—began running through the misty streets, their destination: Hokage Rock.
Whoosh—whoosh!
Their shadows flickered from street to rooftop, leaping at high speed toward the cliffs above the village. Before the sun crested the horizon, they had arrived.
"Kai, Fenghuo—follow me!"
Might Duy didn't look back as he walked into a thick forest behind the rock face. Fenghuo found it odd. Were the father and son… being strangely serious today?
Kai still looked troubled, clearly still bothered by something.
Might Duy suddenly turned and said gravely, "Starting today, your training enters a new stage!"
Kai's eyes widened. He seemed to sense what was coming.
Duy nodded, then turned to Fenghuo. "With your current physical condition, you're ready to begin training in a forbidden technique."
Fenghuo froze, smile vanishing instantly.
"A forbidden technique…? Could it be—the Eight Gates?!"
He'd waited so long for this moment, dreamed of it for even longer!
Boom—boom!
His heart thundered in his chest, blood rushing with excitement.
Duy noticed. "Fenghuo… you seem a little overexcited."
"Ahaha, no, no—just a bit of altitude sickness, that's all!" Fenghuo said quickly, then cursed himself. "I'm fine! Really!"
"Altitude sickness?" Duy raised an eyebrow, confused. "Should you rest another day?"
"No! Definitely not!" Fenghuo nearly jumped. "I'm completely healed!"
Steadying his breath, he calmed his chakra.
Duy nodded. "It took me almost twenty years to master this technique. It places extreme demands on the body. If misused…" He paused. "You will die."
Kai's expression turned solemn.
Fenghuo nodded. He knew. Maybe he even understood it better than Duy himself.
"I planned to teach this to you both years from now," Duy continued. "But with tensions rising on the borders and war looming between the Five Great Nations… there's no more time."
He looked straight at them.
"But before that—you must promise me. Never pass on this technique lightly!"
"Of course, Father!" Kai shouted.
"I swear it," Fenghuo said seriously.
"Then listen closely."
Duy's voice grew deeper.
"This forbidden technique is called… Hachimon Tonkō no Jin—the Eight Inner Gates Formation!"
Boom!
Fenghuo's heart nearly burst.
Duy gave him a glance, then continued. "The Eight Gates are: the Gate of Opening, Gate of Rest, Gate of Life, Gate of Pain, Gate of Limit, Gate of View, Gate of Wonder, and the Gate of Death."
He explained how each gate removed a limitation placed by the brain to protect the body—how, by releasing these limits, one could gain strength surpassing even the Hokage… but only for a short time.
"Nani?!" Kai gasped. "Stronger than the Hokage?!"
Fenghuo was equally shaken. He couldn't help but picture the future—Might Guy opening the Eighth Gate and fighting Madara Uchiha, flames blazing from his body like a demonic god.
"But opening all eight gates," Duy said quietly, "means death."
Kai looked horrified. "Father… it's too dangerous!"
"That's why it's forbidden," Duy said firmly. "Kai. Fenghuo. Unless it's absolutely necessary—never use this technique recklessly!"
Both nodded solemnly.
Duy then pointed to different parts of his body. "The Gate of Opening and Gate of Rest are located in the brain. The Gate of Life is just below the throat. The Gate of Pain lies at the center of the chest… and the Gate of Death—at the heart."
Under Duy's guidance, Kai and Fenghuo closed their eyes, concentrating on the points in their bodies.
These are the eight gates that limit the true strength of the human body… Fenghuo thought.
He quickly found them—but they felt like iron locks fused into his muscles. They wouldn't budge without extreme, near-insane training.
"Kai, your body still needs more training," Duy said. "But Fenghuo… you might already be able to open the First Gate."
"Focus your chakra. Pour it along the chakra pathways and try to release the first limit."
Fenghuo obeyed, summoning all his chakra. After half a year of intense training, his reserves had finally reached Chūnin level.
Hummm…
As chakra surged through him, he felt the "lock" of the Gate of Opening tremble—like a door on the verge of breaking.
Boom!
Fenghuo's mind jolted. It was as if his soul had left his body.
Suddenly, everything was sharper. His body felt lighter. His strength surged. His chakra raged like a storm within him.
The human body is capable of incredible feats… but the brain restrains its full power. Now, that restraint—
—was gone.
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