He nodded with a faint smile.
"Yes!"
With surprise flickering in his eyes, Might Duy turned and walked toward Suigetsu Hōzuki.
"Tch! A watermelon head, huh?"
Seeing that his opponent was a ninja he had never met before, Suigetsu Hōzuki immediately reverted to his usual arrogance.
His eyes held utter contempt for Might Duy.
"Lord Liuyun!"
Standing beside Aoyama Liuyun, Uchiha Fugaku and Hyūga Hiashi were both confused.
Promoting Might Duy to jōnin was one thing.
But sending him to the front line?
In a war, the first fighter to charge determines morale.
If they lose, the entire formation's morale collapses.
"Don't worry."
Aoyama Liuyun read their expressions instantly.
He didn't bother explaining further. He simply waved his hand.
"…"
Faced with Aoyama Liuyun's expression, they couldn't argue.
They could only remain silent beside him.
"Dad! Go get them!"
Watching her father step forward onto the battlefield, Might Guy felt both nervous and proud.
She feared for his safety, yet she was thrilled he was finally able to display his youth.
Might Guy clasped her hands together, praying silently.
The battlefield was unpredictable.
As Suigetsu Hōzuki and Might Duy faced each other, the tension thickened across the entire field.
Swinging the Samehada from his back onto his shoulder, Suigetsu Hōzuki grinned wickedly.
"Watermelon head, since you're looking for death, don't blame me—"
"Fifth Gate of Pain! OPEN!"
Before he could finish, Might Duy's roar thundered across the battlefield.
"What?"
Suigetsu Hōzuki froze.
A violent wind surged around Might Duy as emerald green chakra tore through the lingering mist.
The ground beneath him cracked from the sheer pressure of the opened gate.
"Oh? He started with the Fifth Gate?"
Aoyama Liuyun wasn't surprised.
It seemed Might Duy wanted to show off—opening directly with five gates.
"What kind of technique is that?!"
"Such immense chakra!"
Fugaku and Hiashi, both unfamiliar with the Eight Gates, activated their dōjutsu to observe Might Duy.
…
"Since Lord Liuyun believes in my youth, I will never disappoint him!"
"Ahhhh!"
Letting out another roar, Might Duy's chakra surged beyond his body's limits, blasting outward with violent force.
"Th-This…?"
Suigetsu Hōzuki was stunned.
What the hell was he looking at?
But just as Suigetsu's mind blanked—
The earth beneath Might Duy shattered.
In the same instant, Might Duy vanished.
"Experience the power of youth!"
"Leaf Lotus!"
Suigetsu barely registered a blur of dark motion rushing toward him.
He reflexively raised Samehada to block.
"BOOM!"
The monstrous strength of the Fifth Gate sent Suigetsu Hōzuki flying dozens of meters away.
Even Samehada emitted a pained, growling vibration.
"What?!"
Suigetsu was shocked—
Even Samehada couldn't absorb that much force.
"You—!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
He wasn't given a chance to speak.
Using the Reverse Lotus, Might Duy's speed became overwhelming.
Only Suigetsu being repeatedly struck was visible—Might Duy himself couldn't be seen at all.
"Th-This…"
Hiashi Hyūga was stunned.
Even with the Byakugan, he couldn't track Might Duy's movements.
He looked at Fugaku in disbelief.
"Can you see him?"
"…Barely. Only the faintest blur."
The Sharingan's dynamic vision was superior to most dōjutsu.
But even then, it couldn't follow Might Duy completely.
Both men instinctively turned to Aoyama Liuyun.
His calm expression only deepened their respect.
If not for Aoyama Liuyun, Might Duy might still be treated as a genin.
"Boom!"
The battlefield shifted again.
Might Duy reappeared beneath Suigetsu and delivered a massive upward kick.
Suigetsu Hōzuki soared into the air.
Duy sank into a horse stance, crossing his arms. Veins bulged on his forehead and forearms.
"Now! It's time for me to uphold the way of the shinobi!"
"Eight Gates Formation! Sixth Gate—Gate of View! OPEN!!!"
...
When the Sixth Gate opened, Might Duy's aura surged even higher.
The Eight Gates had severe side effects—
But Duy's lifelong physical training allowed him to endure far more than others.
"Boom!"
He stomped the ground and shot into the air.
He rose until he reached Suigetsu's altitude.
"You bastard!"
Suigetsu finally regained balance, preparing to defend.
Too late.
"Morning Peacock!!!"
Might Duy pulled his fist back, and countless blazing fist-shadows erupted forward.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Fists faster than flames—
Heat blazing like a furnace—
Wind pressure exploding like cannon fire—
All the witnesses saw was Might Duy pummeling Suigetsu in mid-air.
Flames burst outward like a peacock spreading its tail, illuminating the entire battlefield.
At that moment, everyone stared blankly at Might Duy.
The Kirigakure shinobi didn't understand what they were seeing.
But every single Konoha ninja knew exactly who Might Duy was.
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