Perspective.
At this moment,
Mei finally realized the vast gap in perspective between herself and Sora.
Sacrifice.
Responsibility.
Duty.
This courage was truly moving.
'He...'
'He will definitely become a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen in the future!'
Mei's eyes shone, brimming with excitement. She could almost see Sora wielding the Kubikiribocho, making his mark across the Ninja World.
'I can't let Sora leave me too far behind!'
As Sora's figure gradually disappeared from view, a strange resolve solidified in Mei's heart.
She would also become one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!
Then,
She could fight side-by-side with Sora, protecting this village!
'I have found the beacon of my life!'
For a moment, Mei felt her blood boiling, as if her entire life had gained new meaning.
However,
If Sora could hear Mei's inner thoughts right now, he would probably struggle not to laugh out loud.
'So small!'
'Your perspective is far too small!'
'You're the future Fifth Mizukage, and your life's goal is to become one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen?'
'What a truly grand ideal that is!'
"Don't blame yourself."
Just then,
Yagura spoke up to comfort her. "Not every Ninja can be as exceptional as Sora. As long as you do your best and push your limits, you can have a clear conscience."
Mei nodded silently, but the turbulent thoughts in her heart were hard to calm.
…
Sacrifice?
Responsibility?
Holding the line alone?
Tsk tsk!
While Sora put on a facade of 'The King permits, the King bears the burden', he was actually more than happy for potential kill-stealing teammates like Yagura and Mei to go stay somewhere far away and cool off.
Killing Might Duy came with a reward of 30,000 Reiatsu. Anyone who dared mess with that mission, he'd sink their entire family to the bottom of the sea to feed the fish.
Upon hearing the massive explosion, Mei and Yagura instinctively assumed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had clashed with Jiraiya.
After all, ordinary Jonin fights didn't produce such a huge commotion.
But Sora, who had triggered the special challenge mission, knew that the Seven Swordsmen hadn't run into Jiraiya, but the even more terrifying Taijutsu cheater, Might Duy!!!
Might Duy who can use the Eight Gates!
Just like Guy, who kicked Six Paths Madara in the Fourth Great Ninja War, this bug-like technique was essentially a Deus ex Machina, virtually impossible to defend against.
The Eight Gates was a Forbidden Jutsu that released the 'gates' restraining Chakra within the human body, causing power to increase explosively.
This increase was a dozens to hundreds of times multiplier in combat power, practically making the user a Super Saiyan in the Naruto World.
Of course,
Ninjas capable of opening the Eight Gates to the level of the Might father-son duo were exceedingly rare, even throughout Ninja World's history.
Additionally,
Gains come with losses.
Such a powerful Forbidden Jutsu had obvious side effects. Just like obtaining the Mangekyo Sharingan cost one's loved ones, fully opening the Eight Gates burned the user's own life force.
Once the eighth gate, the [Gate of Death], is opened, after obtaining power surpassing the Kage-level, the user ultimately pays with their life.
'Might Duy...'
Sora used Shunpo in rapid succession, heading towards the source of the explosion.
Time was tight.
After all, Sora wasn't sure how long Duy's body could sustain the Eight Gates. If he arrived too late and Duy had already died on his own, that would be a huge loss.
However, arriving too early was also bad!
After all, that was the Eight Gates, a Forbidden Jutsu even Six Paths Madara couldn't withstand.
Although Sora was confident, he wasn't arrogant enough to believe he could withstand the attack of a Ninja who had opened the [Gate of Death].
'Timing will be crucial!'
Sora's expression was grave.
'Fortunately, with big scapegoats like Fuguki and Juzo around to act as Main Tanks and absorb the first wave of the Eight Gates' output, I could then finish off the exhausted Duy. It shouldn't be too difficult.'
…
Meanwhile, the battlefield of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had escalated to a fever pitch from the very beginning.
"The Sixth Gate!"
"Gate of View..."
"Open!!!"
Amidst the roar.
A short, middle-aged Ninja wearing a ridiculous dark green jumpsuit and a funny watermelon-hairstyle suddenly erupted with violent Chakra.
Then,
The intense green energy surrounding him became even more seething.
"Damn it!"
Juzo, gripping the Kubikiribocho, couldn't help but curse. After rendezvousing with the other Seven Swordsmen, before they could even find Jiraiya, they ran into a weak-looking team of Konoha's Genin.
One of the kids even had a senbon in his mouth, looking utterly punchable.
At that time,
Juzo was about to step forward and chop these three little Genin to pieces, but just as he raised his blade, a perverted middle-aged man in a jumpsuit kicked him flying.
Then-
That funny-looking pervert middle-aged man just stood there, powering up.
"Gate of Opening, Open!"
"Gate of Healing, Open!"
"Gate of Life, Open!"
At that point, Juzo and the others didn't pay much attention.
After all, their keen eyes could tell that funny-looking Konoha pervert was only at Genin level.
Even by powering up with the Eight Gates posed no threat to them.
However,
Just as everyone was mocking and sneering, the Konoha's Genin in the dark green jumpsuit suddenly erupted with a surge of green energy.
Boom!
Instantly.
A super high-speed assault was launched.
Before anyone could react, the Elite Jonin in their team wielding the Twin Swords Hiramekarei was sent flying by Duy.
Even worse, his head spun three times on his neck… it looked like he was kicked to death instantly.
"Damn it!"
When Duy prepared to charge again, Fuguki was the first to react, bellowing hoarsely, "Fight for your lives if you don't want to die!!!"
As he shouted, he furiously formed hand seals, his hands moving so fast they left afterimages.
"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
In an instant,
Fuguki leaped high into the air. Gathering chakra in his throat, he instantly spewed a lake-like volume of water, directly submerging the area where Duy stood.