Guy's sudden shout made Ryosuke pause mid-breath.
He understood Guy's concern—but he still shook his head stubbornly.
"I'm fine. My body can handle it."
And it wasn't bravado.
His system-strengthened physique truly could withstand what would permanently injure most shinobi.
No matter how agonizing the Eight Gates training became, one night of rest erased every trace of damage.
His constitution had long surpassed that of ordinary humans.
Guy stared at him, emotions churning.
Ryosuke's resolve was… unnervingly strong for someone his age.
Even though worry gnawed at him, Guy couldn't bring himself to interrupt.
If Ryosuke said he could endure it, then Guy would simply stand beside him—
just like his father once did.
All afternoon, Ryosuke focused on prying open the Gate of Rest.
And all afternoon, Guy remained at his side, silent and vigilant.
He even forgot his own training.
By the time Ryosuke finally collapsed—face-down, arms limp, chakra in tatters—Guy's nerves were stretched thin.
"Ryosuke!"
Guy rushed forward, voice laced with panic. "Do you want me to carry you back?"
Ryosuke lay there for several breaths, chest heaving.
The pain faded slowly, the world settling back into focus.
He raised a weak hand.
"Just give me a moment… I can walk."
Guy hovered uncertainly for a long time before finally nodding.
Once he confirmed Ryosuke's condition wasn't dangerous, he reluctantly left, glancing back several times.
When Guy's silhouette finally vanished down the mountain trail, Ryosuke pushed himself upright.
He stepped to the edge of the Hokage Rock and let the cool wind wash over him.
A deep exhilaration spread through his chest.
He had done it.
He hadn't fully opened the Rest Gate yet, but he had forced it halfway open.
His nerves were adapting. His brain was yielding.
Progress—real progress.
It wouldn't be long before he could open it freely, just like the First Gate.
And once he did…
his strength would soar again.
Below him, Konoha basked in the gentle evening light.
Peaceful. Quiet.
If only it could stay this way forever.
But Ryosuke knew better.
The relationship between the Uchiha and the village leadership was too fractured.
The distrust too deep.
The future was already decided—it only waited for someone to light the fuse.
He needed power.
Enough to protect his grandfather.
Enough to guard Izumi.
Enough to face Itachi… or any enemy who dared threaten the clan.
That night, sore and drained, he skipped meeting Kurenai.
After a simple meal, he fell asleep instantly.
⭐ Two Days of Pure Training
On the sixth and seventh days before his duel with Uchiha Inaho, Ryosuke followed a brutal routine:
Morning:
One-Punch-Man physical regimen → slow, steady attribute gains.
Afternoon:
Eight Gates training → pushing the Gate of Rest to its limit.
He met no one.
He didn't leave home except to train.
He didn't even see Kurenai.
His body was pushed beyond limits daily.
But thanks to his monstrous constitution…
every morning he woke up completely healed.
And finally—
He succeeded.
Ryosuke fully opened:
⭐ The Second Gate — Rest (休門).
Just like Guy had explained:
The Opening Gate unleashed full physical capacity.
• The Rest Gate removed the brain's fatigue limit, restoring stamina and neutralizing backlash.
Even someone with average stamina could fight like a demon with this Gate.
And Ryosuke's stamina was already monstrous.
With Rest Gate unlocked, his endurance skyrocketed to inhuman levels.
Tomorrow's duel…
was going to be a slaughter.
Inaho was a jōnin.
But Ryosuke was no longer a chūnin.
First Gate = 1.5× power
Second Gate = 2× power
An impossible leap.
A taijutsu monster.
Tomorrow, he would show that arrogant fool what taijutsu truly meant.
And after the duel…
he would visit Kurenai at night.
The system mission, the reward, and Kurenai herself—
all waited for him.
He slept early, satisfied.
⭐ Duel Day
At dawn, Ryosuke arrived early at the Uchiha grove.
He warmed up with crisp taijutsu movements—fluid, powerful, clean.
He was excited.
Just a month ago he'd been mediocre.
Now… he stood above Guy's present level.
Soon, Inaho arrived, flanked by several Uchiha clansmen.
They barely glanced at Ryosuke stretching.
So what if he trained under Might Guy?
A chūnin was still a chūnin.
Inaho stepped forward, smirking.
"Ready? Try not to cry when you lose."
The others laughed.
Ryosuke beckoned him lazily.
"Come."
His eyes turned scarlet.
Two tomoe spun into place—steady and sharp.
Inaho raised a brow.
Two tomoe?
Wasn't he only one tomoe before?
Unexpected.
But meaningless.
Inaho sneered.
"A two-tomoe brat challenges a three-tomoe? Ridiculous."
The Uchiha behind him nodded proudly.
The gap between two tomoe and three tomoe was enormous.
Ryosuke was about to retort when—
Ding!
A mechanical voice rang cleanly in his mind:
"Your Sharingan has been insulted.
In anger, it evolves into the Three-Tomoe state."
A surge of power detonated in his vision.
Another tomoe bloomed.
Three tomoe.
Complete.
Ryosuke's lips curled in a cool, razor-sharp smile.
"Apologies—
but I also have three tomoe now."
Inaho's expression shattered.
Ryosuke, meanwhile, felt joy bubbling inside him.
Three tomoe meant the next evolution waited just ahead—
Mangekyō Sharingan.
If someone mocked him a little harder…
Who knew?
He might awaken it on the spot.
Itachi had Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu.
What would his abilities be?
Ryosuke's blood ignited.
Today's duel—
was going to be fun.
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