Seeing Seiryū with slightly red skin and faint green chakra covering his body, Guy's eyes almost popped out.
It had taken him half a year to go from the First Gate to the Third Gate.
Yet Seiryū could do it on his first try?
To be honest, at this moment Guy felt somewhat discouraged.
"I still underestimated Seiryū's talent."
Duy was also extremely shocked.
He had watched the spar between Seiryū and Guy just now, and judged that Seiryū's physical condition was not inferior to Guy's.
Even if it was his first time using the Eight Gates, it was possible that he could directly open the Second Gate.
However, he did not expect Seiryū to go straight to the Third Gate.
This talent was simply monstrous.
"Stop now. Your physical condition is good, but this is your first time using the Eight Gates. Without adapting step by step, the burden on your body will be too great. Don't end up getting injured."
Duy quickly spoke to Seiryū.
Without gradually adapting to the burden, opening the Third Gate on the first attempt could easily cause injury if maintained for too long.
Seiryū let out a breath and released the Eight Gates.
His skin returned to normal, and the bulging blood vessels calmed down. However, his body still had a slight tearing and stinging sensation.
It was not serious.
Just a matter of using Mystical Palm Technique.
Compared to injuries where the meridians were corroded by natural energy, this kind of muscle damage was nothing.
It was not even serious enough to require advanced healing.
Using Yin Healing Wound Destruction to heal the torn muscles, Seiryū looked at Duy and asked curiously,
"Duy-san, I'm actually a bit curious. Can you tell me who taught you the Eight Gates?"
There were many unsolved mysteries in Naruto.
How strong would a healthy Uchiha Itachi be?
How strong was Jiraiya when he had full intelligence?
What exactly was the Jashin mentioned by Hidan of the Immortal Duo?
Was the third coffin used by Orochimaru during his first use of Edo Tensei actually empty?
What puppet was the fourth scroll behind Sasori of the Red Sand?
What was Uchiha Madara's Mangekyō Sharingan ability?
What was the real cause of death of the First Hokage?
One of those mysteries was who created the Eight Gates.
Seiryū was very curious.
"Ah, that."
At Seiryū's question, Duy revealed a nostalgic look and explained,
"That was actually a relic left behind by my father. I found it by accident."
"Because when I was young I was also not good at ninjutsu or genjutsu. I was at the bottom of the class."
"I could only train in taijutsu. The Eight Gates just happened to be a taijutsu, so I began practicing it."
Duy smiled.
"It turned out the Eight Gates suited me quite well, so I kept training it until now."
Seiryū became even more curious.
"Duy-san, could it be that the Might clan is also a family passed down since the Warring States era?"
In the original story, when Madara saw Guy open the Eight Gates Formation, he recognized the technique.
Obviously, Madara had seen someone use the Eight Gates before.
This led to a speculation.
Could the Might clan also be a family that had existed since the Warring States era?
Perhaps, like the Uzumaki clan, something had happened and they declined.
Duy laughed loudly.
"Maybe. I used to hear my father talk about the family declining and such, but I never really believed it."
Guy looked surprised.
"Eh? Something like that happened?"
He had never heard his father mention such things.
Duy gave a thumbs-up.
"There's no need to dwell on past glory. The present is what matters most. Youth must never be wasted!"
Guy spoke passionately.
"I will remember your teachings, Father!"
Seiryū, however, sensed a trace of sighing in Duy's words.
A person could not be this eccentric from birth.
The reason Duy valued youth and the present so much was likely related to his childhood experiences.
His father's relic.
That already revealed a lot.
Seiryū changed the subject.
"Duy-san, how many gates can you open now?"
In the original story, Duy used the Eight Gates Formation during the Third Shinobi World War.
He kicked the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist into defeat.
Could Duy already open the Eighth Gate now?
At this question, Duy revealed a somewhat proud expression. He pointed his thumb at himself and showed a mouthful of white teeth.
"Haha, of course I have completely mastered the Eight Gates. It took nearly twenty years!"
This was the only technique he truly excelled at.
Eighteen years of hard training, persistence, and never slacking off allowed him to reach this level.
"Nearly twenty years. As expected of you, Duy-san. We still have a lot to learn from you."
Seiryū was not surprised.
He deeply admired Duy's perseverance. Without great determination, no one could achieve such a thing.
"No, no."
Hearing Seiryū's praise, Duy scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.
"Ah, right."
At this moment, Duy suddenly slapped his forehead as if remembering something.
He looked at Seiryū seriously.
"I almost forgot to tell you. The Eighth Gate, the Gate of Death, is the final gate that guarantees death once used."
"It should only be opened when protecting the most important things in your life."
"It cannot be used for personal grudges, and it cannot be used against companions. This is the iron rule that all who learn the Eight Gates must remember."
This was the iron rule for those who learned the Eight Gates, and also the only restriction.
Yes, it was written on that scroll.
He did not wish for Seiryū or Guy to ever open the final Gate of Death, but he still had to inform them of this rule in advance.
"I will remember."
Seiryū nodded seriously.
Both Guy and Duy opened the final gate to protect what was important to them.
Not everyone could do such a thing.
It required firm will and a spirit of selfless sacrifice.
If Danzō had such a spirit of sacrifice, he would never have become the so-called Shadow Hokage. The position of Fourth Hokage would have been his.
Seiryū continued.
"Duy-san, with your strength, you shouldn't be just a Genin. Not to mention Chunin, even a Jōnin might not necessarily be your opponent."
"Why didn't I see you participate in last month's Chunin Exams?"
Even if he only opened the Seventh Gate, Seiryū felt Duy would have Kage-level strength.
Yet such a person was only a Genin.
As expected, Konoha's Genin were the most terrifying.
Hearing this, Duy showed an embarrassed expression.
"The Chunin Exams require participation as a team. No one is willing to form a team with me, so…"
It was not that he did not want to participate.
There was simply no one willing to team up with him.
Seiryū fell silent.
"…."
Alright.
Now he understood why Duy remained a Genin forever.
The Chunin Exams required a three-man team.
If no one teamed up with him, he could not participate.
Without participating in the Chunin Exams, Duy had no chance to demonstrate his strength, which was why he remained unknown.
Because he was unknown, even fewer people were willing to team up with him.
It had become a vicious cycle.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)