"You finally stopped?" Might Guy exhaled, as if he had just finished an exhausting workout.
"That's right." Kazuki nodded seriously. "Guy-sensei, didn't you say this test would last ten minutes? The time is up."
"Pfft—"
Might Guy nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
The battle had been so intense, so relentless—who would keep track of time in the middle of it?!
"Kazuki, how are you so calm?!"
"Cough, cough…"
Guy brought a fist to his mouth, clearing his throat to cover his embarrassment before giving a light nod.
"Yes, the ten-minute evaluation has ended."
He paused, then gave a thumbs-up. "Kazuki, you've improved tremendously! You actually forced me to defend using the Eight Gates… That's no small feat!"
As he spoke, a faint blush crept onto his face.
Of course, he wouldn't openly admit that Kazuki nearly pushed him past the Fourth Gate!
"Regardless…" Guy straightened up, flashing his usual enthusiastic grin. "You passed today's test!"
"As promised, I've prepared a fitting reward for you!"
"Sensei, what's the reward?" Kazuki asked curiously.
A mysterious smile played on Guy's lips. Instead of answering, he posed a question.
"You saw the power of my Eight Gates just now, didn't you?"
"Yeah," Kazuki nodded.
"The Eight Gates Released Formation is a forbidden technique I have mastered. You witnessed its terrifying ability to boost strength."
Guy's face grew serious. "If I were to open all Eight Gates… even the Hokage would struggle against me in battle."
"But…"
"Any great power comes at a price. The reason this technique is forbidden is because of its terrible consequences.
"Even with my level of taijutsu and physical conditioning, if I were to open the Eighth Gate… I would die."
Guy's voice was firm, his expression uncharacteristically solemn. "Do you understand what it means to wield a forbidden technique?"
Kazuki didn't hesitate. He nodded.
Guy's sharp gaze locked onto him. "Knowing the risk, are you still willing to learn?"
"I'm willing to take the risk," Kazuki replied, his voice steady.
For a moment, Guy simply stared at him. Then—
"Wooooooh!!!"
Tears burst from Guy's eyes like twin waterfalls.
"You're the first!! Finally, someone who truly wants to learn my secret technique!! Kazuki, I knew I saw greatness in you!!"
Kazuki: "…"
Shouldn't he be happy that someone was willing to teach him the Eight Gates? Why was Guy acting this emotional?
Sensing his confusion, Guy sighed, wiping his tears.
"I've trained many taijutsu specialists before. They were eager to practice with me at first…"
"But the moment they heard my ultimate technique could lead to death, they all backed out. Not a single one was willing to follow me down this path."
Kazuki understood.
Their generation had grown up in a time of peace. They had never lived through war. They didn't understand why power was necessary, nor did they grasp the true meaning of the Eight Gates.
That was why, in the original story, only a hard-headed fool like Rock Lee had the determination to train under Guy—to turn effort into genius.
Guy's voice broke through his thoughts.
"Kazuki, aren't you afraid of dying?"
"I am," Kazuki admitted without hesitation.
"Then why are you still willing to learn the Eight Gates?" Guy asked, genuinely surprised.
Kazuki remained silent for a moment, then said,
"Because I think, Guy-sensei… your technique is unfinished."
"A Semi-Finished Technique?"
Might Guy was visibly surprised.
Kazuki nodded, explaining:
"Yes. In my opinion, the Eight Gates Release Formation is also a forbidden technique developed by past shinobi. Since it was created and not something naturally occurring, that means... it can be improved or even modified! I believe there must be a way to avoid the severe physical toll caused by opening all Eight Gates! Perhaps even a way to prevent the guaranteed death that comes with opening the final gate!"
Might Guy was momentarily stunned before he suddenly burst into laughter. His body trembled as he laughed, and tears welled up in the corners of his eyes. He looked thrilled.
"Hahaha! I never thought I'd hear this! After so many years, someone finally shares the same idea as me!"
Guy grinned widely and clapped Kazuki on the shoulder.
"Kazuki, if we were the same age, I'd definitely treat you as a brother!"
Kazuki sweatdropped. Not this again…
Once Guy's excitement settled, his expression turned serious again. He spoke in a firm tone:
"Yes, I've thought about this before. Maybe if the body is trained to an extreme level, even the backlash from opening the Eight Gates can be reduced as much as possible. The damage caused by each gate is directly related to the body's durability—the stronger the body, the less severe the side effects. Starting from the Fourth Gate, the strain on the body becomes immense.
That's why, from the beginning, I've had you endure intense endurance training—punching sandbags, running with weights. Physical strength is the foundation of taijutsu."
Kazuki nodded in agreement.
"Alright," Guy continued, "I'll now teach you the training methods for the Eight Gates—the Forbidden Technique!"
Several Hours Later…
Might Guy sat cross-legged on the ground, raising a finger as he continued speaking to Kazuki.
"You've already met the basic prerequisites for Eight Gates training. For now, focus on opening the First Gate—the Gate of Opening. If you feel any discomfort, stop immediately and don't push yourself too hard."
Kazuki nodded but continued to ask detailed questions about the technique.
Guy was impressed by the level of insight in Kazuki's questions—some of the points he brought up were aspects even Guy had never considered before. The discussion made Guy pause in thought.
Later That Evening…
By the time Kazuki finished training, it was already quite late. It was only then that he realized how hungry he was.
The Konoha training grounds were a fair distance from his home, so he decided to eat out instead. His first thought? The most famous ramen shop in the village—Ichiraku Ramen.
Upon arriving, Kazuki greeted the shop owner:
"Uncle Teuchi, one bowl of ramen!"
The old man behind the counter turned and grinned.
"Ah, Kazuki! Going with the usual pork tonkotsu ramen with extra chashu?"
"Yeah, Uncle Teuchi!"
Kazuki's family was well-off since his parents often traveled for business, so food and expenses were never a concern. Because of that, he and his sister, Tenten, had been regulars at Ichiraku Ramen since childhood.
After meeting Might Guy, however, Guy often treated them to yakiniku, so Kazuki hadn't been to Ichiraku in a while.
While waiting for his ramen, Kazuki sat idly, glancing around the shop. That's when he noticed a boy in an orange jumpsuit standing hesitantly at the entrance.
Oh? Isn't that Naruto?
Recognizing the whisker marks on his face, Kazuki immediately identified the boy.
"Why are you just standing there? Why don't you come in?" Kazuki asked as he walked over.
Naruto flinched slightly—he clearly wasn't expecting anyone to talk to him. After a brief moment, he scratched his head sheepishly and gave a nervous laugh.
"Well… I was planning to get some Ichiraku Ramen, but… the pocket money I saved up for half a month suddenly disappeared. I'm sure I had it in my pocket…"
Kazuki realized what had happened. He must've been pickpocketed…
With a casual wave of his hand, he said, "If you lost it, you lost it. No big deal. Come in—I'll treat you to a bowl of ramen."
Naruto stared at Kazuki in disbelief. He glanced around to make sure there was no one else around, then pointed at himself in confusion.
"Wait… You mean me?"
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