Author Note:
Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!
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It was the weekend, and the ninja academy was on break.
At the public training ground just outside Konoha, Might Duy stood with arms crossed, his expression calm but focused.
Opposite him were Guts, his son Might Guy, and—oddly enough—Kurenai Yuhi, who had tagged along out of curiosity.
"Listen closely, Guts,"
Might Duy began, eyes serious.
"The Eight Inner Gates. It took me twenty years to master this forbidden technique. It allows the body to far exceed its natural limits, but at a steep cost."
He spoke slowly, with the weight of experience behind each word.
A technique that borrowed strength by breaking the body—it wasn't something one could take lightly.
Just this morning, Duy had sparred with Guts.
The outcome? Without opening any gates, he couldn't even keep up.
Unreal. A genius like this hadn't appeared in decades.
If he and Guy could pass this technique on to someone like Guts, it would be a worthy legacy—one that could erase the shame of being known as "Eternal Genin."
Guts listened intently, absorbing every detail.
So did Might Guy, his eyes wide with admiration and hunger for strength.
Kurenai, on the other hand, folded her arms. She looked skeptical.
This "Eight Inner Gates"... Is it really that powerful? Isn't he just a Genin with a bowl haircut in green tights?
You couldn't really blame her. Among ninja ranks, "Genin" just didn't command much respect.
When Duy finished explaining the principles, Might Guy was already bouncing with anticipation.
"I want to try it too!" he exclaimed.
But Duy firmly shook his head. "No. Your body isn't ready."
Too impatient, he thought. Youth burns fast, but it needs discipline to endure.
A week passed.
On a tall cliff five miles outside Konoha, a lone figure stood at the edge—high above the ground.
Suddenly, a shadow dropped from fifty meters up, cutting through the sky like a falling meteor.
As the wind howled past his ears, the figure muttered coldly:
"The First Gate... Gate of Opening—Open!"
Boom—!
The air around him burst into a shockwave as his chakra ignited, raging with newfound intensity.
CRACK!!
A deafening explosion rocked the mountain.
Below, Kurenai stood beside Duy and Guy, her jaw dropping as the cliff's edge shattered and crumbled.
This is insane... Was that really the First Gate?
The destructive force was beyond anything she'd expected. This wasn't some cheap parlor trick—it was raw, terrifying power.
She turned to Might Duy, her face pale.
"You… invented this?"
A Genin? She could hardly believe it.
Up above, the dust began to settle.
Guts crouched where he landed, his muscles trembling. He grimaced slightly as a wave of soreness hit him.
"So this is the price... My muscles are screaming. And that was just the First Gate."
He paused, then muttered, "Gotta get used to this fast."
Suddenly, a faint mechanical chime echoed in his mind:
[Achievement Unlocked: 'Beginner of Eight Inner Gates']
[Template: Monkey D. Garp | Synchronization Rate: 14.95%]
Guts grinned.
"Yes!"
His heart raced. This was the move he'd dreamed of mastering ever since he came to this world.
Now, just by learning the basics, his strength had already soared.
"Guts!! That was amazing!!"
Guy came sprinting toward him with shining eyes.
"Let me try too!! I'll definitely get it this time!"
But Duy quickly stepped in.
"Hold on, Guy! Don't be reckless. Youth is about patience!"
"Yes, sir!"
Guy saluted, brimming with enthusiasm.
"Dad!"
"Guy!"
"Dad!"
"Guy!"
Within moments, father and son had locked in a tearful hug under the sunset, crying dramatically as always.
Kurenai twitched at the sight.
"I've seen this scene too many times, but it never gets less embarrassing..."
"Huh? You jealous?" Guts teased, arms wide.
"Come on. Bring it in."
"Wha—!?"
Kurenai flinched back, her face turning red.
"W-Who would want to hug you!?"
Guts just chuckled.
When the father-son embrace ended, Duy turned to Guts with a proud smile and raised a thumbs-up.
"To celebrate your first step with the Eight Gates, I'm treating you to barbecue!"
"Thanks, Uncle Duy, but are you sure?" Guts scratched his head.
"Your mission pay probably won't even cover two rounds for me."
Everyone laughed.
Duy chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.
"Fair enough! Verbal promise it is, then!"
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Later that day, the group returned to Konoha.
Guy was still buzzing with excitement, practically shouting about Guts's training the entire way back.
His voice rang through the streets, turning heads and drawing the usual stares.
Then came the mocking.
"Hey, isn't that Konoha's eternal Genin?"
"Still dragging around students, huh? Hope you're not setting them up to fail too!"
Two passing chunin snickered as they walked by.
"Thank you for the support!"
Duy and Guy chorused, flashing matching thumbs-up with unshakable cheer.
Kurenai's face puffed up in frustration.
"Tch. So rude…"
And then—
"Hey."
Guts's voice cut through the street like a blade.
The two ninjas paused, turning around lazily.
"What?"
Bang! Bang!
Two fists landed like hammers to their guts. Neither of them saw it coming.
The next second, both men were airborne, crashing straight through the wall of a nearby shop.
The street fell silent.
Civilians stared, jaws dropped. Dust rose where the wall once stood.
The two chunin staggered to their feet, groaning.
"W-What the hell just happened…?"
Step. Step. Step…
The sound of boots on stone.
Guts approached slowly, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.
The smirk on his face chilled the air.
"Y-You little brat, just now—"
Crack!
A kick to the face. One of them spit out a bloodied tooth.
"You hit us?!"
The other shouted in disbelief.
Crack!
Another kick. Another tooth.
"I hit you. So what?" Guts's voice was calm—too calm.
"What's the problem, huh?" he asked, kicking again.
"Worried about the time of day? You want me to wait until evening to knock your teeth out?"
Kick.
"You think I'll be jailed?"
Kick.
"Branded a traitor?"
Kick.
"Answer me!"
In less than ten seconds, both chunin were down again, moaning, noses broken, faces a mess.
The crowd stood frozen. No one said a word.
Then Duy and Guy finally snapped out of it and lunged forward.
"Stop! Guts! That's enough!"
"Calm down, please!"
They grabbed his arms, pulling him back.
Guts didn't resist—just let out a breath, as if nothing had happened.
"Sorry," he muttered.
"I don't take kindly to people insulting family."
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