That afternoon, Ryosuke was once again at home, focusing on training the Eight Gates technique.
Since opening just the First Gate didn't produce explosive power, he wasn't worried about damaging anything in the house.
As for the risk of no one watching over him—he had grown used to the pain. At worst, he might faint, but it wouldn't be a serious problem.
Before starting, Ryosuke grinned with excitement and muttered to himself, "I'm not human anymore."
He was psyching himself up, refusing to be limited by mere human pain.
Then, he began refining chakra and focused on the right side of his brain, where the First Gate—Gate of Opening—was located. The familiar searing pain surged once again, but he grit his teeth and endured.
More chakra flowed this time. The gate opened slightly more than it had the day before.
He stopped to rest before continuing. He knew better than to push too hard too fast.
He repeated the process again and again.
Eventually, sweat streamed down his forehead. But he hadn't fainted. That alone was a sign of success.
He was getting used to the pain of opening the First Gate.
In his heart, he cheered himself on.
"Keep going. Don't give up."
Just as Guy had said—once you got used to the pain, adapted to it, and finally conquered it, you could truly master the Eight Gates.
Ryosuke trained for several hours, most of it just enduring the agony.
But he had finally reached his limit. The good news was, he had managed to force the First Gate open significantly further than before.
He was thrilled. At this rate, he'd soon be able to open it fully.
That day's training had been longer and more grueling than the previous day's. So he didn't meet up with Kurenai.
But she wouldn't wait endlessly for him.
They had an agreement—if he didn't show up within ten minutes, it meant something important had come up.
After a simple wash-up, meal, and some rest, Ryosuke fell asleep quickly.
On the fourth day of his scheduled duel with Uchiha Raihō, Ryosuke woke early, once again feeling no lingering pain from his Eight Gates training.
He couldn't help but marvel at his body's resilience.
One night's sleep, and the brutal pain of training was completely gone.
That gave him renewed confidence. If he could recover this fast, why should he fear pain?
Before diving back into Eight Gates training, he first worked on strengthening his body the way Saitama-sensei from One Punch Man had taught—improving his base stats.
The stronger the body, the easier it would be to master the Eight Gates.
After completing a full workout, Ryosuke heard the familiar system notification.
A warm current flowed through him, making his body feel even tougher.
After lunch and a short nap, he returned to training the Eight Gates that afternoon.
Once again, he chose to train at home.
He sat cross-legged on the mat, refining chakra and channeling it into the area of the First Gate, trying to pry it open.
The pain came again, but Ryosuke was used to it now. He could handle it.
He didn't stop refining chakra—pushing more and more power into the gate.
Then, with a sudden crack, the First Gate burst open.
A thick vein bulged from his forehead, and his skin darkened slightly.
A smile of satisfaction spread across his face.
The hardest part was over. From now on, training would only get easier.
He could feel his strength and speed being unleashed at full capacity.
This was the effect of releasing the brain's limiter—enhancing physical power and speed.
He estimated his power had jumped by about 1.5 times in this state.
Next, he stopped the chakra flow. Without chakra continuing to flood the gate, just as Guy had described, the First Gate slowly began to close.
The bulging vein disappeared, and his skin tone returned to normal.
It worked—he had not only opened the gate, but also managed to close it afterward.
Granted, it was only the First Gate. Guy could open five already.
But one day, Ryosuke would catch up. His body was even better suited than Guy's—and his physical attributes were improving daily.
If he stayed on this pace, he could reach five gates before the Uchiha Massacre. Maybe even open the Sixth or Seventh.
When that day came, punching Itachi and kicking Obito would be a breeze.
With the First Gate unlocked, Ryosuke felt he could finally enjoy the evening.
That 1.5x power boost alone was enough to ensure he wouldn't lose to Raihō—he might even overpower him.
He wasn't obsessed with chasing power for power's sake. Balance mattered. Tonight, he would go on that date with Kurenai.
Their bond would deepen, and with it, the system's blessing of the Many Children, Many Blessings reward would be within reach.
As night fell, Kurenai stood outside a wooden house on Konoha's street, dressed in another kimono, waiting for Ryosuke.
She looked both expectant and a little anxious.
Ryosuke hadn't shown up yesterday, and she'd been slightly disappointed.
But she didn't blame him. They were adults—life wasn't just about romance.
After waiting a few minutes, she saw that familiar figure approaching.
Her heart swelled with joy.
As Ryosuke neared, she looked at him with a slight pout.
"I thought you weren't coming today either."
Rested and in good spirits, Ryosuke smiled warmly.
"How could I not?"
It seemed she was looking forward to the date even more than he was.
The two strolled along the same streets again.
They'd walked these roads many times before, but to Kurenai, it still felt fresh and fun. Maybe that was just how it felt to be with someone you loved.
When they reached a quieter part of town, Kurenai wrapped her arm around his and led him to that secluded grove once more.
After their previous encounters, she was no longer shy.
Instead, she leaned in boldly for a deep kiss.
Ryosuke gladly returned it.
Her eyes grew hazy with desire. His strong physique made her feel like melting in his embrace.
Her whole body tingled with pleasure and satisfaction.
She wanted more. The scent of his body overwhelmed her, driving her to crave further intimacy.
She was no naive girl—she understood what came next in a relationship.
With a blush, she whispered:
"How about… you come to my place in three days? My mother will be away."
Her face turned scarlet after saying it. Would he understand what she meant?
Ryosuke did. And his heart surged with joy.
Her mother would be out, and she was inviting him over? He could easily guess what she intended.
With affectionate eyes, he replied:
"Kurenai, I'd love to."
That day also happened to be his duel with Raihō. After teaching that guy a lesson, he'd end the night embracing Kurenai—and maybe even conceive a child.
That would trigger the system reward: a secret trump card for the Uchiha Massacre. A precious treasure chest, no matter what was inside, would help him survive the night.
And it would also mean truly conquering Kurenai's heart and body.
Despite their physical closeness, their relationship hadn't fully crossed the final line.
Until that happened, she wasn't entirely his.
Also, tonight's makeout session had earned him another 0.1 units of chakra—0.1 Kakashi's worth.
If they went all the way, who knew how much more he'd gain?
Seeing Ryosuke agree, Kurenai beamed with joy.
She clung to him tightly, unwilling to let go.
On the fifth day before his duel with Raihō, Ryosuke once again followed Saitama-sensei's routine to strengthen his body.
In the afternoon, he went looking for Guy.
Of course, it was time to start learning how to open the Second Gate—pushing his power to even greater heights.
Ryosuke found Guy easily—he was always in the same familiar places.