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"Everyone passed—not just prodigies like Sasuke and Hanabi, even Sakura and Naruto easily saw through my genjutsu and escaped the trap I set."
"Really? That's…"
At that moment, Kakashi turned his head—and was startled to see Iruka bruised and battered.
"What happened to you?"
"I got beaten up by Ye Dou. He mistook me for a spy."
"Ah, Ye Dou. That makes sense," Kakashi said, shrugging casually. "Don't feel too bad—I almost got sliced in half the first time I met him."
Iruka blinked, momentarily stunned, but strangely comforted. If even Kakashi, a Jōnin and former ANBU, had nearly been taken down by Ye Dou, then his own beating didn't seem quite so humiliating. But still—he's only twelve. Iruka shivered slightly, a bit unsettled, yet intrigued by what this year's Chūnin Exams might reveal.
---
[Eight Gates Released Formation]
"Eight Gates Released Formation—First Gate!"
Late at night, in the forest just beyond the Uchiha district, a sudden burst of chakra shook the ground.
"Open!"
A suppressed roar erupted. Birds scattered from the trees. Animals fled in all directions, sensing the pressure in the air.
"Just opening the First Gate has already boosted my strength significantly," Ye Dou muttered, clenching his fists. His body hadn't visibly changed, but he could feel the surge.
As taught by Might Guy, the Eight Gates are limiters placed within the human chakra pathway system. Each gate opened unleashes a greater degree of physical power, but also places more strain on the body.
The First Gate: Gate of Opening (開門, Kaimon)—boosts physical strength and allows the user to utilize techniques like the Front Lotus.
The Second Gate: Gate of Healing (休門, Kyūmon)—enhances stamina and temporarily eliminates fatigue.
The Third Gate: Gate of Life (生門, Seimon)—increases blood flow; the user's skin begins to flush red as more power is released.
The Fourth Gate: Gate of Pain (傷門, Shōmon)—increases speed and strength to dangerous levels, beginning to strain the body.
The Fifth through Seventh Gates exponentially enhance the user's abilities. Upon reaching the Sixth Gate, friction from high-speed movement causes sparks and shockwaves.
The Eighth Gate: Gate of Death (死門, Shimon) is the final and deadliest, unlocking power dozens of times greater than a Kage, but at the cost of the user's life.
In the Fourth Great Ninja War, Might Guy used the Eighth Gate to nearly kill Ten Tails Jinchūriki Madara, an act which even Madara himself praised as "the most powerful taijutsu."
But this was not the first time the technique had seen legendary use. Might Duy, Guy's father, opened all Eight Gates to defeat the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, killing four and maiming the rest, sacrificing himself in the process.
This technique, however, is not meant for the weak. Opening the gates requires immense physical conditioning and chakra control. Without it, the strain could cripple or kill a user before a single punch is thrown.
Ye Dou, however, had a monstrous body—something closer to a beast than a boy. His physical aptitude had already surpassed most elite shinobi. Within days of receiving the technique from Guy, he had broken through to the Sixth Gate, stunning even his mentor.
But now, standing before the Seventh Gate: Gate of Shock (驚門, Kyōmon), Ye Dou hit a wall.
No matter how much chakra he poured into the point, the gate refused to open—like a steel vault sealed tight.
"Maybe my body's not strong enough yet… or I haven't pushed my potential to its true limit," he admitted. Still, there was no frustration in his voice—only excitement.
"When I do open the Seventh Gate… how powerful will I become?"
As for the Eighth Gate, Ye Dou had no intention of touching it.
"What I seek is enduring strength… not a momentary blaze that ends in death."
He exhaled, deactivating the technique.
Then he pulled out the taijutsu scroll Might Guy had given him and began to study its advanced forms. The Eight Gates are not just a power source—they come with their own techniques:
Primary Lotus (Omote Renge)
Reverse Lotus (Ura Renge)
Morning Peacock (Asa Kujaku)
Daytime Tiger (Hirudora)
Evening Elephant (Sekizō)
Night Guy (Yagai)
However, techniques like Evening Elephant and Night Guy can only be used with the Seventh and Eighth Gates respectively. Ye Dou skipped those sections entirely.
"I'll never open the Eighth Gate. My path leads forward, not toward death."
---
As time passed like the wind through the leaves, the twice-a-year Chūnin Exams had finally arrived.
The Village Hidden in the Leaves was livelier than ever. Ninja from all over the continent walked the streets. The guards had been doubled, but even that couldn't prevent scuffles and provocations between rival villages.
The exam was about to begin.
And Ye Dou was ready.
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