Ryosuke felt the unbearable pain coursing through him, his expression twisting again and again, but he still chose to continue training.
This was his trump card for the night of the massacre—the only card he could truly rely on right now. Some things simply had to be done.
He gathered chakra once more and struck at the Gate of Opening. The instant it creaked wider, the stabbing, needle-like pain shot into his skull again.
Ryosuke endured it for two seconds before he had no choice but to stop molding chakra.
This pain was unlike normal bodily pain—it felt as if it pierced straight into his spirit, making it impossible to concentrate on controlling chakra.
He looked over at Might Guy and said helplessly,
"This hurts way too much."
Guy chuckled.
"Of course it does. Otherwise, I wouldn't only be at the Fifth Gate even now. Each Gate you open, the pain grows stronger."
"But Ryosuke, your body isn't weaker than mine. You can endure this. Once you get used to it, it won't feel as bad."
Ryosuke relaxed slightly at his words. If it really hurt this much every time, he might as well give up on the Eight Gates altogether.
He tried again, forcing chakra into the Gate of Opening. The wider it pushed open, the sharper the pain became, like the tearing agony of being split apart.
Sweat poured from his forehead.
If not for the training he'd endured with Guy, building up his tolerance for pain, he would've quit right there. The pain alone was enough to break most men.
He couldn't help grumbling inwardly. With pain this intense, shouldn't his system be rewarding him with boosted stats? If every session could add attributes, he'd be unstoppable by now. But no—the system gave him nothing. What a scam.
Still, there was no changing that. He had to focus on training.
Guy stood by silently, watching over him, ready to step in if anything went wrong—just as his father had once stood watch over him.
Back when Guy himself first attempted the Gates, he had passed out from the pain of opening the First Gate. His father had to carry him home.
Time passed. Ryosuke didn't flinch, continuing to hammer at the Gate again and again, teeth clenched against the agony. Guy's respect for him only grew.
This boy's determination was no weaker than his own.
When Guy had first tried the Gates, the pain had been so overwhelming that he hadn't dared attempt it again for a long time. The memory of it had cast a shadow over him.
It wasn't like external pain—it was as if his brain itself were being ripped apart, like an arm stretched until it nearly snapped.
This was pain on a truly inhuman level.
After a long stretch of training, Uchiha Ryosuke's head was swimming.
Finally, during one attempt to force open the Gate with chakra, the pain became too much. His vision went dark, and he collapsed to the ground.
Not far away, Guy rushed to his side, crouching down to check his condition.
Ryosuke was still breathing. Guy let out a breath of relief. Just unconscious—not fatal. No need to drag him to Konoha Hospital.
Half an hour later, Ryosuke stirred awake. His eyes opened, but at first everything was blurry. Slowly, the world came back into focus.
Beside him, Guy asked with concern,
"You all right?"
Ryosuke shook his head a little and muttered,
"I'm fine. Just a bit dizzy."
Guy's expression hardened.
"The Eight Gates are extremely difficult. You should slow down. If you force it, you'll end up damaging your brain."
Ryosuke nodded. He knew Guy was right. He had been impatient, trying to force the First Gate open. Now he had felt firsthand just how brutal the pain was.
This wasn't something that could be rushed. If he kept pushing recklessly, his head might actually explode.
He would have to take Guy's advice—go slower, open the Gate little by little.
After parting ways with Guy, Ryosuke returned to the clan compound. He washed up thoroughly and tried to rest.
By dinnertime, he was already feeling better—no more dizziness clouding his mind.
After eating at home, he walked back out into the streets, heading toward Kurenai's house.
If he wanted things to progress with her, he had to spend time with her. Without contact, no story would ever unfold.
And besides, Kurenai seemed willing to meet him halfway—she didn't mind strolling with him at night.
Sure enough, he found her waiting at her door, dressed in another elegant kimono, looking stunning as ever.
When she saw him walking up, her face lit with a gentle smile. After last night, their relationship had grown even closer. Being with him gave her a warm, comfortable feeling.
But when Ryosuke came close enough, Kurenai noticed the pallor of his face. She frowned in worry.
"Ryosuke, what happened to you?"
He waved a hand.
"It's nothing. Just some tough training."
He had no intention of telling her about the Eight Gates—it would only worry her.
Kurenai assumed he'd been undergoing Guy's grueling regimen. For a kunoichi like her, that kind of training was impossible to join in. Still, her heart tightened with concern.
"Then promise me you'll be careful. Don't push yourself until you collapse."
Ryosuke smiled.
"All right, I'll be careful."