Chapter 22: The Path to the Eight Gates
Footsteps crunched softly on the forest floor as Might Guy approached, his green jumpsuit a vibrant contrast against the muted greens and browns of Konoha's forest. He plopped down beside Renji, who was still sprawled on the grass, catching his breath from their intense spar. Guy stroked his chin thoughtfully before slamming his fist into his palm, eyes gleaming with realization. "I get it now!"
He had just witnessed Renji's terrifying growth rate in the heat of battle. Ordinary combat skills could be honed through sparring, but the Eight Gates—a secret taijutsu technique passed down through generations—wasn't so easily mastered. It wasn't just about comprehension; it demanded an unbreakable will.
"Renji!" Guy said, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "I've got something special to teach you—a technique called the Eight Gates! It's a powerful art that unlocks your body's hidden potential, but it demands incredible willpower and strength! To master it, we start by pushing your limits. Let's test your resolve—run five hundred laps around Konoha!"
The task sounded absurd, like something only Guy would dream up. His sparkling eyes locked onto Renji, eager for a response.
"Okay!" Renji grinned, unfazed. Truth be told, he was curious about his own limits. As a humanoid Cursed Spirit, his body was unlike any human's. He'd fought countless battles—some enemies he crushed instantly, others he couldn't touch. But fatigue? That was foreign to him. Chakra exhaustion left him dizzy, sure, but his stamina seemed boundless. Can a Cursed Spirit even get tired? he wondered. Let's find out.
Renji took off, his breathing steady and rhythmic—hoo, hiss, hoo, hiss. His posture was textbook: arms pumping in sync, chest and abdomen rising and falling like a metronome. Air currents swirled around him, his black top clinging to his sweat-slicked skin. Droplets traced paths from his forehead to his chin, glinting in the sunlight.
Might Guy stood at Konoha's main gate, counting laps with a proud grin. "Yosh, Renji! Keep that fire burning!"
Izumo and Kotetsu, stationed at the gate, watched Renji blaze past, their eyes twitching. "Is this kid even human?" Kotetsu muttered, shaking his head.
As Renji's figure vanished around a bend, Guy's gaze deepened. This kid's a once-in-a-generation talent. On his first day of taijutsu training, Renji had already surpassed Lee's lap record—a feat that filled Guy with both pride and a pang of worry for his hospitalized student.
After 500 laps, Renji's clothes were drenched, his black top glistening like polished obsidian. He paused, tilting his head to the sky as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the clouds in fiery hues.
"How's it feel, Renji?" Guy asked, striding over.
"I sweated buckets," Renji said honestly, wiping his brow, "but I'm not tired. I could go another five hundred, easy."
Guy's jaw dropped, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple now. Born for taijutsu! "Alright, then! Another five hundred laps, Renji! Let's burn that youthful spirit to the max!"
Renji ran from sunset to dawn, his feet pounding the earth in a relentless rhythm. Guy stayed by his side, matching his pace, his own stamina a testament to his jōnin prowess. As the first rays of morning light broke through the canopy, Renji completed the thousandth lap, his breathing still steady.
"Renji, can you keep going?" Guy asked, his voice tinged with awe.
Renji nodded, his eyes sparkling with determination. "Yeah. Still good."
Guy's eyes welled up, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Incredible! You're a true prodigy, Renji! Now, let's dive into taijutsu!"
Taking a deep breath, Guy's expression shifted, his gaze sharpening like a hawk's. He spread his arms, muscles tensing as power surged through his frame. In an instant, countless fist shadows erupted around him, too fast for the naked eye to follow. The air screamed, torn apart by the sheer force and speed, each punch a sonic boom that sent leaves spiraling.
After a hundred strikes, Guy stopped abruptly, his movements clean and precise. The fist shadows vanished, and the swirling air settled. He exhaled slowly, his breath hot and heavy, mingling with sweat to create a faint mist in the cool morning air. His body temperature dropped, the mist dissipating as quickly as it formed.
The display, though simple in appearance, demanded superhuman lung capacity, a heart like a forge, resilient blood vessels, immense muscle strength, and pinpoint chakra control. Any weakness would've made it impossible. Guy's rise to jōnin through taijutsu alone, in a village teeming with elite ninja, was no fluke. Mastery of any skill, pushed to its peak, was a force to be reckoned with.
"Renji, watch closely!" Guy's voice rang out like a temple bell, each word heavy with gravitas. "This is my secret technique—the Eight Gates Released Formation!"
His expression turned solemn, eyes wide, teeth clenched, every hair on his body standing on end. "First Gate: Gate of Opening! Open! Front Lotus!"
Guy kicked out, the air exploding in a series of sharp cracks. His body vibrated with raw power, and the massive tree before him shattered, splinters flying in a cloud of dust.
"Second Gate: Gate of Healing! Open!"
"Third Gate: Gate of Life! Open! Reverse Lotus!"
His movements became a blur, faster than the Front Lotus.
Clap clap clap clap!
A relentless barrage of kicks vibrated the air, each strike like gunfire on a battlefield. The tree trunk, launched skyward by his earlier kick, disintegrated into fine wood chips.
Renji could track the Front Lotus, but the Reverse Lotus was a storm of motion, too fast to follow. Guy stopped short of demonstrating the higher gates—Renji needed only the first three for now.
"The Eight Gates is a sacred taijutsu my father spent twenty years mastering," Guy said, his voice thick with emotion. "He passed it to me, and I passed it to Lee. You saw Lee's fight with Gaara—his diligence is unmatched! No wonder you two hit it off!"
Tears streamed down Guy's face as he spoke. "You and Lee will be lifelong rivals, just like me and Kakashi!"
His expression turned grave as he continued. "The Eight Gates unlock immense power by releasing the body's chakra limiters. When all eight are open, it's called the Eight Gates Released Formation. Depending on the user's base strength, it can amplify power dozens of times. But it's exponential—stronger users gain more. The Eighth Gate, the Gate of Death, burns your life force completely. You will die."
Guy placed a warm hand on Renji's shoulder, his eyes piercing. "Renji, your taijutsu talent is the greatest I've ever seen—better than mine! I believe you'll surpass me soon. But promise me: never open the Eighth Gate unless it's a fight you're ready to die for."
Renji met his gaze, his voice firm. "I promise, Guy-sensei."
Guy's face broke into a radiant smile. "Good! Let's keep going!" He stepped back, his tone shifting to a teacher's cadence. "The chakra system has eight gates: Opening, Healing, Life, Pain, Close, View, Wonder, and Death. Everyone has them, and anyone can train to open them—if their body can handle the strain."
"But," Guy added, raising a finger, "few ninja master the Eight Gates. Know why?"
Renji shook his head, hanging on every word.
"It's the training," Guy said gravely. "It demands extreme, relentless, long-term effort—years of pushing your body to its limits. Only then can your organs and muscles withstand the gates' power. Forcing them open without preparation is suicide. With enough training, you can even skip earlier gates and open the later ones directly."
He fixed Renji with a serious stare. "Not every ninja can endure a decade of grueling training. Can you, Renji?"
"Yes!" Renji nodded, his voice unwavering. He'd seen Guy unleash the Eight Gates from a god's-eye view—its power was undeniable. Speed and strength were its hallmarks, critical for taijutsu. Lee's fight with Gaara had proven it: his speed rendered Gaara helpless, his movements a blur.
"The First Gate, the Gate of Opening, removes the brain's limits, unleashing 100% of your physical potential," Guy explained. "It burns energy in overdrive, boosting speed and offense. With it, you can use Front Lotus. With your current conditioning, Renji, it's within your reach."
Guy stepped back, his eyes gleaming. "Did you catch my demonstration?"
Renji nodded eagerly. "Every move. Let me try, Guy-sensei!"
"Good!" Guy clapped his hands, his enthusiasm infectious. "Show me!"