Might Duy's terrifying strength had a single source.
The Eight Inner Gates Formation.
According to Duy himself, it had taken him twenty full years of relentless training to completely master the technique—to the point where he could open all eight gates without hesitation.
Then, during the Third Great Shinobi War, he had finally unleashed that power.
By forcibly opening all eight inner gates, he had charged straight into enemy lines and beaten the Mist Village's infamous Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist so badly that they were later mockingly referred to as the "Three Lucky Treasures."
That single battle cemented Might Duy's legend.
Qingshui estimated that even if Duy could not yet open the Seventh Gate, he could certainly open at least the Sixth at his current stage.
And that raised a question.
Given Might Duy's strength, it was practically impossible for him to be injured while performing simple D-rank missions.
Which meant—
This hospitalization had nothing to do with combat.
Qingshui's examination confirmed his suspicion.
Might Duy's body had suffered severe overload.
Years of excessive, almost self-destructive training had finally accumulated to the point where his body simply collapsed under the strain.
As a perennial Genin, Duy's income was limited.
And because he funneled almost all his resources into supporting his son, Might Guy, he rarely used medicinal tonics or supplements to maintain his own body.
In the ninja world, this kind of condition wasn't uncommon.
And fortunately, it wasn't difficult to treat.
With Qingshui's current medical skill, it was well within his capabilities.
A familiar system notification echoed in his mind.
---
[Completed the treatment of Might Duy.]
[Reward: One Golden Orb.]
[Congratulations on obtaining: Eight Inner Gates Formation.]
---
Qingshui showed no surprise.
This reward was exactly what he had expected.
After all, aside from the Eight Inner Gates Formation, Might Duy didn't possess any special ninjutsu, genjutsu, or secret techniques.
The system's logic remained consistent.
"Thank you, Doctor!"
Might Duy suddenly laughed loudly, flashing a brilliant smile and giving Qingshui a thumbs-up.
"Your medical skills are incredible! I can already feel my youth burning once again!"
"…."
Qingshui's expression darkened.
At this moment, he finally understood—deeply and viscerally—how Kakashi must have felt when dealing with Might Guy on a daily basis.
This overwhelming youthfulness…
Most people really couldn't handle it.
"Your body collapsed due to long-term excessive training," Qingshui said professionally.
"You need to pay attention from now on. You must not train excessively again for a while."
As a doctor, it was his duty to give this warning.
Might Duy nodded enthusiastically.
"You're absolutely right!"
"Youth also requires proper rest!"
Qingshui turned away immediately.
If he stayed any longer, he was convinced he would contract some sort of 'Youth Virus.'
He left the operating room at a brisk pace.
---
As he stepped into the hallway, he nearly collided with someone.
"Qingshui."
It was Tsunade.
She had just arrived at Konoha Hospital.
Perfect timing.
"Lady Tsunade," Qingshui said calmly,
"I've already mastered the Chakra Scalpel. When will you teach me the Mystical Palm Technique?"
"…What did you just say?"
Tsunade froze.
"I said," Qingshui repeated clearly,
"I have already mastered the Chakra Scalpel."
Tsunade stared at him.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're not lying just because you don't want to lose the bet… are you?"
She still found it hard to believe.
Without another word, Qingshui turned and led her toward an empty operating table.
He retrieved a practice fish used for training medical ninjutsu.
Then, right in front of her—
He demonstrated the Chakra Scalpel.
Chakra condensed.
A thin, blade-like energy formed at his fingertips.
He pressed his hand down.
There was no external wound.
Yet when Tsunade examined the fish, its internal structure had been precisely cut—clean, controlled, flawless.
The facts spoke for themselves.
Silence filled the room.
Tsunade had no choice but to accept reality.
Qingshui had truly mastered an A-rank medical ninjutsu in just three days.
Many Chunin-level medical ninja hadn't even learned this technique.
Even among Medical Jonin, only a minority had mastered it completely.
From this perspective alone, Qingshui's medical skill was already comparable to that of a Medical Jonin.
An eighteen-year-old Medical Jonin wasn't unheard of.
But—
Qingshui had only begun studying medical ninjutsu one year ago.
From zero to this level.
Even Tsunade felt shocked.
This wasn't just talent.
This was monstrous.
"…Alright," Tsunade finally said.
"You win."
She took out a scroll and handed it to him.
"This is the Mystical Palm Technique."
"I keep my word."
The Mystical Palm Technique was also an A-rank medical ninjutsu, and the pinnacle of basic medical healing.
"With your talent," Tsunade added,
"you should be able to master it in about three or four days."
After giving her instruction, Tsunade didn't leave immediately.
Instead, she went straight to find Minako Fukada, who was currently responsible for managing the hospital.
"Minako," Tsunade said bluntly,
"you need to prioritize Qingshui's development in the future."
"His talent is absolutely on par with mine."
This wasn't casual praise.
Tsunade's words carried weight.
Her so-called prioritized development didn't refer to training techniques.
It referred to career trajectory.
In Tsunade's eyes, Qingshui had the qualifications to eventually take over as Head of the Medical Department.
If not for his youth and lack of seniority, she would have happily retired on the spot.
That way, she could gamble every day without worry—
Cough.
That wasn't important.
The important thing was—
The older generation had to make room for the younger one.
Yes.
That was absolutely the reason.
"I understand, Lady Tsunade," Minako replied solemnly.
And she truly did understand.
Which was precisely why she felt shaken.
She had already thought highly of Qingshui.
But now she realized—
She had still underestimated him.
---
Qingshui returned to his office with the Mystical Palm Technique scroll.
However, instead of studying it immediately, he focused on something else.
The Eight Inner Gates Formation.
Everyone's body possessed Eight Inner Gates—natural limiters placed upon chakra flow as a self-protection mechanism.
The Eight Inner Gates Formation was a taijutsu technique that forcibly removed these restrictions.
By opening the gates, one could gain terrifying power at the cost of severe bodily strain.
The Eight Gates were:
1. Gate of Opening
2. Gate of Healing
3. Gate of Life
4. Gate of Pain
5. Gate of Limit
6. Gate of View
7. Gate of Wonder
8. Gate of Death
Each gate provided a massive amplification.
Opening the first gate, the Gate of Opening, removed the brain's safety limiters, allowing the user to utilize 100% of their physical potential.
Opening the eighth gate, the Gate of Death, granted power dozens of times greater than that of the Five Kage—at the cost of certain death.
Of course, results varied by individual.
Might Duy had managed to kill four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen when opening all eight gates.
Might Guy, however, surpassed him.
During the god-tier battles of the Fourth Great Shinobi War, Guy opened all eight gates and nearly ended the entire conflict with a single kick.
Even Uchiha Madara personally acknowledged him as the strongest taijutsu user in history.
Some even said—
Might Guy wasn't just good at taijutsu.
He was the only one who truly understood it.
Qingshui exhaled slowly.
"Even though this is a system reward…"
"With my current physical condition, I can only open the first gate."
Unlike ninjutsu or genjutsu, taijutsu was rooted entirely in the body.
The system couldn't bypass physical limitations.
If his body wasn't strong enough, forcibly opening higher gates would only cripple or kill him.
If he hadn't maintained consistent swordsmanship training, he might not even be able to open the first gate yet.
"It seems I'll need to add physical conditioning to my daily routine."
Since he had obtained the Eight Inner Gates Formation, giving it up wasn't an option.
He didn't need to reach Might Guy's level.
But opening the sixth gate—
That was his minimum goal.
The sixth gate marked a qualitative leap.
Of course, this would take time.
A lot of time.
---
Another workday ended.
After clocking out, Qingshui immediately put his new training plan into action.
He ran two laps around Konoha, maintaining a steady pace.
Only two.
He was just starting.
Pushing too hard would only damage his body.
Just like what had happened to Might Duy.
After running, he returned to his usual training ground and began practicing the Mystical Palm Technique.
The path ahead was clear.
Medical mastery.
Taijutsu foundation.
Eight Inner Gates.
Step by step.
Quietly.
Relentlessly.