Whoosh!
In the next instant, Might Duy's body turned into a blur. With a single flash, he appeared before a tree thick enough to require two people to wrap their arms around.
He threw a punch.
BOOM!
With a thunderous explosion, the massive tree snapped cleanly in half and collapsed to the ground.
After delivering that blow, Duy stood still, unmoving—clearly reflecting and stabilizing his body. He didn't open the Sixth Gate.
A short while later, Duy suddenly spoke toward the tree behind which Yuya was hiding.
"You can come out now."
…So he'd been discovered.
Yuya stepped out awkwardly.
Watching someone train—especially a forbidden technique—and getting caught was always a bit embarrassing.
Then again, Yuya had been coming here almost every day for two months. Even if Duy lacked talent in other areas, it would've been impossible not to notice something.
Yet instead of being angry, Duy grinned broadly and gave Yuya a thumbs-up.
"Kid… you're really hardworking."
The green aura around his body gradually faded as Duy showed a rough, honest smile.
Yuya's face twitched.
So even with strength like this, you're still a goofy idiot, huh?
"Sorry," Yuya said helplessly. "I've been… stealing techniques."
"No problem! I approve!"
Duy burst into laughter, cutting Yuya off.
Then—
he did something that nearly made Yuya spit blood.
Duy suddenly dropped to his knees, gazing up at the sky with tear-filled eyes.
"Someone is willing to learn taijutsu from me…! Does this mean my youth hasn't faded yet?!"
…!!!
Yuya barely held it together.
This was absurd.
Might Duy. Might Guy. Rock Lee.
Their perseverance and willpower were unparalleled—but why was each of them more ridiculous than the last?
No wonder Duy was a permanent genin.
With this personality, he probably knew nothing beyond fighting—things like reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, or strategy were likely completely beyond him.
"Hahaha!"
Duy jumped back to his feet and walked over, still laughing—though his body trembled slightly.
That wasn't excitement.
Opening the Fifth Gate still placed a serious burden on him.
Seeing this, Yuya frowned slightly.
The side effects of the Eight Gates…
Were they really unavoidable?
That thought quietly took root in Yuya's mind.
Duy patted Yuya on the shoulder and spoke seriously.
"So… you want to become my disciple? That won't work."
"Because I'm just a genin. I'm not qualified to take students."
He laughed self-deprecatingly.
Yuya sighed. "I've already been stealing techniques for two months."
"WHAT?! Two months?!"
Duy stared at Yuya in shock, circling him—then suddenly looked so moved he was about to cry.
"W-Worthy youth! To think there's still a boy so devoted to taijutsu!"
"..."
Yuya seriously considered leaving.
At this point, he was completely speechless.
And it dawned on him—
Duy had just realized Yuya had been watching.
Probably because opening the Eight Gates disrupted his perception and Yuya hadn't hidden his presence well.
Yuya's opinion of Duy plummeted.
Rapidly.
Then straight off a cliff.
"Ahem," Yuya coughed. "Actually… I have almost no talent in ninjutsu or genjutsu. To be precise, I have trouble refining chakra. That's why I can only train taijutsu."
"Really?!"
Duy froze—then suddenly rushed forward and hugged Yuya tightly.
Yuya tried to dodge.
He failed.
"Brother!!"
"PUFF—!"
Yuya finally broke.
This was getting dangerous for his dignity.
"Don't worry! Don't worry!"
Duy released him and slapped his chest proudly.
"Even without ninjutsu, you can become a great shinobi!"
"Like you?" Yuya muttered weakly.
Duy stiffened.
Right. He was still a genin.
"That's not important!" Duy hurriedly said.
"What matters is—did you see the power I just used?! That's something I spent over ten years mastering!"
His expression finally turned serious.
"This is the ultimate forbidden taijutsu that removes the body's natural limiters—the Eight Gates! There are eight gates in total. Each one you open grants tremendous power. Even I have only mastered up to the Seventh Gate."
Yuya listened, surprised—but also understanding.
In the original timeline, it took Duy nearly twenty years to fully master the Eight Gates. At this point in time, reaching the Seventh Gate made sense.
After the Second Ninja War, he would likely gain the ability to open all eight.
Seeing that Yuya didn't look shocked at all, Duy's excitement immediately deflated.
"…You're not impressed?"
"I am," Yuya replied quickly, forcing a look of amazement.
"Then what about the Eighth Gate?"
Duy's eyes lit up again.
"Opening all eight gates gives power comparable to the Hokage himself!"
He clenched his fist enthusiastically.
"Well… anyway, it's insanely strong!"
But when he remembered the price of opening the Eighth Gate—
death—
his excitement faltered.
Yuya was just considering how to ask for the actual training method when—
Duy clapped a hand on his shoulder, grinning like an older brother.
"So? Wanna learn it?!"
Yuya: "..."
Just like that?!
Is it really okay to teach a forbidden technique so casually?!
Then again…
Even if the Eight Gates were publicly available, very few people would dare train them.
And Duy had finally met someone like himself—
someone with no ninjutsu talent, forced onto the path of taijutsu.
Combined with Duy's… unique personality, this outcome made sense.
Duy now looked like he'd cry if Yuya refused.
Yuya sighed.
"Of course I want to learn."
He nodded firmly.
With Duy willing to teach him, there was no way Yuya would miss this chance.
Yes, he might eventually deduce the Eight Gates himself through extreme body training—
But that would take far too long.
And in three months, he had a duel to the death waiting for him.