Chapter 45: Fugaku's Saltiness; A Message from the Kaguya Clan
The Hachimon Tonkō—The Eight Inner Gates.
It was a forbidden technique that forcibly removed the body's natural limiters, allowing for an explosive, temporary surge of power that overran the user's physical systems. Who exactly had invented it was a mystery lost to history.
In the Sarutobi clan archives, there were mentions of a shinobi from the Warring States period who had used this art. Legend said the user would erupt in a mist of "crimson steam," wielding chakra dozens of times greater than their normal capacity.
"Gate of Opening... Gate of Healing... Gate of Life... Gate of Pain, OPEN!"
Might Dai unleashed the first four gates in a single breath. The Gate of Pain was the final "safe" threshold of the technique; anything beyond that would cause permanent, structural damage to the user's body once the effect wore off.
The air pressure around the group spiked, a violent gale of green-tinted chakra swirling around Dai.
Kakashi, the "Little Genius," felt his ego shatter into a thousand pieces. He stared at Dai, his mouth hanging open. How had this scruffy, middle-aged man—the village's favorite punchline—suddenly transformed into a primeval beast?
A new realization took root in Kakashi's mind: My father was right. Graduating early would have been suicide.
Real shinobi are all monsters. What am I? Just a kid playing ninja in a schoolyard. I want to go back to the Academy... at least the kids there are normal.
Graduation? Kakashi made a silent vow then and there: he wouldn't graduate until he had at least one "kill-move" that could match that level of pressure.
Minato Namikaze was equally stunned. He looked at Dai with a mix of shock and profound respect. I have talent, sure, Minato thought, but I can never afford to underestimate anyone. The "grind" is real.
Without knowing it, Might Dai had just achieved a major victory for the village: he had humbled Konoha's two greatest prodigies, instilling in them the trait of Strategic Caution.
"Lord Hiruzen... this jutsu is the result of twenty years of silent cultivation," Dai panted, the chakra humming around him.
"Please give me more time! I'm close to grasping the method for the final Gate—the Gate of Death!"
"Lord Hokage, I am ready to burn my youth for the Leaf at a moment's notice!"
Young Guy looked up at his father, his eyes shining with pure, unadulterated worship. My dad... is the strongest man in the world!
Hiruzen nodded solemnly.
A 'Gate of Death' Might Dai... Arata thought, running the numbers. That's a combat asset that could likely match or exceed the White Fang himself in a suicide charge.
"I hope you never have to open that final gate, Dai," Hiruzen said softly.
"But as Hokage, I promise you this: if the day ever comes where the village truly needs your fire, I will be the one to personally hand you that mission."
Hiruzen recalled the "Mighty Duo's" signature pose. He looked Dai in the eye and gave him a sharp, confident thumbs-up. "Your youth has added a brilliant new spark to Konoha's foundation!"
Seeing the Third Hokage—the "God of Shinobi"—publicly validate his way of life sent a surge of heat through Dai's chest.
"LORD HOKAGE! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT!!" Dai shouted, snapping an identical thumbs-up back at Hiruzen. "Might Dai is standing by for your call!"
The Anbu and Police Force units who had rushed to the scene were speechless. Is that really the 'Cat-Finding Expert'? The 'Spandex Joker'? The Eternal Genin?
The chakra radiating from Dai's "Gate of Pain" was no joke. It was far beyond the level of a Genin or Chunin; very few Tokubetsu Jonin could output that much raw energy.
Fugaku Uchiha felt a phantom pain in his teeth.
He looked at Hiruzen, who was dressed in simple black gear, clearly out for a 4:00 AM training session. How is everyone this motivated? Is the whole village on stimulants?
"You're here?"
Hiruzen glanced over, nodding to the Police Force and Patrol units. "Good reaction time. Keep that pace up."
"Hizashi, you're on shift again?" Hiruzen asked the Hyuga. "You need to rest. Don't work yourself to death."
Every morning during his training, Hiruzen saw Hizashi patrolling the streets. The long black hair and the tan Anbu duster were easy to spot, even behind a mask. The man was practically living on the clock.
Hizashi felt a wave of warmth. "Lord Hokage, I'm not tired! I've never felt more alive!"
For Hizashi, being able to walk freely through the village was a "blessing" he still hadn't fully processed. Why would he sleep when he could be free?
Fugaku, meanwhile, was sinking into a pit of political despair.
Hizashi was a special case, sure. But then there was Minato Namikaze. Fugaku had sparred with the blonde teenager during a security audit and realized with a shock that his three-tomoe Sharingan had trouble tracking the kid's base speed.
And now? Even the "Village Idiot" was revealed to be a hidden S-rank tank?
Hiruzen is turning stones into gold, Fugaku thought. His faction is growing more powerful by the day, while the Uchiha are just... waiting.
He truly understood Elder Isshin's warning now. Patience. If they didn't wait for a "generational miracle" like Madara to be born, the Uchiha would be swallowed by Hiruzen's sheer momentum.
"Sigh," Fugaku shook his head.
He felt a strange mix of emotions. On one hand, he was trained to be a rival to the Hokage. On the other hand, the Uchiha veterans who had joined the Patrol Net were happier and better paid than they had been in years.
I'll let the Elder handle the big picture, Fugaku decided, his mind drifting. Actually, I have my own problems. Elder Isshin keeps preaching 'patience,' so I've been spending all my free time with Mikoto... and now she's pregnant. I'm going to be a father.
What should I name the boy?
While Fugaku was daydreaming about baby names, Hiruzen was already making a personnel move.
"Sakumo, what do you think about bringing Dai into the Anbu?"
"You mean... have him open the Eight Gates and punch our enemies into paste as a 'stealth' tactic?" Sakumo joked, a slight smirk under his mask.
"Actually, yes," Hiruzen chuckled.
"In reality, the Anbu identity is only a secret to the commoners. Every major village has a 'Most Wanted' list of our elite. They know who we are the moment we draw a blade. If we want to leave no traces, we leave no survivors."
"But I was thinking of making Dai a Physical Fitness Instructor. An unofficial 'Tactical Combat' consultant."
"His current condition isn't suited for low-level grunt missions. We shouldn't waste his talent on busywork. Plus, I want him to have time to be a father."
Sakumo nodded seriously. "That's a perfect fit. Stamina and conditioning are the core of Anbu operations. Dai's insight into physical limits would be invaluable."
"Congratulations, Dai. You are now a Tokubetsu Jonin (Special Jonin)," Hiruzen said, patting Dai on the shoulder. "I'll be watching your progress."
Dai felt his brain go numb.
He hadn't shown off the Gates to get a promotion. He had done it because he felt ashamed to hide his strength from a Hokage who cared so much for the common man.
"L-Lord Hiruzen... can I really do this?" Dai stammered. "I'm... I'm not very smart. Most ninjas don't even want to team up with me because I don't have any jutsu..."
"If you don't know how to do it, then work until you learn. Doesn't your 'Way of Youth' have a saying about that?" Hiruzen asked sternly.
Dai took a shaky breath, his eyes filling with tears of determination. "YES! Lord Hokage! I will give it everything I have!"
Sakumo stepped up beside him. "Let's go, 'Special Jonin' Dai. We're colleagues now. I'll show you the barracks."
"Lord Sakumo! It's an honor!"
Hizashi Hyuga watched the scene from the shadows, a small smile on his face.
The Hokage is shining his light on another lost soul, he thought.
A Few Days Later.
Hizashi Hyuga returned to the Hyuga Estate. He was there to see his father, Tenzo Hyuga.
The Anbu needed more "eyes" for the detection net, and Hizashi was there to "negotiate."
But as it turned out, the Clan Head was already waiting for him. Tenzo looked uncharacteristically pale. He was holding a letter from a distant branch of their ancient lineage—the Kaguya Clan of the Hidden Mist.
The contents of the letter were chilled with the scent of blood and desperation.
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