"I understand now. Your use of the Eight Gates is similar to a natural adaptation," Jingyi observed. "It wasn't developed intentionally, but instinctively. You've opened the gates many times already so often that your chakra pathways have loosened."
The Eight Gates are chakra limiters within the body. Each gate releases a different limiter on physical and chakra flow, at the cost of severe strain. Most people can't open more than one or two safely.
But the more might Duy trained in the Eight Gates, the fewer side effects he suffered. Though he could open up to the Sixth Gate, he had never fully mastered them he simply built his body to endure.
As a result, his body was so used to the strain that it could subconsciously release the tension in certain gates without fully opening them.
This wasn't something that could be taught.
Jingyi himself struggled to open even three of the eight gates. The Fourth Gate the Gate of Pain was still out of reach. And because his chakra control was so precise, he couldn't replicate Might Duy's accidental "partial release."
"Is this... a good thing or a bad thing?" might Duy scratched his head, clearly unsure.
"For you and Guy? It's a perfect fit. Most jōnin wouldn't be able to handle it," Jingyi replied.
The technique Duy developed wasn't flawed but it demanded exceptional physical conditioning. Even elite shinobi might not survive the strain of that kind of "activation technique."
To refine it further would require deep understanding of medicine and cellular biology. Unfortunately, Tsunade wasn't in the village to help.
"Maybe," Jingyi suggested, thinking aloud, "you could suppress the activation effect to avoid unintentionally triggering the gates. If you can manage that control, it might become stable."
"Suppress it? Huh... I hadn't thought of that!"
Diy's eyes lit up. He pumped his fist. "Yes! This is youth! Burn, my youth!"
Then, without warning, he bolted away likely to train again.
Jingyi blinked, then shook his head.
"Like father, like son…"
Still, Duy's technique was fascinating. The Eight Gates unlock restrictions on the brain and body, allowing access to more of one's potential up to and beyond 100% efficiency. But Duy's method allowed a partial opening, lowering the toll while boosting performance. It was worth studying.
Jingyi planned to push himself too he'd aim to reach the Sixth Gate soon.
Medical knowledge could help. If only he had Tsunade's experience. For now, he'd stick to physical training and improving his techniques.
His team was just formed. Everyone was busy training. He kept up his pace three missions a day and rotated his teaching focus among the team.
Asuma was focused on Wind Release. Shisui practiced kenjutsu. Kurenai... was trickier.
She had some genjutsu talent, but little medical skill only a basic Palm Healing Technique. Jingyi decided to teach her the Body Flicker Technique hllis own improved version.
Kurenai was determined, and that was enough.
Daily teaching also brought modest rewards: minor ninjutsu like Great Breakthrough and the Naraku Sight Technique. But more importantly, Jingyi's swordsmanship had steadily improved, saving him months of self-study.
Then one day...
"Master Jingyi," said a mission desk chunin, "we've run out of D-rank missions. There's only one left."
"Only one?"
"Yes. Most of the Genin have returned, and the postwar cleanup has been thorough. The mission list is nearly empty."
Kurenai offered gently, "Sensei, one mission is fine."
D-rank missions were usually simple. After ten days of doing them, his students weren't gaining much from them anyway.
Jingyi scanned the list. One C-rank mission stood out.
"Then I'll take this one," he said, pointing. "Assist with road repairs."
Unlike the Great Naruto Bridge, this job was rebuilding war-damaged routes in the Land of Fire an area still prone to bandits.
"C-rank?" the desk-nin hesitated. "New genin teams can't take anything above D."
"It's fine. We're strong enough. And besides," Jingyi said flatly, "graduating at twelve isn't standard anymore. Why cling to old rules?"
"But still"
Bang. Jingyi slammed the Thunder God Sword onto the desk.
The chunin flinched.
Just then, the Third Hokage arrived.
"Give him the mission," Hiruzen said calmly. "But be cautious, Jingyi. Things outside the village remain unsettled. Take this one instead restore Baiyun Town."
"Understood, Hokage-sama."
Baiyun Town. It was west of the Fire Countrybnot a battlefield, but close to Kikyō Pass. Likely not a coincidence.
After receiving the scroll, Asuma and Kurenai looked eager.
Shisui, already part of the Uchiha guard force, didn't seem as moved. He was used to missions outside the village.
"Be alert," Hiruzen added. "Observe everything."
Jingyi nodded, took the travel permit, and left.
Outside the gate, he turned to the team.
"Remember what I said about movement and body techniques?"
"We remember!"
And with that, they dashed off. The road was safe these days no war, no bandits. Still, Jingyi scanned with chakra regularly.
If anything did happen, it would be a good test for the students.
But he had a feeling
Something wasn't right in Baiyun Town.