"Master Hatake!"
"It's the White Fang of Konoha!"
"What's he doing here?!"
When the elite jōnin and chūnin inside the mission hall saw Sakumo Hatake appear without warning, most of them nodded in respectful greeting. Yet a few shinobi from prominent clans exchanged uneasy glances.
The name 'Konoha's White Fang' shook the entire ninja world. As the current leader of the Anbu and one of the Third Hokage's most trusted men, Sakumo held tremendous power and respect—some sought to ally themselves with him, while others resented his influence but dared not show open hostility due to his overwhelming strength.
"Master Hatake!"
Might Duy recognized Sakumo at once. The year before, when his son Might Guy enrolled in the Academy, Sakumo had visited the school with his own son—Kakashi Hatake.
"I happened to see you and thought I'd say hello," Sakumo said with a calm, gentle smile—far removed from the fearsome battlefield legend whispered about in every village.
"Master Hatake, you're too kind," Duy replied, bowing slightly.
Sakumo gave a small nod. "Shall we talk outside?"
The two exited the mission hall and walked together toward a quiet alley beside the Hokage Monument. There, beneath a telephone pole, Sakumo finally spoke.
"Actually, I've been trying to propose a reform to the Third Hokage regarding the shinobi promotion system," Sakumo began with a sigh. "But some people have blocked the motion."
Duy looked puzzled.
"I've seen your strength, Duy. You're an outstanding taijutsu specialist. I noticed it the very first time I laid eyes on you," Sakumo said sincerely.
Might Duy looked startled, then gave a sheepish smile. "Master Hatake, I… I'm only a genin. I've never passed the Chūnin Exams. My only strength is a technique I developed myself—a forbidden one."
"Forbidden?" Sakumo's sharp instincts tingled. As a veteran of countless missions, his intuition rarely failed him, though he couldn't quite gauge Duy's full power.
"I call it… the Eight Gates Released Formation," Duy said seriously. "But I haven't mastered all of it yet."
"The Eight Gates, huh?" Sakumo muttered. The name rang unfamiliar. Could Duy have created such a technique from scratch?
"I'm intrigued. If you ever need support, don't hesitate to ask," Sakumo offered, smiling again.
"Really?!" Duy's face lit up.
"Of course," Sakumo laughed. "Our sons are good friends, after all."
Duy hesitated, then said shyly, "In that case, Master Hatake… could you teach me the Shadow Clone Technique?"
"No problem," Sakumo replied easily. "I'll be right back."
In a blur, he vanished.
Duy's eyes widened. So fast! Even after decades of taijutsu training, Duy couldn't come close to matching that speed—unless he opened several of the Eight Gates.
Half a minute later, Sakumo reappeared holding a small scroll.
"This contains the instructions for the Shadow Clone Technique," he said, handing it over.
"Thank you so much!" Duy said, bowing deeply.
"This jutsu was created by the Second Hokage. It became widespread after the last war, so don't worry about keeping it secret," Sakumo said casually. "I'm off to meet Lord Hiruzen now. Farewell."
That Evening…As the Academy let out for the day, Fenghuo and Kai sprinted off toward the woods at the edge of the village.
After a full day of rest—well, technically "class," but both had secretly napped through most of it—they had recovered nicely. Especially Fenghuo, who used medical ninjutsu to soothe his muscles and had a naturally fast recovery rate.
In the clearing, Might Duy had already begun training.
He stood before the thickest tree in the grove—wide enough that even a grown man couldn't wrap his arms around it. Eyes shut, Duy focused. His chakra surged. His blood roared like a rushing river. His skin flushed with a reddish hue, and blue flames of chakra ignited along his body. The intense pressure radiating from him made leaves bend and birds scatter.
Gate of Opening, Gate of Healing, Gate of Life, Gate of Pain, Gate of Limit—Open!
With a flash, Duy's eyes snapped open. The air pulsed around him.
Just as he prepared to strike—
He stopped. He heard footsteps.
Who's there?
With a breath, he slowly released the gates. One by one, the chakra flows reversed. The glow faded, his skin returned to normal.
In the distance, Fenghuo suddenly halted and looked ahead sharply.
"Fenghuo? What's up?" Kai asked.
"You don't feel that?" Fenghuo replied.
"Feel what?"
"...Never mind."
Fenghuo ran on, but his heart beat wildly. That power just now—it wasn't my imagination. That was Father Duy's Eight Gates!
"You two! Late again!"
Might Duy's booming voice rang out as they arrived. "Run laps! Now!"
And so, the torture began again.
After twenty laps around the grove, Fenghuo collapsed against a tree, wheezing.
"Fenghuo! Three hundred side kicks! Go!"
Staggering over to a tree stump, Fenghuo raised his leg. One kick. Two. Ten.
"Gah—!"
A sudden cramp seized his leg.
Kai had already fallen over, hugging his feet and screaming.
Duy watched them both silently. Though his heart ached, he did not let it show.
Eventually, the cramp passed. Fenghuo gritted his teeth and resumed. Fifty. Seventy. Blood began to soak through the fabric at his ankle. Still, he didn't stop.
"Persevere! Endure! Never give up!"
His eyes bloodshot, Fenghuo continued. Eighty. Ninety. One hundred.
At one hundred and twenty-five, his leg gave out completely.
"Switch legs!" came Duy's merciless command.
Gasping, Fenghuo braced on his injured leg and kicked with the right.
Kai mirrored his training. Both were soon bleeding from both feet. Their legs shook like jelly.
Finally, they collapsed.
"If you can't finish the kicks, it's one hundred squats!" Duy barked.
"Yes, sir!"
Their bodies had long since hit their limits, but neither boy gave in. No complaints. No rest. Just willpower.
They stood. Hands behind heads. Squats began.
But after just one, Kai dropped to the ground, groaning.
Fenghuo wasn't far behind. His reopened wounds bled again.
I'll heal it… he reached for chakra—and realized with horror he had none left. It had all been spent subconsciously, healing himself throughout the brutal regimen.
"That's enough," Duy finally declared.
He instantly dashed to Kai, hugging him tightly, tears gushing from his eyes.
"Kai! You are my greatest pride!"
"You're my pride too, Dad!"
Father and son bawled dramatically. Tears flew—splattering onto Fenghuo's face.
Lying flat on the ground, too weak to crawl away, Fenghuo stared at the sky in silent agony.
So embarrassing...