"Open! Open the Gate!"
"Shut the door—no, open! Open!"
"Seimon... poof!"
A burst of chakra surged through Feng Huo's body—then backfired. He spewed a mouthful of blood mid-air before collapsing to the ground, limbs limp and trembling.
"Feng Huo! Are you okay?!"
Might Dai hurried over, eyes full of concern.
"Uncle Dai… still no good." Feng Huo spat out the lingering blood, panting hard. "I still can't open the Seimon."
He'd been training in the Eight Gates Released Formation (Hachimon Tonkō no Jin) for nearly a year. He could open the First Gate (Kaimon) and Second Gate (Kyūmon) since six months ago, but the Third Gate (Seimon) remained locked, no matter how hard he tried.
"Don't be in such a rush, Feng Huo," Dai said, laughing heartily. "Didn't you tell me once? You can't eat hot tofu in a hurry!" He thumped his chest. "The Eight Gates is a forbidden technique for a reason—it puts incredible strain on the body. You're already learning that firsthand."
"I know, Uncle Dai, it's just…"
Feng Huo trailed off. There were things he couldn't tell anyone. With a sigh, he added, "I'll be careful. Don't worry."
Dai tilted his head. "You seem troubled. Are you not comfortable living at Lady Zhenhong's place? If it's tough, you're welcome to stay at my home. Kai would love to have you as a training partner!"
He pounded his chest again with enthusiasm.
Feng Huo paled. "No! No trouble at all! I'm very happy living there!"
Live with Might Dai and Kai? With those two pairs of thick eyebrows constantly screaming about youth and crying at sunrise? He'd rather spar with a berserk Akimichi.
"…That so?" Dai scratched his chin. "Shame."
Feng Huo quickly changed the subject and resumed training seriously.
Suddenly—
"Front Lotus!!"
A booming shout echoed nearby, followed by a ground-shaking crash that sent birds flying from the trees.
Feng Huo and Dai both snapped their heads around and rushed toward the source. Dust filled the air, along with a cloud of splinters and wood shavings.
"This is…" Feng Huo's heart skipped. "Did Kai… finally do it?"
Kai's leg had healed half a month ago, and since then, he'd resumed intense training. If the progress held, then—
Sure enough, panting but elated laughter rose from the dust.
"Haha! I did it! I really did it!"
Kai burst from the debris like a rocket, arms wide open as he charged toward them.
"Father! Feng Huo!"
Dai's eyes filled with tears. "You… you really succeeded!"
"My youth is burning thanks to your guidance, Father!"
They embraced passionately—two green-clad, thick-browed souls basking in mutual admiration. Their cries of joy, the blinding gleam of their matching jumpsuits, their fiery eyebrows pressed cheek to cheek—it was a full sensory assault.
Feng Huo shielded his eyes. "Too… bright…! Too much youth…"
Kai had successfully mastered the Front Lotus (Omote Renge).
With Dai's guidance—after thousands of failed attempts and adjustments—the technique was finally reborn through Kai's sheer willpower and talent. And in that same moment…
Kai had opened the Third Gate: Seimon.
He had caught up to Feng Huo. No—he had surpassed him.
As expected of the man who'll someday kick Madara Uchiha to the edge of the afterlife... terrifying.
"Feng Huo, I challenge you!" Kai declared, still high on youth, still drenched in sweat and spirit. The setting sun framed him in golden light—a perfect shōnen frame of heroic passion.
"Yosh! Let's see what the Front Lotus can do! Accept the challenge, Feng Huo!" Dai cheered.
"…You… insufferable thick-browed tag team!"
Feng Huo fumed. They're already using me as a test dummy?! Backstabbing father and son! Crossing the river and kicking down the bridge! Lanxiang excavator-certified betrayal!
Kai refused to let up, clinging to Feng Huo like a stubborn leech.
"Feng Huo! Face me!"
"Even the setting sun is a part of youth!"
"Youth never flees from challenge!"
"Let's duel with our youth!!"
Feng Huo snapped and kicked him. "If I don't beat you into the dirt today, I'll take your surname!"
"Great timing!" Kai opened the First and Second Gates in a flash. "Leaf Whirlwind!"
"Strong Whirlwind!" Feng Huo countered with a backward spinning kick.
BOOM!
Their feet clashed midair with force. Feng Huo winced—he was being overpowered.
Ever since he became a Chūnin, his focus had shifted more toward genjutsu and sealing arts, thanks to shadow clones helping divide the workload. Meanwhile, Kai devoted himself solely to taijutsu and even took leave from the Academy to train full-time with Dai. His growth had exploded.
"Leaf Hurricane!"
"Leaf Gale!"
"Leaf Rising Wind!"
Kai's eyes sparkled with fiery spirit. In his tight green spandex, he looked like a beacon of relentless will. Feng Huo's arms and legs were going numb.
Damn it! My failed attempt to force open the Third Gate drained me. Now I can't even open the First—Kai's overwhelming me!
He clenched his fists. Twin sky-blue Rasengan began to form.
"Feng Huo!" Dai shouted sternly. "This is a taijutsu duel—no ninjutsu!"
Pfft!
Feng Huo nearly coughed blood again. How is this fair?!
BOOM!
Kai's Leaf Whirlwind connected. Feng Huo dug trenches into the dirt with his heels.
"Unfair! I call bullying!" he shouted, wheezing.
But Kai wasn't listening anymore.
"Leaf Rising Wind!"
"Oh no—he's going into a combo!"
Feng Huo's heart sank. Big brows, small heart—so sneaky! I trusted you!
Sure enough, Kai launched into the air with him. The bandages on his arms unfurled like snapping snakes, wrapping tightly around Feng Huo's body.
On the ground, Dai's eyes lit up. "It's… the Front Lotus!"
Of course it is. Like father, like son.
High above, Kai locked Feng Huo's body against his back and flipped upside down. The two of them spun like a drill, wrapped tight and falling fast.
"Front Lotus!!"
BOOM!!
They crashed into the earth, creating a crater several meters wide. Dust exploded outward as wind howled from the impact.
Kai somersaulted out of the pit, landing neatly on his feet.
"Well done, Kai!" Dai rushed forward, glowing with pride.
"Father!" Kai grinned, breathing heavily. "Training on wood and landing it on a living body… it's a whole different story!"
"Wait… living body?" Both father and son blinked, suddenly aware they'd forgotten something.
From inside the crater, Feng Huo's muffled groan floated up like a curse.
"...You… traitorous… thick-browed… maniacs…"
Visit patreon.com/Morgansenpai to get 30+ chapters