Kyōichi, Konoha’s Life Mentor

"Hm?"

Might Duy was a taijutsu expert - although he didn't think so himself, considering himself merely a genin.

The moment Kyōichi's body and chakra changed, he sensed it. This feeling...

It was similar to the Eight Gates!

Could he also know the Eight Gates?

Might Duy was curious and couldn't help but look more closely.

No!

It's different.

This isn't the Eight Gates.

"Kanda-sensei, what technique is this?"

Might Duy was quite surprised.

He had researched the Eight Gates for twenty years, checked numerous materials, and through half exploration and half contemplation, mastered this technique as his own. Yet Kyōichi, at just fifteen, seemed to have mastered something similar.

"This is a taijutsu technique I thought of, the Seven Heavenly Breaths."

Kyōichi didn't hide it.

His "practice" of this technique was meant to attract Might Duy's attention.

"Seven Heavenly Breaths?"

Might Duy was shocked.

It really was different from his own!

The Eight Gates relies on the body's eight gates - no matter how it changes, the foundation is still the eight gates. But Kyōichi's technique mentioned "breath," so...

Could it be related to breathing?

Although Might Duy had only practiced the Eight Gates for twenty years straight, through his research of the Eight Gates, he had become very knowledgeable about taijutsu.

Just from the name alone, he had guessed its core principle.

However.

How exactly it was done, Might Duy naturally didn't know.

"Lightning Release chakra can stimulate cellular activity, and inhaling large amounts of oxygen can similarly stimulate cellular activity."

Kyōichi explained.

This was the core of the Seven Heavenly Breaths.

Compared to Lightning Release chakra stimulation, the Seven Heavenly Breaths was more brutal. The speed and power limits after stimulation were higher and stronger, but the price was correspondingly greater.

"I see... the side effects are indeed much less than mine."

Though Might Duy lacked knowledge, his twenty years of research and contemplation had given him a very high understanding of the body. He immediately understood the benefits of the Seven Heavenly Breaths.

The burden on the body was less!

"Yours?"

"Kanda-sensei, to be honest, I've also created a technique over these twenty-plus years based on some old materials, one that pushes the human body's limits - the Eight Gates!"

Might Duy nodded, then began to roughly explain the principles.

The more he explained, the more he admired Kyōichi.

The body's eight gates, in a sense, limit the upper bounds of chakra within the body, preventing it from harming oneself.

These are eight gates that protect oneself.

Opening them grants tremendous power, but naturally one must suffer the backlash of "unlocking" them - muscle tears and physical breakdown are just the smallest prices to pay.

Although the Seven Heavenly Breaths might not reach the limits of the Eight Gates, it was more suitable for widespread application. While it would cost cellular division as a price...

On the battlefield, this kind of explosive technique could save a life at crucial moments.

Moreover.

Since it only stimulated physical vitality, chakra usage wouldn't be greatly affected.

This was another advantage over the Eight Gates -

When the Eight Gates' limitations were released, the chakra surge was too terrifying, far beyond human control.

Compared to these benefits, mere cellular division truly didn't count for much.

Thinking of this, he cast aside his reservations and asked, "Kanda-sensei, my Eight Gates is named after the body's eight gates which form its foundation. What about your Seven Heavenly Breaths?"

"I envisioned there should be seven levels of activation, but currently, I've only developed up to the third activation."

Kyōichi said.

Beside them, Might Guy had long since become confused.

Although he had started practicing the Eight Gates, his understanding of the body and the essence of taijutsu wasn't yet thorough. He couldn't understand these topics at all, let alone discuss his own understanding.

After listening for a while, he simply went off to practice his taijutsu moves.

"Third activation..."

Might Duy was itching to know more.

Stimulating cellular activity - this approach was novel. He had never thought about enhancing taijutsu from this angle before.

"Currently, it's all based on the amount of oxygen inhaled. Now I can inhale four times the oxygen, but for future development, I believe it shouldn't just be limited to this."

"Wait! Since you created all this through your own exploration, I can't just listen for free. I'll exchange it for the Eight Gates, but... hmm, no, with Kanda-sensei's character, you'll definitely use this technique at appropriate times."

Might Duy had wanted to give some advice like he would to his son.

But.

Thinking carefully, did he need to worry about Kanda Kyōichi's character?

With Kanda-sensei's personality, he would definitely use the Eight Gates for protection.

"Thank you, senpai. To be honest, I'm also very interested in the gate-opening technique, but the eight gates are the body's chakra locks. This technique should be classified as forbidden and can't be used frequently."

"As expected, Kanda-sensei, you understand without me having to explain."

Might Duy laughed a few times, then began quietly exchanging techniques.

Kyōichi also taught him the Seven Heavenly Breaths.

However.

From the fourth activation onward, the Seven Heavenly Breaths had no reference points. Unless the system could create the subsequent parts from nothing, it could only be explored and researched independently.

Compared to the incomplete Seven Heavenly Breaths, the complete Eight Gates was naturally superior.

But.

Might Duy didn't feel he had lost out.

The Seven Heavenly Breaths showed him a completely different direction. Although using it simultaneously with the Eight Gates wasn't practical, he was very interested in it -

If it could be researched and improved, perhaps the activation method could be popularized.

"Kanda-sensei, if we lower the function and threshold of the first activation further, could it be promoted as a common taijutsu technique?"

"I had that idea, still researching it."

"Although I'm foolish and still just a genin, I can try to help..."

"That would be great!"

While excited, Kyōichi couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

He had wanted to exchange for the Eight Gates, but Might Duy was thinking about improving the Seven Heavenly Breaths into a lower-level breathing technique suitable for most ninja to use. Just in terms of vision, he himself was inferior.

The key was.

In Might Duy's eyes, his character seemed very noble.

After talking with Might Duy, Kyōichi couldn't help but sigh at the thought that the Third Hokage was letting someone like Might Duy remain just a genin was really quite wasteful.

So.

Did the Konoha lack talented people?

No, it's just that the Third and Danzō, these two idiots, hadn't cultivated and preserved them properly.

Compared to Senju Tobirama, the Third was far too weak in this aspect.

That day.

Kyōichi and Might Duy continued discussing and experimenting.

The Eight Gates and Seven Heavenly Breaths.

The two techniques were completely different systems, but both were explosive forbidden techniques. Might Duy still had a decent understanding, and he quickly mastered the first activation.

"I have some inspiration, but... I don't know how to explain it."

Might Duy's face turned red with anxiety.

He learned taijutsu purely through hard practice, lacking theoretical knowledge. He could explain the Eight Gates clearly, but when it came to researching and summarizing the Seven Heavenly Breaths, he couldn't articulate the principles for a moment.

Generally speaking, it was just the rough way.

Kyōichi understood very well.

He thought for a moment and said, "Duy-senpai, there's no need to rush this matter. If necessary, we can just publish the first activation as is - its universal applicability is sufficient. As for the Eight Gates, I think we can create different complementary techniques."

"Different complementary techniques? Why?"