Naruto: System of Zoro

**Chapter 7 - The Power of the Eight Gates**

"Come out."

Might Duy's voice rang out suddenly, clear and firm.

Kazane froze. His heartbeat quickened.

He had been caught.

For a brief moment, he considered slipping away, but that would only make things worse. With a resigned sigh, he stepped out from his hiding spot, his movements awkward.

Standing before Might Duy and his son, Kazane felt an odd mix of embarrassment and relief. He had been watching their training in secret for an entire month. He should have known that someone as skilled as Duy would notice sooner or later.

But instead of being angry, Duy raised a hand.

*Swish!*

Two dazzling beams of light flashed in the late afternoon sun.

"Youthful spirit!" Duy declared with a proud grin, flashing a thumbs-up.

Beside him, Might Guy did the same, their twin grins practically glowing.

Kazane's eye twitched.

For the hundredth time, he wondered what kind of toothpaste they used to make their teeth *that* bright.

"Sorry," Kazane muttered, rubbing the back of his head. "I've been secretly watching all this time."

Duy waved off his concern without hesitation. "No worries! I approve!"

Suddenly, he turned to his son, grabbing him in an emotional embrace.

"Guy! Did you see that? Someone is finally willing to train in taijutsu with me! My youth isn't over yet!"

"Father, I saw it! I really saw it! And he's my classmate! Waaah!"

Kazane took an involuntary step back.

He had steeled his mind against pain, against exhaustion, against death itself.

But *this*?

This was something else entirely.

Was an over-the-top, tear-filled reaction a *requirement* for this family?

Before he could recover, Might Duy strode forward and clapped a heavy hand on his shoulder. The impact nearly made him stagger.

"Kid, are you planning to learn taijutsu from me? That might be difficult…"

Kazane blinked. "Why?"

Duy sighed, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Because I'm just a Genin. I'm not qualified to take on a disciple."

Kazane shrugged. "I've already been learning for a month."

Duy laughed, though there was a hint of self-deprecation in his voice. "True, but you've seen it yourself—I'm only good at taijutsu. I don't have much else to teach you."

He expected Kazane to be disappointed.

Instead, Kazane's eyes burned with determination.

"I don't care about that. I know ninjutsu is powerful, but taijutsu is just as strong. I believe that a fighter who masters taijutsu can be just as formidable as a ninjutsu user."

Might Duy and Might Guy blinked at his conviction.

Kazane crossed his arms. "And I plan to become the world's strongest swordsman."

There was no arrogance in his voice, only pure, unshakable certainty.

Duy and Guy stared at him for a long moment.

Then Kazane coughed lightly. "To be fair… I have no talent for ninjutsu or genjutsu. To put it bluntly, I struggle just to refine chakra. My only option is taijutsu."

Might Duy's eyes widened.

"Is that so?!"

Before Kazane could react, he was suddenly lifted into a *crushing* hug.

"Ah—wait—"

Too late.

Duy squeezed him tightly, shaking him with excitement.

"Boohoo! This is amazing! You're a true ninja!"

Kazane struggled to free himself, but the man's grip was absurdly strong.

"Let go!"

"Such youthful energy!"

Kazane groaned. This is probably why he preferred to watch than get close to this man.

After what felt like an eternity, Duy finally set him down and patted his shoulders.

He looked at Kazane with complete sincerity.

"Even without ninjutsu talent, you can still become a great ninja.

"I believe that."

Hearing Might Duy's words, Kazane nodded firmly, feeling the sheer conviction behind them.

Might Duy smiled. "Young man, how about let me show you my taijutsu."

With that, he turned and walked toward the open training ground.

"Kazane, watch closely," Might Guy said, his eyes filled with admiration. "This is my father's ninja way."

Kazane focused his gaze on Might Duy.

And then—

*Boom!*

The air itself seemed to tremble.

Standing in the center of the clearing, Might Duy's entire body radiated a deep green glow. A wave of overwhelming pressure exploded outward, rippling through the clearing like a storm.

Kazane felt his breath hitch.

His muscles tensed instinctively, every fiber of his being screaming at him that he was witnessing something far beyond ordinary human strength.

*The Eight Gates…!*

For a moment, he could only stare, frozen in place. His mind raced as he processed the scene before him.

This was it—the strongest forbidden taijutsu technique.

A technique that unleashed the body's full potential by removing its natural chakra restraints, granting overwhelming power at the cost of immense physical strain.

Kazane knew exactly what this meant.

He had read about it. He had seen its devastating might in the original story.

Might Duy, a so-called "eternal Genin," had used this power to annihilate four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist in a battle that should have been unwinnable.

And Might Guy—his son—had nearly kicked Madara Uchiha, a god-like warrior, to death in the final war.

*This power… is real.*

Kazane's heart pounded in his chest.

He had always dreamed of witnessing the Eight Gates firsthand, and now, he was finally seeing it.

And soon… he would learn it.

With a steady stance, Might Duy took a deep breath and stomped his foot into the earth.

*Crack!*

The ground beneath him shattered like fragile glass, cracks spiderwebbing in all directions. The sheer force of his presence alone was enough to tear apart solid stone.

"Fifth Gate—Gate of Limit, open!"

*Boom!*

A second shockwave burst forth, whipping up dust and debris. The force alone sent small pebbles skittering across the ground.

The already fractured earth groaned under the immense pressure, and even the surrounding trees swayed as if bending to the might of his aura.

Then, in the blink of an eye—

*Swish!*

Might Duy disappeared.

No—he moved so fast that Kazane's eyes barely registered his motion.

In an instant, he reappeared before a massive boulder, easily twice his height.

His fist clenched.

His muscles coiled.

And then—

*Boom!*

A deafening explosion shook the clearing as the boulder shattered into a thousand fragments. Dust and rubble burst outward, scattering like falling meteors.

Kazane barely had time to react before the aftershock of the impact brushed past him, sending his hair and clothes fluttering.

It was terrifying. It was exhilarating.

It was everything he had imagined and more.

Might Duy turned and walked back toward Kazane, his movements calm and unhurried.

With each step, the green energy surrounding him faded, gradually dissipating until it vanished completely.

Stopping a few feet away, he smiled.

"Well, young man, this is the ultimate technique of physical liberation—the Eight Gates Formation."

Kazane's mind was still racing, but he forced himself to focus as Duy continued.

"This technique removes the body's natural chakra restraints, allowing for explosive power beyond normal limits. Opening all eight gates at once is called the 'Eight Gates Formation.'"

Duy's eyes gleamed. "Do you want to learn it?"

Kazane didn't even hesitate.

"Of course!" he said, his voice filled with uncontained excitement. "I can't even imagine how powerful it must be to open all eight gates!"

Might Duy nodded, clenching his fist as if reliving past battles. "All Eight Gates opened… That power can rival even the Hokage."

Then his expression darkened slightly.

"But…"

The atmosphere shifted.

"When all eight gates are open, you burn through your life force. It is a technique meant only for protecting what is most important to you because it costs you your life."

He looked Kazane directly in the eyes.

"Now that you know this… do you *still* want to learn it?"

There was no challenge in his voice, only deep sincerity.

Kazane met his gaze without flinching.

This wasn't a question of risk.

He had seen what the future held.

He had seen the wars, the conflicts, the battles that would shake the very foundations of the shinobi world.

He thought of the upcoming Third Shinobi War, where Kakashi would lose his eye and where countless lives would be thrown into chaos.

He thought of the future, where monsters that could crush mountains with a single move would appear. Where Kage-level opponents would be everywhere, and elite Jonin would be as common as weeds.

This was a world where power decided everything.

If he could master the Eight Gates, he wouldn't have to fear what was to come.

Because this world—this world was real.

It wasn't just a story anymore.

It wasn't just a hot-blooded adventure filled with friendly spars and inspirational speeches.

It was a world filled with blood, war, and darkness.

And yet…

There were people like Might Duy.

Simple. Kind. Honest.

Kazane liked that.

Compared to Konoha's scheming higher-ups, compared to Danzo's shadowy manipulations, compared to the arrogance and self-importance of the Uchiha clan—Might Duy was something different.

Something rare.

And Kazane wanted to see more of it.

He straightened his posture and nodded firmly.

"Yes. Please teach me."

A heavy silence hung between them.

Then—

"This is amazing!!"

Might Duy suddenly erupted with excitement, his entire body trembling with energy.

Kazane barely had time to process before Duy grabbed his hands, his eyes shining with pride.

"Youth! Burning youth!!"

Might Guy, unable to contain himself, wiped away tears of joy. "Father, this is truly a moment of passion! I feel like I'm watching history unfold!"

Kazane let out a long breath, already regretting his decision on an emotional level.

But in the next moment, Might Duy's face became serious.

The light-hearted energy vanished in an instant.

He released Kazane's hands and looked at him intently.