"The Eight Gates..."
Kakashi's tone shifted, becoming uncharacteristically grim. "The body possesses eight specific tenketsu known as Gates: the Gate of Opening, the Gate of Healing, the Gate of Life, the Gate of Pain, the Gate of Limit, the Gate of View, the Gate of Wonder, and the Gate of Death. Normally, the body limits the flow of chakra to no more than 20% of its true potential to protect itself from tearing apart."[1]
"The Eight Gates Formation forcibly removes these limiters, unleashing power far beyond natural limits."
"With each successive gate, the power multiplies exponentially."
"If one were to open the final gate—the Gate of Death—they would temporarily gain power surpassing even that of the Five Kage."
"However, the cost is absolute. The body suffers unimaginable trauma, and opening the Eighth Gate guarantees only one outcome..."
"Death."
Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata froze, horrified.
"How... how is that even possible?"
"Wait, doesn't that mean Lee is risking his life just to win a match?!"
Kakashi nodded slowly. "That is exactly what it means."
He glanced sideways at the bowl-cut Jonin. "Guy, how far can that boy go?"
Might Guy grinned, though his eyes remained serious. "Just watch, Kakashi. The flower of youth is about to bloom!"
...
In the center of the arena.
Rock Lee roared, snapping his arms downward. Veins bulged across his skin as a violent, visible aura of green energy exploded around him!
"Eight Gates Released Formation! First Gate: Gate of Opening..."
"OPEN!"
The sheer pressure of opening the first gate cracked the stone floor, sending dust and pebbles flying outward in a shockwave.
Neji Hyuga frowned, his Byakugan activating instantly.
*He wants to strike first?*
"Lee, you've learned some new tricks..."
"But brute force alone will never defeat me!"
Lee didn't waste breath on words.
*Boom!*
With a single stomp, he vanished. Under the influence of the First Gate, his speed transcended normal vision. He was a blur, reappearing instantly in front of Neji's face.
"Shadow of the Dancing Leaf!"[4]
Lee launched a powerful upward kick, aiming to launch Neji into the air for a combo.
But Neji knew Lee too well.
His hands moved in a blur of their own.
*Slap!*
Using the Gentle Fist, Neji intercepted the kick, neutralizing the kinetic energy before it could lift him.
Shadow of the Dancing Leaf required the opponent to be airborne. By grounding the attack, Neji had killed the combo before it began.
"What?!"
Lee's eyes widened.
Neji scoffed. "Your attacks are linear. Predictable."
"You are naive if you think such simple tricks can bypass my defense."
Lee, however, didn't falter. He grinned wildly.
"As expected! You know me best, Neji. But I know you too!"
"So how about *this*?!"
Suddenly, Lee began to sprint in circles around Neji, moving so fast he became a multi-image afterimage. He unspooled the bandages from his forearms, letting them trail behind him like white serpents, tightening the circle to box Neji in.
Neji narrowed his eyes. "You think you can execute that move without launching me into the air?"
"It won't be that easy!"
"Front Lotus!" Lee roared.
He lunged, intending to ensnare Neji in the bandages and use the rotational force of the First Gate to drive him into the ground—a suicide piledriver known as the Front Lotus.[3]
However...
Neji dropped into a wide stance, extending his arms. He took a deep breath and began to spin.
"Gentle Fist Secret Technique..."
"Rotation!"
*Whirrrrr-BOOM!*
A massive sphere of blue chakra erupted from Neji's body, spinning with centrifugal force. It acted as an impenetrable barrier, repelling everything in its radius.
Lee's bandages—and Lee himself—were blasted backward violently, crashing into the dirt ten meters away.
In the VIP box, Hiashi Hyuga stood up, stunned. "That... that is..."
"The Main Branch's secret technique, Rotation?!"
"Impossible. Neji should never have been taught that technique... it is a closely guarded secret."
"Did he... did he figure it out on his own?!"
"What a terrifying talent..."
"Has the Branch family truly surpassed the Main family?"
Beside him, Hanabi stared in awe. "Neji-nii... is amazing."
Naruto scratched his head. "Hinata, what was that spinning thing?!"
Hinata explained, her voice trembling slightly. "Rotation is the ultimate defense of the Gentle Fist. By expelling chakra from every tenketsu in the body simultaneously and spinning, the user creates a shield that repels all physical attacks. It is, in a sense, another form of Absolute Defense."
On the other side of the railing, Gaara's eyes narrowed.
"That Hyuga... is dangerous."
Temari and Kankuro nodded, sweating.
Naruto slammed his hand on the rail. "Damn it! Why is everyone a genius except us?!"
"But..."
"Lee! Don't you dare lose! Remember our promise!"
In the arena, Lee struggled to his feet. He looked up at the stands, meeting Naruto's gaze, then turned to Guy.
"Guy-sensei... to defeat Neji... to prove my Ninja Way..."
"I have to do it."
Guy smiled, giving him a thumbs-up.
"Do it, Lee! Make it burn!"
"I give you permission!"
"Yes, Guy-sensei!"
Lee sat down on the statue's hand and began to untie his orange leg warmers.
At first, the audience was confused. *He's taking off his weights? Now?*
Lee stood up and dropped them.
*BOOM!*
The ground shook. Two massive craters appeared where the weights had landed, sending tremors through the entire stadium.
The crowd gasped in collective horror.
"What... how heavy were those things?!"
"He was moving that fast with *that* much weight on him?!"
"That kid is insane..."
Naruto's jaw dropped. "Bushy Brows... you were holding back *that* much?"
Kakashi sighed. "Guy, isn't that a bit extreme?"
Guy crossed his arms. "It is Lee's will."
"Go, Lee! Explode with the power of youth! Show them everything!"
"HRAAAHH!"
Freed from the burden, Lee vanished.
He was no longer a blur; he was invisible.
The air exploded as he moved.
"Eight Gates Released Formation! Second Gate: Gate of Healing..."
"OPEN!"
His skin turned red as blood pumped furiously through his muscles.
"Third Gate: Gate of Life..."
"OPEN!"[4]
Green energy roared around him like a hurricane, blowing back Neji's hair.
Kakashi's visible eye widened. "He can go *that* far?"
But Lee wasn't done.
"Fourth Gate: Gate of Pain..."
"OPEN!!"
"Fifth Gate: Gate of Limit..."
"OPEN!!!"[4]
In that instant, Rock Lee ceased to be human. His skin was deep crimson, his eyes white with pure intensity, and the chakra screaming around him warped the air itself.
Kakashi stared in disbelief. "The Fifth Gate?! At his age?!"
"That isn't just hard work... that boy is a genius in his own right!"
Guy laughed, tears streaming down his face. "GO, LEE!"
Neji's face went pale.
He knew Lee had mastered the gates, but he never imagined this.
*The Fifth Gate?*
Even Gaara took a step back, fear flickering in his eyes.
"That guy... he's a monster."
__________________________
"Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed the chapter, please consider donating Power Stones and joining our patreon
[patreon.com /daydreamer7]
for early access to future chapters.(+30 chapters)