"The Eight Gates Formation…"
Kakashi's expression grew solemn as he spoke, his single visible eye fixed on the battlefield.
"There are eight gates within the human body," he continued. "The Opening Gate, Healing Gate, Life Gate, Pain Gate, Limit Gate, Vision Gate, Wonder Gate, and finally… the Gate of Death. These gates exist to limit the flow of chakra, protecting the body from destroying itself."
His voice lowered slightly.
"The Eight Gates Formation forcibly removes those limits, releasing power far beyond normal boundaries."
Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata listened without blinking.
"With each gate that opens," Kakashi said, "the user's physical strength, speed, and chakra output increase explosively. By the time the later gates are opened, the user's power can rival—or even surpass—that of a Hokage."
Everyone sucked in a sharp breath.
"But," Kakashi added grimly, "the price is equally terrifying. Each additional gate causes unbearable pain and extreme strain on the body. And when the Eighth Gate—the Gate of Death—opens…"
He paused.
"There is only one possible outcome."
"…Death."
Naruto's eyes widened. Sasuke's fists clenched. Hinata's face paled.
"How can something like that exist…?" Naruto whispered.
"That's basically suicide!" Sasuke muttered.
Kakashi nodded. "Exactly. That's why it's a forbidden technique."
He turned his gaze toward Might Guy, who stood proudly with his arms crossed.
"Guy," Kakashi asked quietly, "how far do you think Lee can really go?"
Might Guy's lips curled into a confident smile.
"Kakashi," he replied, "just watch carefully."
Under the intense gaze of the crowd, Rock Lee suddenly roared.
His arms slammed downward as veins bulged across his skin. Chakra erupted from his body like a pressure wave, blasting dust and gravel into the air.
"The Eight Gates Formation—"
"First Gate: Opening Gate!"
Open!
The ground beneath Lee cracked. A violent gust swept outward, forcing spectators to shield their eyes.
Neji Hyuga's brow furrowed.
"He opened the First Gate already…?"
Someone in the stands muttered, "Does he plan to start like this?"
Neji scoffed coldly.
"Lee, you've gotten smarter."
"But that level of power still isn't enough to defeat me."
Lee didn't respond.
Instead, he stomped hard against the arena floor.
Boom!
His figure blurred, vanishing from sight.
In the next instant, Lee appeared directly in front of Neji.
"The Shadow of the Dancing Leaf!"
Lee launched a fierce upward kick, aiming to send Neji flying into the air.
But—
Neji reacted instantly.
His palms snapped forward as chakra surged from his hands.
The Gentle Fist struck with precise timing, dispersing Lee's force and nullifying the technique before it could fully form.
"What?!" Lee exclaimed, eyes wide.
The Shadow of the Dancing Leaf was meant to launch the opponent skyward—yet Neji had shut it down completely.
Neji shook his head.
"Your movements are still too straightforward."
"Trying to defeat me with such predictable techniques is naïve, Lee."
Lee landed lightly and straightened.
"Yes," he said firmly, "I know you better than anyone, Neji."
"But you know me just as well."
"So tell me—what do you think of this?!"
Suddenly, Lee spun wildly around Neji, his movements accelerating. The bandages wrapped around his arms unraveled and shot outward like white serpents, rapidly encircling Neji's body.
Neji narrowed his eyes.
"You're planning to use this technique without the Shadow of the Dancing Leaf?"
"It won't be that simple."
Lee shouted,
"Front Lotus!"
The bandages tightened, aiming to bind Neji completely. Lee surged forward, preparing to unleash the devastating spinning blow empowered by the Opening Gate.
But—
Neji calmly shifted his stance.
One hand extended forward.
The other drew back.
He inhaled deeply.
Then his body twisted violently.
"Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams—"
"Secret Art… Rotation!"
BOOM!
A massive burst of chakra erupted from Neji's entire body, forming a rapidly spinning spherical barrier.
The force smashed outward in all directions.
Lee's bandages were torn apart instantly.
Lee himself was blasted backward like a cannonball, slamming into the ground far across the arena.
The stadium fell deathly silent.
Hyuga Hiashi rose halfway from his seat, shock written across his face.
"This… this can't be!"
"That technique is the Hyuga Clan Main House's secret art—Rotation!"
"How could Neji possibly know it?!"
"That level of mastery shouldn't be accessible to a branch family member…"
Hiashi's voice trembled.
"Did he… decipher the technique on his own?"
"…What terrifying insight."
"Has the branch family truly surpassed the main house?"
Hinata and Hanabi stared in disbelief.
"Brother Neji…" Hinata whispered.
"He really is a genius."
"Can someone really reach that level without being taught?"
Naruto turned to Hinata, confused.
"H-Hinata, what was that?!"
Hinata swallowed nervously.
"That technique is the Hyuga Clan's ultimate defensive jutsu—Rotation. It releases chakra from every tenketsu point to block all attacks."
"It's similar to Gaara's sand… another form of absolute defense."
Gaara's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That man… is strong."
Temari and Kankuro exchanged silent glances and nodded.
Naruto clenched his teeth.
"Damn it… everyone's a genius!"
"But—!"
He shouted toward the arena.
"Lee! Don't lose!"
"Don't forget the promise we made!"
Rock Lee slowly stood up.
He looked toward Naruto and nodded firmly.
Then his gaze shifted—to Might Guy.
"Teacher Guy," Lee said, his voice steady,
"To defeat Neji… to protect my ninja way…"
"I will use that technique."
Might Guy smiled brightly and gave a thumbs-up.
"It's fine, Lee."
"You can do it."
"I permit you!"
Lee's eyes lit up.
"Yes, Teacher!"
Under the stunned gaze of the crowd, Lee bent down and unfastened the weights around his ankles.
No one paid much attention at first.
Then—
Lee hurled them aside.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The arena shook violently as the weights crashed into the ground, leaving massive craters behind.
The crowd erupted in shock.
"W-What kind of weight is that?!"
"This kid's been training with that on the entire time?!"
"That's insane…"
Naruto stared in disbelief.
"Lee… you monster…"
Kakashi rubbed his forehead.
"Guy, don't you think this is going too far?"
Might Guy replied proudly,
"This is Lee's own resolve!"
"Burn, Lee!"
"Prove your youth!"
"Yes, Teacher Guy!"
In that moment, Lee felt completely unshackled.
His chakra surged violently.
"Aaaaaaah—!"
His aura exploded outward, far more intense than before.
"Eight Gates Formation—Second Gate: Healing Gate!"
"Open!"
Veins spread across his entire body as his muscles swelled.
"Third Gate: Life Gate!"
"Open!"
Chakra roared like a raging storm, tearing through his meridians.
Kakashi's expression darkened.
"Can he really go that far…?"
But Lee didn't stop.
"Fourth Gate: Gate of Pain!"
"Open!!"
"Fifth Gate: Limit Gate!"
"Open!!!"
BOOM!!!
A monstrous wave of chakra erupted.
Lee's entire body transformed—muscles bulging, skin flushed red, veins pulsing like steel cables.
He looked less like a human…
…and more like a beast born of pure willpower.
Kakashi was stunned.
"He opened the Fifth Gate…?"
"That's not something effort alone can achieve."
"This child…"
"…is a true genius."
Might Guy laughed loudly.
"That's it, Lee!"
"Go!"
"Youth knows no limits!"
Neji's face turned pale.
Even Gaara's expression changed completely.
"…Is that man truly this strong?"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)