Konoha, Year 48
After the end of the Third Ninja War, the Land of Fire finally entered a rare period of peace.
With war gone, life returned.
Konoha Village quickly ushered in a peak of newborns. Children from various clans were born one after another—
the Aburame clan, the Akimichi clan, civilian families, and even the Uchiha.
Not long ago, Uchiha Sasuke was born.
On the streets of Konoha, Alex once saw Uzumaki Kushina, the wife of the Fourth Hokage. Her belly was already noticeably swollen.
Just one glance was enough.
Alex knew.
The night of the Nine-Tails isn't far anymore.
He also knew another truth—
when the Nine-Tails attacked the village, the Uchiha clan would not step onto the battlefield.
They would remain behind closed doors.
That decision would plant the seeds of distrust, fear, and hatred within Konoha's upper leadership—and eventually become one of the key reasons for the Uchiha clan's destruction.
Alex had no intention of trying to persuade Fugaku.
He was still too young.
He had no authority.
No influence.
Right now, there was only one thing he could do.
Train.
Train until all conspiracies became meaningless before absolute strength.
Under the Hokage Cliff
Two figures stood facing each other.
One tall.
One short.
The wind suddenly roared.
In the next instant, both figures vanished from their spots.
BOOM!
Blurry afterimages collided violently. Fists and legs clashed again and again, dull impacts echoing through the forest. Dust exploded into the air, leaves fluttered wildly, and cracks spread across the ground beneath their feet.
Ten minutes passed.
Then fifteen.
Finally, the two figures separated.
Alex staggered back a step, raised his hand in surrender, and sat down directly on the dirty ground without caring about appearances. He leaned forward, panting heavily as sweat poured off his body.
Even with a Saiyan body, this kind of battle was brutal.
Across from him, Might Guy stood upright, breathing steady, with only a thin layer of sweat on his forehead—no different from when the fight began.
Guy looked at Alex with satisfaction… and surprise.
After weeks of hellish training, Alex had not quit.
Not once.
His growth was obvious. Compared to when they first met, Alex was like a completely different person.
Guy's expression turned serious.
"Alex," he said, "you're already qualified to learn the Eight Gates Dunjia."
He paused.
"But I'll ask again—are you sure you want to learn it?"
"This is a technique that harms the user far more than the enemy."
Alex raised his head without hesitation.
"I want power," he said firmly.
"Power strong enough to protect everything I want to protect."
Guy stared at him for a moment.
"…Alright," he said slowly.
"But promise me one thing. Never use this technique against people of the village."
Alex smiled faintly.
"I'm also a ninja of this village."
Guy nodded.
The Eight Gates
"The Eight Gates Dunjia," Guy began, "is a high-level taijutsu forbidden technique."
"It forcibly opens the chakra limiters within the human body."
He spoke carefully, making sure Alex understood every word.
"In the chakra system, there are eight gates that restrict chakra flow:
Opening Gate.
Healing Gate.
Life Gate.
Injury Gate.
Limit Gate.
View Gate.
Shock Gate.
Death Gate."
"These gates exist to protect the body. Once opened, chakra can exceed its natural limits, granting power dozens of times greater than normal."
"But—"
Guy's voice hardened.
"Each gate damages the body. Opening all eight guarantees death."
Alex listened silently, committing everything to memory.
By the time Guy finished explaining, the sky had darkened completely.
"That's enough for today," Guy said.
"Tomorrow, we begin actual training."
Alex bowed and hurried home.
Uchiha Residence
Yasushi was away on another mission.
With his mother caring for his newborn sister all day, Alex rushed home as quickly as possible to help.
There was a reason Yasushi worked so hard.
Since Alex was born, the family's savings had been steadily declining.
Saiyans… ate terrifying amounts of food.
When Alex was still a baby, Misa once fed him a small bowl of rice, thinking it was more than enough.
Minutes later, he cried so hard the entire neighborhood heard it.
Terrified, she called the medical team—
only to be told with complicated expressions:
"Your child is just… hungry."
That day marked the beginning of Yasushi's tragic working life.
Now, with another child added to the family, Yasushi feared the worst.
If this one eats like Alex… even selling kidneys won't be enough.
When Alex returned home, Misa immediately placed his sister into his arms.
"Alex, take care of your sister first," she said.
"You haven't eaten yet. I'll cook."
She fled to the kitchen.
Akemi was nothing like Alex had been as a baby.
She cried.
She wriggled.
She refused to sleep.
Misa finally understood why other mothers used to complain.
Holding the crying baby, Alex forced a smile.
"Sister… be good, okay?"
"WAHH—!"
"…Can I sing for you?"
"WAHH—!"
"…Story? Once upon a time, there was a mountain—"
"WAHH—!!"
Alex's face twitched.
"What do you want from me?!"
Suddenly, warmth spread across his arm.
Alex froze.
"…No."
He sprinted toward the bathroom.
"Again?! This is NOT the first time!"
From the kitchen, Misa heard the noise and smiled quietly.
It's nice… not being the one suffering for once.