Chapter 44
The Power of Youth and the Path to Strength
"The prerequisite for mastering the Hachimon (Eight Gates) is relentless, grueling, and long-term training that pushes you beyond your limits. If you don't give up, you can achieve it. Anyone can learn the Eight Gates if they have the willpower."
After Guy-sensei's explanation, Zixu gained a deeper understanding of the so-called Eight Gates. Just as he said, this technique wasn't some secret art—everyone in the ninja world knew about it. The Eight Gates were common knowledge, yet few chose to train in them.
And the reason was simple.
One path required endless, backbreaking training with no immediate results and great risks in actual combat. The other offered dazzling, powerful ninjutsu that could be learned with far less effort. Faced with that choice, most people didn't even consider the Eight Gates worth the trouble.
"Moreover, the power of the Eight Gates depends entirely on the user's body. Strength varies according to physical condition, meaning that its potential is different for each person," Guy-sensei continued, generously sharing his years of accumulated knowledge. He was always happy to see young people like Zixu interested in taijutsu. After all, whether it was ninjutsu or taijutsu, their creators hoped their techniques would be passed down.
"Listen carefully, kid. Taijutsu might just be the way for commoners to rise above their limits," Guy-sensei said, grinning as he ruffled the little boy's hair with enough force to shake his brain. The boy's mother, noticing the serious way the shinobi were speaking to her son, chose not to interrupt. Perhaps, just perhaps, this was the moment that could change their family's fate.
"To use the Eight Gates, you need chakra. Chakra exists in everyone, but only trained ninjas know how to wield it. However, through relentless training, even non-shinobi have a chance to access the Eight Gates. After all, this is a purely physical technique..."
Hearing those words, the little boy's eyes, which had been shining with excitement, dimmed slightly. Once again, the gap between civilians and shinobi stood before him like an insurmountable wall.
"The Eight Gates technique works by forcibly breaking the body's natural chakra restraints and unleashing an overwhelming surge of power. The human body has eight inner gates that regulate chakra flow: the Kaimon (Gate of Opening), the Kyūmon (Gate of Healing), the Seimon (Gate of Life), the Shōmon (Gate of Pain), the Tomon (Gate of Limit), the Keimon (Gate of View), the Kyōmon (Gate of Shock), and the Shimon (Gate of Death). These gates exist to limit the amount of chakra a person can use at any given time. However, by forcefully surpassing these restrictions, one can achieve strength dozens of times greater than normal. But in exchange... the user's body suffers immense damage."
"That's why the later gates, especially the final one, come at a great cost. Because of this, the Eight Gates are classified as a forbidden technique. I can only teach you the initial training methods. Beyond that, it's up to your comprehension and determination."