Chapter 52: Chapter 52
"So it’s like this, then like that..."
Might Duy rambled on for quite a while, going over the key points of opening the Eight Gates several times from different angles before finally stopping.
"Do you understand?"
"I think I’ve got the general idea."
Kiriya rubbed his chin, went over Duy’s words once more in his mind, then nodded.
"It’s fine even if you don’t. This kind of thing takes slow, steady effort. Back then, I also spent a long time—"
Might Duy had just started comforting him when he suddenly froze halfway through the sentence.
His eyes widened like copper bells as he stared at Kiriya.
"What did you say?"
"I said, I think I’ve got the general idea," Kiriya repeated.
"Young man, when it comes to training, either you understand or you don’t. There’s no need to force yourself just to save your dignity."
Might Duy thought Kiriya was too embarrassed to admit he had not understood, so he kindly tried to encourage him.
"Whether I can do it or not, we’ll know once I try."
Kiriya took two steps forward, clenched both fists, and guided the chakra inside his body according to the method Might Duy had taught him, driving it toward the limiters within his body.
His Magic stat had already reached the abnormal rank of SS.
His mental strength was powerful, his perception was sharp, and his control over energy had reached an extremely fine level.
Because of that, doing something like this was not as difficult for him as it would have been for others.
"Eight Gates, First Gate: Gate of Opening—open!"
"Second Gate: Gate of Healing—open!"
Blue veins bulged across Kiriya’s forehead, twisting under his skin like snakes. H
is blood began flowing at terrifying speed, and his fair skin gradually flushed red.
"Third Gate: Gate of Life—open!"
Kiriya let out a low roar.
His entire body turned crimson, and a faint green glow began radiating from him.
His short hair stood on end, and paired with the eerie green light shining in his eyes, he looked almost frightening.
But what truly shocked the others was the change in his aura.
As blue chakra erupted around his body, a fierce wind swept out from Kiriya, whipping up sand, snapping branches, and sending leaves flying through the air.
That overwhelming pressure made all three kids’ faces change.
"So... strong!"
Genma Shiranui’s pupils shrank, and even his voice trembled slightly.
"He only listened to Uncle Duy explaination for a few times, and he can already open the gates for real? This guy... he’s a genius among geniuses!"
"He did it that easily?"
Guy stared until he nearly started doubting his life.
The threshold he had trained for almost a year to touch had been crossed in one step by a boy only a few years older than him.
The difference between people could really be that unfair.
For the first time, Might Guy felt a wave of discouragement.
’Am I... just too stupid?’
No.
’How can my youth give up so easily? If he’s that strong, then that’s perfect. I’ll make him my goal and keep moving forward!’
Might Duy’s reaction was not much better than the children’s.
His whole body trembled, and his eyes shone like searchlights as he stared at Kiriya.
"This boy... he’s unpolish gem! Our taijutsu path is finally going to flourish!"
Might Duy was so excited he could barely control himself.
"As expected, this is youth!"
Kiriya felt the surging power inside his body roaring like a great river, and an unprecedented sense of confidence rose in his chest.
For one brief moment, he even felt as though one punch from him could shatter the boundless earth beneath his feet.
Of course, reason quickly overrode that feeling.
He knew it was only an illusion brought about by the sudden surge in power.
But knowing that was one thing, controlling it was another.
The rising force inside him still made his heart race, and he could not help wanting to find someone to fight so he could release it all properly.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
At that moment, a large number of kunai and shuriken flew toward them.
Many of the kunai had explosive tags attached, clearly meant to wipe them all out in one strike.
It should have been a lightning-fast ambush.
But in Kiriya’s eyes right now, it was unbelievably slow.
He even had time to trace the flight path of the kunai and shuriken backward, where he saw a large group of ninja with cold eyes.
The pattern on their forehead protectors looked like waves.
Kirigakure.
There were thirty of them.
"These guys actually chased us all the way here?"
Kiriya knew the commotion from earlier must have drawn them over.
He had no intention of letting anyone else handle it, so he simply left behind one sentence.
"Leave them to me."
Then he rushed forward.
Might Duy froze briefly, but he did not insist on joining in. Instead, he moved to his son’s side at once, preparing to block any attacks Kiriya missed.
Facing the rain of shuriken and kunai, Kiriya smiled faintly and threw both fists out again and again.
In an instant, over a hundred punches had already been launched.
"Destructive Death: Air Type."
Boom, boom, boom!
More than a hundred air bullets roared through the sky.
The kunai and shuriken were instantly blasted away, then flung back toward the Kirigakure ninja while glowing with a faint blue light.
With the first three gates of the Eight Gates strengthening him, Kiriya’s punching speed and raw force had reached an unbelievable level.
Because of that, even though he was only using the ordinary Air Type, its power was already comparable to Destructive Death: Final Form—Blue Silver Chaotic Afterglow.
"What?!"
The two jōnin leading the group cried out in shock, their bodies instinctively shifting to the side.
That instinct, sharpened by countless brushes with death, saved their lives.
Unfortunately, the other chūnin and jōnin did not have that kind of luck or strength.
They were swallowed completely by the air bullets Kiriya had fired.
Boom, boom, boom!
A chain of explosions erupted, blasting the small hill where the Kirigakure ninja had been standing into a honeycomb.
The top of the hill was shaved down by a full meter!
"That power... is terrifying!"
Ebisu and Genma Shiranui were left speechless.
If Kiriya’s earlier attack had been like a volley of mortars, then this was a Katyusha barrage sweeping the ground clean.
Wherever it passed, nothing remained.
"Oh, not bad!"
Might Duy nodded repeatedly.
To have this level of control the very first time he used the Eight Gates was truly impressive.
"Bastard!"
The two surviving jōnin’s eyes nearly split with rage.
Their subordinates, whom they had painstakingly trained, had been wiped out by the enemy in a single exchange.
That kind of loss was almost unbearable, and they had no idea how they were supposed to explain it to the village.
"Kill them! Only their heads can calm Lord Mizukage’s anger!"
Thinking of that, the two jōnin looked at Kiriya with even colder eyes.
A young genius with this kind of strength—his corpse would surely yield plenty of information.
Of course, fighting was fighting, but they did not simply draw their blades and charge in like fools.
One glance was enough to tell that this kid had entered some kind of berserk state.
Charging straight at him now would be stupidity.
So the two of them dodged while joining forces to cast the Hidden Mist Jutsu.
As elites of Kirigakure, blending into the mist and carrying out silent assassinations was their specialty.
They were confident they could wear this berserk boy down and kill him.
If Kiriya had been an ordinary taijutsu expert, he might really have been left in a miserable position.
But he also had the Sharingan.
Mist at this level could not hide their chakra signatures at all.
In other words, every movement they made was completely exposed in Kiriya’s eyes.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet."
One of the jōnin released a Water Dragon Bullet at Kiriya, intending to create an opening for his companion.
But Kiriya had already seen through their plan.
He flashed directly in front of the jōnin who had cast the jutsu and punched toward his head.
If that punch landed, the jōnin would be ready for burial on the spot.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
At that moment, the other Kirigakure jōnin used a defensive ninjutsu, trying to protect his companion from Kiriya’s attack.
What he did not expect was that Kiriya never intended to continue attacking.
Instead, Kiriya feinted, changed direction, and charged straight toward him.
In a single instant, Kiriya arrived beside the supporting jōnin and swept out a kick.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind."
The jōnin had no time to dodge. Kiriya’s kick caught him across the waist and sent him flying.
While he was still in midair, a rapid series of cracking sounds came from his body as bones shattered one after another.
By the time he hit the ground, he was already beyond saving.
Then Kiriya turned toward the last remaining Kirigakure jōnin, his smile completely devoid of warmth.
Seeing this, the last ninja knew there was no chance he would survive if things continued as they were.
So he chose to risk everything.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Jutsu!"
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