Chapter 13: Young Man, Let’s Have a Passionate Duel

Chapter 13: Youth, Let’s Have a Passionate Duel

Rock Lee stood dumbfounded, utterly astonished.

What kind of fist was that?

“How did you do it?”

“Perfectly harnessing strength, combined with chakra enhancement.”

This was exactly what Chiba intended to teach.

The Eight Gates Technique, in simple terms, is about unlocking the chakra within the body to empower physical strength. If the body is strong enough, it can offset some side effects; if not, opening the gates results in either death or severe injury.

He didn’t fully understand the Eight Gates Technique, but the principle was similar enough to borrow from.

“Amazing!”

Lee’s voice was filled with excitement, though a trace of disappointment lingered in his eyes.

“Lee, like me, you don’t know ninjutsu or genjutsu, but you do have chakra. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to climb trees or walk on water. So you shouldn’t just tap into your physical strength—you need to use your chakra as well.”

Chiba spoke earnestly.

Lee fell silent.

“I haven’t taught this to anyone else yet, so I don’t know if it will work for everyone. I need you to help me test it out.”

“Thank you, Chiba-kun, but I...”

Lee wasn’t particularly clever, but he wasn’t foolish either.

Though Chiba called it an experiment, it was really about teaching him.

Since school began, only Chiba had never looked down on him. At first, it was a shared hardship, but later Lee realized they were different.

And now...

“If you don’t want to learn because of some reason, that’s fine. Your way of the ninja is to prove yourself through your own effort—that you can become an exceptional ninja, right?”

Chiba said softly.

Lee was silent for a moment, then nodded firmly.

“Try doing it as I say. I’ll watch from the side.”

“Yes!”

Lee shouted and began practicing.

He wasn’t smart.

But he wasn’t afraid of pain. Time and again, he refined his chakra and threw punches. Chiba observed with his sensory abilities, gradually correcting the way Lee released his power.

Finally...

Bam!

The tree trunk Lee had been training on cracked right where his fist struck.

Lee stared at his fist in amazement.

It worked!

It really worked!

“Remember this feeling.”

“Yes!”

Lee was overwhelmed with emotion.

He realized he could become strong by using chakra!

At that moment, he cried. He cried again.

Chiba covered his face, speechless.

Kai and Lee were great in every way—except their emotions, which were unpredictable and hard to comment on.

“By the way, how’s your hand?”

“My hand? Fine... Ah! It hurts!”

Lee hadn’t felt it earlier, but now, once the excitement faded, the pain hit him sharply.

Chiba pondered, then used chakra to examine him. Afterward, he took out a pen and paper and made a note—

“If physical strength is below a certain level, this body art cannot be learned.”

“Let’s go with me.”

“Where?”

“To the medical team. This body technique is a finishing move; it’s not just for fists. If you understand it fully, theoretically, you can use every part of your body capable of exerting force.”

On the way back, Chiba mulled over how to optimize the technique.

This art was inspired by the Lotus Flower and Super Strength techniques. Overall, it seemed like a rudimentary version of both.

Its power and effects were inferior to true Super Strength, but combined with body art, the power was impressive. Yet its side effects resembled the Lotus Flower technique—muscle damage after prolonged use in a short time.

Optimizing it...

Was difficult!

He shook his head silently.

Pushing to the limit always came with a price. Even Super Strength demanded high standards from learners.

Shizune had accompanied Tsunade for years but never mastered Super Strength—not because Tsunade refused to teach, but because Shizune lacked the necessary conditions.

“Forget it, this is the best for now.”

Chiba had no better solution.

Perhaps knowing Tsunade and the full Super Strength technique might help improve the chakra enhancement and reduce side effects. But for now, that was just wishful thinking, so it would have to wait.

Lee refused to go to the hospital, thinking rest would suffice.

Ultimately, it was about money.

Just as Chiba was about to persuade him again...

Bam!

A kick came from the side. Lee didn’t react in time and was sent flying.

A figure appeared.

“Lee, while I’ve been away, you’ve become lax!”

“Uh...”

Chiba was speechless. A sneak attack like that would catch anyone off guard.

But Lee...

“Teacher Kai, I’m sorry! I’ll work twice as hard!”

“That’s right! That’s the spirit!”

Might Guy was full of fighting spirit.

Then, looking to the side, he paused before saying, “Chiba, haven’t you been at the hospital lately? How do you still have time to train?”

“Teacher Kai, I’m just learning, not working as a medical ninja. Once I’ve learned enough, I can’t neglect body arts.”

Chiba smiled wryly.

Why did everyone assume he wanted to be a medical ninja?

He didn’t even know medical ninjutsu.

“But, well, I’ve heard around that your skills are excellent. Many medical ninjas aren’t as good as you. It’d be a waste not to use those talents to save others.”

Kai was conflicted.

On a personal level, he thought Chiba’s decision to continue training was right. But from a broader perspective, being a medical ninja and performing surgeries could spare many from amputation.

Chiba smiled lightly, unconcerned.

“Teacher Kai, I’m a specially appointed ninja now. Besides, that technique isn’t difficult. If there’s such an operation, I can participate later. I have control over my time.”

“I see. Then... let’s have a passionate duel!”

“Huh?”

Chiba looked puzzled, doubting he’d heard correctly as he sensed the surroundings—

Kakashi wasn’t here!

“Teacher, Kakashi-senpai isn’t around.”

“That’s right. I’m challenging you.”

Might Guy ran his fingers over the cracked tree trunk.

Though he hadn’t seen them fight directly, as a body technique expert, it wasn’t hard to deduce the force behind the punches from the marks. Just by the two cracks, he knew how powerful that punch was.

He couldn’t resist the urge to spar.

“Please, Teacher Kai.”

“Young man, give it your all.”

Kai said earnestly.

Chiba thought for a moment and nodded gently.

He had wanted to showcase this body art before Might Guy all along. He’d only tested it on Lee because Kai had been away. Now that Kai was back, naturally, he was the best opponent.

He bowed lightly, then formed the opposing hand seals.

The next moment...

Bam!

Using Body Flicker Technique, he swung a punch horizontally.

Might Guy neither dodged nor blocked. When their fists collided, Chiba was forced to step back to deflect the force, but Kai didn’t move an inch.

Chiba was not surprised.

Thanks to Bodhi Seeds and years of study and training, he could now easily control most of his body’s strength, approaching the “gate-opened” state.

This state could be maintained continuously.

However.

There was still a limit: physical strength.

“Even with body art enhancement, I’m still no match for your physical power.”

Chiba sighed.

In terms of body technique alone, Might Guy was truly formidable.

“How old are you? To have this strength already is terrifying.”

Might Guy shook his hand.

Even he felt a bit strained taking that punch head-on.

“Again.”

Apologies for the repeated chapter yesterday. I’ll make up for it with an extra chapter today.

(End of chapter)