"Wow! Double? Are you strong enough to beat Lady Tsunade?" Ino asked excitedly.
"Lady Tsunade? You became her disciple?" Kaito asked in surprise.
"Yes! Hinata and I both apprenticed under her!" Ino practically beamed at the mention of it, clearly proud of the achievement.
"Hinata, you too?" Kaito raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. What was Tsunade up to, gathering disciples like this?
Sensing his confusion, Hinata explained softly, her gaze a little shy.
"It's all thanks to you, Kaito… After you left, Ino and I kept practicing the Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and secret techniques you taught us."
"A year and a half ago, both Ino and I successfully mastered the Yin Seal. Because of that, Lady Tsunade took notice of us and… well, she decided to accept us as her disciples."
"Oh, I see now." Kaito nodded in understanding.
The Yin Seal was Tsunade's signature technique. Now that both Hinata and Ino had achieved it — and given their connection to him — it made sense for Tsunade to welcome them under her wing. Considering Tsunade's personality, she probably took it as inheriting her mantle.
Speaking of the Yin Seal, Kaito grimaced inwardly. He'd been too busy mastering Sage Mode these past three years to unlock its male version. Well, it wasn't too late. After perfecting the Eight Gates, it would be time to tackle that.
"Enough of that, though," Kaito's expression shifted mischievously as he leaned closer to both of them. "Which one of you's staying with me tonight?"
Both women flushed deeply, knowing full well what he was implying.
"I-I have something to do… I'll head out first!" Ino stammered, quickly fleeing the room with a crimson face.
Just as Hinata was about to make a similar excuse, Kaito swiftly pulled her into his arms. Leaning close, he murmured in her ear, "Ino's gone. Too late to run now."
Scooping her up, he carried Hinata toward the bedroom.
He gently placed her onto the tatami mat. Hinata's face was glowing red, her small hands clutching the edge of her clothes nervously.
Kaito turned off the lights and held her close, whispering softly, "Go to sleep."
"Ah…" Hinata's heart pounded. She could see the teasing look in his eyes and realized that both she and Ino had misjudged how brazen he'd become.
"Mm…" Hinata whispered, burying her face against his chest, savoring the warmth, the steady heartbeat, and the familiar scent she'd missed so much over the past three years.
Kaito smiled, closed his eyes, and drifted into sleep — though his mind soon entered his training space.
The familiar scenery of the Wet Bone Forest unfolded around him.
He took a seat in his usual spot and began reviewing the details of the Eight Gates Technique.
Yes — that was why he came here tonight.
The Eight Gates Technique. The Eight Inner Gates: Gate of Opening, Gate of Healing, Gate of Life, Gate of Pain, Gate of Limit, Gate of View, Gate of Wonder, and the final Death Gate.
These eight points within the chakra pathway system limited the flow of chakra within the body, acting as natural restraints to protect the user.
Opening them one by one would drastically amplify strength, but at great risk to the body. Fully opening the Death Gate would temporarily grant a level of power far beyond the Five Kage combined — but at the cost of the user's life.
That was why it was classified as a forbidden technique.
But Kaito had a different idea.
He believed that death occurred because the final gate, located at the heart, couldn't withstand the sudden surge of power. It wasn't reinforced to handle it.
What if, instead, the heart was the first to be strengthened? Strengthen it first, use it as a stable core, and then open the remaining gates one by one, using the heart's amplified power to drive the rest of the system.
It was a bold and dangerous theory, but Kaito believed it could work.
He hadn't spent the past three years learning Sage Mode and cultivating his Sage Body for nothing.
"Forget it. I'm doing this," Kaito muttered through gritted teeth.
Since coming to this world, Kaito had devoted himself to preparing for the Eight Gates. He never missed a day of stimulating his chakra points with lightning chakra, forcing them to adapt.
Now, with the Senju physique and the Sage Body enhancing his regenerative abilities, his chances were better than ever.
Sitting cross-legged, Kaito ordered his lightning chakra to condense into thousands of needle-thin strands, directing them toward the Death Gate at his heart.
The pain was immediate and searing. Sweat poured from his forehead, but Kaito didn't flinch.
There was no turning back now. Succeed or die — this was it.
Again and again, the lightning needles struck the Death Gate.
Once. Twice. A hundred times. A thousand.
His face turned pale, and his body trembled, but Kaito never stopped.
He didn't know how long it lasted — maybe hours, maybe longer — but at last, a faint crack appeared on the previously unbreakable Death Gate.
Kaito's eyes flashed with hope. He gritted his teeth and poured everything into the next assault.
An hour passed. Then two. Then half a day.
The cracks widened, until with a final, resounding snap, the Death Gate finally gave way.
A surge of overwhelming power and searing pain flooded Kaito's body. His vision blurred, and his strength began to drain rapidly.
"No… I opened it… Why? How can this happen now? Am I really going to die?" he thought, unwilling to accept it.
But just then, The Sage Body within him reacted.
Natural energy flooded toward him. His own abundant vitality stirred and wrapped around his failing heart.
Death and life clashed violently within him.
Pain and relief mingled, and Kaito found himself teetering on the edge — but no matter how much it hurt, he refused to give up.
If he stopped now, death was certain.
And he couldn't leave behind Hinata, Ino, Tsunade, or Kakashi like this.
He clenched his teeth and held on.
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