Naruto: Unlocking Kaido Template

The Power of Youth

"Guy-sensei?"

Shaking off his ridiculous thoughts, Zixu took a closer look at the man named Might Guy. The tight green bodysuit beneath his blue vest perfectly outlined his muscles, each fiber seemingly alive with its own energy. However, his strength was fundamentally different from Kaido's. If Kaido's power felt like the overwhelming pressure of sheer mass and explosive muscle, then Guy's was more like an ordinary man who had somehow swallowed a nuclear bomb—pure, unstable energy packed into a human body.

Yet something felt... off. That tingling sensation Zixu felt earlier gave him a strange sense of disharmony. It was like a child wielding a massive blade—destructive, but lacking the proper foundation to fully control that power.

His eyes flicked between Lee, whose energy was still fluctuating, and Guy, who wore nearly identical attire. Is this some kind of secret family technique? Or maybe a unique Kekkei Genkai?

"Hey, what was that energy spike just now?" Zixu relaxed his stance and asked bluntly.

Lee, despite being interrupted mid-move, showed no sign of backlash—just heavier breathing. He wiped the sweat from his forehead before flashing a grin that mirrored Guy's, raising a confident thumbs-up.

"That was the Hachimon Tonkō (Eight Gates Technique)! It's a secret technique taught to me by Guy-sensei! A power that embodies the flames of youth! Through relentless, day-and-night training, even those who are not naturally gifted can surpass geniuses!" Lee's eyes burned with passion as he spoke, his admiration for Guy evident.

"Hahaha! That's the spirit, Lee!" Guy practically exploded with enthusiasm, his aura shining like a sun. "I heard from Yamato about you, Zixu. It seems he wasn't exaggerating! Your Taijutsu skills are quite remarkable, and that burning spirit—this is the essence of youth!"

The sheer force of his presence made Hyuga Chinano and Aburame Hatsuizumi shiver, their expressions twitching.

"H-Hey... is he really a teacher? He's more hyped than the students," Hatsuizumi whispered.

"Well... teachers have different methods, I guess?" Chinano muttered back, equally confused.

But Zixu sensed something deeper than just enthusiasm. There was an aura surrounding Guy, something intangible yet oppressive. The only time he had felt anything remotely similar was from the Great White Snake of Ryuchi Cave. That overwhelming presence... it wasn't just confidence—it was something beyond human limits.

Even Zabuza and Yamato hadn't given him this feeling. This goofy-looking man is definitely not simple.

Zixu took a deep breath and straightened up. "Guy-sensei, if the Eight Gates is a Taijutsu technique, does that mean I can learn it?" He lowered his head slightly in a sign of humility. His earlier assumption had been wrong—this wasn't some inherited bloodline ability. It was something trainable. And after sensing the surge of energy in Lee's body, he couldn't help but feel a little envious.

Guy's expression remained as confident as ever. Instead of being annoyed by the question, he grinned even wider and threw an arm around Zixu's shoulder, pulling him close.

"Good! That's the kind of spirit I like to see!" he said excitedly. "Most kids your age don't care about Taijutsu anymore. They chase after flashy Ninjutsu or the illusions of Genjutsu. But let me tell you something, Zixu—if you dedicate yourself to it, Taijutsu can shine brighter than any other technique!"

Zixu, however, barely heard what Guy was saying. The feeling of being hugged by this man was not okay. It wasn't painful, but it felt like being wrapped up by a zoo animal—specifically, a tiger that didn't realize how terrifying it was.

"But..." Guy suddenly shifted his tone, releasing Zixu and putting on a more serious expression. "If you want to practice the Eight Gates, it's not just about having a strong body. There's something far more important than physical strength."

Zixu had expected as much. A technique this powerful wouldn't be that easy to learn. He focused, ready to absorb every word Guy was about to say. This was crucial knowledge—if he wanted to train in the Eight Gates, he needed to understand every requirement.

Guy extended a dramatic finger, pointing straight at him. The sunlight gleamed off his blindingly white teeth as he spoke.

"Do you... understand what youth is?"

"...What?"

Zixu blinked, thrown off completely. "Uh... the right song for the right moment? Open them if there's a big one?" He had no idea what Guy was asking, so he just spouted nonsense.

"No, no, no, young man!" Guy shook his head dramatically. "Youth is about sweat and effort! It's simple! If you want to train in the Eight Gates, just follow me for a few days, and I'll see how pure your youth really is!"

Then he suddenly turned toward Chinano and Hatsuizumi, grinning. "You two can join too! Everyone deserves a chance to embrace youth!"

The sheer force of his words made the two of them flinch.

"Uhhh... n-no, we have things to do!" Hatsuizumi quickly stammered. "I, uh... I have bugs to feed! Yes! Lots of them! Chinano, you have stuff to do too, right?"

"Ah! Y-Yes! My... panda! Yes! My panda is waiting for me to feed it!" Chinano hurriedly added, making a weak cheering gesture toward Zixu. "You got this, Zixu! Good luck!"

And with that, the two of them turned and bolted away at full speed.

Zixu watched as they fled.

Well... at least they're running very youthfully.

"Alright! Let's begin today's training! First, walk around the entire village 100 times while doing a handstand! A proper warm-up is essential!" Might Guy declared, his tone as relaxed as if he were merely suggesting a casual jog.

"Yes, Guy-sensei! My blood is boiling!" Rock Lee shouted with excitement. Without hesitation, he ran to the side, picked up the weights he had momentarily discarded, tied them back onto his legs, and immediately went into a handstand.

Zixu hesitated for a moment, then, seeing the expectant looks in both of their eyes, decided to follow suit. As he shifted his weight onto his hands, he quickly adjusted his balance.

Might Guy and Rock Lee both nodded in satisfaction, and soon enough, the two green-clad figures—one large, one small—began moving forward in sync. Zixu followed their pace. Surprisingly, this level of physical exertion was still within his acceptable range.

The outskirts of Konohagakure were mostly farmland, tended to by civilians who sustained the village through agriculture. Since this area was close to the village's outer barrier, patrol teams frequently passed through. Occasionally, some kind-hearted shinobi would assist the farmers with their work using Ninjutsu, but most simply ignored them.

"Mom, why can't I become a ninja? If I could, I'd be able to help Dad and Uncle with the farming..."

A young boy, around seven or eight years old, paused from swinging his pickaxe and wiped the dirt off his face. He looked up at his mother, his lips pursed in frustration.

"Silly child, haven't you been tested already? You don't have the potential to become a ninja..." The woman sighed, her hands never stopping as she continued sowing seeds into the soil.

"But that's not fair! If we don't become shinobi, does that mean we have to farm for the rest of our lives? It's exhausting! A ninja can do this effortlessly, but we have to struggle every single day!"

The boy's words carried an innocent resentment, an inability to accept his predetermined fate. He thought of his friend who had been born with the talent for Ninjutsu—his family had moved deeper into the village, no longer bound to the fields.

"You don't understand, child. Ninjas have far greater responsibilities. Defending the village, standing guard, fighting battles... That is their duty. Now, stop talking nonsense and focus on your work. If we don't farm, we won't have food to eat."

The boy frowned, gripping the pickaxe tighter. "That's just it! Shinobi only protect their own village. They don't care about us civilians! I just want a chance to change our lives... but there's nothing I can do to make that happen!"

The mother flinched, her expression darkening as if he had spoken a forbidden truth. She reached out, her hand hovering over his head, but in the end, she sighed and let it fall back to her side.

"Mom! Look! There's a ninja running upside down through the fields!"

His frustration vanished in an instant, replaced by childish excitement as he pointed towards the approaching figures.

The mother shook her head. "Ninja? Don't be ridiculous. Why would a shinobi waste their time doing someth—"

Her words trailed off as she followed his gaze.

Zixu, at this point, was starting to regret underestimating Might Guy's instructions. When he first heard "circle the village 100 times," he assumed it meant the inner perimeter. He hadn't expected to be taken all the way to the outskirts.

His arms were starting to feel numb. Not from physical exhaustion, but from the sheer monotony of repeating the same movement. His mind resisted continuing, yet he pushed forward, forcing himself to endure.

But then, his attention shifted.

A little boy, covered in dust, was pointing in his direction, eyes wide with curiosity.

"Guy-sensei, why don't we help them with their work? This can be considered training too, right?" Zixu suggested on a whim. He wasn't exactly tired, but he certainly welcomed a change in routine.

"Excellent! Helping others is also part of youth! In fact, I was just thinking the same thing!" Might Guy declared without hesitation, his passion unwavering.

Rock Lee, of course, nodded enthusiastically.

"These two... they're different from other shinobi," Zixu thought to himself. There was no arrogance in them, no superiority complex towards civilians. Instead, their attitude was simple and earnest, as if they saw these people as equals.

The woman was still lecturing her son, oblivious to the three shinobi approaching.

"Look! They're real ninjas... but they're not wearing patrol uniforms!"

"Get back to work. Stop staring. We're not like them—we need to farm if we want to eat."

"It's not fair! Why should we struggle just to give food away to the shinobi for free?"

The complaints grew louder, but none of them noticed the three figures standing right behind them.

"Excuse me. How can we help?" Might Guy asked, brushing dust off his palms.

The woman flinched, then turned pale as she hurriedly shielded her son behind her.

"M-Master Ninja! I... I apologize! The child is ignorant—he doesn't understand what he's saying! Please, I'll discipline him properly! Xiao Chong, apologize right now!"

"No! I'm not wrong!" The boy's voice trembled, but his resolve did not waver. "If civilians had a way to become stronger, we wouldn't have to live like this! Ninjas shouldn't get to take everything for free!"

His mother's face turned ashen, as if she had already foreseen some terrible punishment.

Might Guy stood silently for a long moment, the sunlight casting a long shadow behind him. Then, he broke into a bright, unwavering smile.

"You're right! Which is why we'll work today to earn our food!"

The woman's eyes widened in shock. "N-No, Master Ninja, this isn't proper...!"

"Nonsense! This too is part of our training! Let's sweat under the sun! This is the spirit of youth!" Might Guy roared, launching himself into the fields without waiting for another word.

Zixu and Rock Lee followed without hesitation, and in the blink of an eye, the three Taijutsu specialists had completed all the farmwork at an inhuman speed.

The mother and son stood frozen in place, unable to process what had just happened.

The boy hesitated. "It's... not bad..." he mumbled. He had spoken out of anger, never expecting that a group of high-ranking shinobi would actually help with the work. He had already prepared himself for a harsh punishment.

Might Guy wiped the sweat from his forehead, then crouched down and placed a hand on the boy's head.

"Listen, young man. I can't answer your question right now, but I'll tell you this—anyone can become stronger." His voice was firm, unwavering. "It doesn't matter if you're a shinobi, a civilian, or even a wild dog. Strength is about perseverance, not privilege. If you have the determination to endure, then nothing is impossible!"

Zixu nodded in agreement. "Come on, kid. Shinobi aren't invincible, and civilians might have their own ways of becoming strong too. We just have to find them."

The boy stared at them, feeling for the first time that these three shinobi were different.

And maybe... just maybe... he could be different too.

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