"One more thing, Renjiro," Duy said, his tone serious once more.
Renjiro tilted his head curiously. "What is it?"
Duy looked him in the eye, his gaze unwavering. "You need to be careful with your regeneration. It's a powerful ability, but it could also be dangerous if you're not careful. The Eight Gates put a tremendous strain on the body, and if your regeneration is constantly trying to heal that strain, it could cause complications. Since it will cause more overall strain."
Renjiro nodded, taking Duy's warning to heart. "I'll keep that in mind," he said earnestly.
"I've been trying to balance my abilities, but I'll be more cautious moving forward."
Duy smiled, satisfied with Renjiro's response. "Good," he said. "Now, let's focus on getting you past that second gate. With your determination and the power of youth on your side, I have no doubt you'll succeed."
"Alright," Renjiro sighed, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, his hands on his hips.
"Let's think this through. If the second gate is there, buried somewhere in the right hemisphere of my brain, why can't I just sense it? I've felt the first gate's power, and I know how my chakra should behave. So, what gives?"
"You're not sensing it because it's not just about chakra perception," Duy began, his voice soft yet firm. "The Eight Gates requires a different type of focus. It's not simply a matter of identifying a tenketsu and forcing it open. You have to feel it—truly feel it—like a river that you must guide to a specific spot. It's almost as if you need to become one with your chakra flow, let it guide you instead of the other way around."
Renjiro tilted his head slightly, his brow furrowed in concentration. "So, you're saying it's not just about passing my chakra around it? I need to let it find its own way?"
Duy nodded. "Exactly. You're overthinking it. The body knows how to open these gates, but it won't reveal them to you if you try to force it. It's a delicate process. Almost like trying to hear a whisper in the middle of a storm. You have to be quiet enough to catch it, but at the same time, you need to have the strength to withstand the storm."
Renjiro exhaled slowly. "A whisper in a storm, huh? Makes sense, I guess. But every time I try to focus on that area, it's like... nothing's there. It feels like trying to catch smoke. It's there, I know it is, but I can't grasp it."
Duy's eyes gleamed with a hint of admiration. Renjiro's persistence was remarkable. He had the raw talent and determination that most shinobi lacked. But there was more to unlocking the Eight Gates than just talent—it was a test of willpower and patience, qualities that were often in short supply in the shinobi world.
"I think we can try something different," Duy said, stepping closer. "If your regeneration is as good as you claim, maybe we can use that to our advantage. Instead of trying to suppress your chakra and keep it in check, let's flood your system with it. Amplify the flow until it becomes overwhelming. Your regenerative ability should be able to handle the strain, but more importantly, it might reveal the exact location of the second gate."
Renjiro raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the idea. "Flood my system with chakra?" he repeated, crossing his arms over his chest. "You mean, let it surge freely? Wouldn't that put me at risk of overloading my body? And besides, didn't you just warn me about my Ability?"
Duy chuckled. "I just warned you against prolonged use. What I am proposing is a one-time thing. Your enhanced healing can counteract the negative effects of such a surge. And if we do it carefully, it could help you locate the gate without causing too much damage."
'That's not what he said. Or was I listening to my own things?'
Renjiro considered this for a moment, rolling the idea around in his mind. It wasn't the most conventional approach, but then again, nothing about the Eight Gates was conventional. He took a deep breath, centring himself, and nodded.
"Alright, let's give it a shot," Renjiro agreed, determination settling over him like a shroud.
Duy watched as Renjiro closed his eyes and adopted a meditative stance. His breathing slowed, becoming deep and steady as he began to focus inward.
He let his mind quiet, the sounds of the world around him fading into the background as he concentrated solely on the flow of chakra within his body.
Normally, he would keep his chakra in check, controlling it with precision and care. But this time, he let it build, pushing it through his system with greater force than usual.
Renjiro's chakra swirled through him like a raging river breaking free of its dam. He could feel it flooding his tenketsus, spreading through his body in waves. His senses sharpened, becoming more attuned to the subtle shifts in his energy. He felt every pulse, every surge of power as his chakra flowed through him, searching for the elusive tenketsu of the second gate.
Duy observed from a distance, his keen eyes noting every subtle change in Renjiro's posture and expression. The young shinobi was doing well—better than Duy had anticipated.
The chakra surge was immense, yet Renjiro's body seemed to handle it with ease. His regenerative ability was working overtime, healing any minor damage caused by the chakra overflow almost instantly.
Renjiro focused on the right hemisphere of his brain, letting the chakra flow there in greater amounts, trying to pinpoint the exact location of the second gate. It was there—he could feel it—but it was still just out of reach, like a flicker of light in the distance.
Then, suddenly, something shifted. Renjiro's eyes snapped open, a spark of recognition flashing across his face. He had found it—the second gate tenketsu. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it was there, nestled deep within the network of tenketsu in his brain.
"I've found it," Renjiro whispered, his voice barely audible as he focused all of his energy on that one spot.
Slowly, carefully, he began to push his chakra into the tenketsu, coaxing the gate open with a gentle yet firm force. The process was slow and deliberate, but after what felt like an eternity, he felt the gate give way, the chakra flooding through it like a dam breaking.
Renjiro's entire body trembled with the surge of energy, but something was off. He didn't feel the dramatic increase in power that he had expected. In fact, the difference was barely noticeable.
Duy stepped forward, "How do you feel?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity.
Renjiro furrowed his brow, flexing his fingers as if testing his strength.
"I don't feel much different," he admitted, his tone laced with confusion.
"I mean, the gate is open, I can feel it… but it's not as powerful as I thought it would be."
Duy nodded thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing in contemplation. "That's normal," he said. "The Gate of Healing isn't about raw power. It's more subtle. Its effects are restorative, not explosive. You won't feel the same kind of rush that you did with the first gate, but over time, you'll notice that your body heals faster, your stamina lasts longer, and your endurance increases. But that is in most cases, yours... is different."
"Progress is progress," Renjiro said with a small smile. "Even if it's not as dramatic as I hoped."
Duy smiled back, nodding in agreement. "That's the right attitude."
Renjiro took a deep breath, feeling the subtle changes in his body as his chakra settled into a more stable flow. He still had a long way to go, but he was on the right track.
But there was still one more thing he wanted to try.
Without warning, Renjiro closed his eyes again and concentrated, directing his chakra to the next location—the third gate. He had already come this far, he wasn't going to stop now.
Duy watched with wide eyes as Renjiro's chakra flared once more, more intense this time. Renjiro gritted his teeth, pushing through the strain as he sought out the third gate, the Gate of Life.
His mind raced, focusing on the location Duy had described earlier, the tenketsu at the upper part of his spinal cord.
Duy shifted his weight slightly, concerned but intrigued. "Renjiro, you've made progress today. Don't push yourself too hard. The third gate, the Gate of Life, is a different matter altogether. It's not just about healing or strength—it radically alters your body."
But Renjiro barely heard Duy's words. He was focused inward, directing his chakra toward the third gate. The pressure there was immense, but he pressed on, his mind sharp and his heart steady. He knew this was dangerous. He knew it could potentially injure him—but he also knew that he was ready to take the risk.
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