"What are you doing!"
Chiba frowned, feeling the Chakra on the girl's palm. If the palm landed firmly, he guessed that his face would bleed. No, saying it would merely bleed was an understatement.
Chiba was slightly angered.
"How dare you!" The girl in his arms only screamed, and she slapped towards his face faster.
Chiba leaned back, but he dodged a bit too slowly, his right cheek becoming hot and painful, he probably got bruised.
"You!"
Chiba was slightly angry, but as soon as he spoke, he felt his heart acupoints slowly close, and a wave of exhaustion surged up, causing the girl to fall from his weakening grasp.
The *Controlled Gate of Life* had closed. His Chakra levels also returned to their original state.
Although the *Controlled Eight Gates mode* reduced the strain on the body compared to the normal *Eight Gates* mode, the technique still had its limits, and now it seems that this limit was one's physical strength. After all, he only controlled the excess Chakra, not changing the essence of this technique, not yet. If you're not physically strong enough to maintain the opened gate, the *Controlled Eight Gates mode* will still close. Just like without physical strength, the normal *Eight Gates* can't be maintained.
There was still room for improvement in this mode.
Although exhausted, Chiba calmly analyzed the situation and sighed quietly.
'It's normal that this mode could only last for a short time.'
As long as you continued to exercise and increase your physical strength, you could open the *Seventh Gate* casually. That powerful gate could become a constant mode. And as one's physical strength improves, the duration of the *Eight Gates* mode will extend.
Perhaps, even before reaching the *Seventh Gate*, it could become a permanent mode.
Now, with only the *Third Gate* opened, there's a Chakra level of a High-Chunin level, and with the *Fourth Gate* opened, wouldn't it be a Jonin-level Chakra?
Thinking of this, Chiba was excited, and even his physical exhaustion seemed to lessen a lot.
What pleased him even more was that after the Gate mode was lifted, his body didn't feel a trace of exertion. The Chakra used in that punch earlier did not damage his meridians.
That is to say, the *Controlled Eight Gate mode* is completely safe.
While Chiba focused on analyzing the *Eight Gates* mode, the lady of the Hyuga clan, who slipped from Chiba's grasp, rolled to the ground, suddenly turned over, stood up, and pushed toward him aggressively.
Chiba was suddenly shocked. At this time, his Gate was closed and his body was sore. Even if he noticed this palm, he was unable to dodge it.
Looking at the aggressive stance of the lady, and her *Gentle Fist* posture, Chiba's mouth twitched a little.
This palm is firmer than the last, can he withstand it in his condition?
The Hyuga lady had almost hit him with a *Gentle Fist* when he cried.
"Stop! We are on the same side!"
Yukina Hyuga's face was stern, with a palm resting on Chiba's chest, the veins beside her eyes bulging, extending from the corners of her eyes to her temples, her *Byakugan* eyes also outlining the shape of a pupil, staring at Chiba who had both hands raised.
Then, she saw the Ninja who had fallen to the ground from a 360-degree angle of view with her *Byakugan*. She remembered that it was the Ninja who attacked her previously.
In an instant, she sorted out the situation.
This person, did he save me?
Looking at the one-meter-diameter hole, and then at Chiba, who looked pale and was looking at her palm, she frowned.
There's no one else here, he must have saved me, but... how does this person, no matter how you look at it, not seem like someone with such strong power?
That big pit was obviously created by a punch with a terrifying power.
Through her Byakugan, Yukina Hyuga could see the Chakra flowing inside Chiba. The amount was very ordinary, far less than her own. Although his muscle tissues were strong, it seemed impossible for him to deliver such a punch.
But he was the only one present, and the evidence was right in front of her.
"That... miss, please..." Chiba pointed to the slender hand on his chest, trying to offer a reassuring smile "I'm an ally."
Yukina Hyuga frowned. This person? Was he really the one who saved me? He doesn't look strong at all! Quite the opposite.
Seeing the Hyuga lady's suspicious look, Chiba could only offer a wry smile.
Saving others, yet they still don't believe in him. He felt utterly helpless.
However, Yukina Hyuga, having sorted out her thoughts, finally withdrew her palm, and the coldness on her beautiful face slowly dissipated.
"I misunderstood you, I'm sorry." She bowed slightly: "Also, thank you for saving me."
Chiba breathed a sigh of relief, and seeing Yukina Hyuga's sincere apology and gratitude, the dissatisfaction from the misunderstanding in his heart also gradually faded.
At this moment, Chiba also took the opportunity to carefully observe the Hyuga clan's lady.
Her face was exquisite, with long, shiny black hair reaching her waist, wearing a white kimono-like outfit that revealed her arms. The skirt of the lower part was just a third down her thigh, slightly longer than the leggings. Below the black leggings, fishnet stockings wrapped around her thighs, and she wore a pair of wooden sandals on her feet.
At that moment, a soft noise came from the side, like something falling to the ground.
The two of them looked over alertly.
To their surprise, the Ninja in the big pit had turned into a brow color, then dissolved into a pool of mud.
*Earth Release Mud Clone*!
Chiba and Yukina Hyuga had the same realization.
"*Earth Release: Tearing Earth Turning Palm*!"
Suddenly, the ground behind the two cracked open and a fissure raced towards them.
Almost simultaneously, the two jumped to the left and right, narrowly avoiding the attack.
"*Earth Release: Rock Pillar Prison*!"
Just as Yukina Hyuga landed, four rock pillars rose from the ground around her, trapping her firmly.
Damn!
Chiba glanced at Yukina Hyuga in mid-air, cursing inwardly.
It was that Rock Ninja!
At this moment, Chiba's body was weak, and his leap to avoid the *Earth Release* technique was already straining him. After landing, he nearly fell, managing to stand firm only by gritting his teeth, even then, his legs trembled.
Chiba turned around, his expression darkening.
Behind him was the Ninja who had been hit by his punch.
The situation was dire.
Chiba glanced at the Hyuga, imprisoned by the rock pillars a short distance to his right, then at the Ninja in front of him.
The *Gate of Life* was closed, his stamina was depleted, and the Hyuga lady was trapped... And this Ninja, having used two consecutive Jutsu, was undoubtedly a jonin-level threat!
Truly, the worst-case scenario was unfolding.