"The Eight Inner Gates is a supreme taijutsu technique that my father, Might Duy, developed over more than 40 years of intense physical training," Might Guy said in a deep, steady voice. "Lee, do you know what the 'Eight Gates' in the name refers to?"
"No, Mr. Guy, I don't," Lee replied respectfully.
In the back of his mind, memories as Sion Mun stirred—remnants of the martial world and secrets involving the Eight Inner Gates. Yet, he didn't know how the technique from the Martial World compared to the Eight Gates of the ninja realm. So Lee chose to remain silent, careful not to reveal any knowledge that could raise Guy's suspicions.
"Lee, the human body has countless acupoints through which chakra flows when we perform ninjutsu and genjutsu," Might Guy explained. "However, not all acupoints allow chakra to flow freely. Some acupoints restrict chakra and control its flow through the body."
"There are eight of these unique acupoints, which we call the Eight Gates: the Gate of Opening, the Gate of Rest, the Gate of Life, the Gate of Pain, the Gate of Limit, the Gate of View, the Gate of Wonder, and the Gate of Death," Might Guy continued, watching Lee carefully.
Lee nodded, his focus unwavering. "I understand, Mr. Guy."
Might Guy's face softened with approval. "Excellent. Every person has these Eight Gates in their body. They limit the flow of chakra and prevent the body from reaching its full power. The Eight Inner Gates technique, which my father developed, is a way to break these chakra restrictions. It lets a person unleash all their potential, gaining power several times or even dozens of times greater than their normal strength."
"Mr. Guy, if this Eight Inner Gates technique is so powerful, why don't you teach it to other people in the village to make them stronger?" Lee asked after a moment, his brow furrowed in thought.
"That's a wise question, Lee." Might Guy placed a heavy hand on Lee's shoulder and nodded. "The Eight Inner Gates can indeed give a person tremendous power instantly, but this comes at a terrifying cost. It risks damaging the body permanently—even turning the user into a cripple or worse."
"My father shared this technique with the village a long time ago," Guy continued, "but the village leaders deemed it too dangerous, so they sealed it as a Forbidden Technique. Only a few are allowed to practice it."
"That's… so unfair!" Lee said, his fists clenched. "Mr. Guy, your father spent more than 40 years developing it. Why would they ignore that hard work?"
"Lee, some things are not for us to question." Guy's tone grew softer. "But I have one question for you—do you want to learn this Eight Inner Gates technique from me?"
"Yes, Mr. Guy! I want to learn!" Lee's voice was firm.
Guy's face broke into a smile. "Very good. But first, do you know why I push you to train so hard every day with all those intense physical exercises?"
Lee thought for a moment. "Mr. Guy, is it to prepare me for the Eight Inner Gates?"
Guy nodded. "That's right. The core of the Eight Inner Gates technique is to forcefully open these chakra-inhibiting gates, unleashing strength far beyond the body's natural limits. But this extreme power places an enormous strain on the body. Without a solid foundation, attempting this technique could cripple you or worse."
Lee looked at him intently. "Mr. Guy, can you use the Eight Inner Gates technique freely now?"
Guy's gaze held a gleam of pride. "Yes, I can open up to the sixth gate—the Gate of View—without risking lasting harm to my body. But if I open the seventh, I'll need at least a week of bed rest to recover. And the eighth… well, opening the Gate of Death can only lead to one end, Death."
Lee's eyes widened in shock. "The side effects are that severe?"
"For someone with a strong body like mine, opening the seventh gate is still dangerous," Guy admitted. "Now, do you understand why the Eight Inner Gates are forbidden?"
Lee nodded, his voice quiet. "Yes, Mr. Guy."
Guy placed a hand on Lee's shoulder. "But don't worry. For now, I'll teach you a simpler form—a technique called the Hidden Lotus. To do this, you only need to open the first gate, the Gate of Opening. It will be enough to get you started."
"The Hidden Lotus?" Lee asked.
"Yes, the Hidden Lotus," Might Guy said with a smile. "Each gate in the Eight Inner Gates technique unlocks a unique taijutsu move. The Hidden Lotus is the skill you'll learn when opening the first gate, the Gate of Opening."
"Please, Mr. Guy, teach me!" Lee's voice trembled with excitement.
"We'll start with the basics of the Eight Inner Gates technique," Guy said, leaning in to speak softly into Lee's ear. His voice dropped to a murmur as he began explaining the method to control chakra flow through each gate, step by step.