Hearing this, Might Guy was momentarily stunned. The excitement he had felt about a potential fight with Kirito in the woods instantly faded.
He hadn't expected Kirito to summon him to the woods in the middle of the night for something like this.
As Kirito's words settled, Might Guy's eyes revealed doubt.
"Is that it?" he asked, confusion creeping into his voice. "I thought you called me here for a fight…"
Though Might Guy didn't finish his sentence, his disappointed expression said it all, like a hungry beast frustrated by unmet desires, left with nowhere to channel his energy.
Kirito, who had noticed the unspoken meaning behind Might Guy's words, couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. Despite being calm, he was growing increasingly exasperated with Might Guy's obsession with battle.
If it were just about burning youth and strength, Kirito wouldn't stop him. But could he make his intentions clearer, especially in front of his disciple, Sasuke? The image Kirito wanted to maintain in the eyes of his disciples was important, and Might Guy's words didn't help.
Seeing Might Guy still wearing a lost expression, Kirito coughed awkwardly to break the silence.
"Kai, did you hear me? What do you think?"
Might Guy's mood shifted, and his puzzled look softened a little. He seemed to come to terms with the situation, but there was still a lingering hint of obedience in his eyes.
But then, Might Guy's lips curled into a grin, revealing his white teeth. He raised a thumb toward both Sasuke and Kirito.
"Eight Gates Ninja Technique?" he said. "If Sasuke wants to learn, I've got no problem with it."
His tone was easy-going, but there was a note of caution. "However, you do realize how difficult and dangerous this technique is, right?"
At this, Sasuke, whose face had been expressionless, paused. He finally understood what Kirito had been trying to convey to him earlier.
The Eight Gates Ninja Technique was a secret skill unique to the Might Guy family, encompassing the very essence of Konoha's physical techniques. To master it was to perfect one's physical prowess—just look at the strength of Might Guy, the "blue beast" himself.
But the technique wasn't for the faint of heart. It required a strong will, and without it, failure was inevitable. Sasuke's thoughts turned serious. He now understood that the road ahead would be tough, with training demanding more than he'd anticipated. But if Kirito believed in him, he wouldn't hesitate. Sasuke locked eyes with Kirito, determination flashing within them.
Kirito nodded. "Okay, Sasuke, since Might Guy has agreed, I'll teach you."
Might Guy's gaze shifted slightly. A hint of something like disappointment crossed his features.
"Is there anything else you want, Kirito?" he asked. His question implied that if there were no more matters to discuss, he would leave.
As Might Guy prepared to depart, Kirito's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Kai, wait a minute. I didn't call you here just for your approval. There's one more thing I need to tell you."
Might Guy's eyes instantly lit up, excitement taking hold. *Finally! A sparring match! Let's burn our youth with a full-on battle!*
However, Kirito noticed the fiery gleam in Might Guy's eyes and couldn't help but shake his head in mild exasperation.
"Kai, the Eight Gates I want to teach Sasuke isn't the original technique," he said calmly.
Might Guy paused, blinking in surprise. Sasuke, who was also listening intently, frowned slightly. *Not the original Eight Gates? What does that mean?* The two of them were confused.
Kirito continued, his tone steady but resolute.
"Since I learned the Eight Gates myself," he explained, "I've come up with some new insights and made some modifications to the original technique."
Sasuke, though surprised, processed the words carefully. He knew Kirito was capable of great feats, so he didn't question him further. But Might Guy, who had trained with the Eight Gates his entire life, was taken aback.
Kirito was claiming that he had modified the Eight Gates, a technique that had been perfected over years of intense practice. The original Eight Gates allowed one to unlock powerful strength by activating specific points in the body. The full technique could increase one's strength exponentially, allowing the user to surpass even the Five Kage in raw power. But now, Kirito was claiming he had made changes to it.
Might Guy's expression showed a mix of surprise and skepticism. How could someone, even Kirito, modify a technique so revered and perfected?
Kirito noticed Might Guy's disbelief and didn't elaborate further. Instead, he looked at him with calm confidence, and a golden light flashed in his eyes.
"Eight Gates, Open!"
The words were simple, but the change in Kirito's body was instantaneous. Might Guy's eyes narrowed as he observed the transformation closely.
Then, with no warning, Kirito launched a punch at Might Guy, his movements swift and fluid. Might Guy reacted quickly, extending his arm to catch Kirito's fist in mid-air.
Despite the speed, Might Guy could feel the subtle difference in the power behind the punch. Frowning slightly, he held Kirito's fist, noting the change in force.
"Eight Gates of Dunjia, Open."
Kirito shouted again, and with a second punch, Might Guy repeated the same motion, blocking the attack with his arm. However, this time, Might Guy's eyes widened with surprise.
"What is this…?" he murmured, feeling the difference in the punch.
Before he could finish speaking, Kirito declared, "Eight Gates of Dunjia, Open the Gate of Life!"
With a powerful sweep of his leg, Kirito kicked Might Guy's arm, sending him flying backward.
"Do you feel my power?" Kirito asked, his tone calm but assertive.
Might Guy staggered back and steadied himself. His eyes were wide with surprise.
"The power... why is it so much weaker?"
Kirito's adjustments to the Eight Gates had indeed diminished the raw strength of each gate, but the benefits were clear: the technique could now be sustained longer without harming the user, and it would gradually increase the total chakra capacity over time.
"Yes, the Eight Gates after my improvements aren't as strong as the original," Kirito explained. "But with this version, the user can maintain the technique for longer. It also drastically increases their chakra reserves during training."
Might Guy's eyes widened further, his skepticism now replaced by awe. Kirito's insight into the Eight Gates was beyond anything he had ever imagined. It was a transformation of the technique that could change everything.
"Is this possible?" Might Guy asked, his voice full of astonishment.
Kirito's gaze softened as he replied calmly, "Yes, and Sasuke will learn to master it."