Naruto: The Shadow of Uchiha

That afternoon, Ryosuke resumed training the Eight Gates technique at home. Since the First Gate – Gate of Opening didn't unleash destructive power on its own, there was no risk of damaging household furniture.

He had also become more familiar with the intense pain involved, and while there was a risk of fainting, it was no longer dangerous. Steeling his resolve, he sat down cross-legged and began refining chakra.

With excitement gleaming in his eyes, Ryosuke muttered to himself, "I'm no longer human."

It wasn't a declaration of giving up his humanity, but rather a way to psych himself up—to break through human limits and ignore the pain that came with it.

Once again, he channeled chakra to strike at the Gate of Opening located on the right side of his brain. The familiar stabbing pain returned immediately, but he gritted his teeth and endured it.

He paused to rest after each pulse of chakra, avoiding recklessness, then repeated the process.

After a while, sweat poured from his forehead, but he had managed to hold on without passing out. That was already a breakthrough—it meant his body had begun to acclimate to the pain.

Cheering himself on in his mind: "Keep it up!"

Just like Might Guy had told him, this was how it went—get used to the pain, learn to tolerate it, and eventually overcome it.

For several hours, Ryosuke trained. Most of that time wasn't spent opening the gate itself, but adjusting to the searing agony that came with it. But today, he managed to push the gate open wider than before. This alone filled him with joy. He believed it wouldn't be long before he could fully open it.

Because the day's training was even tougher than the last, Ryosuke chose not to meet Kurenai that evening. He had already told her: if he didn't arrive within ten minutes of their planned meeting time, it meant something important had come up.

He showered, ate a simple meal, and went straight to bed, ready to face the next day.

On the fourth day since his challenge to Uchiha Inaho, Ryosuke woke up early once again. Remarkably, all the pain from yesterday's Eight Gates training had vanished after just one night's sleep.

He marveled at how durable his body had become.

One good night's sleep was enough to fully recover from the pain of opening a gate? No wonder he felt increasingly confident about mastering this technique. As long as he could bounce back like this, pain was no longer a deterrent.

Before continuing with Eight Gates training, Ryosuke first did his morning workout, modeled after Saitama from One Punch Man, to further improve his physical attributes.

Stronger body = easier Eight Gates mastery.

After finishing the full routine, he heard the familiar system notification:

A warm current flows through your body. Physical attributes increased.

He could feel the change—his body was getting tougher, faster, stronger.

After a hearty lunch and a short nap, Ryosuke resumed his Eight Gates training at home.

Sitting cross-legged on a mat, he focused his chakra once more on the mental barrier of the Gate of Opening. The pain returned, but this time it felt familiar—almost manageable.

He didn't stop refining chakra. Instead, he channeled it steadily and intensely.

Suddenly, SNAP!—a clear internal sensation.

The Gate of Opening fully opened.

A vein bulged on Ryosuke's forehead, and his skin darkened slightly. A look of satisfaction appeared on his face. He had done it.

The hardest part is always the beginning, he thought. From now on, his Eight Gates training would become smoother.

With the gate open, Ryosuke felt his physical strength and speed surge. Every fiber of his body was now operating at 100% efficiency—no mental limiters, no hesitation.

This was the first gate's gift: freeing the brain's restrictions, unlocking greater performance.

He estimated his combat capability had increased by roughly 1.5 times. That was a significant boost—especially for just the first gate.

To confirm the technique's control mechanics, he ceased chakra output. Just like Guy had described, the gate slowly began to close.

The vein on his forehead faded, his skin tone returned to normal.

Success.

He had not only opened the First Gate, but also learned to close it safely.

Though it was only the beginning—Guy could open five gates—Ryosuke now had the momentum he needed. With his superior constitution and the system's daily stat boosts, he was confident he'd reach or even surpass Guy before the Uchiha Clan Massacre.

If he could master five, or even six or seven gates by then, he'd be capable of taking down Itachi or even Obito. That power would be enough to rewrite destiny.

Ryosuke, now visibly satisfied with the day's progress, decided he could afford to relax for the night. The 1.5x stat boost from the First Gate would give him more than enough edge to dominate Inaho in their upcoming spar.

And since he wasn't entirely obsessed with training, a little pleasure was in order.

He would meet up with Kurenai tonight.

That evening, outside a modest wooden house along Konoha's quiet streets, Kurenai stood waiting in a new kimono. Her expression was a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

Ryosuke hadn't shown up the night before, and while she felt disappointed, she didn't blame him. They were adults after all—life couldn't always revolve around romance.

After a few minutes, she spotted his familiar figure approaching from a distance.

Her heart leapt with joy.

As Ryosuke drew closer, Kurenai pouted slightly.

"I thought you weren't coming tonight either."

Ryosuke, looking well-rested and in great spirits after his post-training nap, smiled. "How could I not?"

It seemed she was even more eager for these meetings than he was.

The two began walking down their usual route.

Though they'd walked these streets many times, Kurenai still found it fun and exciting. Perhaps that's just how it felt to stroll with someone you truly liked.

Once they reached a more secluded area, Kurenai once again took his arm—this time pulling him along to their familiar forest retreat.

Unlike the first two encounters, she no longer felt shy. Instead, she took the initiative—gently kissing him, her eyes hazy with affection.

Ryosuke welcomed her passion wholeheartedly.

Kurenai was entranced by Ryosuke's strong physique. Just being held in his broad arms made her feel like her whole body was melting. She longed for more. His masculine scent, the firmness of his muscles—it made her crave deeper contact.

She was no naive girl. She knew exactly where such relationships led—to that final step of truly becoming one.

Blushing deeply, Kurenai murmured, "Why don't you come to my place… three days from now? My mom will be away."

Her cheeks flamed. Would he understand what she was hinting at?

Ryosuke instantly got the message—and couldn't have been more thrilled.

Her mother would be away. She was inviting him home. There was no doubt about her intent.

With a loving gaze, he replied, "Of course, Kurenai. I'd be honored."

Coincidentally, that day would be the same one as his duel with Uchiha Inaho.

What better way to celebrate than to thoroughly trounce Inaho during the day and then… consummate his relationship with Kurenai that night?

That would also trigger another reward from the Many Children, Much Fortune System, giving him another rare treasure—another trump card for surviving the massacre.

And it would mean Kurenai was completely, fully his. Until now, despite their growing intimacy, the final step hadn't been taken.

Of course, even their current closeness granted benefits.

+0.1 Kakashi Units of Chakra.

Who knew how much a full union might bring?

Kurenai, seeing Ryosuke accept her invitation, was overjoyed. She clung tightly to his arm, her heart fluttering.

On the fifth day since Ryosuke's challenge to Inaho, he rose early again and performed his Saitama-style training regimen, continuously improving his physical stats.

That afternoon, he sought out Might Guy once more—ready to begin learning how to open the Second Gate of the Eight Gates technique.

Finding Guy wasn't difficult. Ryosuke already knew the few places Guy frequented.

And with that, Ryosuke's training in the Eight Gates moved to its next level.