Naruto: The Shadow of Uchiha

When Ryosuke arrived, Might Guy greeted him with a warm smile. Based on Ryosuke's hard-working personality, Guy figured he must have been practicing the Eight Inner Gates alone after being taught how to open the First Gate. Guy asked with concern:

"Ryosuke, how's your training going? Don't worry if you haven't succeeded yet. Opening the First Gate takes time and can't be rushed."

Having spent time around him, Guy understood Ryosuke's temperament well. He was an impatient and driven person—he had even developed his own self-harming taijutsu training method where he grew stronger by getting beaten up. That sort of method could only be invented by someone absolutely desperate for power.

Still, even with that kind of intensity, mastering the First Gate wasn't easy. Guy himself had taken two full years just to open it.

Ryosuke, however, simply smiled and said:

"I opened the First Gate yesterday. Now I'm here to learn the Second."

Guy was visibly stunned.

He had spent two years achieving what Ryosuke had accomplished in three days. The difference was staggering. It was likely Ryosuke's physical condition far surpassed his own back then. That might explain why it came easier—but the pain of opening a gate didn't reduce based on talent alone. The Eight Gates caused overwhelming, mental and physical pain—pain that was nearly inhuman. Very few could endure it, which is why the technique had never been widely adopted.

Guy couldn't help but admire Ryosuke's potential.

"Ryosuke, you're definitely born for taijutsu," Guy praised. "But after opening the First Gate, don't be too eager to move on. It's better to stabilize your foundation first."

Ryosuke agreed. He wasn't yet sure how long he could maintain the First Gate once opened. Mastery meant sustaining it with ease. Though he had gone to meet Kurenai after opening the First Gate yesterday—which wasn't unwise since it increased his chakra reserves via the system—he realized that patience was essential.

He resumed training. Sitting cross-legged, Ryosuke began channeling chakra to open the First Gate once again.

With a surge of chakra, the Gate of Opening flared to life. This was now his second successful activation. While not completely mastered yet, he felt it was easier than before.

His forehead veins bulged and his skin darkened—clear signs the gate was open. His aura surged sharply.

Guy watched this, quietly amazed. Even knowing Ryosuke had succeeded before, seeing it in person shocked him anew.

Ten minutes passed.

Then twenty.

Thirty full minutes passed, and Ryosuke still maintained the First Gate, only now showing slight strain.

Guy was blown away. He had only been able to hold it for one minute the first time before the strain forced it shut.

This made it clear: Ryosuke had both high chakra reserves and astonishing endurance.

Guy finally said:

"That's enough, Ryosuke. Now you're ready for the Second Gate."

Ryosuke deactivated the First Gate. His skin tone and facial expression returned to normal, but he felt some lingering fatigue. That was the rebound effect—a typical side effect of using the Eight Gates. Still, with his ever-growing physique, that weakness would eventually fade.

Guy began explaining the Second Gate: The Gate of Rest (休门, Kyūmon). Like the First Gate, it too was located in the brain, but on the left side, opposite the First Gate on the right.

Guy opened his own Second Gate as a demonstration. Two veins bulged on his face, and his skin darkened even more than before.

He explained:

"The Gate of Rest releases the limit on fatigue. It overclocks the body to restore energy, counteracting the First Gate's exhaustion."

Ryosuke activated his Sharingan to observe Guy's chakra flow and memorize the gate's position and nature.

After a brief recovery, Ryosuke began training to open the Second Gate. Drawing on his past experience, he carefully channeled chakra toward the left hemisphere of his brain.

Pain surged through him.

Worse than before. Sharper, deeper. It wasn't just like a needle—it was like a blade cutting through his consciousness.

But he had endured the First Gate's pain. He was mentally prepared. He gritted his teeth and pushed through, continuing to direct his chakra to break through the mental limitation that the Second Gate imposed.

Sweat poured down his face. His hair clung to his skin. The searing pain made his vision blur.

One full hour passed.

Guy watched nervously, unsettled by Ryosuke's relentless approach. The way he trained—without reservation, without hesitation—was terrifying. He didn't even seem afraid that this could damage his brain.

Even Guy, with all his toughness, hadn't dared train so recklessly.

"Ryosuke, don't be so reckless!" Guy warned.

He genuinely feared that Ryosuke's determination could come at the cost of irreversible injury.