Might Guy maintained his thumbs-up pose, his teeth flashing with a strange brilliance under the setting sun.
Behind him, the mechanical beast representing the pinnacle of Konoha's technology—costing hundreds of millions of ryo and personally designed by Orochimaru—was currently emitting black smoke and crackling with electricity.
"Cough... Cough, cough, cough!"
A series of violent coughs erupted from the cockpit.
The deformed hatch was kicked open from the inside with brute force, and a trembling hand reached out.
Following that, Jiraiya's face emerged, looking completely disheveled.
His originally flowing long white hair was now smoked into an afro, and his face was covered in black soot, with only his two red tear marks remaining vivid and striking.
"Ow, ow, ow... My back..."
Jiraiya leaned against the hatch and crawled out with great difficulty, looking utterly pathetic.
He looked at the broken mechanical leg, his heart aching with every twitch.
He had specifically begged Minato to paint this thing red just so he could look cool in front of Tsunade!
He hadn't even looked cool for three seconds before that bowl-cut brat kicked it into scrap metal!
"Guy! You bastard!"
Jiraiya pointed at Might Guy and roared in frustration, "This is public property! Public property, do you understand? This is going to be docked from your mission pay until your next life!"
Might Guy lowered his thumb and scratched his smooth bowl cut, looking completely innocent.
"Lord Jiraiya, didn't you say... you would go easy on me?"
"Besides, this was also to test the mech's actual combat performance!"
Guy flashed his brilliant white teeth. "As it turns out, the power of youth is invincible! Even steel cannot stop the burning of hot blood!"
"Burning my foot!" Jiraiya snapped, nearly spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Just then.
Rapid footsteps echoed from the entrance of the training ground.
"Jiraiya!!"
The voice was full of vigor and carried a heart-stopping anger, even more terrifying than the aura Might Guy exerted when he opened the Eight Inner Gates.
Jiraiya's entire body stiffened, and he slowly turned his neck, inch by inch.
At the edge of the training ground, Tsunade was striding toward them.
Behind her followed Shizune and Kabuto Yakushi, who was carrying Tonton. Their faces were somewhat pale, but Kabuto's eyes were visibly shining with interest.
Seeing Tsunade, Jiraiya's indignant expression vanished instantly.
In its place was the look of a wronged wife who had suffered a great injustice.
"Tsunade! You're finally here!"
Jiraiya jumped down from the mecha. Although he stumbled upon landing, it didn't stop him from opening his arms and lunging toward Tsunade.
"Look at these kids! They're absolutely lawless!"
"I had the best intentions, piloting this big guy to show you Konoha's new power and bring you a surprise..."
"But look! That bowl-cut brat actually kicked it to pieces!"
Jiraiya wailed while trying to burrow into Tsunade's embrace for comfort. "My heart hurts so much! My back hurts too! Only a hug from you, Tsunade, can heal me..."
Tsunade stopped in her tracks, her golden eyes narrowing slightly.
Her gaze swept past Jiraiya and landed on the red mecha overturned on the ground.
It was indeed a machine full of violent aesthetics.
Even as scrap metal, the designer's ingenuity was apparent.
However...
A vein on Tsunade's temple pulsed cheerfully.
She took a deep breath, her right fist clenching suddenly as chakra instantly condensed into a brilliant blue light on her knuckles.
"Who told you to push your luck!!"
"And..."
"You bastard, driving such a dangerous thing into the village and causing such a huge explosion—are you trying to tear Konoha apart?!"
BOOM!!
Without any hesitation.
Tsunade's fist, packed with monstrous strength, slammed precisely into Jiraiya's encroaching old face.
Time seemed to stand still in that moment.
Kakashi, Itachi, Shisui, and the newly arrived Shizune all instinctively covered their eyes.
It was too brutal.
With a sickening thud, Jiraiya was launched like a cannonball, flying backward even faster than Might Guy had earlier.
He traced a perfect parabola in the air, crashing through three of the training ground's perimeter walls before finally turning into a shooting star on the horizon and vanishing from sight.
"I'll be back!!"
Jiraiya's pathetic scream echoed in the wind for a long time.
Tsunade withdrew her fist and nonchalantly brushed the dust off her hands.
"Hmph, still so indecent at his age."
She turned to the stunned crowd, a dangerously 'sweet' smile appearing on her face.
"What are you looking at? Never seen someone clean house before?"
The group shook their heads in perfect unison, their heads moving as fast as rattles.
"No... never seen it."
Tsunade turned and walked away, headed who-knows-where.
...
After the farce ended, the atmosphere in the training ground turned serious again.
Minato Namikaze didn't bother checking on his flying teacher; with Jiraiya's vitality, a hit like that would at most land him in the hospital for two days.
His gaze returned to Might Guy.
By now, Guy had deactivated the Eight Inner Gates. Aside from some initial discomfort, he showed no signs of strain.
Beside him, Kakashi, Itachi, and Shisui were staring at him as if he were a monster.
'Is this... pure taijutsu?'
Itachi Uchiha looked at the mecha with the broken leg, unable to hide the shock in his eyes.
As a genius of the Uchiha clan, he had always believed that ninjutsu and genjutsu were the mainstream for shinobi.
Taijutsu?
That was merely a desperate choice for ninjas with insufficient chakra.
But today, Might Guy's kick had violently shattered his worldview.
Armor that even ninjutsu couldn't penetrate had been snapped by a single kick.
This kind of pure physical destructive power simply defied logic.
"Senior Guy..."
Shisui swallowed hard. "That state you were just in... how long can you maintain it?"
"Haha, kick whenever you want to kick!" Guy laughed heartily, his spirit exceptionally high. "This is the price of youth! As long as you burn, there's nothing a kick can't break!"
"No, it's not just a matter of burning."
Gamakon, the purple toad perched on Minato's shoulder, suddenly spoke.
He hopped to the ground, waddling over to Guy and poking his rock-hard muscles with a claw.
"Do you think this kid can break a mecha just because of the Eight Inner Gates?"
Gamakon turned to look at Itachi and Shisui, a wise glint in his toad eyes.
"The Eight Inner Gates is indeed a forbidden technique that can unlock the body's limits."
"But if it were an ordinary body, the moment the Gate of View was opened, the muscles and bones would disintegrate on their own because they couldn't withstand that violent power."
Gamakon pointed at Guy.
"But this kid's body is different."
"Over the past few months, he has undergone hellish tempering."
Everyone's gaze turned to Minato Namikaze.
Minato nodded slightly and explained, "Guy's body has been 'forged' by Mount Myoboku's Sage Chakra."
"It's an extreme training method developed by Master Jiraiya in cooperation with Mr. Gamakon."
"Using natural energy to constantly destroy, reorganize, and strengthen Guy's body at the cellular level."
"It's like forging iron."
"That's why he can withstand the load of the Eight Inner Gates and unleash that power at one hundred—or even one hundred and twenty—percent."
Hearing the explanation, realization dawned on Kakashi and the others.
No wonder.
No wonder Guy was performing such inhuman training every day; he was building the strongest possible body for the Eight Inner Gates.
"But..."
Itachi Uchiha keenly sensed the critical issue.
Looking at Guy's flushed skin, he asked in a heavy voice, "This technique must have a limit, right?"
"What happens if the Eighth Gate... the Gate of Death, is opened?"
The training ground fell silent instantly.
The smile on Might Guy's face faded slightly.
He looked at his hands, his tone becoming unprecedentedly serious.
"My father told me."
"The Eight Inner Gates Released Formation is the ultimate secret that burns one's life."
"Once the Gate of Death is opened, one can indeed obtain power dozens of times greater than a Hokage... but the price is certain death for the user."
Certain death.
Those two words felt like a giant boulder weighing on everyone's hearts.
Power dozens of times greater than a Hokage.
What kind of terrifying concept was that?
If the Gate of View just now had only broken one leg of the mecha, then the Gate of Death... could likely kick all of Konoha into ruins with a single blow.
It could even potentially kick that so-called Otsutsuki to death.
But the price was too high.
"What a pity,"Shisui sighed. "If only this power could be used regularly..."
"Who says it can't?"
Gamakon suddenly interrupted Shisui's lament.
He hopped back onto Minato's shoulder and spat out a chakra candy from his mouth, chewing it with a loud crunch like a peanut.
"The thinking of you ninjas is always too rigid."
Gamakon extended a claw and gestured in the air.
"What is the cause of death from the Eight Inner Gates?"
"It's because the chakra burns wildly within the body, and the resulting heat and pressure instantly carbonize the flesh, eventually burning even the heart to ash."
"In other words, it is a form of self-destruction on a 'physical level'."
A sly glint flashed in Gamakon's eyes.
"So, what if Guy possessed an 'immortal body'?"
"What if his recovery speed was faster than the destruction speed of the Eight Inner Gates?"
"Or even if his body was burned to ash, he could reorganize instantly?"
This series of rhetorical questions left everyone present stunned.
An immortal body?
Did such a legendary ability really exist?
"Theoretically, it's feasible."
Minato Namikaze rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.
As the Hokage, his intelligence network spanned the entire shinobi world, and he had encountered many forbidden techniques.
"In a future timeline, Naruto obtained the Six Paths Yang Power and indeed saved Guy after he opened the Gate of Death."
Minato recalled the 'original plot' Gamakon had previously revealed.
"Yang Power represents the ultimate vitality; it can create life and even fashion organs out of nothing."
"But..."
Minato shook his head. "Naruto is still too young. Expecting him to master Yang Power would take at least another decade."
"We can't wait that long."
The Otsutsuki threat was imminent. Although Isshiki had been captured, reinforcements from the main family could descend at any time.
They needed immediate combat power.
They needed a Might Guy who could open the Gate of Death right now and survive to continue the fight.
"Yang Power is a high-end toy; we don't have it yet."
Gamakon gave a wicked grin. "But we can take a bit of a 'crooked path'."
"Minato, do you remember the legend from the Village Hidden in the Steam?"
Minato's eyes narrowed as an S-rank intelligence report submitted by the Anbu flashed through his mind.
"You mean... that cult that worships a 'wicked god'?"
"Exactly."
Gamakon snapped his fingers. "There's a crazy cult in the Land of Steam that worships the so-called 'Lord Jashin'."
"Supposedly, by undergoing a certain bloody ritual, one can obtain a true immortal body."
"Even if your head is chopped off or your body is sliced into pieces, as long as you can be sewn back together, you can keep on living."
What Gamakon mentioned was the ability of a future Akatsuki member—Hidan.
The monster with a true immortal body.
Although his battle IQ was pathetic and his ninjutsu was limited to that single curse ritual, that 'immortality' attribute was a genuine bug.
"If..."
Gamakon looked at the bewildered Might Guy, his gaze turning somewhat fanatical.
"If we can get our hands on the secret of that 'Jashin', or simply transplant that immortal body ability into Guy..."
"Imagine it."
"A Might Guy who has opened the Eighth Gate of Death, shrouded in red steam, capable of shattering space with a kick, yet refuses to die."
"What would that be?"
The training ground was deathly silent.
If it were a Guy like that, never mind Otsutsuki Isshiki—even if Princess Kaguya herself showed up, she'd likely be chased and kicked for three days and three nights straight.
Gulp.
Kakashi swallowed hard with difficulty.
Looking at Guy beside him, he suddenly felt that this best friend, who was always shouting about 'youth', had become a bit terrifying.
"Can... can this really be done?"
"Where there's a will, there's a way."
Gamakon grinned. "That guy named Hidan shouldn't have obtained his immortal body yet."
"This is a perfect chance to snatch a bargain."
Minato Namikaze took a deep breath, the hesitation in his eyes vanishing instantly.
As a mature politician and military leader, he understood the strategic value of this plan all too well.
If successful, Konoha would possess a consistent, beyond-Kage level combatant.
A 'Death Gate Permanent User' who could solo an Otsutsuki.
For this goal, even touching something as dangerous as the Jashin Cult was worth it.
"Anbu!"
Minato's voice suddenly turned cold, carrying an unquestionable authority.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Three masked Anbu ninjas appeared behind him instantly, kneeling on one knee.
"Sir!"
"Hear my command."
Minato turned around, his Hokage cloak fluttering in the evening wind.
"Immediately dispatch an elite squad to the Village Hidden in the Steam."
"Objective: Search for all intelligence regarding the 'Jashin Cult', especially clues about the 'immortal body'."
"If you discover the target named Hidan..."
Minato paused, a cold light flashing in his eyes. "Do not alert him. Report back immediately."
"If necessary, I will personally go and 'invite' him back to Konoha."
"Yes!"
The Anbu ninjas took their orders and vanished instantly.
Minato turned his head and looked at Might Guy, who was still in a daze, his face once again sporting a gentle smile.
"Guy, it looks like your special training is going to get even more intense."
"If that plan succeeds..."
Minato patted Guy's shoulder, his tone filled with anticipation. "You won't have to worry about the life-and-death issue anymore."
"When that time comes, you can burn your youth to your heart's content."
Although Guy didn't fully understand the underlying principles, he understood that last sentence.
Burning youth to his heart's content?
What a hot-blooded youth that would be!
"Yes! Lord Hokage!"
Guy was so moved he was in tears, and he fiercely raised his thumb. "For youth! For Konoha! I'm willing to accept any challenge!"
"Even becoming an immortal monster?" Kakashi muttered quietly from the side.
"As long as I can protect everyone, it doesn't matter what I become!"
Guy laughed loudly, revealing his trademark white teeth.
Watching this, Gamakon, perched on Minato's shoulder, satisfiedly spat out a sunflower seed shell.
"Since it's supposed to kill you, as long as you don't die, it's fine."
"Flawless logic."
This was the joy of cheating.
What rules, what taboos? In the face of a transmigrator and information superiority, everything was meant to be broken.
Otsutsuki?
Just you wait.
Once Konoha mass-produces 'Gundams' and 'Immortal Night Guys', even if a whole division of you descends from the heavens, you'll have to leave your lives on this land.
Furthermore, even if the immortal body couldn't give Might Guy recovery power, they could still transfer Guy's soul into a clone. The only hassle would be retraining the body.
But that wouldn't be a problem under the tempering of Sage Chakra; in just two years, he'd be another hero capable of opening the Gate of Death.