“Secret teique?”

  The Third Hokage raised an eyebrow, recalling the Eight Gates Release Formation that Kyoichi had used during the exams.

  Moreover...

  Hadn’t Kyoichi mentiohat this teique beloo Might Duy?

  Might Duy... who was that again?

  After a moment of ption, Hiruzen remembered and asked, “Was the Eight Gates something you developed together with Might Duy?”

  “No, Lord Hokage. That was entirely Duy-sensei’s creation, something he perfected through twenty years of relentless practice. My teique is called the Seven Heavens Breathihod, which I developed while studying mediinjutsu,” Kyoichi expined.

  He went on to outlihe principles of the Seven Heavens Breathihod and its first level of activation.

  “Cellur activation? You’ve developed a teique at this level?”

  The Third Hokage was astonished.

  The idea of enhang the body’s cellur activity by increasing oxygen intake was novel and intriguing. However, he quickly realized the teique had signifit limitations—it required exceptional physical ditioning. For someoh a weaker stitution, excessive oxygen intake could lead to poisoning.

  Taking a deep breath, Hiruzen warned, “This teique of yours qualifies as an S-rank forbidden jutsu. It should only be used in the direst circumstances.”

  “Uood, Lord Hokage. Currently, Duy-senpai and I are w on refining the teique to lower its threshold and funality, aiming to make it an A-rank forbidden jutsu that could be more broadly applicable.”

  Kyoichi shared their aspirations.

  S-rank jutsu were strictly reguted, while A-rank jutsu could be taught to elite in and above. If they could adapt the teique, it would be a signifit tribution.

  Not to mention...

  It might even secure some research funding!

  “It’s a good idea, but the practical challenges will be siderable,” Hiruzen said, rubbing his temples.

  “Don’t worry, Lord Hokage. I pn to adjust the breathing teique’s method. Even if others acquire a simplified version, they won’t be able to replicate the full Seven Heavens Breathihod.”

  Kyoichi paused, then added, “If we succeed, it could save tless lives in future wars.”

  “You have a point. We ’t let fear of failure prevent progress. How about this: the first level won’t be recorded officially. Submit it for review once you and Duy have developed the A-rank version.”

  With that, the Third Hokage retrieved a scroll from beh his desk.

  After perf a series of hand seals to unlock it, he pced a sword oable.

  The Sword of the Thunder God.

  “This sword was crafted for my teacher in his early years. While it’s powerful, its material is fragile. Use it wisely and take care of it,” Hiruzen said, handing the sword to Kyoichi.

  Kyoichi was stunned. He had only hoped to borrow the sword temporarily, but Hiruzen was ht giving it to him.

  What’s more, after some thought, the Third Hokage added, “You’re wele to explore the archives in the Hokage Building. While they don’t tain ninjutsu, the knowledge there is far more prehehan what you might gather piecemeal.”

  “Thank you, Lord Hokage!”

  Overjoyed, Kyoichi bowed deeply.

  He had initially po snatch a on or two from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen iure, but this ued gift was a wele surprise.

  Of course...

  He still inteo loot the Seven Ninja Swordsmehe opportunity arose. After all, who could have too many swords?

  And then there was the Kusanagi Sword... If only he khe Kusanagi ’s whereabouts, he’d have pursued that sword long ago rather than b the Third Hokage.

  “Tomorrow’s the exam, and the day after that is team assigs. Don’t fet to attend,” Hiruzen said with a chuckle.

  After Kyoichi left, the Hokage fell into deep thought. Eventually, he began sifting through the archives but couldn’t find what he was looking for.

  Frustrated, he summoned an Anbu ninja.

  “Find me Might Duy’s records.”

  “Lord Hokage, Might Duy is a Genin. You won’t find his files among the in archives.”

  “What?”

  The Third Hokage was taken aback.

  Might Duy is a Genin?

  He didn’t doubt the truth of Kyoichi’s cims. Researg the Eight Gates required not only theoretical knowledge but also years orous practice. It wasn’t something one could develop in a short time.

  Kyoichi was far too young to have created it himself, so it made sehat the teique was Duy’s creation.

  But...

  A ninja capable of iing an S-rank forbidden teique was still a mere Genin?

  For the first time, Hiruze he had failed in his duties.

  How could such talent go unnoticed, buried among the ranks of Genin, only ing to light after repeated mentions by Kyoichi?

  When the Anbu ninja brought Duy’s file, Hiruzen carefully reviewed it.

  Then he uood why he hadn’t paid attention to Duy.

  Unlike someone like Kosuke Maruboshi, who was famous despite remaining a Genin, Duy fully embraced his status. He primarily took on D-rank missions and had never pleted a k mission outside of wartime.

  A...

  This was the man who created the Eight Gates?

  “I’ve failed... truly failed,” Hiruzen muttered, sighing heavily.

  For years, Konoha had been starved of capable in and Jōnio stant wars, yet a talent like Duy had beeo stagnate.

  ---

  Kyoichi exited the Hokage Building with the Sword of the Thunder God in hand.

  This was the sed time he had he Hokage about Duy. If Hiruzen still didn’t act, then perhaps it was time for him to step down.

  Duy’s circumstances were already different from the inal timeline. While he was still primarily focused on the Eight Gates, he had also picked up some of Guy’s taijutsu teiques and mastered the Leaf Whirlwind series.

  By now, Duy was more than qualified to be a Jōnin.

  Even without teiques like M Peacock or Daytime Tiger, Duy’s skills pced him among the top-tier Jōnin.

  Leaving such talent to waste?

  The Third Hokage was either incredibly careless or ht foolish.

  And this wasn’t even the first time.

  When Sakumo Hatake took his own life, Hiruzen did nothing to quell the rumors or stop the tragedy from unfolding.

  If it was deliberate, he was sinister.

  If it was negligence, he was inpetent.

  Either way, Hiruzen wasly a paragon of leadership.

  Kyoichi smirked coldly.

  Being a Jōnin had been easy enough.

  But if he ever wao vie for the Hokage’s position, he khe road would be fraught with obstacles and opposition.

  “Whatever. Oep at a time.”

  Being Hokage wasn’t on his mind right now. Surviving the war and the ails’ attack was the real priority.

  ---

  The day, Kyoichi finished his m training and headed to the Ninja Academy.

  Today was exam day.

  For most of the didates, the process was just a formality. Still, Kyoichi had to attend, as Hiruzen had appointed him as the lead examiner for ninjutsu.

  The lineup of examiners was impressive, too: Tekuno and Kurenai’s father, Yuhi Shinku.

  Clearly, Hiruzen had high hopes for this year’s graduating css.

  Soon, the didates entered.

  The first one?

  Obito Uchiha.

  Naturally, he was te again.

  Sure enough, two minutes after the exam began, a knock sou the door.

  “Sensei, I...”

  When Obito saw Kyoichi, his entire body froze.

  He hadn’t expected his teacher to be the lead examiner.

  And worse, he was te again!

  “Same rules as always: demonstrate the Transformation and e Teiques. Substitution will be tested ter,” Kyoichi said calmly.

  “Yes, Sensei!”

  Taking a deep breath, Obito quickly formed the necessary hand seals. A pulse of chakra followed, and two es appeared beside him.

  Simultaneously, his es and real body transformed—oo Kyoichi and the other two into the other examiners.

  “The height and proportions of the others are off. And me? You didn’t notice I had a neon today, did you?”

  Gcell