Might Guy and the other two escaped the battlefield under the protection of Aburame Shibi.
On the way, Aburame Shibi asked Guy about his father. Guy didn't hide anything and immediately told Aburame Shibi that his father had spent over 20 years mastering the secret technique of the Eight Gates.
"Guy, did your father create the secret technique of the Eight Gates himself?" Aburame Shibi asked.
"I don't know. My father just said he spent 20 years mastering this technique," Guy replied.
"Teacher Shibi, are there no records of the Eight Gates in the Village?" Uchiha En asked.
Aburame Shibi shook his head, "I once had the honor of choosing a Ninjutsu from the Scroll of Seals, but even the Scroll of Seals has no record of the Eight Gates. It's even less likely to be found elsewhere.
Therefore, I can be certain that the Village does not possess the secret technique of the Eight Gates. I believe this technique was most likely created by Guy's father."
After hearing Aburame Shibi's words, Uchiha En fell into deep thought. He remembered that in the original work, Uchiha Madara had asked why the steam wasn't blood-red when Guy opened the Seventh Gate.
This indicates that Uchiha Madara knew about, or possibly had even witnessed, the appearance of the Eight Gates after the Gate of Death was opened.
If he merely knew, then it's highly likely that White Zetsu saw Might Duy open the Gate of Death and reported the relevant information to Uchiha Madara.
If he had witnessed it, the currently dying Madara definitely wouldn't have run out to watch Might Duy open the Gate of Death. The only explanation is that he had seen someone open the Gate of Death before.
However, Uchiha En had no way to verify either possibility; there was no way he could run directly to Uchiha Madara and ask him these things.
"En, take Guy and the others to the Medical Ninja first. I need to go talk to Shikaku and the others about the Eight Gates," Aburame Shibi's words interrupted Uchiha En's thoughts.
Uchiha En nodded in agreement upon hearing this.
Seeing that Uchiha En agreed, Aburame Shibi turned and left immediately.
Meanwhile, at the Konoha Camp, Asana and Yamanaka Teruzuki, who had been anxiously waiting for Uchiha En's return, immediately rushed over when they saw him.
"En, are you okay?" Yamanaka Teruzuki asked.
"I'm fine, Kagetsu. Could you please take Guy and the others to the Medical Ninja? I'm a bit tired and want to rest."
"Alright, leave it to me!"
After Yamanaka Teruzuki and the others left, Uchiha En looked at Asana and said, "I'm sorry, Asana, I made you worry."
Asana shook her head and said, "You don't need to apologize to me. You did nothing wrong. I am the one who is too weak to face danger alongside you at a time like this.
En, the next time a similar situation arises, I want to stand by your side. That's why I've made a decision!"
"Decided what?"
"I am going to accept Lord Orochimaru's terms."
"Terms? Did Orochimaru say something to you?" Uchiha En quickly asked.
"Didn't Lord Orochimaru mentor me privately for two days before? At that time, Lord Orochimaru told me that your strength was increasing extremely fast, and I would soon be left behind by you.
Furthermore, relying solely on my own efforts, it would be impossible to escape the control of the Hyuga Clan. So, Lord Orochimaru asked me to become his research subject and assistant.
Publicly, Lord Orochimaru will say I am his disciple, granting me protection based on my status. At the same time, Lord Orochimaru will teach me more Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Medical Ninjutsu to help me become strong as quickly as possible.
Lord Orochimaru can even let me sign a contract with his Summoned Beast right now.
The only thing I need to provide is using the Byakugan to help him conduct some experiments, and I also need to contribute my eyes and blood for research."
"Absolutely not! That's too dangerous!" Uchiha En exclaimed without hesitation upon hearing this.
"En, I'm not discussing this with you; I'm informing you. I have made up my mind!"
"But..."
"There are no buts. En, I will catch up to you." After saying this, Asana turned and left.
Watching Asana's resolute retreating figure, Uchiha En was momentarily at a loss.
The terms Orochimaru offered completely exceeded Uchiha En's imagination. He couldn't understand why Orochimaru would offer such generous conditions to recruit Asana.
Setting aside everything else, just the status of being Orochimaru's disciple would prevent the Hyuga Clan's Main House from placing any restrictions on Asana before Orochimaru defected.
Furthermore, Orochimaru was willing to give Asana the Ryūchi Cave summoning contract, which was something Uchiha En never expected.
Setting aside the situation after Orochimaru's defection and the potential influence Orochimaru might have on Asana's ideology, Uchiha En even felt that accepting Orochimaru's proposal was the best choice for Asana right now.
For the next two days, Asana did not come over to train with Uchiha En and the others.
On the third day, which was Uchiha En's birthday, Asana reappeared.
Today was Uchiha En's eleventh birthday. Asana was two months older than Uchiha En and had celebrated her eleventh birthday shortly after arriving at the battlefield, while Yamanaka Teruzuki was one month older than Uchiha En, and his birthday had passed not long ago.
When Yamanaka Teruzuki celebrated his birthday last time, Uchiha En and Asana both gifted him some Ninja Tools, while Aburame Shibi gave Yamanaka Teruzuki a C-rank Water Release Ninjutsu.
For Uchiha En's birthday this time, Yamanaka Teruzuki regifted the C-rank Water Release: Water Prison Technique to Uchiha En.
Asana, on the other hand, gave Uchiha En a C-rank Wind Release Ninjutsu: Wind Release: Wind Cutter.
Aburame Shibi, as promised, prepared a B-rank Wind Release Ninjutsu, Wind Release: Emerald Gale, for Uchiha En.
Aburame Shibi had carefully selected this Ninjutsu. He noticed during the mission to destroy the water sources and supply lines that Uchiha En was very skilled at fighting with blades, similar to a Samurai from the Land of Iron.
Wind Release: Emerald Gale is a Ninjutsu that allows the user to manipulate their Ninja Tools for attack, spinning them to perform cuts.
Learning this technique would undoubtedly make Uchiha En's close-range fighting style more versatile.
After presenting the gifts, Aburame Shibi hurriedly left.
Yesterday, the great battle between Konoha and Kirigakure concluded, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.
Kirigakure would definitely not have given up easily had their supply lines not been cut, their water sources compromised, and four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist killed.
Fortunately, after this battle, Kirigakure would be unable to organize large-scale combat for a short period.
However, this did not mean the war in the Land of Bears was over. Although large-scale battles were absent, small-scale skirmishes were inevitable.
Luckily, with four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist dead, Konoha was no longer as passive in small-scale conflicts as before.
In reality, neither Kirigakure nor Konoha truly won this massive conflict.
It was just that Kirigakure suffered greater losses by comparison, as four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were kicked to death by Might Duy.
By now, the deeds concerning Might Duy had already spread back to the Village.
Inside the Hokage Office, the Third Hokage was smoking a pipe while looking over the intelligence concerning the Eight Gates.
"Hiruzen, is it true that four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were killed by a Genin?" Danzo burst in without knocking and asked.
"Danzo, this is the Hokage Office. Can you please show some restraint?" Utatane Koharu said with a frown, clearly displeased.
"Koharu, Danzo is just surprised by this intelligence! Weren't we two the same way earlier? It's understandable," Homura Mitokado said, laughing and mediating.
"Even when excited, you must pay attention to etiquette! Danzo, don't blame me for being harsh."
Utatane Koharu lectured Danzo relentlessly, but Danzo completely ignored her words, his gaze fixed on the intelligence in the Third Hokage's hand.
After a moment, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had remained silent, said, "You two should take a look too! It truly is an incredible secret technique."
After speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi had an Anbu hand the intelligence report to the three of them.
After the three finished reading the report sent back by Orochimaru, Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu were both astonished, while a hint of greed flashed in Danzo's eyes.
"Might Duy used a secret technique and sacrificed his life to kill four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. His name ought to be engraved on the Memorial Stone," Utatane Koharu stated.
"I agree. Furthermore, I think Might Duy's Ninja rank should be raised. The status of Genin is no longer suitable for him," Homura Mitokado said.
"All of this has been considered. I plan to directly promote Might Duy to Jonin. His survivor's benefits will also be distributed according to the Jonin rank, and his name will be engraved on the Memorial Stone," the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, said.
"Hiruzen, how should we handle Might Duy's secret technique?" Danzo asked.
"Danzo, according to Orochimaru's description, Might Duy created the Eight Gates himself, so it counts as Might Duy's clan Ninjutsu," the Third Hokage replied.
"But Might Duy is dead, and Might Guy is on the battlefield in the Land of Bears. If anything happens to Might Guy, this secret technique will be lost forever."
Hearing Danzo's words, Homura Mitokado chimed in, "That's right, Hiruzen! This secret technique could very well be lost due to Might Guy's death. We have an obligation to help Might Duy pass this technique down."
"Hiruzen, I also think it would be a shame for this secret technique to be lost just like that. We can preserve this technique on a sealing scroll. If anything happens to Might Guy, this secret technique can still be passed down," Utatane Koharu added.
After a long silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "I will have Orochimaru ask Might Guy if he is willing to hand over this secret technique to the Village.
If Guy agrees, the Village will provide him with appropriate compensation.
If he does not agree, none of you are to force him. If I find out you have done anything in secret, don't blame me for being merciless."
After hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Danzo did not say anything more.
In Danzo's opinion, Might Guy, being a Genin, would surely agree to hand over the Eight Gates once he met the person the Village sent.
Once the Eight Gates was recorded on the sealing scroll, he would have plenty of opportunities to examine it.
If the cultivation threshold for this secret technique wasn't high, then Root would instantly gain many Ninja capable of easily eliminating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
As for the lives of these Ninja, Danzo did not care, because every Ninja in Root was prepared to sacrifice themselves for Konoha at any time.
----------------------------------
I've already posted 30 new chapters on Patreon!
If you like the story and want to reaad more, please visit my patreon. Every support is very meaningful!
[patreon.com/Kazenova223]
Thank you very much!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"