8 Gates
Shirohi had seen the darkness of war firsthand on many accounts; he had bounced from the various frontlines delivering supplies, escorting medi-nin, or attacking enemy supply lines. The last three years have tested Shirohi time and time again and every time he came back stronger and with it an urge, an impulse to continue fighting…
Slowly he began to enjoy fighting, killing still unnerved him, he hoped he never came to enjoy killing. He wanted to be different, different from everyone else… he knew his hands were soaked in the blood of many, no… 3,246 people fell at his hands, each and everyone of those weighed on his mind he remembered every single time he took a life, he had to to remind himself why he was doing it.
He wanted to survive in this harsh world but he didn't want to do it alone. These past three years showed Shirohi a new light in the world. It wasn't some power of friendship or some blessing but to have someone next to you that was working equally as hard just pushed him harder… to not be outdone.
Sitting next to him Yumi was watching him curiously, he always made the best expressions when he was deep in thoughts. She watched his fingers twitched as his expression became severe, as his small beautiful (sinister) smirk slowly grew a chill washed over her that caused her to shudder in her seat…
Across the table, Tsunade coughed and Shirohi spurred from his thoughts as he looked accords the table he saw most of the avoiding his gaze apart from Kakashi; who seemed shaken, Tsunade and Nomi were unweavered due to getting used to it over the years, Asuma gaze him a steady look but his eyes betrayed him, Shizune sent his a cramped smile and a shrug, but as his eyes landed on Yumi he became confused…
He didn't know how to process what he was seeing, she just let out a sigh and grabbed his face. Their lips met and Nomi gasped, Shirohi's mind became muddled he didn't know what to do in this situation it ended before he even moved his hand light grabbing Yumi's wrist then a fierce blush washed over his serious expression, "W-what…" his words faded as he hurriedly catched the fainted girl…
The table was silent, while most expected something like this to actually see it happen infront of them had shocked them… Tsunade let out a "Well…" Nomi looked at her and nodded "Well indeed…"
Shizune's expression was cramped as she looked at Shirohi…
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To clear his mind Shirohi had been training under the full moon, it always seemed to clear his mind when the moonlight watched over him. He had his best moments under moonlight, all of his major advancements had been under this very same light.
Kusagani tore through the air as cut down from '12' to '6', his figure seemed to flicker as he cut diagonally '7' to '3' then again with a downward slice '3' to '5'… Every swing whistled through the air, each swing fueled with a powerful step as he 'glided' across the ground. Small traces of lightning would be left with every step, left behind from his Raiton saturated body, if one was to watch this scene alongside the soft music echoing through woods they may very well be entranced. His pale blue eyes darted through the dimly light trees as he cut at shadows, his expression changing with every swing as he put his all into every movement.
Training was his passion, and growing stronger was his life's goal nothing would get in the way of that, he could lose his legs and still train. As he continued he saw a figure running through the woods, Shirohi had to focus to follow their speed he frowned as he Shunshin'd.
Clad in a green bodysuit and a green aura the figure burst through the trees, Shirohi was beyond confused as he recognized the man as the Eternal Genin; Might Dai. Stopping in his tracks, Shirohi watched him disappear into the trees, Shirohi turned around and shunshin'd to Hizuren's house.
After waking up Hizuren, they went to Might Dai's house in the forest. Hizuren had called on Anbu in case Dai was a spy, while he doubted it due to knowing the Eternal Genin personally he couldn't find a reason why he was hiding his strength especially in war time…
Just as Shirohi was about to knock on the door, the green bodysuit jumped out from the tree. Confusion evident in his face but he instantly kneeled in front of the Hokage, "Hokage, what orders do you have for me?"
Hizuren eyed him for a moment with an uncharacteristically cold expression on his face, "I have come to ask why you have hid your strength, are you a coward that shys away from the war?"
Dai panicked, hurriedly shaking his head. He defended himself, "No Hokage, I have tried and tried to become a Chuunin over all these years but every time I have failed…" his voice became solemn "I had given up on advancing and found enjoyment in helping the village, and found my YOUTH!"
Hizuren flinched at the sudden outburst "Youth?" Dai gave an exaggerated nod "Yes YOUTH, Training until my body refuses to move then training more until my soul refuses to move then again till my pitiful chakra groans for relief… that is my YOUTH…"
Shirohi chimed in "So you're just some training nut? You know… I can follow a pretty skilled Jounin with my eyes but yet I could hardly follow you, how'd you achieve this?"
Dai seemed reluctant and looked towards the Hokage, "Currently you are being investigated because we suspect you as a spy, if you do anything to clear your name now would be the time to reveal it…"
Dai let out a sigh, "Very well, in my time looking for a way to pass the Chuunin Exams I began looking through various texts left behind by various scholars, body scrolls, and touched upon Iryojutsu… and in this search I found 8 Gates…"
"First Gate of Opening"
"Second Gate of Healing" Dai's presence exploded to the sensors, his chakra explosively increased and manifested outside of his body in the form of an aura, "I can only open the first two gates, anymore then that and my body begins to break down if they are open for too long. I have pushed myself and my training to a whole new level just to be able to touch the third gate…"
After his explanation Hizuren spoke "If this is all true you wouldn't mind a Yamanka at the T&I department taking a look?" Dai sighed atleast this was better than death "Anything to prove my innocence…"
(A/N: I never really understood this, this guy was a taijutsu genius that somehow found a way to surpass mortal limits… this guy did all this while a Genin so limited access to information…I couldn't think of a plausible explanation so this is the one you all have.)