Chapter 56: This Genius Doesn't Seem Very Bright
Chapter 56: This Genius Doesn't Seem Very Bright
As for Uchiha Shisui's bug-level genjutsu, 'Separate Heaven and Earth', and the ultimate genjutsu, 'Infinite Tsukuyomi', it was impossible to speculate whether they would be effective against the Eight Gates Formation.
After all, it had never been demonstrated in the original work.
Feng Ye couldn't be certain either.
However, he wouldn't let 'Separate Heaven and Earth' affect him, nor would he allow 'Infinite Tsukuyomi' to occur. As long as he could immunize himself against the majority of genjutsu, that would be sufficient for him.
This was why he endured the hardships and continued to cultivate the Eight Gates.
Seven hundred and seventy-five,
Seven hundred and seventy-six,
Seven hundred and seventy-seven...
As the numbers continued to climb, Feng Ye's breathing became more and more labored. Beads of sweat dripped relentlessly, and finally, as he reached seven hundred and seventy-seven, his arms gave out, and he fell face-first onto the ground.
It took him a full half-minute to catch his breath before he sat up again.
"It's a pity that I can't use time rewind to eliminate fatigue."
Feng Ye shook his head.
Rewinding time would restore his body to its previous state, but using it to eliminate fatigue would be like undoing the hundreds of push-ups he had just done, which was quite frustrating.
After resting for a few more minutes and drinking some water, Feng Ye looked at the patch of ground dampened by his sweat and shook his head. "Never mind, I'll go outside."
It would save him the trouble of having the tent filled with the smell of sweat, and he wouldn't have to bother with cleaning it later.
Outside the tent,
Feng Ye placed his hands behind his head and began squatting, another fundamental exercise.
Push-ups, squats, and sit-ups were the three most basic exercises that trained arm, leg, and core strength, and they were also the most effective way to loosen the Eight Gates within his body.
Two hundred and twenty-one,
Two hundred and twenty-two,
Two hundred and twenty-three...
Feng Ye continued to count silently.
His squatting exercises outside the tent drew the attention of some ninjas.
"Hey, what's that guy doing?"
Someone who noticed Feng Ye's movements spoke to his companion, who was carrying things nearby.
Morino Ibiki, holding a box, followed the speaker's gaze and saw Feng Ye continuously squatting. A strange look appeared on his face.
"Is that guy... training his taijutsu?"
"Seems like it."
Morino Ibiki's lips twitched slightly, and he couldn't help but comment, "He doesn't seem very... well, bright. Is that kid really the genius who became Orochimaru-sama's disciple?"
This was the border!
They could encounter combat at any moment!
Instead of conserving their energy, he was wasting it on taijutsu training. He almost wanted to ask if the guy had a screw loose, but the words that came out were, "doesn't seem very bright."
After all, Feng Ye was Orochimaru's disciple.
"Who knows?"
His companion shrugged, a helpless tone in his voice. "Who trains at a time like this? What has he been doing before?"
Morino Ibiki felt a headache coming on.
If a fight broke out, they might even have to protect Feng Ye, who seemed to have no combat ability. What was the point of including such a young and inexperienced ninja in the advance force?
If they were still in the village, he would have questioned Orochimaru, but it was too late now. They were already at the front lines, and there was no sending Feng Ye back.
"Forget it, never mind."
Morino Ibiki finally shook his head and walked into the tent.
Feng Ye was Orochimaru's disciple, so even if his behavior seemed foolish, it was up to Orochimaru to teach and guide him. It had nothing to do with them, even if he was a burden.
In this state, despite the soreness in his muscles and the increasing pain with each movement, he gritted his teeth and persevered.
The fourth gate was within reach! Just a little further, and he would break through!
Feng Ye's training not only caught the attention of other ninjas but also that of Orochimaru, who looked in his direction from a distance, his brows furrowed slightly in puzzlement.
"He's still training his taijutsu at a time like this...?" Orochimaru thought to himself. Compared to Morino Ibiki and the others, he was more familiar with Feng Ye and didn't think he would do something that seemed so foolish and meaningless.
He noticed that Feng Ye was wearing weights and had been taking time to train during their journey from Konoha to the border, but he hadn't interfered. Orochimaru viewed this relentless dedication to training as a sign of excellence.
But now, things were different. They had reached the Fire Country's border, where combat could break out at any moment, and Feng Ye, with his intelligence, should be well aware of this.
Knowing this, if Feng Ye still chose to train, there could only be one explanation: he was on the cusp of a breakthrough with one of his techniques.
"The Eight Inner Gates, huh..." Orochimaru mused to himself before shaking his head slightly. He decided against stopping Feng Ye.
The likelihood of a sudden battle breaking out was low, and if Feng Ye was truly close to a breakthrough, it would be worth taking a small risk to achieve that advancement.
Feng Ye's strength was estimated to be at the level of a jounin. If he could further refine his control of the Eight Inner Gates, perhaps when he opened the gates, he would be comparable to an elite jounin.
Even though he might not be able to maintain that state for long and would likely suffer significant side effects, the combat prowess of an elite jounin could turn the tide in a battle, even when outnumbered.
Orochimaru chose not to interfere.
Although the other ninjas found Feng Ye's behavior outrageous, without any instructions from Orochimaru, they had no reason to stop him, and they could only vent their confusion through muttered comments.
They had thought that Feng Ye, despite his youth, would at least be more dependable than Might Guy, but now it seemed that he was just as unreliable.
"Six hundred and sixty-four..."
"Six hundred and sixty-five..."
Feng Ye counted silently in his mind as he continued his sit-ups with his hands clasped behind his head.
Sweat poured down his body, and he forced himself to sit up again and again, feeling his abdominal muscles reaching their limit. Yet, he persevered through the pain.
His chakra flowed within him, gathering at the fourth gate of the Eight Inner Gates. He could feel the heat and a tingling sensation there.
Finally, after one last sit-up...
Feng Ye felt a change at the fourth gate.
The faint sense of obstruction he had felt before completely vanished, and he knew that he could open the fourth gate of the Eight Inner Gates whenever he wanted!
This feeling was familiar to Feng Ye.
It signaled that he had broken through the fourth gate!
(End of Chapter)
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