A Multiverse Tale: Hope in Another World!

The day after Takuma Kirie taught Might Guy the Rasengan, Might Duy entrusted him with the Eight Gates Formation in a solemn handover. 

The week of training that followed left Kirie awestruck. No wonder this technique, passed down through generations, had only been mastered by Might Duy, Might Guy, and later Rock Lee. The intricacies—human anatomy, chakra flow, acupoints—were staggering. How chakra coursed through meridians, how each gate unlocked, how to delicately trigger potential without breaking the body—it demanded countless precise techniques. 

The human body was fragile, its meridians and acupoints even more so. The first two gates sat in the brain itself—one slip, and sure, the "gate" might open, but the person would check out right after. Especially the first gate, Gate of Opening. It unshackled the brain's limits to unleash 100% of physical potential—training it was a tightrope walk of caution. 

No surprise Might Duy endured decades of ridicule, taking twenty years to perfect it. With a master like him guiding the way, Kirie's progress skyrocketed. Plus, under True Soul Reincarnation, no negative effects would stick when he returned to his main world. Armed with his Sage Body, he pushed harder and bolder than Duy or Guy ever could. 

Finally, the night before the Ninja Academy's monthly exam, Kirie cracked open the first gate. 

Late into the night, he carefully shut down the Eight Gates Formation and stepped onto his balcony. Leaning against the railing, he gazed at the starry abyss, the orange glow of Konoha's lanterns, and the golden roulette wheel in his vision. 

--- 

Destination: [Naruto] 

Remaining Time: 8 Days 

"At this rate, sticking around won't yield much more—just a normal countdown to return," he mused. "The haul's solid already, but tomorrow's exam could be a jackpot. Since True Soul Reincarnation wipes all downsides when I leave, why not go big?" 

An idea sparked. He slipped back inside, scribbled a few letters, and tucked them into a drawer. Then he grabbed a blank sheet. As his pen danced, names emerged—until, dead center, he wrote:

Shimura Danzo! 

--- 

Today, the Ninja Academy was eerily quiet. 

Despite clear skies and a bracing breeze, most students wore grim faces. Even the usually bubbly Mitarashi Anko sat still, occasionally practicing hand signs with uncharacteristic focus. 

Of course, on exam day, gloom for some meant glee for others. Hyuga clan kids with their Byakugan, Uchiha clan members (minus Obito), and other family prodigies strutted about, itching for their monthly moment in the spotlight. 

The bell rang, and students filed into the training grounds. Lower years had it easy—shuriken throws and basic Three Techniques checks. But for Kirie's group—alongside Yuhi Kurenai and Mitarashi Anko—the senior class dove into full-on ninja brawls under their teachers' watch. 

The early rounds were rookie scrambles. Kurenai and Anko breezed through with ease. As ninjutsu blasts and clashes ramped up, the crowd's energy surged. Then, when a shock of white hair hit the field—Hatake Kakashi—the vibe erupted like a volcano. 

The reason? This son of Konoha's White Fang, the famed genius, was facing an Uchiha who'd already awakened his Sharingan—a graduating senior no less. With a single-tomoe eye, he was practically a standard genin. 

"Go, Shinya!"

"Show him Uchiha power!"

"Been waiting to see this punk eat dirt!"

"Kakashi's so cool!"

"Kick those smug bastards down, Kakashi!"

Amid the frenzied cheers, the two squared off in the ring, kunai in hand, eyes locked with cold precision. 

After a tense standoff, spurred by the roaring crowd, they lunged. 

Clang! 

The crisp clash of kunai sang out. Like arrows unleashed, they collided center-field. In a breath, sparks flew as their blades met again and again. 

The opening exchange alone whipped the onlookers into a frenzy. Swap in any prior fighter, and they'd be down before a single hand sign. 

Their duel dazzled—blinding speed, relentless strikes. When neither gained ground, they broke apart. 

Suddenly, the Uchiha's eyes flared crimson, his single-tomoe Sharingan locking onto Kakashi with murderous intent. 

Amid Uchiha cheers, he unleashed a masterful shuriken barrage—black streaks slicing toward Kakashi, trajectories twisting midair. Only a Sharingan could pull off that kind of precision. 

Kakashi countered with deft hand signs. As the shuriken closed in, he spat Fire Release. Fireballs burst forth like exploding firecracker seeds, scattering in all directions, homing in on his foe. 

Controlled by chakra, dodging them all was no small feat. Beyond the flashy visuals, the power was jaw-dropping. Screams erupted from the girls in the crowd.

Veins bulged around Uchiha Shinya's eyes. "Playing with fire in front of an Uchiha? You're dead!" 

Draining most of his chakra in a flash, he wove signs and unleashed a massive fireball—a C-rank Fire Release that torched the field, smashing Kakashi's flames and blasting his figure airborne. 

"Hmph, idiot!" Shinya sneered, ready to claim victory. 

Then came the chill of steel at his neck. 

The "Kakashi" he'd blasted turned to wood. The real one had slipped behind him, kunai poised for the kill. 

The crowd roared, idolizing eyes fixed on Kakashi. 

He flicked his wrist dismissively, as if it'd been child's play. 

In that electric atmosphere, Might Guy charged into the ring. 

"Kakashi~~~! Face me! Let's burn with youth!" 

The academy's resident dead-last burst in, his hot-blooded spiel grabbing every eye. 

"I refuse," Kakashi shot back without a pause. "You're too weak—no point in fighting you." 

"Kakashi, are you scared? This time, I'll beat you!" Guy bellowed, desperation in his voice. Kakashi didn't budge. 

"Yo, our taijutsu 'genius'—did your brain fry from running laps last night?" Shiranui Genma quipped, senbon dangling from his mouth. "A scrub who can't even cast ninjutsu wants to challenge a prodigy?" 

Laughter exploded around them. 

"What, if every dumb dead-last like you could challenge the strong, the world'd be a mess," Ebisu chimed in, adjusting his tiny shades. "Know your place—stop wasting our exam time, moron!" 

More mocking guffaws rained down.

Might Guy faltered, face flushing under the barrage of jeers and scornful stares, his bravado crumbling into awkward shame. 

Kirie watched Shiranui Genma and Ebisu. If memory served, these two would later become Guy's teammates after graduation, eventually won over by his grit and passion, apologizing with genuine respect. 

But right now? They were prime bullies in Guy's corner of misery. 

"I just wanted to thrash Kakashi, but since you clowns jumped in—let's make it a circus!" 

BOOM—! 

Kirie kicked a wooden post clean into the field's center, the shattering impact silencing every voice. 

As dust cleared and eyes refocused, there he stood atop the splintered stump—cooler and sharper than Kakashi ever managed.

"Spouting garbage to tear down a teammate, laughing at him for it—you call yourselves Konoha ninja?" 

His voice rang across the academy. 

Furious glares snapped up, only to quail under his blood-red, two-tomoe Sharingan, brimming with killing intent. Heads dropped, hearts pounding with dread and confusion.

"You say the strong fighting the weak is a gift?" 

"Here's your shot. Everyone who mocked Might Guy just now—come at me together. This 'gift' is mine to give!"

He glared down at Hatake Kakashi, Shiranui Genma, Ebisu, and the rest, his sneer cutting deep: 

"What's wrong? No guts to step up, Konoha's finest?" 

His taunt lit the fuse. As the last word landed, dozens of shuriken screamed toward him. 

From Kakashi to every clan prodigy, a kaleidoscope of ninjutsu lit the sky—fire, earth, wind—like an inferno painting the heavens. 

Amid the barrage of death closing in, Kirie spoke, calm and clear, each word piercing through the chaos: 

"Wood Release Secret Technique… 

—Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!"