Chapter 23: The Sword of the Thunder God Obtained

Words : 1331 Updated : Sep 18th, 2025

Chapter 23 of "I, Konoha's Sage of Life" starts revealing surprises: “Secret technique?” The Third Hokage raised an eyebrow, recalling the Eight Gates Release Formation that Kyoichi... Read on!

“Secret technique?” The Third Hokage raised an eyebrow, recalling the Eight Gates Release Formation that Kyoichi had used during the exams. Moreover... Hadn’t Kyoichi mentioned that this technique belonged to Might Duy? Might Duy... who was that again? After a moment of contemplation, 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 technique is called the Seven Heavens Breathing Method, which I developed while studying medical ninjutsu,” Kyoichi explained. He went on to outline the principles of the Seven Heavens Breathing Method and its first level of activation. “Cellular activation? You’ve developed a technique at this level?” The Third Hokage was astonished. The idea of enhancing the body’s cellular activity by increasing oxygen intake was novel and intriguing. However, he quickly realized the technique had significant limitations—it required exceptional physical conditioning. For someone with a weaker constitution, excessive oxygen intake could lead to poisoning. Taking a deep breath, Hiruzen warned, “This technique of yours qualifies as an S-rank forbidden jutsu. It should only be used in the direst circumstances.” “Understood, Lord Hokage. Currently, Duy-senpai and I are working on refining the technique to lower its threshold and functionality, aiming to make it an A-rank forbidden jutsu that could be more broadly applicable.” Kyoichi shared their aspirations. S-rank jutsu were strictly regulated, while A-rank jutsu could be taught to elite Chūnin and above. If they could adapt the technique, it would be a significant contribution. Not to mention... It might even secure some research funding! “It’s a good idea, but the practical challenges will be considerable,” Hiruzen said, rubbing his temples. “Don’t worry, Lord Hokage. I plan to adjust the breathing technique’s method. Even if others acquire a simplified version, they won’t be able to replicate the full Seven Heavens Breathing Method.” Kyoichi paused, then added, “If we succeed, it could save countless lives in future wars.” “You have a point. We can’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 beneath his desk. After performing a series of hand seals to unlock it, he placed a sword on the table. 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 outright giving it to him. What’s more, after some thought, the Third Hokage added, “You’re welcome to explore the archives in the Hokage Building. While they don’t contain ninjutsu, the knowledge there is far more comprehensive than what you might gather piecemeal.” “Thank you, Lord Hokage!” Overjoyed, Kyoichi bowed deeply. He had initially planned to snatch a weapon or two from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen in the future, but this unexpected gift was a welcome surprise. Of course... He still intended to loot the Seven Ninja Swordsmen when the opportunity arose. After all, who could have too many swords? And then there was the Kusanagi Sword... If only he knew the Kusanagi Clan’s whereabouts, he’d have pursued that sword long ago rather than bothering the Third Hokage. “Tomorrow’s the exam, and the day after that is team assignments. Don’t forget 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 Chūnin archives.” “What?” The Third Hokage was taken aback. Might Duy is a Genin? He didn’t doubt the truth of Kyoichi’s claims. Researching the Eight Gates required not only theoretical knowledge but also years of rigorous 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 sense that the technique was Duy’s creation. But... A ninja capable of inventing an S-rank forbidden technique was still a mere Genin? For the first time, Hiruzen felt he had failed in his duties. How could such talent go unnoticed, buried among the ranks of Genin, only coming to light after repeated mentions by Kyoichi? When the Anbu ninja brought Duy’s file, Hiruzen carefully reviewed it. Then he understood 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 completed a C-rank mission outside of wartime. And yet... 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 Chūnin and Jōnin due to constant wars, yet a talent like Duy had been left to stagnate. --- Kyoichi exited the Hokage Building with the Sword of the Thunder God in hand. This was the second time he had nudged the 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 original timeline. While he was still primarily focused on the Eight Gates, he had also picked up some of Guy’s taijutsu techniques and mastered the Leaf Whirlwind series. By now, Duy was more than qualified to be a Jōnin. Even without techniques like Morning Peacock or Daytime Tiger, Duy’s skills placed him among the top-tier Jōnin. Leaving such talent to waste? The Third Hokage was either incredibly careless or outright 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 incompetent. Either way, Hiruzen wasn’t exactly a paragon of leadership. seaʀᴄh thё novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kyoichi smirked coldly. Becoming a Jōnin had been easy enough. But if he ever wanted to vie for the Hokage’s position, he knew the road would be fraught with obstacles and opposition. “Whatever. One step at a time.” Becoming Hokage wasn’t on his mind right now. Surviving the next war and the Nine-Tails’ attack was the real priority. --- The next day, Kyoichi finished his morning training and headed to the Ninja Academy. Today was exam day. For most of the candidates, 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 class. Soon, the candidates entered. The first one? Obito Uchiha. Naturally, he was late again. Sure enough, two minutes after the exam began, a knock sounded at 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 late again! “Same rules as always: demonstrate the Transformation and Clone Techniques. Substitution will be tested later,” Kyoichi said calmly. “Yes, Sensei!” Taking a deep breath, Obito quickly formed the necessary hand seals. A pulse of chakra followed, and two clones appeared beside him. Simultaneously, his clones and real body transformed—one into 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 new weapon today, did you?”

Chapter 23: The Sword of the Thunder God Obtained

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