Even a superficial analysis of the Eight Gates opening technique sufficed to conclude its incredible danger. Familiar with shinobi anatomy and body structure, Kenshin couldn't believe there were people mad enough to attempt mastering this deadly technique without proper guidance and extraordinarily robust health.
The first step to activating the Eight Gates technique was a special procedure turning the body into a nuclear reactor analog. Malleable, harmless chakra was forcibly converted into the strongest poison, destroying body cells from within.
Using breathing techniques and willpower, the shinobi activated all chakra energy reserves in the body, insanely boosting physical characteristics and turning the shinobi's body into a deadly weapon.
Opening each subsequent "gate" involved even greater energy draw from chakra. If the first "gates" required extracting 10% of chakra's energy value, the eighth reached 100%.
Beyond manipulating poisonous energy into pure power, the Eight Gates opening largely matched what Kenshin recalled from the screen. However, despite similar principles, huge conceptual differences existed.
The main differences: only the first gates were as Kenshin remembered after so many years—removing all physical organism limits and substantially boosting Genin strength, but losing effectiveness at Chunin rank, as any shinobi then could use full body resources.
All other "gates" opened by infusing a specific organ inside the shinobi's body with poisonous chakra. Each subsequent organ increased overall body strain but raised physical limits, participating in blood saturation with small amounts of processed poisonous chakra.
Since shinobi chakra rarely left the tanque, muscles, ligaments, bones, and blood received energy only indirectly. Thus, a shinobi breaking through to a new rank needed at least hours for the new, far more powerful chakra to seep into all body parts and strengthen them.
A shinobi opening Eight Gates lacked that time, so the new, stronger chakra entered muscles, ligaments, bones, and blood only in small portions, raising physical limits.
Only the eighth gates, tied to one of the most vital internal organs, allowed full use of available power, temporarily becoming a god on the battlefield.
Kenshin immediately noted that opening the eighth gates didn't necessarily mean death, but history had no one whose health survived complete internal body destruction.
He couldn't help recalling Tsunade Senju's miraculous technique, with which the future Fifth Hokage healed truly mortal wounds. But he checked himself, suspecting it wasn't omnipotent and unlikely to restore billions of decaying cells body-wide in the shortest time.
The more he pondered safe ways to study this technique, the stronger the need to swiftly develop his "Shelter Creation" ability. He didn't know why such a feeling arose but trusted his intuition.
After a wonderful day with his beloved family, Kenshin planned proper rest. But living with many girls had quirks, and there were always volunteers to warm his bed.
Lost in ceaseless analysis of vast information, Kenshin nearly always left the lounge last. This evening was no exception, and preparing for bed, he was surprised to see Makoto seemingly bedding down right there.
"Why aren't you sleeping, little one?" Kenshin asked softly, stroking her head.
"I'm waiting for you," she replied with a smile, blissfully squinting from the caress.
"You shouldn't have... Now Karin will wake an hour earlier and raise the whole house alone," he said laughing, not neglecting Red's elongated muzzle stretched on the wide armchair back.
"I'm sleeping with you tonight!" Makoto declared boldly, stunning Kenshin.
He belatedly realized no girl nearby could cover for him by claiming his bed occupied. Makoto had waited days for Kenshin to head to bed alone and wasn't letting the chance slip.
"Uh, alright," Kenshin said, shrugging. He'd shared a bed with Makoto many times, so he feared nothing.
"Yay!" she squealed, jumping onto his lap and attempting a clumsy French kiss.
Feeling her tongue in his mouth, Kenshin instantly broke the kiss.
"What are you doing?!" he exclaimed in bewilderment, unwilling to cross the line with this innocent girl.
"I want to be your real wife, not a toy one!" she declared, pouting discontentedly.
"Of course you're my real wife, and I love you madly..." Kenshin whispered softly, kissing her cheek.
"Not true! Meyumi always brags about her pregnancy and says you love her most in the world! I want that too!" Makoto stated resolutely, wiggling her little ass and rubbing against Kenshin's crotch.
"Shh... Calm down, sweetie. You know our Meyumi; she always exaggerates and boasts. I'll talk to her, and she'll stop spouting such nonsense. Okay?" Kenshin said tenderly, grabbing Makoto's waist to stop her movement.
"It's not about Meyumi—even Noriko's pregnant by you, but not me! That's unfair!" Makoto declared in a displeased tone, unwilling to drop the topic.
"A child isn't a toy... Besides, who will Karin play with if you give birth?" he asked gently, intent on convincing the sulky girl by any means.
"I'll stop acting like a child, and Karin has Red," Makoto said measuredly, looking him in the eyes.
"No need to rush such an important matter. Plus, you haven't fully recovered your health, so let's postpone this a few months, alright?" Kenshin replied tenderly, kissing the corner of her lips.
"O-okay..." she whispered softly, hugging him tighter.