Chapter 10

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"You seem eager to understand your own strength. I can see the pursuit of power in your eyes."

"Although I believe blindly chasing power is wrong, I suppose you have your reasons."

Might Duy spoke with the tone of an adult.

Gin rubbed his eyes. How could he see such things?

All Gin could see was the eye crust. If someone could see others' intentions like that, wouldn't they be able to spot spies instantly?

Might Duy had no idea where Gin's thoughts had wandered.

"So, I'll teach you the Eight Gates, and you guide me in mastering the Basic Inner Power technique."

Might Duy's proposition was straightforward.

Gin wanted to learn the Eight Gates, but he didn't expect Duy to be so direct.

Might Duy sat up, his face serious, and began explaining.

"As a Genin, I train every day. I've spent over ten years without fully mastering this technique, but I've gained some insights."

"When using this technique, there's one strict condition."

"And that is self-restraint."

Gin listened, unimpressed. His primary goal in training, aside from survival, was to do as he pleased. If he had to add a time limit, he hoped it would be forever.

Under Duy's explanation, Gin gradually understood the Eight Gates.

This ninjutsu was both simpler and more difficult than he had imagined.

The content was simple, but the training difficulty was extremely high.

The Eight Gates technique was about continuously breaking through one's physical limits, controlling the eight chakra gates in the body.

The gates were natural limits protecting the human body, similar to a "limiter" concept from his previous life. In extreme situations, even a weak person might display incredible strength, but at the cost of severe injury.

The Eight Gates removed these chakra limiters, explaining why opening them caused self-harm.

Opening the gates wasn't triggered by life-or-death situations but by gradually pushing the body's limits through extreme training, causing the gates to crack open and release a flood of chakra.

Surpassing the body's limits wasn't easy. Most ninjas could do it once, but the difficulty increased exponentially with each subsequent attempt.

No wonder Kakashi was amazed by Lee opening four gates. It wasn't just effort; it was extraordinary.

Four gates meant Lee had surpassed his limits four times. Unbelievable.

"This taijutsu doesn't suit me."

Gin shook his head in regret. Continuously surpassing physical limits required immense time and effort. He could create stronger ninjutsu in that time.

He couldn't become like those predecessors who mastered the Eight Gates in months or even days.

Based on his estimation, reaching Duy's level of opening five gates would take over ten years. Moving from five to seven gates would take another ten years, while the eighth gate, though easier, was lethal.

The eighth gate was unique. Compared to the first seven gates, it was easier to open once the first five were mastered, but at the cost of one's life.

He understood why Duy's eighth gate wasn't as strong as Might Guy's.

When Duy opened the eighth gate, he hadn't mastered the seventh.

The training method suggested that those who reached the eighth gate should have similar strength.

Gin pondered over this.

"Young man, suitability is subjective. Maybe you have someone worth protecting with all your might."

Duy gave a thumbs up.

Is this a curse for me to die?

It must be.

Gin decided not to argue, mainly because his injuries wouldn't allow it.

Now it was his turn to teach.

"How far have you progressed in Basic Inner Power?"

Gin also sat up.

Duy thought for a moment. "Weaving the seal."

Gin: ...

That's just the first step.

He had to start from the beginning.

...

Duy went back home to care for his wife.

Gin looked up at the sky.

The clouds had a tinge of red.

"Such remarkable talent."

He was still immersed in the lesson he had just taught Duy. He couldn't imagine someone so dull.

It wasn't stupidity but like someone who had no talent for being a ninja, forcing chakra out of their body.

Everyone in this world had some chakra in their bodies, but extracting it from cells required a prerequisite.

Only those sensitive to chakra could refine it. Many ninja clans excelled in this.

The Uchiha Clan, in particular, had a high percentage of potential ninjas.

This world seemed to play with bloodlines more than ninjutsu.

Those who sensed chakra could control it naturally, though precision varied. Medical ninjas, for example, required high precision in chakra control.

Duy's control was less than fifty percent. Where others used a small amount of effort to control chakra, Duy needed five times as much.

For others, the difficulty of ninjutsu increased fivefold for him.

"No wonder ninjutsu and genjutsu don't work for him."

For Duy, a C-rank ninjutsu was as hard as a B-rank. This difficulty stumped most ninjas.

Basic Inner Power, though simple, had a D-rank difficulty. But for Duy, it was like a C-rank.

"Ninja aptitude is truly crucial."

Gin realized how this world limited the average person. The Eight Gates were a way for the ordinary to surpass limits.

"Thankfully, my aptitude is good."

Though he seemed ordinary, Gin was one of the rare Uchiha with all elemental affinities, like Hiruzen.

Hiruzen was known as the "Professor" and the strongest Hokage, but Orochimaru might know more ninjutsu.

Hiruzen's growth relied entirely on talent.

In theory, if Gin followed a normal growth path and awakened the Sharingan, he could surpass Hiruzen.

But Hiruzen had a great teacher in Tobirama Senju, with a vast reserve of ninjutsu.

Gin didn't.

So, theoretically, he could reach that level.

But his ambition was far greater than Hiruzen's.

His goal wasn't to become a Kage, even beyond the level of Uchiha Madara or Senju Hashirama.

He aimed for the level of the Sannin and the Sage of Six Paths.

Battle strength was secondary; longevity was primary.

He wanted to live a thousand years.

But his all-element affinity was a secret. If revealed, Hiruzen might not care, but the higher-ups wouldn't let him grow.

Suppressing the Uchiha was Konoha's political norm.

"I'd be safer defecting. Staying here is more dangerous than being outside."

Gin cursed as he left.

But he wasn't serious. The ninja world was too chaotic. He needed to develop first. Once strong, he would...

As an Uchiha, he wouldn't back down!

He didn't leave Konoha's forest but ventured deeper.

In a dilapidated training ground, two figures were clashing.

Both figures were Gin.

Kage Bunshin no Jutsu

One fought with taijutsu, the other used the Three Basic Techniques and fire ninjutsu.

The Shadow Clone Technique was a cheat.

While the body and chakra didn't increase, the memories could be transmitted back.

Using it for training, combat experience, and learning ninjutsu was incredibly effective.

Gin did just that.

"I can handle a maximum of three shadow clones."

He could maintain them for a day and receive their experiences, but three was his limit.

The fatigue from the clones would accumulate in his body. Unlike Naruto, who had the protagonist's aura, overusing it would be fatal.

Too many clones would kill him.

Another clone was at home learning ninjutsu.

"Kai!"

Gin formed a seal, and the two clones disappeared with a puff of smoke.

A flood of battle memories filled his mind.

"Fighting myself isn't as rewarding as sparring with Duy."

As he reflected on the battle, he noticed movement in the grass.

He pulled a kunai from his leg pouch and threw it.

"Swish!"

Approaching, he saw a small white snake pinned to the ground, struggling.

"Such a rare sight."

Gin sighed, pulling out the kunai. The snake quickly slithered away.

Before it could escape, a shuriken flew by, decapitating the snake. The headless body writhed but couldn't avoid death.

Gin's eyes narrowed, and he drew another kunai, fully alert. He couldn't detect anyone nearby.

Basic Inner Power was supposed to enhance perception.

"Life is fragile."

A sigh echoed.

A surge of killing intent followed.

The air seemed to darken.

Gin felt a heavy weight on him, even his breathing became labored.

In the distance, a pale-skinned man in a white kimono walked over slowly.

A man like a snake.

He wore casual clothes, not battle attire, but his mere approach was intimidating.

"Tap... tap... tap..."

Gin's heartbeat matched the man's steps.

The man stopped by the dead snake, his expression sad, unlike someone radiating killing intent.

"Don't you think so, Uchiha boy?"

"Orochimaru!"

(End of Chapter)