Uchiha's second courtyard~
'Give it your all, Tsunade!'
After several nights of intense persuasion, he had finally convinced Tsunade to abandon the idea of becoming the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. She decided to head to the Shikkotsu Forest to learn Senjutsu instead.
Fuma returned to his study and carefully opened the Eight Gates scroll he had worked so hard to obtain. He had high expectations for this technique.
However, the large note at the beginning left him feeling dizzy:
"This technique is for reference only; there is no evidence it can be successfully cultivated — Tobirama Senju."
Fuma frowned and continued reading.
The founder of the Eight Gates Technique was not who Fuma had expected. It wasn't Tobirama Senju or Might Duy; instead, it was a physical training method that had been passed down since the Warring States period.
During Tobirama Senju's tenure, he had briefly promoted this technique in Konoha but quickly discovered its flaws and drawbacks were exceedingly obvious, and thus, he abandoned it.
Eventually, due to the damage it inflicted on the body, it was classified as a forbidden technique and sealed away in the Book of Seals.
The version of the Eight Gates that Fuma now held was extremely crude.
If Ninjutsu were likened to a house, the current Eight Gates Technique would barely qualify as a speculative building—something that could only be described as having potential in the future.
Fuma sighed deeply, feeling a bit deceived. He couldn't help but marvel at the third Hokage's cunning.
"To think he used a technique that doesn't even qualify as a half-finished product to persuade me to fight the Tailed Beasts. Truly cunning, Third Hokage."
For a long time, Fuma had tried to negotiate with the Third Hokage to obtain the Eight Gates Technique, but the Third Hokage always evaded the topic, demonstrating a mastery of interest-based negotiation.
Fuma then thought of Might Duy, the first man in the ninja world to open the Death Gate.
He vaguely remembered that Duy had said during the Third Great Ninja War that it took him over twenty years to master this technique.
Then, for someone like Duy, who was around Fuma's age, his understanding of the Eight Gates would only be at the entry level.
However, Fuma was not discouraged; he continued reading carefully.
As one of the top Taijutsu masters in the ninja world, he believed in relying on himself rather than seeking help from others. Perhaps he could perfect and improve this technique on his own.
The Eight Gates Technique first elaborated on the body's meridian system:
Within the chakra flow's meridian system, there are eight gates that suppress and control the chakra in the body: the Gate of Opening, the Gate of Healing, the Gate of Life, the Gate of Pain, the Gate of Limit, the Gate of View, the Gate of Wonder, and the Gate of Death.
The concept behind the Eight Gates is to go against the body's natural restrictions, breaking its own limits to achieve strength beyond one's limits.
In this scroll, the opening of the Eight Gates is described as follows:
[Gate of Opening: Releases the brain's limits, allowing the user to utilize 100% of their body's capabilities]
[Gate of Healing: Removes the body's fatigue limit, overexerting the body's energy to recover stamina, counteracting the fatigue caused by the energy consumption speed of the Gate of Opening]
[Gate of Life: Further increases attack and speed; the body begins to flush red, the final safety zone of the Eight Gates, and the body starts to emit a green aura]
The mechanisms of the Gate of Pain, Gate of Limit, and Gate of View are similar to the first three gates, all pushing the body to tap into its potential for strength beyond its limits.
Fuma chuckled as he read about the first six gates. This technique was essentially a method that ignored the body's subconscious limitations.
A person's strength and speed are constrained by their own body, limited by factors such as bone strength, muscle density, neural response, and physiological structure.
A normal human's jaw muscles could lift a person of the same weight.
And if the three hundred million muscle fibers in the human body contracted in the same direction, the strength could reach 25 tons, comparable to a crane.
However, the brain would never allow the body to do this. If it did, the result would be the bones shattering to dust and the person becoming a heap of flesh.
Fuma had a vague realization about the Eight Gates.
To train in the Eight Gates Technique, one must first have a strong body. Otherwise, they couldn't even meet the requirements of the Gate of Opening, which requires full control over one's body.
What comes next is the key: mastering the Eight Gates requires continuous tempering of one's physique.
In this way, when the limiters are released, the body can provide more energy, allowing for more chakra to be gathered and resulting in a stronger burst of power.
Under the influence of the limiters, every small increase in physical strength can translate to a significant amplification of chakra when the Gate of Opening is unlocked, potentially reaching tenfold or even hundredfold increases.
However, having a strong body alone is not enough to master the Eight Gates Technique.
Many ninjas who practice Taijutsu may have a strong physique but lack the courage.
Even if these individuals meet the physical requirements, they could never overcome their own consciousness. At most, they would only master the first gate.
The moment the Eight Gates are unlocked, one must be prepared to give it their all—to ignore limits, pain, and even death, all to unleash their full potential.
Fuma couldn't help but feel a deep respect for the creator of this technique.
This must have been a madman, someone with unparalleled determination who could conceive of such an extreme and powerful Taijutsu.
However, at the Gate of Wonder, there is a clear departure from the previous six gates.
The Gate of Wonder is located at the tail end of the spine. Once this limit is unlocked, the body's energy will be uncontrollably released.
If not controlled properly, the practitioner stands a high chance of dying at this stage.
A ninja in the state of the Gate of Wonder is on the verge of physical collapse; their body will excrete a large amount of sweat, which will be evaporated by the surging chakra into blue steam.
As for the opening of the Gate of Death, this scroll does not provide a description, only a possible theoretical state.
The Gate of Death would burn everything within the practitioner, turning both their body and will into fuel, causing their blood to evaporate from the high temperature, releasing terrifying blood-red steam.
There is a note from an unknown predecessor from the Warring States period:
"The so-called Gate of Death is to display one's lifelong training and willpower to the world in a matter of seconds."
Tobirama Senju also left a note here, expressing his hope for the future of Konoha's ninjas:
"To open the Gate of Death is to completely overcome oneself, but overcoming oneself is not enough; there must be the will to protect or the will of love."
"Only love can make a person transcend themselves, conquer fear, and gain power that surpasses everything."
"If one day someone opens the Gate of Death to protect Konoha, then the Will of Fire will have truly bloomed."
Fuma carefully pondered over the Eight Gates Technique, feeling a sense of melancholy.
This technique was the cry of ordinary people against bloodline power and the lament of warriors against the evil dragon.
To Fuma, the first six gates of the Eight Gates Technique were actually not necessary to learn; he could comprehend them on his own.
The Eight Gates Technique is essentially a combat method akin to drinking poison to quench thirst; it fundamentally damages one's own essence and potential. Fuma would only consider using it as a last resort.
However, Fuma held immense respect for the ninjas who could open the Gate of Wonder and the Gate of Death.
The love and determination in his heart were far from enough to ignite his entire being.
Fuma was still savoring the Eight Gates Technique when an unexpected visitor arrived with some intriguing news.
"Fuma-kun, have you heard the news in the village?"
"You and I, our reputations have become as rotten as manure."
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