Konoha Forest. Jin leaned forward slightly, his hands hanging naturally at his sides, ready to draw his kunai. His gaze was fixed on Might Dai, who was scratching his head in hesitation.
Dai was reluctant to fight a child. "Actually, we don't need to do this." Though Jin was a handful, he shouldn't have to resort to violence, especially against an Uchiha. He worried about the potential consequences—a swarm of Military Police descending upon his home.
Jin ignored him, planting his foot and vanishing.
Swift Step. He channeled chakra into his legs, performing a series of rapid, high-speed steps, generating explosive recoil for high-speed movement.
In an instant, he appeared behind Dai, launching a kick. Dai managed to raise his arm to block.
"Bang!" A solid impact echoed as Jin's foot connected with Dai's arm. Dai was sent flying sideways, regaining his balance after a short slide. "Impressive!" Dai was surprised by the force of the blow.
"Not finished yet." The voice came from above. Dai looked up to see Jin's foot descending in a powerful chop. He rolled aside just in time.
"Bang!" The ground was cracked where Jin's foot landed, sending dust flying. "Tsunade-Jonin's strength!" Dai recognized the resemblance to Tsunade's famed technique.
But Jin's attack continued. Planting his hands on the ground, he spun, his legs like a wheel, his foot connecting with Dai's face.
Jin's powerful kick sent Dai flying. As Dai hit the ground, Jin emerged from the cloud of dust, frowning. The brief exchange revealed that Dai's taijutsu was at the Chunin level. Considering his lack of ninjutsu, Dai was firmly at the Genin level. But this wasn't enough for Jin. He wanted to see the Eight Gates Formation. He considered using verbal intimidation, but recalling Dai's earnestness…
He decided against it. He didn't want to trigger another panic attack.
"Dai-ojisan, you said your wife is pregnant, right? You need money? I'll hire you for a C-rank mission – 50,000 Ryo. Defeat me with everything you've got." Jin pulled out his crow-shaped wallet, producing a crisp 50,000 Ryo banknote and pinning it to a nearby tree with a flick of his wrist.
Dai rubbed his face and sat up. He saw the money; 50,000 Ryo would solve his immediate financial problems, but… "Young man, didn't you say you didn't have the money to pay me for the jutsu?"
He was completely bewildered.
"Ha… ha," Jin laughed nervously, scratching his head to hide his embarrassment. His parents had left him a considerable inheritance; no Uchiha would embezzle it. Proud Uchiha wouldn't steal their children's inheritances. Konoha couldn't say the same.
Kudos to the Uchiha for that!
"That's not important. Defeating me is all that matters." Jin wanted to test his own limits. This was his first real fight against a ninja.
"Fight me with the intention to kill, because I'll be fighting with the same intent." For twelve years, he'd only fought wild animals. Academy students posed no real threat. With war looming, he needed to know his true strength.
Dai's expression grew serious. "I understand, young man. I see your resolve."
"Let me show you the power of self-discipline!" Dai clasped his hands in front of him, sensing Jin's urgency, though he didn't know why. "Eight Gates Formation, Gate of Opening, Open!"
Green chakra erupted from Dai's body, cracking the ground beneath his feet. He appeared before Jin, spinning in mid-air and launching a kick.
"Now this is what I'm talking about!" Jin leaned back, dodging the kick with ease.
Dai unleashed a flurry of attacks. But Jin moved like a piece of paper caught in the wind, effortlessly avoiding each blow.
Paper Arts. Using his heightened senses to detect air currents, he manipulated his chakra to move his body with the airflow, creating the effect of dodging attacks like a paper doll.
"Not enough!"
"Understood, young man. Gate of Healing, Gate of Injury, Gate of Life, Open!" Dai's skin turned red, his speed increasing dramatically, his fists generating powerful wind pressure. A cut appeared on Jin's face; the wind pressure had struck him. Paper Arts was no longer enough. He braced himself. "Bang!" Dai's fist connected with his arm, a sharp crack echoing through the forest.
The two vanished, their figures flitting through the trees like phantoms. The air currents from their clashing fists and feet whistled through the forest, causing birds to take flight.
"Boom!" A fist-shaped hole appeared in a tree trunk. Jin and Dai appeared, then vanished again.
At the peak of the battle…
Jin was sent flying, crashing into a tree, which snapped under the force of the impact. He landed on the ground, gasping for breath.
"My limit." His taijutsu test was over. He'd been completely outmatched, unable to gain any advantage.
Now it was time for ninjutsu. Dai launched a horizontal kick. "Bang!"
The smoke cleared to reveal a shattered log.
Jin, hanging upside down, performed a series of hand seals. Serpent–Sheep–Monkey–Boar–Horse–Tiger. He blew towards Dai. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!" A massive fireball erupted towards Dai.
But Dai easily dodged it. He appeared before Jin, his fist descending with the force of gravity. "Bang!" Jin vanished into smoke.
Using Swift Step, Jin reappeared behind Dai and struck downwards. Veins bulged on Dai's forehead, green chakra surging around him. "Fifth Gate, Gate of Limitless, Open!"
Jin's strike missed. Dai disappeared, the world suddenly blurring into a whirlwind of speed. Jin flew backward, crashing into a tree, the impact sending pain through his stomach. It was too fast; he couldn't react.
"Young man, you've lost," Dai said, appearing before him.
Jin wiped the blood from his lips, lying back on the grass. "Hahaha, I lost." He'd lost decisively, but he now knew his limits. To be matched by the Fourth Gate meant his strength was comparable to a Tokubetsu Jonin. In the future, even Guy couldn't defeat Gaara with the Fourth Gate. Gaara was easily capable of defeating Tokubetsu Jonin level opponents.
At only twelve years old, he was already at the Tokubetsu Jonin level.
"Hahahaha!" He was genuinely happy. Though he couldn't compare to the strongest ninjas, he was, undoubtedly, a prodigy.
Ninjas were inherently high-attack, low-defense. With enough strength in a specific area, even a Genin could kill a Jonin. Kakashi's Lightning Cutter, even if used by a Genin, could kill a Jonin with a single strike.
Unfortunately, he wasn't strong enough to counter the Fifth Gate, roughly equivalent to Jonin level strength. The Sixth Gate was Jonin level, the Seventh Gate roughly Kage level (excluding Might Guy), and the Eighth Gate surpassed Kage level, even exceeding the Six Paths of Pain.
Dai retrieved the money from the tree, carefully placing it in his pocket. This was enough for his family for a while.
"Jin, how can you use ninjutsu now?" A slightly battered Dai sat next to Jin. The Fifth Gate was his limit. His body ached.
"The Foundation Training reached the second stage. Even without ninjutsu talent, I can easily learn most jutsu." He'd only managed to learn the Shadow Clone and Great Fireball jutsu overnight.
Jin, unable to stand, pulled out his wallet and placed 50,000 Ryo on the ground. "Medical expenses, and a confidentiality fee. Keep this secret." He knew how hard it was for a Genin like Dai to make money. Currently, ninjutsu and genjutsu were the most important factors in a ninja's assessment. Dai, specializing in taijutsu, wouldn't be able to advance beyond Genin. That would change after he kicked the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist into a comedic trio.
Dai didn't take the money. "I can't accept this. These are minor injuries."
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone."
"Take the money! Don't make me use the jutsu thing to force you!" Dai's face drooped. Didn't Jin say that if he won, everything was forgotten? Seeing Jin remain silent, he sighed and reluctantly pocketed the money, feeling more distressed than ever receiving payment.
"Jin, why did you push yourself so hard?" Dai didn't understand Jin's intensity.
Jin watched the clouds drift across the blue sky, feeling an unprecedented sense of peace. "I just want to live freely."
Unfortunately, such a desire was impossible in this war-torn world.
"That's… a wonderful dream," Dai said, also lying down, his money secured. He wouldn't have to work such strenuous jobs anymore.
"Too bad," Jin sighed. War was coming. He'd made Dai promise secrecy, avoiding the widespread dissemination of his deduced jutsu, but he'd revealed his strength, making him a target. If he were from another clan, or a commoner, this would be a matter of probability. But he was an Uchiha. Dangerous missions were inevitable.
Dai suddenly spoke. "Jin, want to learn my Eight Gates Formation?"
"Huh?"