"I sense you're eager to test your strength. I see in your eyes a yearning for power." Might Dai spoke with the air of a seasoned veteran. "While I believe the blind pursuit of power is wrong, I imagine you have your reasons, young man."
Jin rubbed his eyes, wondering how Dai had ascertained his motives. All he could see were other people's eye boogers. This ability to discern someone's goals… it was like instantly identifying spies.
Dai, oblivious to Jin's mental gymnastics, continued. "So, I'll teach you the Eight Gates Formation, and you'll guide me in the Foundation Training jutsu." He had a plan.
Jin hadn't expected such a direct offer; he'd wanted the Eight Gates Formation, but he hadn't anticipated this. Dai sat up, his expression serious, and began his explanation.
"As a Genin, I've dedicated over a decade to mastering this technique. I have some insights to share." "Using this technique requires a strict condition: self-control."
Jin was unimpressed. He pursued power for personal reasons—to do whatever he wanted, and he hoped to do that for eternity. With Dai's explanation, however, Jin gradually understood the Eight Gates Formation. It was simpler than expected, yet infinitely more difficult. The concept was simple, but the execution was brutally hard.
The Eight Gates Formation involved pushing one's physical limits by controlling the eight chakra gates within the body. The gates were a natural limiter, like the body's safety mechanism. In times of crisis, many people could overcome this limit, even a frail woman lifting a car, though at the cost of severe injury.
The Eight Gates were chakra limiters, explaining why opening them caused harm. Opening the gates wasn't triggered by life-or-death situations. It involved gradually pushing past one's physical limits during training to create tiny openings in the gates, then channeling chakra to release their full potential.
Physical limits were not easily overcome. Ninjas could typically push past their limits once, but the difficulty increased exponentially each time. No wonder Kakashi had been so surprised by Lee's mastery of the Fourth Gate. That was not simply achieved through hard work. Opening the Fourth Gate meant Lee had pushed past his limits four times. It was almost miraculous.
"This technique isn't for me," Jin said, shaking his head regretfully. Constantly pushing past his physical limits… he had the willpower, but the time and energy involved were staggering. He could create far more powerful jutsu in the same time.
He wouldn't be able to match the legendary feats of those who'd mastered the Eight Gates in mere days or weeks. To reach Dai's Fifth Gate level, he'd likely need over a decade. Progressing from the Fifth to the Seventh Gate would probably take another decade. The Eighth Gate, while seemingly the easiest, was a gamble with life itself. Now he understood why Might Dai was weaker than Might Guy. Dai likely hadn't even mastered the Seventh Gate when he opened the Eighth Gate. According to the technique's description, those reaching the Eighth Gate should be roughly equal in strength.
Jin looked at Dai thoughtfully. "Young man, there's no such thing as a suitable or unsuitable technique. Perhaps you have people you need to protect, people worth sacrificing for." Dai gave him a thumbs-up.
Was that a death curse? Probably. Oh well. Jin decided not to dwell on it; his injuries prevented him. It was his turn to teach now.
"Dai-ojisan, how far have you progressed with the Foundation Training?" Jin sat up.
Dai pondered. "Chakra Seal Weaving."
Jin: ( ಠ_ಠ ) That's the first stage! He'd have to start from the beginning.
…
Might Dai left to care for his pregnant wife. Jin looked up at the sky, noticing a hint of red in the clouds.
"His aptitude is truly remarkable," Jin mused, still contemplating his lessons with Dai. He couldn't believe there was someone so… inept. Not inept, exactly, but more like someone forced to mold chakra despite lacking the natural ability.
Everyone had some chakra, but extracting it from cells required sensitivity to chakra. Many clans had a natural advantage in this respect, particularly the Uchiha, with at least 90% possessing the aptitude to become shinobi. It was a world where bloodline determined a ninja's potential.
Those sensitive to chakra could also control it, though the level of precision varied. Medical ninjutsu, for example, required extreme chakra control.
Dai, however, lacked even 50% chakra control. What required one unit of effort for others, required five for Dai. Jin hadn't anticipated this. The difficulty of any jutsu increased fivefold for him.
"No wonder his ninjutsu and genjutsu were lacking," Jin realized. For Dai, a C-rank jutsu was nearly B-rank, challenging for many ninjas. The Foundation Training, despite being only D-rank in difficulty, still required a threshold. For Dai, it was C-rank.
"So, ninja aptitude is this important," Jin mused, now understanding the limitations placed upon the average person in this world. The Eight Gates Formation was the only way for ordinary people to catch up.
"Luckily, my aptitude is good." Despite his current state, he was a rare Uchiha with all five elemental affinities, similar to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hiruzen's peak was the title of "Professor of Ninjutsu," the "Strongest Hokage." But Orochimaru probably knew even more jutsu. Hiruzen was essentially a Hokage who rose to his position based purely on talent.
Theoretically, Jin, if he followed the standard path, could surpass Hiruzen, given the chance to awaken the Sharingan. But Hiruzen had the legendary Tobirama Senju as his teacher, inheriting an immense library of jutsu. Jin did not. So this was only a theoretical possibility.
But compared to Hiruzen, his ambition was far greater. His goal wasn't to become Hokage or surpass the likes of Madara and Hashirama. He aimed for the level of the Sannin of Ryuchi Cave and the Sage of Six Paths.
Combat strength was irrelevant; his goal was longevity.
He needed to live for a thousand years.
His multi-elemental affinity was a secret. If discovered, Hiruzen might overlook it, but the other Kage would never allow him to grow. Weakening the Uchiha was Konoha's political correctness. "I'd rather defect. This place might be safer than out there."
Jin muttered to himself, but he wouldn't leave Konoha. He needed to develop his strength. He would rise above and then…
He would never eat beef again!
He didn't leave the Konoha Forest, but headed deeper into its shadows.
...
An abandoned training ground.
Two figures were sparring rapidly. They were both Jin. Shadow Clone Jutsu. One used only taijutsu; the other used the three basic techniques and Fire Release. Shadow Clones were cheat codes. Physical strength and chakra didn't increase, but memories could be shared. Training and combat experience could be accumulated rapidly. That was Jin's plan.
"Three clones is the limit." He could maintain three clones for a day and transfer their memories back, but the fatigue of the clones would be transferred to the original body. He wasn't Naruto, who could use them endlessly with no repercussions. Too many, and he'd die. Another clone was learning jutsu back at his house.
"Release!" Two of the clones dissipated into smoke. The accumulated battle experience flooded Jin's mind.
"Sparring with myself is far more effective than sparring with Dai."
As he pondered the battle, he noticed movement in the grass. He threw a kunai. "Whoosh!"
Approaching, he saw a small white snake impaled on the kunai. "Rare find," he muttered, removing the kunai. The snake writhed, trying to escape. But before it could flee, a shuriken sliced through its head. Its headless body twitched, its death inevitable.
Jin's eyes narrowed. He drew his kunai, on high alert, though he hadn't detected anyone nearby. The Foundation Training was supposed to enhance his senses.
"Life is so fragile." A sigh. A wave of intense killing intent followed, turning the air heavy and dark. Jin felt an oppressive weight, his breath catching in his throat.
In the distance, a man in white clothing, pale-skinned and long-haired, slowly approached. A man like a serpent. Despite his casual attire, his mere approach was terrifying. "Tap… tap… tap…" His heart echoed the measured rhythm of his footsteps.
The man paused by the dead snake, his expression filled with sorrow, incongruous with the palpable killing intent.
"Don't you think so, young Uchiha?"
"Orochimaru!"