Chapter 345: Experiment Failed
In the first class of the Eight Inner Gates, quite a few members dropped out. Not everyone was suited for this jutsu; many were just there to test it out.
For example, Konan threw in the towel immediately. Her plan didn't include the Eight Inner Gates anyway. Her primary goal was the "Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags Technique." She was just here to join the fun.
By this time, Yotsuki Dana was already loaded with weights, yet his movements were still fast and fierce. He estimated that even with weights, it would take a whole day to exhaust his stamina and experience the so-called "breaking limits."
According to the theory of the Eight Inner Gates, one must constantly reach their limit, surpass it, and then adapt to it to increase strength.
But this efficiency was too low.
He suddenly understood why Might Duy and the future Might Guy spent so much time training their bodies every day. Since their physical fitness was already strong, reaching their limit took a massive amount of time.
And this time would likely grow longer and longer, eventually becoming impossible.
"Impossible" didn't mean reaching a limit-less level, but that ninja were humans after all. They needed to eat, drink, sleep, execute missions, and handle miscellaneous matters.
Dana estimated that if someone needed more than 8 hours to reach their limit, this training method would become very difficult to yield further improvements.
Unless there was a more scientific method to quickly push people with high physical levels to their limit, like a "Gravity Chamber" or something...
The Third Raikage also realized the problem. In terms of pure physical quality, he might not be as high as Dana, but he was definitely stronger than Might Duy. Training like this was too time-consuming.
He didn't have time to spend over ten hours a day searching for his limit.
"Why don't we try the next part?"
Might Duy thought about it and felt it wasn't a big problem. Today was just a start; the cultivation of the Eight Inner Gates required accumulation over time.
Next, Guy began to guide everyone to familiarize themselves with the locations of the Eight Gates.
"...Control the chakra inside your body, the finer the better. For the first time, the channel will be narrow; if it's too thick, it will hurt. And don't rush. If you don't succeed at once, don't force it in. Circle around it, touch the surroundings gently. The human body is magical."
Under Might Duy's guidance, the people on the training ground began to carefully sense the locations of the Eight Gates within their bodies.
"Among the Eight Gates, the further you go, the harder they are to open, and the greater the power. Generally speaking, each gate requires years of honing to master proficiently. You can't rush; you must proceed step by step."
Someone raised their hand. "Hello, I opened it. What's next?"
Might Duy's eyes popped out. A bald middle-aged man had raised his hand.
Veins bulged slightly on Yoshitoki's face, but his expression remained calm. However, faint green chakra was already emanating from his body.
"Um... for the first time, is there a limit to how many gates I can open?"
Might Duy said stiffly, "What do you mean?"
"I opened up to the Fourth Gate. I feel fine right now, considering whether to continue."
"PFFT!!!"
Even Dana was shocked. He stopped his training and looked over, his expression not much better than Might Guy's.
"Grandpa Yoshitoki, are you serious?"
Yoshitoki maintained the vein-popping look but spoke very calmly, "I am a doctor. I'm already very familiar with the acupuncture points of the Eight Gates; I just never thought about them in the direction of Taijutsu before. And you know, my constitution is special."
In fact, Yoshitoki had opened the first four gates effortlessly. His control over his body far exceeded others. Moreover, even if there was damage, he could heal it instantly.
Might Duy panicked. "Opening up to the Gate of Pain on the first day... Do you want to slow down a bit?"
Yoshitoki thought for a moment and said, "Maybe because my base stats aren't high, opening four gates didn't give much improvement. Speed and strength maybe just doubled?"
In other words, he was still Taijutsu trash.
Then Yoshitoki voluntarily exited the Eight Inner Gates mode, lowering his head in thought.
"This needs modification..."
Just then, Tobirama Senju beside him also made a move.
Tobirama crossed his arms and said coolly, "Eight Inner Gates... not that difficult."
When he was alive, he felt this jutsu didn't suit him and had no interest in cultivating it, but he had researched it for a while. Now that he was an Edo Tensei body, he feared no physical damage. Same logic as Yoshitoki—attacking the Eight Gates boldly meant success in one go.
Seeming to feel competitive, Tobirama also opened up to the Fourth Gate in one breath.
Might Duy was numb. These are all monsters! He spent 20 years on the Eight Inner Gates!
Tobirama said calmly, "Don't be discouraged. I was born with a talent for learning ninjutsu quickly. People are different..."
But at this moment, a mutation occurred.
The chakra on his body should have been pale green, but the color on Tobirama gradually turned black.
Like some abyssal demon, emitting an ominous aura.
Tobirama himself didn't panic. He felt no pain and just looked calmly at Might Duy. "This situation... is it normal?"
Might Duy collapsed!
"This is obviously very abnormal!!! Looking at the color, it feels very bad, Second Hokage-sama! Turn it off quickly!"
Tobirama also felt it was weird and formed a single-handed seal. "Release!"
Then... no reaction...
Instead, the black flames on his body grew larger.
Tobirama: "Eh? Can't turn it off? Wait, how did it open to the Fifth Gate by itself?"
"NANI?"
"...Uncontrollable... Already at the Sixth Gate..."
Soon, the black flames on Tobirama raged like a roaring fire, completely out of control.
Everyone scattered quickly, fearing getting caught in it! The terrifying chakra fluctuations made even Dana's heart skip a beat.
At this point, Tobirama had turned into a human torch, the black flames rising over ten meters high.
Tobirama finally couldn't maintain his cool facade. Looking helplessly at Dana, he said, "Hmm... it seems Edo Tensei bodies cannot use the Eight Inner Gates. Completely uncontrollable. Experiment failed... Well, I've opened the Gate of Death... Goodbye."
BOOM!
With a loud explosion, everyone in Cloud City saw a column of monstrous black fire piercing heaven and earth from the direction of the training ground, then vanishing instantly.
Many people looked up curiously.
"What is that? Fireworks?"
"Who sets off fireworks in the daytime..."
"That's why they're black. Honestly, it looked pretty cool..."
On the training ground, Might Duy and Might Guy had broken down.
"HELP!!! SECOND HOKAGE-SAMA ASCENDED!!! SECOND HOKAGE-SAMA EXPLODED!!!"
Dana covered his face and said helplessly, "Don't panic! I'll have someone try later to see if we can pull him out of the Pure Land again. It shouldn't be a big problem... probably..."
First day, and so many mishaps already...