So he really doesn't think of himself as an ordinary person, huh?
Tenten and Tsukikage Kaza both groaned inwardly.
Chiba had mentioned this "Extreme State" technique before—but they'd only gotten as far as training their arms, and even that they hadn't fully mastered yet.
And now he'd gone and made it simpler?
Just thinking about it made the two of them feel even more defeated.
Something that was "easy" in Chiba's eyes was, to them, practically impossible.
How tragic could it get?
If this kid ever started learning chakra nature transformation, Tenten thought bitterly, he'd probably master it in a day—no, an hour.
Still, despite their frustration, her body moved of its own accord—leaning closer to look.
Kakashi did the same.
The three of them stared at the notebook, each with a different expression.
Tenten and Tsukikage Kaza were overwhelmed—there was so much written down that they didn't even know where to begin.
"This is… the simplified version?" Tenten asked, stunned.
"Yeah," Chiba nodded. "With this version, you can reach about seventy percent of the full Extreme State's capability. The upper limit's lower, but it's easier to learn and more stable."
Kakashi frowned thoughtfully. "Your original version focused on perfectly coordinating every muscle in the body—allowing you to achieve an effect similar to opening the 'Gates.' But this one only controls the major muscle groups."
"Exactly. Wait—the 'Gates'?" Chiba blinked.
"Oh, right, you might not know. kid has a technique called the Eight Gates. It allows a person to forcibly draw power from eight specific points in the body."
"Eight Gates… I see. But if you're forcing them open, that must take a heavy toll on the body, right?"
"Mm." Kakashi nodded, then picked up the notebook and read it carefully.
It was clear Chiba had done his best to write it in a way normal people could understand—but for an average genin, the text was still far too technical.
"This isn't a manual for ordinary genin," Kakashi concluded.
"What level do you need to understand it, then?" Tenten asked curiously.
"At the very least, you'd have to study basic anatomy—learn which muscles do what, how to activate them properly. Once you know that, you can…"
Bang!
Kakashi threw a punch—the air cracked with explosive pops.
He tried a few more movements, eyes suddenly lighting up. "Weakening it isn't necessarily a bad thing."
"Exactly," Chiba said, nodding. "The output's lower, but the strain on the body drops too. As a regular-use taijutsu, this version's actually better suited for most ninja."
He'd already noticed the same thing.
The simplified version lasted four times longer than the full-power one. In some ways, it wasn't "downgraded" at all—just far more practical.
"This technique could raise the baseline of every ninja's physical ability," Kakashi said seriously. "My advice—take it to the Third Hokage right away and have it sealed as a confidential jutsu. We can't risk it leaking out."
A taijutsu of this level would be considered a village secret anywhere else.
"Of course. I'll hand it in, but I wanted you to see it first—then I'll teach it to Tenten and Tsukikage Kaza. Oh, by the way, do you know where kid is?"
Kakashi gave him a flat look. "And why would I know that?"
"You don't?"
"…I ran into him this morning while he was running laps. He's probably eating now—shouldn't be hard to find."
"Thanks."
As expected, kid wasn't hard to locate—but today was unusual. His entire team was with him, clearly preparing for a mission.
Chiba didn't bother taking out the notebook. kid wouldn't understand the theory anyway.
Chiba briefly explained the core concept. kid looked puzzled at first—but once Chiba demonstrated, kid immediately got it.
A textbook example of I don't understand the principle, but my body does.
After that, Chiba dropped off the notebook at the Hokage Building.
The Third Hokage looked genuinely pleased to see him—
—until he realized Chiba had invented yet another technique. Then the smile froze on his face.
Chiba's talent was undeniable. The problem was… the boy was too productive.
The Hokage's private funds couldn't keep up with how quickly Chiba kept earning rewards.
The chakra-infused metal he'd given out last time was already gone. Now what was he supposed to offer?
After a long internal struggle, the Third cleared his throat.
"Chiba, this technique is extremely valuable, but… I'm afraid I don't have anything suitable to reward you with at the moment."
Chiba smiled. "There's no rush, Hokage-sama. I'm not in it for the reward."
The old man's brows twitched. He looked at Chiba, half in disbelief. "You don't… want a reward this time?"
"That's right. I mentioned before—I think we should establish an Innovative Ninjutsu Archive, to encourage research and creativity. I'd like this technique to be stored there."
Chiba's tone was calm, but the idea made the Hokage pause in thought.
That wasn't a bad proposal at all. It would encourage innovation, yes—but at the same time, this particular technique could greatly boost the village's physical prowess. If he treated it purely as a reward, very few people would ever get access to it.
The Third weighed the pros and cons carefully.
After some consideration, he asked, "So… you don't intend to restrict its spread?"
"Of course not," Chiba said. "But at first, we can list it as a reward in the Archive."
Every ninja needed to train their body—even med-nin.
Using this as a prize for outstanding service would be perfect.
The Hokage's mind was already racing ahead.
They could offer it as an exclusive reward early on, then gradually make it redeemable through merit later. That would not only encourage innovation, but also reduce the risk of spies leaking it to other villages.
Yes… the plan was sound.
"Very well," the Third said, smiling. "We'll do as you suggested. I'll log it now—and next time, if I don't have a new technique to match yours, I have something else I know you'll be very interested in."
Chiba, ever the loyal Konoha shinobi, had earned the old man's goodwill.
"What kind of technique?"
"Ahem—you just said you weren't after rewards, didn't you?"
Chiba's sudden enthusiasm nearly made the Hokage choke on his tea.
"If it's just a common jutsu, I can wait. But if it's something I'd really be interested in, then I'd rather learn it now."
The Third gave him a helpless look. "I know quite a few—mostly chakra nature transformation techniques. The ones suited for you would be sealing jutsu, barrier techniques, and the Shadow Shuriken Technique…"
"Hokage-sama," Chiba interrupted, "I heard you have a technique that can monitor someone as long as you know their chakra signature. Is that true?"
Pfff!
The Third spat his tea across the desk—fortunately turning away just in time to avoid soaking the paperwork.
He wiped the table down quickly and asked, "Who told you that?"
"No one, really," Chiba said innocently. "But there were a few times I came to see you… and you didn't exactly hide it well."
He pointed casually toward the crystal ball on the desk.
The Hokage's face flushed crimson.
This brat! So much for being polite! Even if you're smart, you don't have to say it out loud!
For a long moment, the old man was speechless. Finally, he asked, "And what do you want that technique for?"
"The person who invented it must've cared deeply about the safety of the village," Chiba said seriously. "It's a remarkable invention—allowing you to monitor the entire village and its guards at all times. I think it has a lot of untapped potential."
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