"First Gate: Gate of Opening, open!"
"Fifth Gate: Gate of Limit, open!"
"Sixth Gate: Gate of View, open!"
With each gate Shinno opened, the swirling aura around him grew fiercer. By the time he reached the Sixth Gate, the Gate of View, the black aura—mixed with chakra, sweat, and blood—became almost tangible, making the surrounding air feel viscous.
Facing the surging waves of energy, Yakumo, Neji, and Kimimaro, who were directly confronting Shinno, instinctively retreated a few steps, raising their arms to shield themselves from the overwhelming force.
"So… so strong!"
Yakumo was inwardly shocked.
Neji and Kimimaro exchanged a glance, both seeing astonishment in each other's eyes.
The last time they faced Shinno, he had also used the "Eight Gates Release," but it lacked this level of intensity!
As taijutsu experts, both understood a simple yet profound truth:
No matter the taijutsu technique or secret art, its essence was to amplify the user's inherent strength. The stronger the user, the greater the technique's power. Conversely, if the user's base strength was lacking, even a profound technique would fall short.
For example, when opening the Eighth Gate, the "Gate of Death," Might Dai could only defeat the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, unable to kill them all. Yet Might Guy, using the same gate, could fight Madara, earning genuine respect from the Six Paths-level Madara, who called him the "strongest in taijutsu"!
Thus, Shinno's increased power could only mean one thing: becoming the "Zero-Tail" Jinchuriki had drastically boosted his base strength!
Facing Shinno, now at the Seventh Gate, the Hidden Stone ninja around him were gripped by fear, their resolve wavering!
Seeing this, Kurotsuchi leaped onto the tree where Shinji's team stood, urgently saying to him, "Our intelligence was wrong—this guy's far stronger than we expected. Shinji, retreat while you can!"
Shinji glanced at her calmly, puzzled by her concern for him.
Seeing him unmoved, Kurotsuchi grabbed his collar. "What are you spacing out for?! This isn't an enemy we can handle. If we don't retreat now, none of us will escape!"
Her panic wasn't feigned.
Since visiting the Hidden Leaf and witnessing the academy exam, Kurotsuchi had been captivated by Shinji, who had claimed first place.
She had been utterly defeated by Yakumo's "Wood Release," left powerless—a feeling she still couldn't shake.
When she thought Yakumo was unbeatable, she learned Yakumo had been defeated—by Shinji!
From then on, she grew intrigued by this Uchiha orphan.
Whether it was admiration for strength or something else, she was thrilled to see Shinji among the Leaf's reinforcements.
"Seventh Gate: Gate of Wonder, open!"
At that moment, Shinno, unsatisfied with six gates, opened the Seventh Gate, the Gate of Wonder—the closest to the "Gate of Death."
BOOM.
The aura's intensity surged again, causing even the ground's pebbles to float!
"We're done for!"
Kurotsuchi faltered, releasing Shinji's collar.
Shinji remained calm, looking down at the battlefield from above. "No need to worry. I'll step in."
On the battlefield.
"Against you brats, this is more than enough!" Shinno sneered, then vanished with a whoosh.
"Everyone, be careful!"
Yakumo shouted in alarm.
She realized that with Shinno in the Seventh Gate, even her Ketsuryugan couldn't track his movements.
THUD.
Before she could locate him, a dull impact sounded behind her. In a piercing whistle of wind, Kimimaro was sent flying, crashing through several trees without stopping!
"So fast!"
Neji's face darkened.
Only after Kimimaro was struck did he barely sense Shinno. Realizing he was likely the next target and that Shinno's speed outpaced his Byakugan's tracking, Neji didn't hesitate, immediately activating "Rotation"!
BOOM.
As expected, the moment Neji unleashed Rotation, a blur struck the chakra vortex, causing a deafening roar!
The blur was repelled, but Neji, using Rotation, was also sent flying, crashing to the ground.
"How is that possible?!"
Thanks to his "biological exoskeleton," Neji wasn't injured, but the fact that Shinno had broken through his Rotation with one strike was hard to accept.
Rustle, rustle.
Suddenly, countless vines erupted from the ground, and the forest's trees swayed as if alive. They formed a sea of trees, surging toward Shinno from all directions.
Facing the oncoming tree sea, Shinno's expression turned serious. His hands flashed through seals. "Zero-Tail Technique: Ultra-Concentrated Acid Mist!"
Puff.
Shinno's abdomen swelled, then he spewed a vast cloud of dark purple corrosive mist toward Yakumo's tree sea.
Instantly, the toxic mist spread, and all trees within its range withered at a visible rate!
Yakumo gasped, her expression growing graver.
Fortunately, while the acid mist could corrode her tree sea, it couldn't spread across the entire battlefield under the relentless assault of her endless trees.
But this turned the battle into a chakra endurance contest between Yakumo and Shinno.
In the past, with the First Hokage's cells, Yakumo wouldn't fear Shinno. But now, as the Zero-Tail Jinchuriki, Shinno's chakra surpassed that of normal ninja, giving Yakumo no advantage in this contest.
Within the mist.
Shinno rapidly formed seals, shouting, "Forbidden Medical Technique: Body Regeneration!"
After casting the forbidden technique, he scanned his surroundings, surprised to find his "Ultra-Concentrated Acid Mist" contained by the tree sea, unable to spread.
This move was one of his trump cards, as only his "Body Regeneration" could withstand the mist's corrosion. Using both created a deathly domain around him.
He hadn't expected "Wood Release" to counter it.
"Worthy of Wood Release—I'll crush you myself!"
Shinno stomped, cratering the ground, then used the recoil and his terrifying Seventh Gate speed to launch toward Yakumo like a cannonball, accompanied by a deafening roar.