[Taijutsu - Eight Gates Released Formation]
Level: S-Rank Forbidden Technique.
Effect: By releasing the gates that restrict chakra within the human body, one temporarily gains immense power. Opening all eight gates is known as the "Eight Gates Released Formation," granting power surpassing that of a Kage.
Cost: Using this technique inevitably causes damage to the body, ranging from torn muscles and meridians to becoming a cripple unable to use chakra. The cost of using the Eight Gates Released Formation is singular: death.
Note: A taijutsu that requires immense willpower and the resolve to face death to master to its extreme.
"It's actually the S-Rank Forbidden Technique, the Eight Gates Released Formation! Wasn't it said the library only contains techniques below A-rank?"
Filled with immense excitement and confusion, Uchiha Kazuhiko immediately exited the inner library and asked the administrator,
"Excuse me, I found an S-Rank Forbidden Technique inside called the Eight Gates Released Formation. Is this also available for selection?"
"Of course, all techniques inside are available for selection. This is the only S-Rank Forbidden Technique placed in the library," the administrator replied.
Seeing Uchiha Kazuhiko's excited expression, he clearly guessed the reason and tried to dissuade him, just as he had with other ninjas who had discovered this technique before.
"Don't think that just because it's an S-rank technique it's good. In reality, its training difficulty is extremely high, and the cost is enormous. Throughout the clan's history, so many ninjas, only a few have chosen this forbidden technique, and none of them ever managed to open beyond the Fifth Gate."
Finally, the administrator offered another piece of well-meaning advice:
"So, I advise you to choose another technique. Don't waste this opportunity."
"Thank you, but I'll choose this one."
Uchiha Kazuhiko unhesitatingly refused the administrator's suggestion, set on this powerful taijutsu that, in the future, would unleash world-shattering power in the hands of Might Guy.
"Sigh, alright then. Let me find the copy for you."
Seeing Uchiha Kazuhiko's firm attitude, the administrator had no choice but to respect his decision.
He rummaged through the bookcase containing the training copies and finally found the copy scroll covered in a layer of dust in the most remote corner.
"Found it. Here you go." The administrator wiped the dust off with a cloth and handed the scroll to Uchiha Kazuhiko, sighing with emotion.
"It's been years since anyone chose this manual. The last time I tidied it up was three years ago. I hope you won't regret your choice."
Under the administrator's pitying gaze, Uchiha Kazuhiko quickly left the library with the training copy and headed to a remote, uninhabited training ground within the clan district to examine it.
"The Eight Gates Released Formation is divided into the Gate of Opening, the Gate of Healing, the Gate of Life, the Gate of Pain, the Gate of Closing, the Gate of View, the Gate of Wonder, and the Gate of Death. Opening each gate significantly increases one's own strength and speed. When the Gate of Death is opened, one possesses power dozens of times greater than a Kage. The method to open the gates is as follows..."
After carefully studying the contents of the copy, Uchiha Kazuhiko adjusted his state and began attempting to train.
Closing his eyes and focusing his mind, he perceived the flow of raw energy within his meridians. Locating the position of the first gate, he gathered a large amount of raw energy and violently impacted against it.
"The First Gate, Gate of Opening, Open!"
With Uchiha Kazuhiko's loud shout, the Gate of Opening, which restricts the brain, burst open. Instantly, a surge of raw energy hidden within his body flooded into his meridians.
Whoosh!
Uchiha Kazuhiko's body vanished from its original spot. The next second, he appeared beside a distant cliff wall.
His fist, coated in raw energy, slammed into a nearby massive rock.
Boom!
The hard rock was cratered by Uchiha Kazuhiko's punch. Several cracks spread outwards from the crater until they covered the entire rock.
With a crack, the rock shattered from the inside out, sending splinters flying into the nearby trees.
"This feeling of power... it's truly intoxicating. Pity it's only temporary."
Uchiha Kazuhiko clenched his fist tightly, a sense of unprecedented exhilaration surging within him.
However, he didn't lose himself in this feeling of power. Instead, he continuously assessed the effects on his body.
"Stamina consumption has increased. The burden on the body is somewhat greater, but there isn't too much pain. It should be because I've strengthened my cells by practicing the Gene Primordial Energy Cultivation Method."
The effects of opening the First Gate were less severe than he had anticipated. After adapting for a while, he once again gathered energy to impact the Second Gate.
"The Second Gate, Gate of Healing, Open!"
Opening the Gate of Healing removed the body's natural fatigue limits, allowing it to be overclocked to recover stamina, offsetting the fatigue brought by the energy consumption rate of the opened gates.
However, the physical burden increased significantly.
"Hiss... It hurts a bit, but it's bearable. It seems my current limit should be opening the next gate, the Gate of Life."
Moving slowly to adapt to his body in the state of the opened Second Gate, Uchiha Kazuhiko's strength had temporarily broken through to the level of a Jonin.
His power was noticeably greater than that of a Chunin, even giving him the feeling that he could easily defeat his previous self in an instant.
"Eight Gates Released Formation, Close!" After thoroughly experiencing the power of a Jonin, and just as his body was about to reach its limit, Uchiha Kazuhiko closed the Eight Gates.
The moment the Eight Gates closed, a wave of soreness, swelling, and pain washed over him like a tidal wave, forcing a muffled grunt from his lips.
He couldn't help but marvel at the superhuman endurance of Might Guy, who fought against Six Paths Madara after opening the Eighth Gate while enduring such pain.
Staggering back home, Uchiha Kazuhiko sat cross-legged and began absorbing cosmic energy to replenish his raw energy.
"Huh? The amount of energy absorbed has increased significantly, almost double what it was before."
Two hours later, Uchiha Kazuhiko ended his cultivation session and was surprised to find that the speed and quantity at which his cells devoured cosmic energy had greatly increased.
Connecting this to his earlier practice of the Eight Gates, he roughly guessed the reason.
"If I'm not mistaken, the Eight Gates Released Formation must have strained the energy within my cells, indirectly training their strength, which caused this effect. In other words, combining the Eight Gates Released Formation with the Gene Primordial Energy Cultivation Method produces a synergistic effect greater than the sum of its parts."
Uchiha Kazuhiko could no longer contain his excitement, a thrilled expression appearing on his face.
"This way, not only will my raw energy cultivation speed increase, but crucially, the speed at which I can open the Eight Gates will also improve much faster."
"Uchiha Itachi, it won't be long before I possess strength comparable to, or even surpassing, yours. Danzō, Konoha, the Akatsuki, Uchiha Madara, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki... Hmph, just give me some time. None of you will dictate my life."
A cold glint flashed in Uchiha Kazuhiko's eyes before fading, replaced by his usual calmness. He tidied up a bit and lay down on the bed to rest.
In the evening, Uchiha Kazuhiko went to Yakiniku Q to meet up with Team Five. After thoroughly enjoying a meal at Captain Tōma's expense, the team disbanded.
Before disbanding, Captain Tōma informed everyone of the meeting time and location for the next day.
The real and cruel world of shinobi was about to unfold before Uchiha Kazuhiko's eyes.