The real Shinobi World...
In the dimly lit underground base, a few eerie green lights flickered, illuminating Orochimaru's pale face as if he were a ghost.
His golden vertical pupils were fixed on the huge Heavenly Screen projected onto the top of the base, where a battle that would change the Shinobi World's understanding of the game was being played—the ultimate showdown between Might Guy, who had opened the Gate of Death, and Madara Uchiha, in his Six Paths Madara form.
"Truly... a mesmerizing power." Orochimaru extended his slender tongue and slowly licked his lips. In the Heavenly Screen, Gai was enveloped in blood-red steam, his speed and strength astonishingly powerful, even Madara, who had obtained the Six Paths Power, showed a look of surprise.
Orochimaru's deep laughter echoed in the laboratory. Watching the battle playing on the Heavenly Screen, he thought of someone else besides Might and his son who had once deeply studied the forbidden Eight Gates technique—that suspicious fellow who called himself "Divine Healer, "Shinnō.
"Kabuto," Orochimaru called softly.
Almost the instant the voice faded, Kabuto Yakushi, wearing round-framed glasses, emerged from the shadows and stood respectfully three meters behind Orochimaru. "Lord Orochimaru, what are your orders?"
Orochimaru didn't turn around, still watching the battle between Guy and Madara in the Heavenly Screen. "I remember you did extensive research on Medical Ninjutsu. Do you have any new information about that medical-nin named Shinnō?"
Dou pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting the light of the explosion in the Heavenly Screen. "According to the latest intelligence, Shinnō was last confirmed to have appeared five years ago at the border of the Land of Fire. There are rumors that he joined some underground organization, but specific details are unknown. Should I investigate further?"
"Get it done immediately." Orochimaru waved his hand. "I'm very interested in his research on the Eight Gates. Especially... how to obtain power close to the Gate of Death without sacrificing one's life."
Kabuto bowed slightly, his figure disappearing into the darkness. Orochimaru turned his attention Rotation.
"What a waste..." Orochimaru muttered to himself, "Such powerful energy, yet it can only be used once."
He walked to a sealed cabinet deep inside the laboratory, entered the Chakra code, and the cabinet door slid open silently.
Inside were dozens of scrolls neatly arranged, each labeled with the name of a different forbidden technique. Orochimaru's gaze fell on a scroll marked "Preliminary Analysis of the Eight Gates," and he took it out and unfolded it.
The writing on the scroll is quite old, and the ink has faded slightly.
Orochimaru recalled a chance encounter many years ago—when he was young and had just begun his research into forbidden techniques. In a remote Training Ground, he witnessed an unassuming Genin — Might Duy, Guy's father—demonstrating a peculiar Taijutsu. Although Dai could only open the first gate at the time, the power that erupted in that instant left a deep impression on Orochimaru.
"The Eight Gates... the key to unlocking the limitations of the human body..." Orochimaru looked at the Chakra meridian diagram drawn on the scroll, "If we could find Shinnō's research results..."
Outside the base...
In the clearing of the dense forest, scorched craters and broken tree trunks silently testified to the intense training that had just taken place. Sasuke sat on a rock scorched by Lightning Release, his chest rising and falling slightly, his black hair clinging to his skin with sweat.
"Not enough..." He looked down at his palm, the flow of Chakra through his meridians clearly perceptible. "The Chidori's form changes are still too slow."
Sasuke was resting, watched as Might Guy opened the Gate of Death in the Heavenly Screen. Crimson steam burned like flames, and Might Guy's face was contorted with pain, yet it was filled with an unwavering determination.
Opposite him, Six Paths Madara floated in the air, his Rinnegan flashing with a mixture of wariness and excitement. The space between them was slightly distorted by the powerful force.
"That's... Guy-sensei?" Sasuke's pupils contracted, and his Three-Tomoe Sharingan unconsciously activated. That Taijutsu Jonin who always wore a green bodysuit and acted strangely could actually unleash such terrifying power?
In the Heavenly Screen, Kai's figure suddenly blurred, and the next second he was already in front of Madara.
Pure speed, without any fancy Ninjutsu, the shockwave generated by the sheer force of the physical body breaking the sound barrier ripped up the surrounding ground. Sasuke's Sharingan spun wildly, trying to capture every detail.
Sasuke's fingertips unconsciously dug into the rock; this fighting style was completely different from anything he knew.
There were no hand seals, no clashes of Ninjutsu, only pure power honed to the extreme. But what shocked him even more were the details of the battle—the rhythm of Guy's every breath, the sequence of his muscle exertion, even the tiny movements of adjusting his posture in mid-air, were all incredibly precise.
"Is this... the true pinnacle of Taijutsu?"
His thoughts involuntarily returned to the scene that had last played on the Heavenly Screen —his final battle with Naruto in the Valley of the End in that future.
The two battles were completely different in style. His fight with Naruto was magnificent and grand, with various S-rank Ninjutsu appearing one after another, and the light of the Rinnegan and the Nine-Tails Chakra illuminating the sky. But at this moment, watching Guy and Madara's battle, Sasuke suddenly realized that his fight with Naruto was missing something.
"Experience... and absolute control over every movement." Sasuke's Sharingan greedily recorded every moment.
He noticed that Guy would make a slight charging motion before attacking; it wasn't a simple gathering of Chakra, but rather a coordinated tension of all his muscles.
Every change of direction is not arbitrary, but the optimal choice after precise calculation of angle and distance; even when taking the brunt of Madara's counterattack, Kai will use specific postures to minimize the damage.
"I see..." Sasuke muttered to himself, "It's not simply a contest of strength, but about using every bit of power in the most effective way."
He recalled his past battles—he relied too much on the Sharingan's predictive abilities and powerful Lightning Release Ninjutsu, using Taijutsu primarily as a supplement. Against opponents of similar speed and strength, his fighting style would appear... crude.
In some remote mountain area on the other side...
Deep within Angkor Fortress, the sunlight from the Heavenly Screen casts dazzling shadows on the metal walls.
Shinnō stood before the Heavenly Screen projection in the central control room, his aged fingers gripping the control lever tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. In the projection, Might Guy's entire body was engulfed in crimson Chakra.
"How is this possible..." Shinnō's voice was dry, like a gear that hadn't been used for years suddenly turning. "The Eight Gates... it can actually reach this level..."
The other Sky Ninja their breath, not daring to disturb their leader's contemplation. They had never seen the ever-composed Shinnō show such a shocked expression.
Shinnō released the control lever and turned to walk towards the floor-to-ceiling window.
From here, one can overlook the entire underground base—originally, according to the plan, they would take to the skies with the Angkor Fortress within the next two years, announcing the return of the Sky Ninja to the entire Shinobi World. With the power of the Zero-Tails and the fortress's super-heavy cannons, coupled with his painstakingly developed "Ultimate Body" forbidden technique, he was confident that he could make the Five Great Nations tremble.
But now, the mysterious Heavenly Screen has appeared...
Shinnō's gaze returned to the Heavenly Screen. The battle between Six Paths Madara and Gate of Death Might Guy was still ongoing. This level of power completely exceeded his expectations.
"Postpone the plan." Shinnō suddenly spoke, his voice as cold as ice. Everyone fell silent, continuing to gather intelligence.
"But, Lord Shinnō," a Sky Ninja wearing goggles stepped forward, "the fuel is almost ready, and Zero-Tails' condition is optimal. If we postpone it now—"
"I said, postpone it." Shinnō turned his head, a dangerous glint in his eyes, "Or do you disagree with my decision?"
The Sky Ninja immediately lowered his head, cold sweat trickling down his temples. "No... I wouldn't dare."
Shinnō snorted coldly and strode out of the control room. Passing through the intricate metal corridors, he arrived at a secluded room deep within the base. This was his private laboratory, where all his core research results were stored.
Various human organ and tissue samples floated in the culture tanks on the wall, some of them still slightly pulsating.
Shinnō walked to the central device and entered a complex password. The device slowly opened, revealing a thick notebook inside—"A Study on the Integration of the Eight Gates and Physical Revitalization."
He took out his notebook and turned to the last page. There, his latest breakthrough was recorded—by stimulating physical activation with the Dark Chakra of the Zero-Tails, he could open the Seventh Gate, the Gate of Wonder, with almost no side effects.
This was the result of his years of infiltration in Konoha, his approach to Might Duy to obtain preliminary information, and then twenty years of research.
"Dai, Dai, your son is so powerful..." Shinnō's fingers gently traced the name Might Duy on the notebook. "The power of the Gate of Death is indeed astonishing, but the price is too high. My method is the right path..."
His thoughts drifted back to that rainy day more than twenty years ago.
He was young then, and disguised himself as a wandering doctor to infiltrate Konoha, specializing in treating ninjas injured during missions. Might Duy, the man ridiculed by everyone as the "Genin," came to his clinic covered in wounds from over-practicing the Eight Gates.
"Doctor, can you take a look at me? I feel like my Chakra flow in my left leg isn't very smooth after today's training." Dai's smile was honest and sincere.
Shinnō remembered how he pretended to be a kind doctor, treating Dai while trying to extract information about the Eight Gates.
Although Dai's strength was lacking, his understanding of this forbidden technique was extremely profound. After several treatments, Dai even offered to teach him some basic Taijutsu to improve his health.
Through six months of "treatment," he not only figured out the cultivation method of the Eight Gates, but also completed the comprehensive collection of Dai's physical data without Dai's knowledge.
"What a naive person..." Shinnō sneered, closing his notebook. "Naive to the point of being laughable."
A soft knock on the door interrupted his reverie.
"Come in."
The door opened, and a girl of about fourteen or fifteen years old walked in. She had short, dark blue hair, large, bright eyes, and wore a gray uniform specially made for the Sky Ninja, with a short sword at her waist.
"Master, you wanted to see me?" The young girl, Amaru, bowed respectfully.
Shinnō's expression immediately softened. "Amaru, how is Zero-Tails?"
"It's stable." Amaru touched his abdomen. "It's just that lately... it seems to have become more thirsty, needing more Dark Chakra than usual."
Shinnō nodded, gesturing for her to sit down. "This is normal. As your fusion with Zero-Tails increases, its power will also grow." He took out a syringe, "Here, for today's treatment."
Amaru obediently rolled up her sleeves, revealing her pale arm. When the needle pierced her skin, she only frowned slightly, without making a sound. Shinnō watched this scene with satisfaction—this orphan he had taken in during the war had now grown into a perfect Zero-Tails vessel.
"Master," Amaru suddenly asked after the injection, "Are we really going to attack other ninja villages?"
Shinnō paused for a moment. "Why do you ask that?"
"I... I recently watched what was being shown on the Heavenly Screen." Amaru lowered her head. "Those people are too powerful. If we start a war, what if..."
"Don't worry." Shinnō patted her shoulder, giving her a reassuring smile. "We have Angkor Fortress, Zero-Tails, and the forbidden techniques Master researched. More importantly, we won't attack head-on; we'll choose the right opportunity."
Amaru nodded, but the worry in his eyes did not completely disappear. Shinnō saw this and became secretly wary—this disciple was too kind. If he knew that Zero-Tails's power came from people's negative emotions and suffering, he might waver.
"Go and rest," he said kindly. "There's training tomorrow."
After Amaru left, Shinnō's face immediately darkened.
He walked to the other end of the laboratory and activated a hidden monitoring device. The screen displayed the situation in various parts of the base, including Amaru's room. The girl sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at her palm, seemingly deep in thought.
"Looks like we need to speed things up..." Shinnō muttered to himself.
"Physical regeneration and revitalization... just one last step." A fanatical light gleamed in Shinnō's eyes. "If only Natural Energy could be integrated into it..."
A daring plan took shape in his mind. Ryūchi Cave, one of the Three Great Sage Lands, was said to possess Senjutsu power that even Orochimaru hadn't fully mastered. If he could obtain that power, and combine it with his forbidden techniques and the Eight Gates...
"Someone come here!" he suddenly shouted.
Two Sky Ninjas immediately appeared at the door.
"Prepare the aircraft; I'm going out to investigate personally." He glanced meaningfully at Amaru's figure on the monitor screen, "Also, strengthen surveillance of the Zero-Tails Jinchūriki. If she makes any unusual moves, report to me immediately."
In the dead of night, Amaru quietly left her room. She skillfully avoided the patrolling Sky Ninja and arrived at a secluded corner of the base—a place rarely visited, her secret hideout.
From a hidden compartment in the wall, she took out a small diary. By the dim light, she wrote down what she had seen and heard that day:
"Master has postponed the plan again. I know it's because of those powerful figures in the Heavenly Screen. I can sense his unease... This isn't like him usually. And Zero-Tails, it's been getting increasingly restless lately, especially when I approach the villagers' residential area..."
She paused, recalling her experience last week of being sent to a nearby village to "collect supplies." In reality, Shinnō had sent her to gather the villagers' negative emotions—the best nourishment for the Zero-Tails. She saw villagers listless because of inexplicable nightmares, children crying in their sleep...
At the time, she thought it was an unconscious influence from Zero-Tails, but now she's starting to wonder if it was something her master did intentionally.
"Lord Amaru, what are you doing here?"
A voice suddenly rang out from behind, startling Amaru so much she almost jumped. She quickly closed her diary and turned around to see a young Sky Ninja standing there.
"I just... couldn't sleep, so I came out for a walk," she said, trying to sound calm.
The Sky Ninja glanced at the notebook in her hand, then at her face, and finally simply nodded. "It's chilly at night, you should go home and rest early. You have training tomorrow."
Amaru breathed a sigh of relief, but as she was about to leave, the Sky Ninja added, "Lord Shinnō cares about you greatly and hopes you will not disappoint him."
These words sounded like concern, but they sent a chill down Amaru's spine. She quickly returned to her room and only dared to breathe deeply after closing the door.
"I must find out the truth..." she whispered to herself, her hand unconsciously pressing against her abdomen, "For the villagers... and for you, Zero-Tails."
Meanwhile, Shinnō stood at the highest point of Angkor Fortress, watching the battle unfold in the Heavenly Screen.
"Power... more power..." He clenched his fist. "Physical activation, Eight Gates, Zero-Tails, Senjutsu... only by combining all of these can I reach that level."
His gaze turned to the northwest—said to be the location of Ryūchi Cave. After the Heavenly Screen display finished, he prepared to personally go and find that legendary sacred site.
"The Shinobi World will soon know what the return of the Sky Ninja means." Shinnō's lips curled into a cold smile. "When those so-called strongmen tremble before my power, the images playing on the Heavenly Screen will be utterly insignificant."