Eight Inner Gates

Three years later.

Name: Uzumaki Masahiko

Age: 21 (-)

Ninjutsu: 632 (+) Taijutsu: 824 (+)

Jutsu: 4543 (+10) (Convertible)

Three Body Jutsu:

LV10 (100000) (Max Level)

Shuriken Throwing Technique: LV10 (100000) (Max Level)

Earth Release: (Can Fuse 1/2) LV6 (436598/600000) (+)

Wind Release: (Can Fuse 1/2)

LV6 (497738/600000) (+)

Fire Release: (Can Fuse 1/2)

LV6 (462243/600000) (+)

Water Release:

LV2 (10000/20000) (+)

Lightning Release:

LV5 (200007/400000) (+)

Sealing Jutsu: LV6 (413328/600000) (+)

Yang Release:

LV6 (400000/600000) (+)

Yin Release:

LV6 (510000/600000) (+)

Special Talent: Mind's Eye of the Kagura

Mining LV6 (10030/20000)

Forging LV8 (40059/60000)

Comprehensive Evaluation: S

Witness Points: 32

Masahiko looked over his Attribute Panel and let out a soft sigh.

Over these three years, Masahiko had indeed trained diligently, and his progress had been considerable. By his estimate, he had saved nearly 30 Witness Points.

Yet his Comprehensive Evaluation was still S, proving that he had not achieved a qualitative breakthrough. His increase in strength remained limited.

There had been some changes regarding his age. After turning twenty, it could only increase; it could no longer be reduced. It seemed Masahiko could not remain eighteen forever.

"Thirty-two Witness Points... Too few. Even if I spent them all, I still wouldn't make much of a breakthrough." Masahiko muttered as he looked at the points. Three years of cultivation within the clan had earned him no Witness Points, and there had been no major events in the Warring States in recent years.

Hashirama had basically persuaded every clan except the Uchiha. The Senju and Uchiha had fought several more wars in succession, but Madara had never taken action. He was probably still adapting to his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.

As a result, the Senju Clan had beaten the Uchiha Clan into steady retreat. Some of the proud Uchiha clansmen had actually surrendered to the Senju one after another.

"Looks like the final battle isn't far off, but my strength..."

"Haah, I, Uzumaki Xuan Xuan, really am a failure..."

Masahiko sighed repeatedly and shook his head.

"Teacher, we're here!" Hitomi's shout came from afar. Beside him was Iko, who had already grown into a young girl.

Masahiko now had only two disciples left... Of course, nothing had happened to Nanako. She had married last year and was now about to become a mother. As for her husband, he was a year younger than her. Masahiko had met him before—the boy who had done the most push-ups during the disciple recruitment test, Uzumaki Gensuke.

"Teacher, we just came from Sister Nanako's place. She asked me to pass on her greetings." Iko's crisp voice rang out.

Masahiko nodded to show that he understood. "Is there anything else?"

Iko glared at Hitomi, who shouted, "Teacher, let's have another match! I've developed a new ultimate move!"

Masahiko looked helpless. Over the past three years, whenever Hitomi made even a little progress, he would come to Masahiko for another "lesson."

"Fine, fine. Come on, let me see your new ultimate move..." Masahiko replied halfheartedly.

"Oh, here I come, Teacher!" Hitomi shouted. "Eight Inner Gates, First Gate, Gate of Life, open!"

Violent Chakra stirred up a fierce gust of wind, scattering Masahiko's red hair and throwing his heart into turmoil as well.

Bang! Hitomi's fist struck Masahiko squarely, sending him flying.

"Teacher!" Iko glared at Hitomi and hurried after him. "Are you okay?"

Hitomi scratched his head. "Is my new ultimate move really that powerful?" He closed the Gate of Life and chased after them.

"I'm fine. Better than fine. I couldn't be better." Masahiko laughed twice in reply.

At the same time, a familiar line of Chinese characters flashed before his eyes.

Witnessed and slightly altered a side storyline in Naruto World: Eight Inner Gates. Obtained 10 (*2) Witness Points.

"A slight alteration... It looks like Hitomi was supposed to develop the Eight Gates in the first place. It's only happened earlier now. I knew his talent for taijutsu was absurdly high."

"I should have thought of it earlier. The fact that Tobirama included the Eight Gates in the Scroll of Seals meant it wasn't developed by a Senju clansman, but by someone close to the Senju..."

"With Hitomi's talent and perseverance, he would probably have Clan Head-level strength in his twenties no matter what. He's Zhenghong's grandson too, so it wouldn't surprise me if he became the Uzumaki Clan Head."

As Masahiko was thinking, Iko's voice came from beside him.

"Hitomi, look what you did! Teacher is already so old. Did that punch knock him stupid? He's been grinning like an idiot this whole time!"

Masahiko's face darkened. Hitomi added, "Teacher, Teacher, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. From now on, you're my teacher, Hitomi!" Masahiko snapped back to his senses and hurriedly said.

"It's over, Iko. Teacher really has gone stupid..." Hitomi muttered.

Half an hour later, Masahiko, having finally explained everything clearly, wiped the sweat from his forehead. At last, he had convinced his two disciples that he was not stupid...

"Hitomi, how many Gates can you open?" Masahiko asked.

"Six!" Hitomi replied happily.

Masahiko thought for a moment. "Based on our physical constitutions, I should be able to open seven Gates. I might be able to force open the eighth, but I don't want to die..."

"This jutsu is extremely damaging to the body and must be classified as a forbidden technique. You can't casually teach it to anyone else. For now, only the two of us will practice it. And we cannot open all Eight Gates. Opening them all will cause a massive loss of life force. Even our Uzumaki Clan would probably die after using it." Masahiko pondered briefly before speaking to Hitomi.

Hitomi nodded. "I know, Teacher. Once I open the fifth Gate, the pain becomes unbearable."

Masahiko's expression froze. How did I forget about the pain? And here I was thinking about seven Gates. I'll just open five Gates for fun in the future...

"Teacher, what about me? You and Hitomi are training this—what am I supposed to do?" Iko asked from the side.

"Uh..." Masahiko hesitated. Fourteen-year-old Iko had already learned all of Masahiko's Wind Release and Fire Release ninjutsu. There really was nothing left for him to teach her.

"Iko, you aren't particularly suited for taijutsu. Keep training ninjutsu instead. Once you make a little more progress, I'll see if I can teach you Scorch Release..." As Masahiko spoke, he lacked confidence himself. Without the proper bloodline, Kekkei Genkai were truly difficult to learn unless the system was involved.

"Teacher, did you forget? I developed Earth Release not long ago!" Iko said angrily.

Masahiko's expression stiffened. "Did you tell me?"

Iko's eyes widened, and Masahiko hurriedly comforted her. "All right, all right, it's my fault. I'll teach you Earth Release! Honestly, why are you becoming more and more like Nanako?"

For the following half year, the three of them immersed themselves in training once more.

Half a year later.

"Eight Inner Gates, Seventh Gate, Gate of Wonder, open!" Masahiko shouted on the training ground.

"Uh... close!"

"Damn, why does it hurt so much!"