Minato's Intentions [First Update]

"No, that's wrong! That isn't Guy's Eight Inner Gates!"

Asuma immediately rejected that conclusion.

Although both were taijutsu secret arts that erupted with chakra, the way chakra circulated through Idasuke's body was clearly different from Might Guy's Eight Inner Gates.

The Eight Inner Gates forcibly released latent chakra by opening the eight "tenketsu" that restricted the flow of chakra in the body. Its chakra appeared as violent green and red, and it placed an enormous burden on the user's body.

But the pale-blue chakra around Idasuke, though just as vast, was far more restrained. It did not seem to have been obtained by opening "tenketsu."

"It isn't the Eight Inner Gates."

Idasuke's voice carried a trace of pride.

He gripped Kubikiribōchō in one hand and slowly raised it, the tip of the blade pointing at Asuma.

"This is our Land of Stars' secret taijutsu art, the Seven Heavenly Breaths," Idasuke explained.

"Through a special breathing method, it increases lung capacity for a short time, raising the activity of every cell in the body to the limit, thereby unleashing strength, speed, and reaction far beyond normal."

He paused, then added, "Although at my current level, I can only open it to the 'Fifth Activation.' However..."

"Combined with this body, strengthened by seven rounds of Gene Modification Surgery, I should be able to touch the threshold of 'Kage level' for a short time."

Seven rounds of Gene Modification Surgery?

Asuma did not know what gene modification was, but the phrase "touch the threshold of Kage" made his breath stop for an instant.

The Land of Stars... That nation that had risen in just a few short years seemed to be conducting some forbidden human experiments?

"Could this be the reason Orochimaru allied with the Land of Stars?"

"And judging from his tone,