Outer Path Jade

Uesugi Shinji, operating deep within the Land of Hot Water, was naturally oblivious to the strategic directives set by the high-ranking officials of Kirigakure. At this moment, he was in a forest, testing a ninjutsu currently under development—a technique he pinned his hopes on to break through the current bottleneck in his strength.

As early as half a year ago, Uesugi Shinji had discovered that his growth was slowing down; it was clear that his strength was approaching the upper limit of what his current physical aptitude could achieve.

In the future, even with years of diligent and arduous training, the power he could gain would be extremely limited, and as he aged, his power levels might even begin to decline.

Although Uesugi Shinji could not yet imagine the sheer power of the various gods who would appear in the Fourth Shinobi World War, his current knowledge was enough to tell him that the limits of humanity in this world were far beyond this.

For someone who pursued power, the stagnation and regression of his strength were absolutely unacceptable.

As chakra was the foundation of a ninja, the most direct way to increase one's strength was naturally to enhance one's own chakra. If he could reach the level of Kisame, his combat effectiveness would increase four to fivefold!

For a ninja proficient in chakra control, an increase in chakra volume did not simply mean a longer "mana bar." In reality, the full utilization of chakra could comprehensively enhance a ninja's strength, speed, ninjutsu power, and genjutsu potency.

However, most ninjas were not profound in their application of chakra, and those who were often had very limited reserves, forcing them to be calculating and frugal during actual combat.

Uesugi Shinji had been searching for a way to increase his chakra, conducting extensive research and experiments to that end, and his partner, Kisame, had even volunteered to participate in the research at his request.

Of course, Kisame's role in this process was to be the subject of his study.

Fortunately, with the assistance of Kisame, who possessed astonishing natural chakra reserves, Uesugi Shinji finally found a way to simulate the condensation of chakra within Kisame's body. He successfully developed a sealing technique that could theoretically increase a ninja's chakra volume by a massive margin—the "Outer Path Jade" seal!

In the center of an open space, four massive scrolls were laid out neatly. Each scroll was inscribed with complex sealing formulas, and all these formulas combined to form an even more intricate sealing array.

Uesugi Shinji stood in the center of the array, his hands forming seals at a steady, measured pace. Since he was not in combat, there was no need to perform the seals at maximum speed; he only needed to maintain a normal rhythm to ensure every seal was completed accurately and fluidly.

Not far outside the sealing array, Kisame watched the formation he couldn't comprehend with a look of boredom. Although he was not a ninja skilled in sealing arts, he still felt a sense of awe at the array Uesugi Shinji had constructed.

Before this, he had never even heard of such a complex sealing array, let alone seen one.

What Kisame did not know, however, was that Uesugi Shinji possessed the Light Brain in his mind—a top-tier piece of technology from another world. It helped Uesugi Shinji complete calculations and analyses that would be impossible for ordinary people, making his ninjutsu development much easier than that of an average ninja.

By now, Uesugi Shinji had completed over thirty seals. Combined with the complex array beneath his feet, the complexity of this entire sealing technique was second to none in the shinobi world.

The formulas on the sealing array gradually began to emit a pale blue light; this light was chakra devoid of any elemental nature. When Uesugi Shinji completed the forty-ninth seal, the entire process of the sealing technique was finished.

All the formulas on the array flared with intense light, and a massive amount of chakra surged out frantically. This chakra rapidly condensed in the center of the array into a blue orb the size of a soccer ball. As more chakra poured in, the orb slowly shifted from light blue to deep blue, and the once dazzling light gradually became restrained.

This deep blue orb of chakra energy was the "Outer Path Jade" developed by Uesugi Shinji!

The reason he named this sealing technique "Outer Path Jade" was that the chakra within it was too powerful for a ninja to draw directly into their body. It could only be used as an "external attachment" that hovered beside the user, from which chakra would be drawn into the body for utilization.

Not far away, Kisame looked at the Outer Path Jade hovering in mid-air, his eyes filled with shock.

Although this Outer Path Jade still fell short of the chakra volume within his own body, it already exceeded the chakra reserves of an ordinary jonin by seven or eight times—and that "ordinary jonin" included Uesugi Shinji himself.

Kisame did not remain shocked for long. His expression soon returned to normal, and he raised a hand to rub his chin, saying to Uesugi Shinji, "My, my. In our past spars, I could rely on my absolute advantage in chakra to edge you out. But if you can truly make the energy of this chakra orb your own, I'm afraid I won't be your match at all."

Uesugi Shinji did not respond to Kisame's words; all his attention was focused on the Outer Path Jade before him.

It was only then that Kisame noticed beads of sweat the size of beans dripping from Uesugi Shinji's forehead, and the expression on his face becoming increasingly grave.

Suddenly, the deep blue sphere of the Outer Path Jade began to emit a blinding white light. The chakra on the surface of the sphere rippled violently, clearly in a state of extreme instability and on the verge of an explosion.