Eight Gates Release

[Taijutsu-Eight Gates Release]

Rank: S-rank forbidden technique.

Effect: Temporarily grants tremendous power by opening the channels that restrict chakra within the body. Opening all eight gates is known as the "Eight Gates Released Formation" and grants power beyond Kage Level.

Cost: Using this technique inevitably damages the body. Mild consequences include torn muscles and meridians; severe consequences leave the user crippled and unable to use chakra. The Eight Gates Released Formation has only one price: death.

Note: A Taijutsu technique that requires immense perseverance and the resolve to die to master fully.

"An actual forbidden technique-the Eight Gates Release? Didn't they say the Library only had techniques below A-rank?"

Thrilled yet puzzled, Kazuhiko Uchiha immediately left the Library's inner room and asked the librarian, "Hello, I found an S-rank forbidden technique inside, the Eight Gates Release. Can I choose that one too?"

"Of course. You can choose any technique in there. That one is also the only S-rank forbidden technique kept in the Library."

Seeing Kazuhiko Uchiha's excitement, the librarian clearly understood why. He offered the same advice he had given other ninja who had discovered this technique. "Don't assume it's good just because it's S-rank. In reality, it's extremely difficult to cultivate, and the price is enormous. Of all the ninja our clan has had throughout its history, only a handful chose this forbidden technique, and none of them ever managed to open even the fifth gate."

Finally, the librarian kindly reminded him once more, "So I'd advise you to choose another technique. Don't waste this opportunity."

"Thank you, but I'll choose this one."

Kazuhiko Uchiha rejected the librarian's suggestion without hesitation, determined to obtain this powerful Taijutsu technique that would one day unleash earth-shattering power in Might Guy's hands.

"Ah, all right. Let me find you a copy."

Since Kazuhiko Uchiha was so firm, the librarian could only respect his choice. After rummaging through the bookcase holding the cultivation copies, he finally found a duplicate scroll covered in a layer of dust in its most neglected corner.

"Found it. Here you go." The librarian wiped the dust away with a cloth and handed the scroll to Kazuhiko Uchiha, saying wistfully, "No one's chosen this manual in years. The last time I tidied it up was three years ago. I hope you won't regret your choice."

Under the librarian's regretful gaze, Kazuhiko Uchiha took the cultivation copy and quickly left the Library, heading to a secluded, deserted training ground within the clan compound to examine it.

"The Eight Gates Release consists of the Gate of Opening, Gate of Healing, Gate of Life, Gate of Pain, Gate of Limit, Gate of View, Gate of Wonder, and Gate of Death. Each gate opened greatly increases the user's strength and speed. Opening the Gate of Death grants strength dozens of times greater than Kage Level. The method for opening the gates is as follows..."

After carefully studying the copy's contents, Kazuhiko Uchiha brought himself into the proper condition and began attempting the technique.

He closed his eyes and focused on sensing the flow of primal energy within his meridians. Once he located the Gate of Opening, he gathered a large amount of primal energy and drove it violently against the gate.

"First gate, Gate of Opening, open!"

With Kazuhiko Uchiha's shout, the Gate of Opening that restricted his brain burst open. A surge of primal energy hidden within his body instantly flooded his meridians.

Whoosh!

Kazuhiko Uchiha vanished from where he stood. A second later, he appeared beside a distant cliff face and slammed his primal-energy-coated fist into a huge nearby boulder.

Boom!

Kazuhiko Uchiha punched a crater into the hard rock. Cracks spread outward from the impact until they covered the entire boulder. With a sharp crack, it shattered from the inside out, sending fragments crashing into nearby trees and scattering wood chips everywhere.

"This feeling of power is truly intoxicating. Too bad it's only temporary."

Kazuhiko Uchiha clenched his fists, an unprecedented sense of exhilaration welling up within him. Rather than losing himself in that power, however, he kept monitoring its effects on his body.

"My stamina is draining faster, and the strain on my body has increased a little, but it doesn't hurt too much. That should be because the Gene Origin Energy Cultivation Method strengthened my cells."

Opening the Gate of Opening affected Kazuhiko Uchiha less than he had expected. After taking some time to adjust, he assaulted the second gate, the Gate of Healing.

"Second gate, Gate of Healing, open!"

Opening the Gate of Healing removed the restrictions imposed by physical fatigue, overtaxing his body's energy reserves to restore his stamina and counteract the exhaustion caused by the Gate of Opening's accelerated energy consumption. The strain on his body, however, increased considerably.

"Hiss... that hurts a little, but I can bear it. Looks like my current limit should be opening the next gate, the Gate of Life."

As he moved slowly to adjust to his body with the Gate of Healing open, Kazuhiko Uchiha's strength had temporarily reached Jonin level. It was a clear improvement over his Chunin strength, even giving him the sense that he could easily kill his former self in an instant.

"Eight Gates Release, close!" Only after thoroughly experiencing Jonin-level strength, when his body was close to its limit, did Kazuhiko Uchiha close the Eight Gates Release.

The instant the Eight Gates Release closed, aching pain surged through his entire body like a raging tide, drawing a muffled groan from him. He could not help marveling at Might Guy's inhuman endurance in fighting Six Paths Madara through the agony of opening all eight gates.

Kazuhiko Uchiha staggered home and sat cross-legged, absorbing cosmic energy to replenish his primal energy.

"Huh? The amount of energy I'm absorbing has increased a lot. It's almost twice what it was before."

Two hours later, Kazuhiko Uchiha finished cultivating. To his surprise, both the speed at which his cells consumed cosmic energy and the amount they absorbed had increased substantially. Thinking back to his practice with the Eight Gates Release, he had a rough idea of the reason.

"If my guess is right, the Eight Gates Release squeezed the energy out of my cells, indirectly strengthening them and causing this change. In other words, combining the Eight Gates Release with the Gene Origin Energy Cultivation Method produces an effect greater than the sum of its parts."

Kazuhiko Uchiha could no longer contain his excitement, his face lighting up. "This won't just speed up my primal energy cultivation. More importantly, it'll also let me make faster progress in opening the Eight Gates."

"Uchiha Itachi, before long, I'll have power to rival yours-or even surpass it. Danzo, Konoha, the Akatsuki, Madara Uchiha, Kaguya Otsutsuki... hmph. Just give me some more time. None of you will get to decide whether I live or die."

A cold glint flashed through Kazuhiko Uchiha's eyes before his expression returned to its usual calm. After tidying up, he lay down on his bed to rest.

That evening, Kazuhiko Uchiha went to Yakiniku Q to meet the members of Team Five. They made Captain Tōma pay for a lavish meal before going their separate ways.

Before they parted, Captain Tōma told everyone when and where to meet the next day. The real, brutal world of ninja was about to unfold before Kazuhiko Uchiha.