KONOHA :THE RISE OF KAITON

After bidding farewell to Katsuyu, the trio finished their lunch. Hashirama excused himself and headed toward the casino again. Kaiton, about to leave, was stopped by Tenzou.

"Kaiton, wait. I need to talk to you about something," Tenzou said, his expression serious.

After listening, Kaiton grasped the significance of what Tenzou had to say.

Five months from now, just as Kaiton would be nearing the end of his first year at the Ninja Academy, Konoha would host a grand exchange meeting involving all the ninja villages. The meeting was monumental, bringing together the top students from every village's ninja schools to compete.

Each participating village would send three students, who would face three rounds of rigorous assessments. The final four competitors would battle for supremacy until a single champion emerged.

Since this exchange meeting was a joint initiative of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, the scale was unprecedented. Although it was a contest for children aged six to twelve, their performance was seen as a forecast of their villages' future strength. Naturally, every village was keen to showcase its best talent.

The stakes were high—not just for pride but also for tangible rewards. Students who represented their villages were promised extraordinary prizes, making participation highly coveted.

Tenzou had called Kaiton to discuss the latter's potential involvement in the event.

Initially, Tenzou had not considered Kaiton a viable candidate. Kaiton's chakra limitations, a consequence of his unique condition, made him unlikely to compete effectively. However, the recent breakthroughs in cellular enhancement techniques had changed the equation entirely.

Kaiton's previous weaknesses were now addressed, and Tenzou saw potential in him once again. To prepare Kaiton for the challenge ahead, Tenzou decided to offer him a special opportunity.

"What kind of help do you need?" Tenzou asked.

Kaiton, after a moment of reflection, revealed his plan.

During his recent chakra control exercises, Kaiton had come to appreciate the importance of precision and mastery. This control was foundational to unlocking the true potential of chakra nature transformation. He had devised a novel idea to push his skills further: he wanted to intentionally disrupt his chakra's stability, forcing himself to restore balance through sheer control.

The more chaotic the chakra, Kaiton reasoned, the better the training. His ultimate goal was to achieve unparalleled chakra control—a level that surpassed all other ninjas.

Hearing Kaiton's unorthodox request, Tenzou fell silent. The method Kaiton proposed was unconventional, to say the least. Purposefully destabilizing chakra? Such a concept was unheard of, as no standard jutsu could function without stable chakra.

Tenzou initially dismissed the idea as impractical, but then inspiration struck. He recalled a forbidden technique stored in Konoha's Scroll of Seals that might align with Kaiton's goals.

"Perhaps…" Tenzou muttered to himself before turning back to Kaiton. "There is a technique that fits your description, but it's dangerous. It's a taijutsu-based forbidden technique called the Eight Inner Gates."

He explained the principle of the technique: within every shinobi's body lay eight chakra gates, natural barriers that regulated the flow of chakra. By unlocking these gates through rigorous physical training, one could temporarily surpass their natural limits.

The Eight Gates were: the Gate of Opening, the Gate of Healing, the Gate of Life, the Gate of Pain, the Gate of Limit, the Gate of View, the Gate of Wonder, and the Gate of Death. Each gate unlocked tremendous power at the cost of increasing physical strain. Fully opening all eight gates would grant godlike strength but inevitably lead to death.

Tenzou emphasized the technique's danger, but also its suitability for Kaiton's purpose. Each unlocked gate unleashed chakra in a wildly unstable state, ideal for someone seeking to master control.

Kaiton's eyes lit up. To him, this was the perfect training tool, and the description of the Eight Inner Gates reminded him of techniques he had read about in myths—energetic bursts akin to those in legends. His excitement grew.

However, Tenzou attached conditions to teaching the technique. Kaiton had to promise to secure a top-three finish at the exchange meeting and, later, contribute an A-rank original ninjutsu to the Scroll of Seals.

Kaiton agreed without hesitation. He saw no downside to the arrangement—winning the competition was already his goal, and crafting a new jutsu could come later. Strength came first, and with it, the confidence to meet any challenge.

Returning home, Kaiton immediately began practicing the techniques of the Eight Inner Gates. However, his first attempt to unlock the Gate of Opening resulted in searing pain coursing through his body. Alarmed, he ceased the exercise.

He realized that his physical condition was insufficient to handle the strain of opening even the first gate. Most shinobi would resort to intense physical training, but Kaiton had another idea.

Using the cellular enhancement technique he had recently mastered, Kaiton began refining his chakra, directing its energy to reinforce his cells. With every cycle, the energy nourished and strengthened his body at a microscopic level.

It was as though he were exercising his body from the inside out, bypassing the inefficiencies of traditional training. The process was remarkably efficient, and instead of feeling exhausted, Kaiton found it oddly relaxing.

Time passed unnoticed as Kaiton immersed himself in his cellular refinement. The warmth spreading through his body felt akin to soaking in a hot spring, rejuvenating him with each cycle.

By the time night fell and darkness cloaked the village, Kaiton had lost count of how many times he had repeated the process. Fatigue finally caught up with him, and he fell into a deep sleep, his body already stronger than it had been that morning.

A New Goal

When Kaiton awoke the next day, his mind was clear and his determination renewed. He decided to take full advantage of his father, Kingsu's, vast arsenal of ninjutsu. With his chakra issues resolved, he could finally train without limitations.

For the next five months, Kaiton planned to dedicate himself to rigorous training. Between mastering the Eight Inner Gates and refining his chakra control, he was confident that he would experience a transformation unlike any he had undergone before.

Kaiton's newfound resolve was unshakable. The exchange meeting loomed on the horizon, and he intended to stand at the top—not just for himself, but for Konoha.

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