What truly surprised him was that he had finally discovered a way to open the Eighth Gate (In reverse, don't forget).
The method appeared after he woke up, carried by a voice deep within his mind.
Kaito wasn't sure if it was real, but based on the principles explained in those mysterious instructions, he felt certain that it could work.
Ōtsutsuki Toneri was still in seclusion, fusing with the Tenseigan, leaving Kaito undisturbed. It was the perfect time to attempt a breakthrough.
He didn't go anywhere. Instead, he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and allowed his consciousness to sink into his training space.
Once again, he found himself within the Shikkotsu Forest. Mist hung thick in the air, wrapping around ancient trees and the towering stone pillars that rose into the clouds like guardians of the heavens.
At the center of it all stood a massive golden gate. Brilliant light shone from its surface, crafted of precious metals and rare materials that radiated an overwhelming aura. Two golden dragons, carved with such detail that they seemed alive, coiled around the gate as if protecting the glowing pearl that floated above them.
Kaito studied the gate, and with a thought, two energies appeared before him—one black, one green. Yin and Yang.
According to the memory that had been imprinted in his mind, balancing and merging these two forces was the key to unlocking the Eighth Gate.
For hours, he worked at weaving the two opposing powers together. Time blurred as he focused solely on the task.
Seven days later, a thin black-and-green needle finally took form in front of him.
"Finally…," Kaito muttered, his voice hoarse.
Not certain if it would work, he whispered, "Go."
The needle streaked forward, trailing a brilliant tail of light as it shot toward the golden gate.
The moment it struck, searing pain erupted in Kaito's mind, yet he ignored it. His eyes locked on the gate with unwavering determination.
Cracks spread across its radiant surface. A small hole appeared, and from within, pure chakra gushed forth like a fountain.
Kaito's lips curled into a grin. "It worked!"
Wasting no time, he began forming another Yin-Yang needle, repeating the process again and again.
Days turned to weeks inside the training space. Each strike of his creations chipped away at the massive gate. His progress was slow but steady, the once-impenetrable doors now riddled with holes and fractures.
A month passed in this relentless cycle. Kaito's skill in manipulating Yin and Yang grew sharper. He learned to shape his creations not just into needles, but into drills—larger, stronger, and far more destructive.
He conjured twenty at once, sending them hurtling toward the gate like a storm.
The sound of breaking glass rang out.
Cracks spider-webbed across the gate's golden surface before it finally shattered.
BOOM!
A wave of golden energy burst forth, engulfing Kaito's body. It flooded his limbs, his chest, his very core. His entire being trembled as his body underwent a complete transformation.
Muscles tightened, bones reinforced themselves, and chakra surged through him with unstoppable force.
His body felt reborn.
Kaito clenched his fists and laughed under his breath. "This power… my physique is at least ten, no—twenty times stronger than before!"
The ground beneath the Shikkotsu Forest trembled as his aura leaked outward, shaking the land for miles around. Yet within his training space, Kaito remained calm.
The Eighth Gate had been opened.
And with it, a new chapter of his strength had begun.
"Next…," Kaito whispered, his eyes gleaming, "I'll master every Yin and Yang technique in my memory."
He split into a thousand shadow clones at once, each one diving into practice, sharpening and controlling the overwhelming force now coursing through him.
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