At the end of it all, Rinjin managed to obtain the scroll of the Earth Grudge Fear Secret Technique from a despondent Danzo, who looked as if he had lost all hope in life.
Back home, Rinjin unrolled the scroll and began studying it meticulously.
It was evident that Danzo had been thoroughly "played" by him.
The scroll not only provided a detailed explanation of how to cultivate the Earth Grudge Fear Secret Technique, but also highlighted the key points, challenges, and precautions involved in the process.
In a word: thoughtful.
The cultivation of the Earth Grudge Fear Secret Technique was extremely difficult—or rather, excruciatingly painful.
After all, inserting foreign objects into one's body was not something an average person could even imagine.
Moreover, the unrelenting torment that came with it was unbearable for most people.
One could only say that enviable power always comes with loathsome pain.
However, for Rinjin, none of this posed a significant problem.
Before long, the first black thread appeared within Rinjin's body.
Yet, issues soon arose.
The Lightning Release Chakra Mode wasn't just about strengthening the skin, muscles, and bones—it also required a certain level of fortitude in one's internal organs.
To Rinjin's dismay, the fragile black thread struggled to move through his resilient body.
This… this was just ridiculous!
Still, Rinjin had the patience to work through it.
Eventually, the black thread, albeit weak and clumsy, made its way into Rinjin's brain.
Sensing that the thread was nearing its target location, Rinjin wasted no time in seeking out Tsunade to guide him in pinpointing the "gate" he needed to open.
Under Tsunade's peculiar expression and reluctant guidance, the black thread accurately followed the pathways of his meridians and struck the acupuncture point for the Gate of Opening.
In that instant, Rinjin felt a surge of immense chakra erupt within his body.
"Open the gate—open!"
A tremendous and overwhelming aura exploded outward in an instant.
Immediately after, Rinjin took control of the Earth Grudge Fear thread, withdrawing it from the Gate of Opening.
He had memorized its precise location.
The next time he needed to open the Gate of Opening, he could simply recreate a short thread at the designated spot.
After all, the Earth Grudge Fear technique served two purposes for Rinjin: physically opening the gates and conducting chakra.
Soon enough, with his upper body bare, Rinjin, with Tsunade's assistance, accurately located the Gate of Rest, Gate of Life, Gate of Pain, Gate of Limit, Gate of View, Gate of Wonder, and Gate of Death.
Realizing they were in Tsunade's private quarters, Rinjin refrained from recklessly opening the first seven gates, which would undoubtedly leave the place in ruins.
Grabbing Tsunade's hand, whose face had turned slightly red, Rinjin formed a single-hand seal and vanished in an instant.
After a dizzying moment, the two of them reappeared in a secluded forest.
"Little Tsunade, I'm going to open the first seven gates now. Afterward, you can guide me to the location of the eighth gate, the Gate of Death."
Hearing this, Tsunade frowned deeply, her face full of concern. She hesitated before saying,
"Rinjin, the first seven gates should be more than enough. Why insist on the eighth gate?"
"No, just opening the gates isn't enough. What's youth without blooming to its fullest?"
Rinjin's lips curled into a reckless smile, his face brimming with anticipation.
Hearing this, Tsunade, who wasn't very familiar with the Eight Gates Released Formation, could only nod reluctantly.
In her mind, Rinjin had survived being stabbed through the heart—surely opening the Eight Gates wouldn't be a problem for him.
As she pondered, Rinjin's figure disappeared for a brief moment. When he returned, he had used the Flying Thunder God Technique to place his cat in the Land of Iron, a favorite vacation spot for the feline.
Back in place, Rinjin's eyes gleamed with growing excitement.
Finally, the day had come!
It hadn't been easy, not at all.
From scheming to acquire the Eight Gates Released Formation technique, to the frustration of being unable to open the gates, and now finally finding a way—it had been a journey fraught with obstacles.
Without further delay, Rinjin clenched his fists and rapidly channeled chakra through his body.
From every gate in his body, pitch-black threads emerged from his flesh, forcibly breaking through the first seven gates of the Eight Gates Released Formation.
"It's here!
Grandma Lee knocking on the door—open!"
In an instant, the massive surge of chakra broke through the limits of his body, transforming into a terrifyingly powerful pressure that swept across the surroundings.
A layer of blue steam rose from Rinjin's skin.
Looking down at his skin, which showed no visible changes, Rinjin scratched his head in exasperation.
Great. He had tanned so much in the Land of Lightning that even the blood rushing to his skin didn't show.
Still, the immense energy coursing through his body was undeniably terrifying.
Next up was the eighth gate—the Gate of Death!
Frowning deeply, Rinjin formed a hand seal, focusing on the meridians surrounding the Gate of Death near his heart.
Several thick, black threads suddenly burst from his flesh, swirling and converging as they struck the Gate of Death.
In the next moment, the entire world seemed to fall silent.
Then, slowly but steadily, red steam began to rise, while waves of energy exploded outward in powerful bursts.
Adrenaline surged through his body.
Within him, a terrifying power far exceeding that of a Kage-level shinobi by twenty or thirty times roared and rampaged, relentlessly destroying the vitality within his body.
However, the monstrous regenerative abilities of his immortal cells refused to yield, continuously repairing the carbonized portions.
Judging by the current rate of destruction, he could probably maintain this state for ten days or so!
"Quick! Bring me my speaker—I'm ready to take on ten opponents!"
Just as Rinjin was hyped up and preparing to launch a few air bombs into the clearing, the overwhelming chakra within his body abruptly vanished.
Rinjin froze in place.
What… what just happened?
Did the network cut out?!
I'm not even using IronNet—how could I suddenly lose connection?
After carefully assessing the situation, Rinjin was utterly speechless.
His body could handle the strain of opening the Eight Gates, but the Earth Grudge Fear technique was simply too unreliable!
The black threads had been incinerated by the intense energy.
And then, his cells' formidable regenerative power had instantly sealed the Gate of Death...
This... this... what was this supposed to be?
Was my youth… just a trial subscription???
Damn it all!
Staggering, Rinjin collapsed into Tsunade's arms, covering his forehead in frustration.
Forget it. Grandma Lee can keep knocking. I'll figure out another way to deal with the Gate of Death.
Time flew by, and three days passed in the blink of an eye.
That morning, as Rinjin lay on a tatami mat, his eyes suddenly widened.
He sensed that the teleportation seal he had left behind was moving northwest!
The Third Mizukage had left the village!
Not only that, but he was moving at an incredible speed, leaving the Land of Water and heading toward the Land of Lightning—or no, the Land of Iron!
The Land of Iron? What could he want there?
At that moment, a somewhat unfamiliar name surfaced in Rinjin's mind:
The Graveyard of Mountains.
A place rumored to be where Madara Uchiha had hidden himself and where the Gedo Statue lay dormant.
In an instant, Rinjin's mind raced as he calculated.
It was currently the 28th year of Konoha. There were still at least four years until the Second Shinobi War began and Nagato awakened his Rinnegan in front of Jiraiya.
Which meant that during these four years, Madara Uchiha would have already obtained the Rinnegan.
And considering what he had told Obito—that he awakened the Rinnegan in his dying moments...
No! What Madara said to Obito couldn't be trusted!
In other words, Rinjin had to prepare for the possibility that Lord Madara still had some fight left in him!
With that thought, Rinjin sat up abruptly, his eyes gleaming as he gazed in the direction of the Land of Water.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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