Over the next few days, Hanzo and Uzumaki Mito conducted numerous experiments.
Finally, they successfully developed a simple chakra storage sealing technique.
Even Hanzo himself couldn't help but praise Uzumaki Mito's mastery of sealing techniques.
"Sealing chakra inside the body is similar to sealing a Tailed Beast. I just slightly modified those sealing methods."
Uzumaki Mito didn't react much to the praise. Instead, she continued thinking.
Although this sealing technique was simple, its potential was immense. In many ways, it resembled her Strength of a Hundred Seal.
However, her Strength of a Hundred Seal had extremely high requirements. Not only did it require storing chakra within the body, but it also needed three full years of accumulation before it could be used.
This new sealing technique, on the other hand, only required storing chakra during spare moments and withdrawing it when needed. While it lacked the eternal youth and accelerated healing provided by the Strength of a Hundred Seal, it was already more than sufficient for ordinary ninja.
Its upper limit couldn't compare to the Strength of a Hundred Seal, but its lower threshold was far easier.
All it required was spending a few minutes with the sealing team to carve the sealing formula onto the body. It was convenient, required no long-term training, and was suitable for the vast majority of ninja.
Each had its own advantages.
"By the way, aren't you planning to take revenge against Konoha?" Uzumaki Mito suddenly asked.
"I heard Sunagakure is preparing to clash with Konoha again. Aren't you going to interfere?"
"This time, your Amegakure was the victim. Aren't you going to seize the opportunity?"
"You seem pretty concerned about Konoha," Hanzo replied with a faint smile.
"Unfortunately…"
"Just as Sunagakure reached the border, Konoha sent envoys to apologize."
"Konoha offered too much. As part of the deal, I can't interfere in the war between Sunagakure and Konoha."
Uzumaki Mito frowned slightly.
"Offered too much? I don't believe you're short on money."
Hanzo smiled without answering, instead pointing at the clock beside him.
"It's time. You should head to class."
Not short on money?
That was impossible.
Amegakure's daily expenditures were astronomical. Behind its prosperity lay massive costs.
However, as long as they endured another year or two, all construction projects would be completed. Once that happened, the major expenses would stop, leaving only maintenance costs.
Fortunately, wartime made it easier for ninja to earn money. Due to the chaos, all kinds of missions poured in like snowflakes.
Escort missions, for example, were now priced sky-high—yet demand remained constant.
There were also power struggles and political assassination missions during wartime, each commanding enormous fees.
Because of Amegakure's performance in this Ninja World War, Amegakure, and Hanzo of the Salamander—had gained recognition across the ninja world, naturally attracting many clients.
On the other hand, only a handful of villages were still accepting missions.
The Five Great Nations' ninja villages had all closed their mission windows—they were too busy fighting wars to handle outside business.
Neutral small countries like the Land of Rain and the Land of Iron could only accept this windfall.
Previously, there weren't enough ninja because they couldn't afford to train them.
Now, there still weren't enough ninja—but because they were all deployed on missions.
The new recruits were still in the academy…
Returning to his office, Hanzo looked at the towering stacks of documents—each nearly a meter tall, and instantly lost his enthusiasm.
His shadow clones had already gone on strike a few days ago…
Ever since he took over the Daimyo's authority, the number of documents he processed daily rivaled the number of grains of rice he ate.
"This is basically prison… I need to split things into departments, or I'm going to die in this position."
---
Konoha – Hokage Building.
Gekko Hayate handed a stack of documents to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"These were entrusted to me by the former commander. This was his final mission to me—only I knew about it."
"Although he was accused of colluding with Kirigakure, I know his character. Something must be wrong. Please investigate this thoroughly, Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen opened the documents and began reading. His expression quickly became uncertain.
"Did you read these?"
"No." Hayate shook his head. "This was a top-secret mission he entrusted to me."
Only then did Hiruzen relax slightly. He placed his pipe in his mouth and exhaled a long plume of smoke.
"You've traveled far. Go get some rest. I'll uncover the truth."
"Yes."
After Hayate left, Hiruzen stared silently at the documents.
These were all evidence suggesting Danzo had secretly communicated with Kirigakure.
No wonder Konoha had recently suffered such devastating defeats.
"Danzo must have discovered him… and eliminated him immediately to silence him."
"But why would Danzo collude with Kirigakure? Did he make some sort of deal?"
Hiruzen knew Danzo well. Anything harmful to Konoha, Danzo would eliminate without hesitation.
Danzo betraying Konoha…
That was something Hiruzen found difficult to believe.
"Although Danzo's methods are extreme… everything he does is for Konoha."
After placing the documents into a classified folder, Hiruzen looked toward the distant battlefield.
Kirigakure, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure were once again fighting Konoha.
At the same time, Mito had left, and the Nine-Tails had been lost, drastically weakening Konoha's war potential.
Moreover, because of the Uzumaki Mito incident, Hiruzen's authority as Hokage had declined sharply. Some clans within the village were becoming increasingly difficult to control and were growing perfunctory in their contributions.
Everyone in the village knew he had protected Danzo.
If Danzo caused more trouble, not only would Danzo suffer—Hiruzen himself would also be implicated.
This time, it wouldn't be as easy to resolve as before.
"The situation across all battlefields isn't optimistic… if this continues…"
If he could be like Hanzo of the Salamander, using forbidden jutsus to wipe out thousands at once…
Or, at the very least, if he could intimidate the entire ninja world alone—other villages would think twice before acting.
At that thought, Hiruzen seemed to reach an understanding.
He opened a hidden compartment and pulled out a Forbidden Jutsus Scroll.
Hiruzen's ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu were all top-tier.
That was both his strength—and his weakness.
It meant he could never reach the absolute peak in any single field.
Minato Namikaze possessed extreme speed.
Ōnoki's Particle Style represented absolute destruction.
The Third Raikage specialized in physical power and ultimate piercing attacks.
Hiruzen was powerful, strong enough to influence small-scale wars.
But against other Kage-level fighters, he had no clear advantage.
On the battlefield before, Hanzo's speed had completely suppressed him. Without distance, he had no time to form hand seals—he couldn't even use ninjutsu.
No matter how many techniques he knew, they were useless.
That feeling of frustration…
And with the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki surviving, the Third Kazekage's death, Roshi's severe injury, and the Third Raikage entering battle, Hiruzen increasingly felt that more Kage-level battlefields would emerge.
If any side lost—
the entire ninja world would descend like wolves.
He needed to prepare early.
Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Flying Raijin Justu.
Tandem Paper Bombs.
Eight Gates...
Names flashed before his eyes.
"Eight Gates… Opening just the first two gates doesn't cause too much harm. It could be taught to elite jonin…"
After reviewing everything, Hiruzen closed the scroll.
Most techniques were either:
Already mastered
Morally unacceptable
Restricted by talent
Very few suited him.
But—
not none.
"…This Jutsu… is promising."
---
Author's Note:
The Eight Gates likely wasn't exclusive to Might Guy. During the final battle, Six Paths Madara clearly recognized the technique. Since Madara lived long before Might Guy and Might Dai, it suggests the Eight Gates existed as far back as the Warring States era.
Additionally, Kakashi later formed an Eight Gates squad, implying that Konoha preserved the Eight Gates as a transmitted jutsu.