Naruto Infinite New World

Time flows like water. Three months have passed in the blink of an eye.

In the dilapidated training ground.

Gin was hanging upside down from a tree, munching on an apple when Minato suddenly appeared, jabbing a finger toward him.

In the next moment.

Minato's finger left a hole in the tree.

But Gin felt a solid impact on his back as he leaned against Minato, taking a big bite out of his apple.

"Too slow, Minato."

Both disappeared from the spot using Soru.

Their fast-moving figures clashed all around.

In the distance, Kushina stood under a tree, flicking a stone with her hand, causing countless shuriken and kunai to fall from the tree.

Her body swayed left and right like paper, not a single kunai or shuriken could hit her.

Seeing this scene, Sei bit his lip.

Can't compare, really can't compare.

In just three months, Minato had completely mastered the Four Techniques and used them with ease.

Kushina had also mastered Kami-e and Soru.

But he had only mastered Tekkai and was still practicing Soru.

The Four Techniques had a high threshold, especially with their chakra requirements.

He couldn't believe that Minato was such a genius.

But what he saw before him had already confirmed it. He seemed to... probably... not want to admit... that he couldn't compare to Minato.

But compared to these two.

That Uchiha Gin was completely a monster.

He didn't know where Gin got the Four Techniques, but Gin's combat ability was far beyond what someone his age should possess.

That agile body, strong reflexes, effortlessly using the Four Techniques.

Even a genius like Minato could only be toyed with.

Even if Gin couldn't use ninjutsu, he felt that even the middle-level members of his clan might not be able to defeat him.

He had sparred with middle and high-level ninjas before. Gin felt like he was facing a Jonin.

"This guy is a monster in human skin."

Sei stared intently at Gin, who was constantly evading Minato's attacks, realizing that this guy was worth pursuing.

Unfortunately.

He couldn't even compare to Minato.

Gin glanced at Sei, who was watching from a distance, not knowing about Basic Inner Power.

Mainly because Sei wore a headband, hiding the mark of the Caged Bird, the branch family of Hyuga had no way to resist the main family.

Naturally, he couldn't be trusted.

Tilting his head to dodge Minato's Shigan, a nearby tree was instantly pierced, leaving a hole.

Turning with a sweeping kick, Minato reacted quickly, even unusually so, placing his hand on the incoming leg to lift his body.

But Gin's explosion of speed made the sweeping leg faster, hitting Minato's abdomen and sending him flying.

Minato steadied himself in mid-air, landing on a tree and standing horizontally.

"Minato, you need to work harder." Gin encouraged while finishing his apple.

Minato climbed down from the tree, sitting on the ground with a sigh.

"Gin, why are you so strong?" Minato asked with a bitter face.

He felt his own rapid improvement but still couldn't gauge Gin's depth. It was like facing a mountain, thinking he had reached the halfway point, but the distance to the top remained unchanged.

Having reached the fourth layer of Basic Inner Power and mastered the Four Techniques, he still felt like a child compared to Gin.

"You must be diligent, Minato." Gin nodded wisely.

In the past three months, his progress had been limited by his growing body.

But his previous foundation was solid, and the understanding of Basic Inner Power from Minato, Might Duy, Kushina, and Orochimaru nourished him.

And the understanding of the Four Techniques from Minato and the others.

That's why he could crush Minato.

No matter how talented, Minato was only at the level of a Chunin now.

Speaking of which, Orochimaru had progressed the furthest in Basic Inner Power, already nearing the final layer.

The final layer was something Gin created to pursue immortality, complex and requiring massive amounts of chakra.

"By the way, Inoue-sensei said you must come to school tomorrow. There's a big announcement." Minato remembered what Inoue Satoru had told him to pass on to Gin.

Mainly because in the past three months.

Satoru... had not!! seen!! Gin at all!!

"I know." Gin replied nonchalantly.

But if he used that technique, he could threaten Jonin, or even have Jonin-level strength.

Even if only once.

...

Orochimaru, expressionless, watched a ninja in a glass container scream in agony, slowly turning into wood.

From the shadows, a bandaged man emerged.

Under the light, he looked gloomy.

Konoha's shadow.

Shimura Danzo.

"Any progress?"

Orochimaru coldly replied.

"As you can see, it failed."

Danzo's face wasn't looking good.

"This experiment has been going on for a month. Why is there no progress?"

The number of sacrifices in this experiment wasn't small, even affecting the front lines.

As the true initiator of this task, Sarutobi Hiruzen was beginning to waver.

"Hashirama's cells only continue to erode the host, making it impossible to suppress effectively." Orochimaru shook his head. He had used every method possible but still couldn't reduce the erosion of Hashirama's cells.

"Continue the experiment. We need results."

"I am not your subordinate, Danzo-sama."

Orochimaru emphasized the word "sama," glancing at Danzo. Even though this man was his teacher's close friend, he had no authority to command him.

Danzo gave Orochimaru a deep look.

"Hiruzen is also waiting for results. If there's no progress, this experiment will be shut down."

Such a huge sacrifice with no results.

That weak-willed Hiruzen wouldn't allow this experiment to continue.

Danzo turned and walked into the shadows.

Only two people in Konoha could study Hashirama's cells.

One was Orochimaru, and the other was Tsunade, who absolutely couldn't know about this.

After all, telling her that they dug up her grandfather's grave for Konoha's strength wouldn't sit well.

Even the strongest Will of Fire brainwashing couldn't make Tsunade silently accept this. She might even turn the entire village upside down.

Orochimaru watched Danzo leave, not looking at the experiment but at an unremarkable bonsai in the corner, where a sapling was slowly growing.

In his eyes, this sapling was more tempting than the experiment.

"Amazing. That Uchiha is a genius."

From initial doubt to current certainty, his attitude had changed.

This bonsai had nothing to do with Hashirama's cells. It was a dead sapling into which he had sealed the techniques of Basic Inner Power, watering it only with chakra.

The once-dead seedling had started growing again.

"If chakra reaches a certain level, can it really achieve immortality?"

Orochimaru pondered.

Basic Inner Power could extend one's life by a few years.

Essentially, it couldn't grant immortality or eternal life.

But the key lay in the third layer's method.

"Seal natural energy with chakra inside the body."

This world had a thing called senjutsu chakra. Most people thought of absorbing it, never considering using it in a sealed form.

According to the steps, the natural energy sealed would gradually transform the body to adapt to it due to the properties of Inner Power.

"If the body can retain senjutsu chakra, it can indeed achieve immortality."

The white snake in Ryuchi Cave was a living example.

"This is truly the path to immortality."

At this moment, Orochimaru's eyes lit up.

In pursuit of jutsu, he deeply felt the inadequacy of lifespan, thus turning to seek immortality. Now, a genuine path to immortality lay before him.

What use were Hashirama's cells, merely a task arranged by his job.

Although Hashirama's cells were miraculous, they couldn't grant immortality.

Only this path of sealing techniques was correct.

"So sealing techniques are the future."

Gin couldn't have imagined.

The emergence of Basic Inner Power had completely altered Orochimaru's path.

The world of Naruto may have seen similar techniques before, but ninjas were a bunch of destructive chasers, only seeing momentary destruction.

Pursuing the ultimate jutsu.

But they never considered the path to immortality.

Originally, only Orochimaru had thought of this path.

Now there was another.

Uchiha Gin.

...

Ninja Academy.

Gin looked at the familiar yet strange surroundings and sighed.

"It's only been a few days, but the classroom feels unfamiliar."

It's been three months since you last came!! Inoue Satoru internally roared, but to maintain the dignity of a teacher, he kept a gentle smile.

"Yikes~! Inoue-sensei's smile is so creepy."

Passing students looked at him with disdain.

Satoru's smile became more bitter.

"Can't you give me a little respect?"

When everyone was in the classroom.

Inoue Satoru recovered from his disappointment.

Thinking of what was to come, his mood sank.

Slowly walking to the podium, his body felt heavy.

Looking at the beloved students, except for Gin, all of whom he had guided from the beginning.

He opened his mouth to speak but choked up.

Originally, the academy, founded by the Second Hokage, had a graduation age of twelve. When did it become ten? He couldn't understand it, nor the decision to come.

Seeing the students' puzzled expressions.

Inoue Satoru took three deep breaths, revealing his best smile.

"Congratulations, students. Starting tomorrow, you can all take the graduation exam."

"Eh!!!"

Gin slammed the table and stood up.

(End of Chapter)