The fact that the Eight Gates Released Formation was recorded in the Scroll of Seals did not surprise Tanaka.
After all, when Madara saw Guy open the Seventh Gate, he was rather excited, remarking that the steam was actually red. Later, when Guy opened the Eighth Gate, Madara even said that it was a rare experience to fight against the Eight Gates Released Formation.
This meant that, even before Duy, the Eight Gates Released Formation had already existed in the shinobi world as a forbidden jutsu, and someone had previously trained it to at least the Seventh Gate.
Even someone like Duy, a so-called "eternal genin," had mastered the Eight Gates Released Formation. So in Konoha, a village with a forbidden jutsu archive overflowing with techniques, it was impossible for them not to have it.
However, the training difficulty of the Eight Gates Released Formation was extremely high—it required at least twenty years of effort. Not everyone could succeed. Most people would reach only the Second or Third Gate before their bodies became crippled.
Even Kakashi, who had mastered taijutsu to an extraordinary level by his twenties, could only open the First Gate.
So before Duy mastered the Eight Gates Released Formation, making a name for himself by defeating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, neither Konoha nor the entire shinobi world placed much value on taijutsu specialists.
Let alone spending twenty years to master the Eight Gates Released Formation.
After all, the results were too slow, the risks too high, and ordinary ninjas simply didn't have the time to develop such skills.
Even those who wanted to train in it couldn't succeed.
The First, Second, and Third Great Ninja Wars—by the mid-stages of each conflict, major ninja villages were already sending ten-year-old children or younger into battle.
Due to all these factors and the state of the shinobi world, even though Konoha possessed the Eight Gates Released Formation, it remained buried in the forbidden jutsu archive, collecting dust within the Scroll of Seals.
"Hokage-sama, I choose the Eight Gates Released Formation."
If Hiruzen had given him free rein to choose, Tanaka would have undoubtedly picked Edo Tensei. But standing before him was the stingiest Hokage in Konoha's history.
Any A-rank forbidden jutsu still sealed away in the Scroll of Seals was either too difficult to train or useless even if mastered.
For example, the Eight Gates Released Formation.
Or the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
The former was too hard to master and required too much time. The latter, unless you were Indra's reincarnation, was completely pointless to learn.
"The Eight Gates Released Formation?"
"This is a taijutsu-based forbidden jutsu. I've seen quite a few ninjas become crippled from trying to train it."
"You must be careful. If you truly wish to practice it, make sure to know your limits."
Seeing Tanaka choose the Eight Gates Released Formation, Hiruzen was not happy at all—in fact, he felt a bit worried.
If he had a choice, he would have preferred Tanaka to pick Multiple Shadow Clone Technique or Rashōmon.
Those two were the easiest to master and had the lowest risk factor among the forbidden techniques recorded in the Scroll of Seals.
He did not want to see Konoha's most talented Hyūga genius cripple himself while training the Eight Gates Released Formation.
That would be an absolute waste of his potential.
"Since I've trained in Gentle Fist from a young age, I've always been curious about strong-fist taijutsu styles."
"Choosing the Eight Gates Released Formation doesn't mean I plan to train in it. I just want to broaden my understanding and build a stronger foundation in taijutsu," Tanaka said casually.
Not training in it?
Of course, that was a lie.
The Eight Gates Released Formation was a technique that could kick an opponent straight into the final battle of a war.
In the entire shinobi world, this was the only forbidden jutsu that allowed an ordinary person to reach god-like power and physically fight a god.
As for the severe bodily damage caused by opening the gates?
He had the Op-Op Fruit! What was there to be afraid of?
Not to mention, in the One Piece world, there was also the Heal-Heal Fruit.
I wonder if using Haki to harden my body could reduce the damage from opening the gates? Tanaka pondered.
From the moment Hiruzen said he could pick an A-rank forbidden jutsu after passing the jonin exam, Tanaka had already made his decision.
He would choose between two options: Eight Gates Released Formation and Rashōmon.
If the Eight Gates Released Formation was available, he would take it.
If not, he would go with Rashōmon.
Even before deciding on the Eight Gates Released Formation, he had already planned to combine the resources of both the Hokage and One Piece worlds to push the technique to the Eighth Gate—and not just open it, but open it without dying.
Medical ninjutsu.
Op-Op Fruit Haki.
Heal-Heal Fruit.
All of these would serve as the best support in his journey to master the Eight Gates Released Formation to the final gate—Gate of Death.
"As long as you know what you're doing."
Seeing this, Hiruzen finally relaxed a bit.
Indeed, given how much the Hyūga clan cherished Tanaka, even if he truly wanted to train in the Eight Gates Released Formation, the entire clan would likely oppose it.
In the shinobi world, only those without ninjutsu or genjutsu talent would walk the path of taijutsu and train in forbidden techniques like the Eight Gates Released Formation.
But Tanaka?
He was a genius.
There was absolutely no reason for him to waste his time training in a "foolish" taijutsu technique like the Eight Gates Released Formation.
"You are all dismissed."
With the jonin exam concluded, Hiruzen completely changed his attitude toward Tanaka.
After repeatedly warning him about the dangers of forbidden jutsu, he did not linger in Training Ground No. 3 any longer. Instead, after dismissing the crowd, he left immediately with Minato.
"Tanaka, Hizashi."
"If you have some free time, you should visit the Uchiha clan. You, and the Hyūga clan, are always welcome."
As soon as Hiruzen left, Fugaku approached Tanaka and Hizashi with an invitation.
As two bloodline clans, the Hyūga and Uchiha had always had little interaction in the past.
But now that the Caged Bird no longer restricted the Hyūga clan and Fugaku had witnessed Tanaka's strength firsthand, even the proud Uchiha clan leader chose to lower himself and extend an olive branch.
But then, Setsuna said something shocking.
"My daughter, Mikoto... while not as outrageously talented as you, Tanaka, she is still a genius of the Uchiha clan."
"She's 17 years old, just about 9 years older than you."
"And she's quite... quite mature! Similar to Lady Tsunade—just a bit bigger," Setsuna leaned in close to Tanaka's ear and whispered in a voice barely audible.
For someone who had never said such things before... especially to an eight-year-old boy, the usually cunning, domineering, and cold-hearted Setsuna seemed uncharacteristically nervous and hesitant in his speech.
Is this some kind of genjutsu?
Tanaka stared blankly at the ever-serious and stern-faced man in front of him, doubting whether he had just been caught in some sort of illusion technique.
Realizing how shocking his own words sounded and how out of character they were, Setsuna, instead of explaining, simply nodded in confirmation in response to Tanaka's questioning gaze.
"....."
Tanaka fell silent.
Although Setsuna didn't say anything more, Tanaka could still hear his voice in his head: Tanaka, do you want Mikoto? If you need a wife, just say the word, and I'll send her over immediately.
Thinking about this, Tanaka subconsciously glanced at someone nearby—not at Setsuna, but at Fugaku.
No wonder.
It all made sense now.
If Setsuna had such old-man tendencies, then it must mean that Fugaku was still single at this moment.