Chapter 226: Growth, Soul!
At Namikaze Minato's house.
Naruto's cheers rang out early in the morning.
Uzumaki Kushina poked her head out of the kitchen, wielding a ladle. Seeing a barefoot Naruto, her eyebrows shot up and her red hair flared. "Nar... uto!"
Naruto-kun's head shrank back, but then he immediately lifted his chin, full of pride, and said, "Mom! Dad! I've already molded chakra!"
Eh?
Kushina's anger was instantly extinguished. Minato, who had been sitting on the sofa studying Kekkei theory, also stopped immediately and got up to look at his son.
"Naruto, great job!" Minato praised him with a huge smile. He had indeed sensed the chakra inside his son, though it wasn't much.
Receiving praise, Naruto became as proud as a rooster, all but puffing out a tail.
Kushina poked her son on the forehead and smiled, "As expected of my son! Your talent isn't bad!"
Naruto huffed, "Of course! I'm going to be the strongest man in the world when I grow up!"
But Kushina's eyebrows shot up again as she raised the ladle and roared, "Then hurry up and get back in your room and put on your clothes and shoes!"
The house seemed to shake.
Naruto scrambled back to his room.
Minato stood by, chuckling sheepishly. He never interfered when his wife was disciplining their son.
Of course, that didn't mean Minato ignored his son.
After Kushina returned to the kitchen, Minato went to his son's room. Naruto had already put on his clothes and was putting on his shoes. Minato stepped forward and helped straighten his messy clothes.
Naruto pouted and complained, "Dad, you didn't help me just now."
Minato stroked Naruto's hair, smiling warmly. "That's because Mom was right, and Naruto-kun was wrong. It's winter now. Even though it's warm in the house, you could still catch a cold if you run around barefoot. Although molding chakra is something to be happy about, Mom is even more concerned about your health!"
Naruto looked down. "Then I was wrong. I'll go apologize to Mom."
Minato encouraged him, "Good. Naruto-kun, you're already a man who can take responsibility for his actions!"
"Of course!" Naruto's chin shot up. He zipped to the kitchen doorway, watching the busy Kushina. He smelled the food, swallowed, and then said, "Mom, I was wrong just now!"
Kushina turned her head at the sound, her face breaking into a smile. "As long as you know you were wrong. Don't do it again, okay?"
Naruto nodded emphatically. "Mhm! I won't make you worry!"
"But... what are you making that smells so good?"
Kushina smiled. "Milk pancakes!"
"Go wash up! You can eat soon!"
Naruto swallowed again and quickly ran off to wash up.
A happy day begins with breakfast.
Kushina was filled with joy watching her son gobble down his food.
Minato ate slowly and methodically, but his speed wasn't slow at all. He finished even before Naruto.
After drinking his warm milk, Minato smiled. "I'm finished. I have to go to work!"
"Wait... wait!" Naruto quickly swallowed the food in his mouth. "Dad! I've already molded chakra! Can you teach me ninjutsu now?"
His clear eyes were wide with anticipation as he looked at his father.
Minato, however, looked at Kushina.
Kushina reached out and wiped her son's mouth. "Of course, teaching you ninjutsu is no problem."
"As long as Naruto-kun completes three missions from Mom, then Mom will let Dad teach you."
"You know that shinobi have to complete missions, right?"
"I can even ask your Uncle Genichi to teach you!"
Naruto's eyes lit up.
Although his dad was amazing, Uncle Genichi was even more amazing.
Naruto nodded repeatedly. "No problem!"
"Mom, hurry up and tell me! What are the missions?" he asked impatiently.
Kushina pointed to the unfinished breakfast on the table in front of him. "First, finish your breakfast."
"Also, Dad is going to work."
Naruto quickly waved at Minato. "Bye, Dad!"
Minato smiled. "Bye, Naruto-kun. When you complete Mom's missions, Dad will teach you a ninjutsu!"
"Mhm! Mhm!" Naruto was full of fighting spirit. "I'll definitely complete them!"
He buried his head and continued to eat.
Kushina got up to see her husband out. Minato asked, "What kind of missions are you planning to give him? If they're too hard, Naruto-kun probably won't be able to stick with it for long."
He knew his son's personality all too well. Hyperactive, playful, and impatient. Of course, most of it was normal for a kid his age.
A self-disciplined, precocious child like Uchiha Itachi was an extreme rarity.
Kushina smiled. "I've already thought about it. I'll take him to find Karura later. Gaara is a quiet and sensible child. I'll have Naruto-kun train tree-climbing and hand seals with him. With a comparison, he'll be able to persevere longer."
Minato immediately gave her a thumbs-up.
After Minato left, Kushina finished breakfast with her son, and after cleaning up, they headed out.
"Mom, where are we going?" Naruto asked curiously. His eyes had already started to drift toward some other children playing nearby.
Kushina gently tapped her son on the head to get his attention back. "We're going to find Gaara first, and then you'll train together. How about that?"
Gaara?
Naruto's eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly.
The two arrived at Gaara's house and knocked. Karura was surprised to see them when she opened the door. "Kushina!"
"Auntie Karura!" Naruto-kun called out, looking up.
"Hello, Naruto-kun!" Karura bent down and gently stroked his hair, then quickly invited them inside.
"We came to ask if Naruto-kun and Gaara could train together. I hope we're not bothering you," Kushina said in her straightforward way.
Karura quickly replied, "Not at all! Gaara really needs friends."
As she spoke, Kushina offered her the fresh milk pancakes she had made that morning.
Just then, Gaara walked out of his room. He first bowed respectfully to Kushina, and only then did he greet Naruto, who was running towards him. "Good morning, Naruto."
"Good morning! Gaara, I've already molded chakra!" Naruto-kun boasted impatiently.
Gaara looked a little surprised, then said seriously, "Amazing. You couldn't do it yesterday."
Naruto-kun chuckled, then said, "Gaara, let's train together! My mom said if I complete three training missions, she'll teach me ninjutsu. By the way, have you learned any ninjutsu?"
Gaara shook his head. "Not yet. I haven't fully mastered my chakra control, and I still need to practice hand seals."
Kushina smiled. "That's perfect. You can work together."
Karura also nodded. She, too, hoped her son could have friends, so he wouldn't become isolated, especially in a foreign country.
And so, Karura and Gaara went out with Kushina and Naruto-kun, finding a training spot in a forest by a river.
"Naruto-kun, your first mission from Mom is this..." Kushina pointed at a large tree. "Tree climbing!"
Naruto-kun laughed. "Mom, tree climbing is easy! I already know how!"
Kushina wagged a finger. "Not that kind of tree climbing."
"You have to be like Mom... and use chakra."
Kushina then demonstrated, focusing chakra to her feet. She stood perpendicular to the tree trunk and walked straight up it, step by step.
"Awesome!" Naruto-kun's eyes sparkled.
To him, flying was already commonplace, but this was the first time he had seen this kind of tree climbing, so he found it incredibly novel.
Leaping down from the tree, Kushina began to explain the main points of tree climbing to Naruto-kun. In truth, it was all about chakra control.
Kushina knew that although her son was smart, he was still too young to understand too much at once, and his attention span was short.
So she didn't explain it all at once, but broke it down into several steps.
After explaining the first step, she let him try.
Naruto-kun, following his mother's instructions, slammed his foot against the trunk. It stuck. He cheered, "I did it!"
Thud!
The moment he lifted his second foot, he fell flat on his face.
But he immediately scrambled up, shouting defiantly, "Hmph! I can definitely do this!"
Kushina cheered him on from the sidelines.
Karura and Gaara watched Naruto-kun's practice for a while before starting their own.
Gaara's progress was far ahead of Naruto-kun's. He could already walk steadily up the tree.
Naruto-kun watched with envy and swore to himself that he would learn it too. If he couldn't, he wouldn't be able to play with Gaara in the future.
With that, his desire to go play or take a break vanished.
Kushina was secretly overjoyed. "It's working!"
She started cheering even louder. Every time Naruto-kun got a certain distance up the tree and fell, she would be there to catch him, offering comfort and encouragement.
She was maxing out his "emotional value."
This atmosphere also affected Karura and Gaara, who were training nearby. Practice suddenly didn't seem so boring.
And without a doubt, Naruto-kun was not stupid.
In the original timeline, the only reason he was the "dead-last" was because he goofed off in the Academy, desperate for attention, with no one to properly guide him.
How could the person who developed the Wind Style: Rasenshuriken from the Rasengan possibly have no talent?
Now, with Kushina's patient teaching, his progress was rapid. In a single morning, he had already caught up to Gaara.
Of course, the basics were always easy to catch up on at the beginning.
The true test of talent would come later: in nature transformation, jutsu application, jutsu development, and Kekkei Genkai development.
...
Underground Research Base.
Kabuto, full of excitement, asked, "Genichi-sama, why do you believe the Rinnegan and the Mangekyo Sharingan are unrelated? It seems there's no evidence to prove that point."
Since coming here, Kabuto had discovered a new world.
Moreover, much of the technology here was in the same vein as Orochimaru's.
Kabuto wasn't surprised by this. He knew that Genichi and Orochimaru had cooperated in the past, and many of the research paths had been established by the two of them.
But much of the research here was also different—very different—from Orochimaru's.
It was so... clean.
What shocked him the most was the astounding volume of research data on various Kekkei Genkai and secret jutsu.
The Hydrification Technique, Ice Release, Dark Release, Magnet Release... and more.
So, ever since arriving in Konoha and deciding to follow Genichi, he had not left the research base, working almost to the point of forgetting to eat or sleep.
In response to Kabuto's question, Genichi said, "This conclusion is based purely on the essence of chakra and Kekkei Genkai."
"Well, just looking at their nature transformations, the Rinnegan and Sharingan are not the same."
"Different chakra nature transformations can be said to be different Kekkei Genkai."
Kabuto said, "But from a dōjutsu perspective, doesn't every Mangekyo seem to be different?"
Genichi smiled and asked, "Kabuto, do you know what is so special about the Sharingan and the Rinnegan?"
Kabuto pondered for a moment. "Is it the Yin and Yang nature transformations?"
Genichi nodded slightly. "Chakra is refined from a combination of physical energy and spiritual energy. One is Yang Release, one is Yin Release. This is the essence of chakra."
"You can understand it as Yin and Yang being the foundation of all jutsu."
"This is why the dōjutsu of the Mangekyo Sharingan are so diverse. They can be Fire Style, space-time, genjutsu, and so on."
"Yin and Yang... can create anything."
"The Rinnegan is also a Kekkei Genkai based on Yin and Yang. But compared to the Sharingan's bias towards Yin Release, the Rinnegan requires equally powerful Yin and Yang."
Kabuto had a sudden realization. "I see."
"So, according to what you're saying, Genichi-sama, Uchiha Madara and the First Hokage just happened to possess powerful Yin and Yang respectively. When they combined, the new Kekkei Genkai, the Rinnegan, was born by chance."
Genichi said, "We can say that for now."
Kabuto followed behind Genichi, looking at the tall back in front of him, and thought to himself, Unlike Orochimaru-sama, Genichi-sama is more focused on the research of chakra itself, rather than the human body or various jutsu...
Of course, that wasn't to say Orochimaru didn't research the essence of chakra. In-depth research on jutsu would naturally lead one to the essence of chakra.
It was just that, Kabuto felt, Genichi's goal was more direct, more defined.
His research on any jutsu, Kekkei Genkai, or secret technique, always began from the essence of chakra.
Arriving at the data room, Kabuto quickly retrieved the files he had organized and placed them on the table.
Genichi sat down and gave them a quick scan.
These materials, organized by Kabuto, were about the Living Corpse Reincarnation and the Curse Mark.
Although they were incomplete—Orochimaru's base didn't have the complete jutsu scrolls—they were compiled from Kabuto's own participation in Orochimaru's research.
They weren't comprehensive, and might not even be entirely accurate.
But Kabuto's talent was beyond doubt. And although he was only 15, he had already been with Orochimaru for six or seven years.
He had personally participated in the research on Living Corpse Reincarnation, the Curse Mark, and Edo Tensei.
Therefore, Genichi had a high degree of trust in Kabuto's knowledge.
Of course, he didn't plan to use Living Corpse Reincarnation. He just needed the chakra secrets hidden within the jutsu.
The same went for the Curse Mark.
To Genichi, all of these were nutrients for his own growth.
Orochimaru's Curse Mark, in particular, was an excellent reference for him, especially since Genichi was currently developing a Sage Art Curse Mark for Tsunade and the others.
Of course, he wouldn't develop Orochimaru's kind of Curse Mark.
It was too crude!
It was just a matter of implanting the mark and seeing if the host survived. It was just a way to screen for bodies compatible with Sage Art and Sage Transformation.
The technical skill involved, in terms of Sage Art, was rather low.
Of course, for Orochimaru, the Curse Mark also served as a resurrection point and a "vessel," similar to the Ōtsutsuki Clan's 'Wedge' (Karma).
What Genichi wanted was a Curse Mark that could help Tsunade and the others sense and absorb natural energy, allowing them to gradually achieve Sage Transformation.
After skimming the materials, Genichi already had a rough framework in his mind. The data was indeed useful to him.
"Kabuto, it seems you learned a great deal from Orochimaru-senpai," Genichi praised.
Kabuto quickly replied, "I've only learned a little. I'm just happy it can be of use to you, Genichi-sama."
"Genichi-sama, are you also planning to develop a Sage Art Curse Mark?"
Genichi nodded. "Something like that. But different from Orochimaru-senpai's. His Curse Mark's application of Sage Art is too simple."
"Oh, by the way..." Genichi looked up at Kabuto. "You should have a decent talent for Sage Art. If you wish to train, you can ask my clone for guidance."
Kabuto was overjoyed. "Thank you, Genichi-sama!"
Genichi waved his hand. "The stronger your abilities, the more beneficial it is for me."
"Mhm, one more suggestion. Try to learn more Kekkei Genkai. It will be of great benefit to your future."
"There are many Kekkei Genkai files in the data room. You can browse them freely."
"If you become a Jōnin, you can also apply to the village for Kekkei Genkai scrolls."
Kabuto nodded quickly. "Yes, Genichi-sama! I will work hard!"
His loyalty. It instantly skyrocketed.
"You can get back to your work."
After Kabuto left, Genichi turned his attention to the other scroll, the one on Living Corpse Reincarnation.
The most detailed parts of this scroll were about human body modification, cell grafting, and gene fusion.
The core parts—about the conversion of physical energy and the transference itself—were very sparse and incomplete.
However, there was a section within it about... the soul and consciousness.
"Auntie Snake (Orochimaru) really is the number one expert in this field," Genichi mused, his expression turning solemn as he read the section about the soul.
"Yin Release creates form... Spiritual consciousness determines the physical form... Genes are inscribed at the very core of the cells, but they originate from the soul..."
"The soul... is a composite of will, cognition, memory, emotion, and the vessel that carries the body... Every soul has genes identical to its body... It is the source of life."
Genichi's brow gradually furrowed.
(End of Chapter)
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