The moment he clicked on the beginner's gift box, a golden light flashed before his eyes, and another system notification popped up.
[The path of immortality is vast and obscure; the path of mortals is boundless and fleeting. Cultivation is like sailing against the current—advance or regress. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step...]
Here it comes!
This was the real deal!
The road to cultivation was about to begin!
When he saw the first line of the prompt, Kaito clenched his fists, his excitement beyond words.
[Obtained cultivation manual: "The First Set of Daoist Elementary School Foundation Establishment Manual"]
The moment he saw the manual, Kaito's eye twitched violently, and the dark clouds looming over his heart grew even thicker.
This...
Why did it suddenly feel so off???
The name of the manual left him stunned for a full ten minutes. Though the title was bizarre, the content itself was surprisingly serious.
The system's gifted manual could be learned with a single click, reminiscent of playing a game in his past life.
The moment he clicked the icon to learn it, Kaito's mind was flooded with the key points of the manual, memorizing the meridian pathways within his body.
From the knowledge imparted, he learned that breaking through to Foundation Establishment with this manual would grant him an additional 300 years of lifespan, while his physique, strength, and other attributes would receive a massive boost.
Comparing it to fragments of his memories...
Breaking through to Foundation Establishment would be roughly equivalent to Naruto entering Sage Mode, while reaching the peak of Foundation Establishment would be no different from Naruto in Sage Mode combined with his Tailed Beast state.
The great path...
was now beneath his feet!
The system being serious for once made Kaito heave a long sigh of relief.
But it lasted only for a moment before the system's notification chimed again.
[Ding—]
[Newbie Mission Triggered: The Way of Foot Massage is Also a Path, Techniques Are Also Methods, the Dao Follows Nature.]
[Mission: Congratulations, Host, on embarking on the path of cultivation, taking a crucial step toward the Great Dao of Longevity. Now, begin improving your cultivation!]
[Reward: Cultivation advancement to the Foundation Establishment Stage.]
[Mission Progress: 0/]
A few days ago, Kaito had just paid respects to his ancestors.
The moment he saw the system trigger the mission, an inexplicable sense of heavy guilt welled up in his heart.
"The Way of Foot Massage is also a Path… Techniques are also Methods…"
Wasn't this blatantly telling him to go for a foot massage??
Uchiha Kaito, who had just barely stepped onto the path of immortality, suddenly felt he had let his ancestors down.
Putting himself in their shoes—imagine a descendant swearing before the ancestors, vowing to achieve great things…
Only for that unfilial descendant to immediately turn around and go for a foot massage.
No way…
Just the thought made Kaito's blood pressure spike. If the ancestors really knew from beyond the grave, they'd probably crawl out of their coffins and hang him from a tree for three days and nights.
But…
The Great Dao truly lay beneath his feet…
Even if guilt gnawed at him, Kaito knew he had to grit his teeth and complete the mission.
He pulled out the map he carried with him, spread it on the ground, and scanned it—his gaze lingering on the Land of Hot Springs…
Sorry, ancestors.
For the sake of cultivation, I must go get my feet washed…
*****
Konoha Village—
Sasuke sat before Kaito's gravestone, his head resting against the memorial photo, his expression blank and helpless.
He had been sitting there for three days.
His tears had long dried up, and he stayed there—partly because he dreaded returning to a home where Kaito was no longer there.
And partly because…
He feared Kaito, newly departed, would be lonely in the Pure Land.
But Sasuke still couldn't believe that his brother—stronger than him—had died under a power pole while practicing Lightning Release.
But…
That guy had been so talented, mastering Ninjutsu in an instant, even possessing the healing summoning beast, Shinobi Flower…
Sasuke couldn't understand it. He couldn't fathom why Kaito had died so easily.
"Uchiha Kaito… you damn jerk."
He muttered under his breath, his hollow eyes flashing with memories, his heart sinking deeper into sorrow.
It seemed…
He, too, had realized that guy would never appear in this world again.
Rustle… rustle…
Footsteps approached. Naruto and Ino came from opposite directions. Sasuke didn't look up, keeping his head pressed against the gravestone.
Grief was practically overflowing from him.
Naruto stood before the gravestone for a long time. Seeing Sasuke like this, he hesitated before finally speaking.
"Sa… Sasuke."
"Are you okay?"
But Sasuke didn't respond, as if he hadn't heard.
Naruto felt awkward, but he still bowed deeply to the gravestone.
Only when he lowered his head did tears uncontrollably spill out.
At that moment, Naruto suddenly understood the taste of farewell.
Remembering the things Kaito had given him, he had always kept them in mind, hoping for a chance to repay him someday.
Who would've thought that chance…
Would never come.
If Kaito were "aware from beyond the grave," he'd probably be secretly relieved that the fox's debt of gratitude was finally gone.
Ino held a sunflower in her hands, gently placing it before the gravestone. Tears silently rolled down her cheeks—she couldn't believe that Kaito, who had been perfectly fine just days ago…
Had died so inexplicably.The two stood by the side for nearly half an hour before finally leaving the tombstone.
At one point, Shikamaru had also come by. With a toothpick in his mouth, he stood silently before the grave for a long time, holding a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, not uttering a single word.
On his way out, he muttered words like "Uchiha Madara" and "idiot."
By the time Sasuke returned, it was already past five in the afternoon. However, on his way back, he took out all the pocket money he had secretly saved away from Kaito and bought a bunch of sunflowers from a flower shop.
Then, he began replanting the sunflowers in the yard.
Fugaku and Mikoto stood watching their child's actions and suddenly fell into silence.
"Have we... gone too far?"
As a mother, seeing Sasuke like this filled Mikoto's heart with both guilt and heartache, to the point where she now barely dared to speak more than a few words to him.
She couldn't help but feel she wasn't a good mother.
Fugaku's feelings were similar to his wife's. Gazing at his youngest son's back, he pondered for a moment before saying.
"Let's put away Kaito's things."
"So this child won't be hurt seeing them..." At this point, Fugaku suddenly looked up at the sky. "Perhaps it's good for Sasuke to experience this early."
Fugaku thought that although they had deceived Sasuke this time, if the Uchiha clan's coup were to fail in the future...
Perhaps he would be able to accept it better.
At least he wouldn't completely break down.
Hearing the hidden meaning in her husband's words, Mikoto sighed deeply and turned to pack up Kaito's belongings.
Half an hour later.
As the couple finished gathering the items, Sasuke, who had been planting sunflowers, exploded at the sight of them.
"No!!"
Sasuke's face twisted with anger, his eyes filled with incomprehension as he glared at his parents. "Why... Why can you so easily forget about Kaito?!"
These past few days, the way his family had calmly accepted Kaito's absence had been the hardest thing for Sasuke to bear.
There was one less set of bowls and chopsticks at home, and only his own bedding remained in their shared room.
At night, he still couldn't help but talk to Kaito.
Everything, everything, made it seem as though Kaito had never left.
Yet his father, his mother, even his brother—none of them showed any sign of missing Kaito!
By now, Sasuke was choking back sobs. He snatched the clothes from his mother's hands and clutched them to his chest.
Then he ran to his father, spreading his arms to block their heartless actions.
"Let go!!"
"You don't care about Kaito at all!!"
Fugaku: "..."
Mikoto: "..."
For a moment, neither knew what to say.
In the end, they could only sigh and let Sasuke have his way.
Sasuke lay among Kaito's belongings, staring blankly at the moon. After who knows how long, he whispered softly,
"Brother... you must be so lonely now..."
...
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okay my bros since we reach 200 PS i release another mass chapter.
next mass release is 1000 PS, be sure to give it to me!!!
on another note i release a new fanfic be sure to check it out!