"Ugh..."
Naruto opened his eyes slowly, his blurry vision still adjusting. The blue sky of the training grounds loomed above him, and Hinata's serene face was nearby, watching him anxiously.
"Naruto-kun... are you okay?" Her voice was low, almost trembling.
He blinked a few times and then turned his head, seeing Neji sitting right next to him, eyes closed as if nothing had happened.
"Neji... what happened? The only thing I remember is a burning sensation in my stomach and then... a pain in my neck."
Li Shang sighed, slowly opening his eyes.
"It was my fault. You're still too weak, I'm sorry."
Inside, his thoughts were churning.
'I didn't imagine that the demonic beast's energy would have such a corrosive effect on the host's mind. I thought this seal filtered out all negative effects... I need to study this carefully.'
Naruto's eyes widened, and since he didn't understand the true meaning, his interpretation was immediate.
"I AM NOT WEAK!"
He suddenly stood up, his finger pointed at Neji's face, ready to start a fight.
"Calm down. I didn't mean to belittle you." Li Shang's voice was calm, unwavering. He slapped his hand on the ground, indicating for Naruto to sit down.
The blond hesitated, but after a few seconds he snorted and threw himself back to the ground.
"When I said that, I meant that your mind is weak. It is not yet prepared to resist the corruption of that energy."
"Ah...!" Naruto stood still for a moment, before relaxing his shoulders. A slightly awkward smile appeared on his face. "So that was it..."
He took a deep breath, relieved. Few people in the village showed genuine concern for him. Since the old Neji had been arrogant and always looked down on him, for a moment he thought the words were just another humiliation. But now, for the first time, it felt different.
Hinata, on the other hand, watched the two without understanding anything.
'What are they saying...? Nothing happened. Naruto just closed his eyes and a few breaths later he passed out.'
For her, time had passed in seconds. The reality was that outside the sea of knowledge, perception was completely different.
Li Shang leaned forward and touched his finger to Naruto's forehead again.
"Relax, Naruto."
The blond's eyes widened in panic.
"Wait, not again—!"
Before he could finish his sentence, his body was overcome by a wave of energy. The ground disappeared beneath his feet, and when he opened his eyes again, he was no longer on the training ground.
A vast gray horizon stretched as far as the eye could see. The floor was cracked stone, and thick chains stretched across the ground, attached to nothing, as if imprisoning space itself. The air was heavy, silent, oppressive.
"W-what is this place?!" Naruto jumped back, his eyes darting around the desolate scene.
A voice sounded behind him, calm as ever.
"This is my mental space."
"AHHHH! DAMN, CAN YOU STOP SHOWING UP OUT OF NOWHERE!!!"
Naruto almost fell to his seat in fright when Neji appeared beside him.
"Hey, Neji... what's this weird place? It doesn't look like me at all." Naruto scratched his head, his eyes wide.
Li Shang closed his eyes for a moment and replied calmly.
"This is my mental space. A reflection of the soul, where I have brought you for a brief moment. Here we need not worry about interruptions or prying ears."
Naruto blinked several times, trying to process.
"Are you saying... that you brought my mind into your mental world? Is that like... a secret jutsu?"
A small smile curved Li Shang's lips.
"Something like that. Just think of it as a safe space. Here we can talk and train without risk."
"So... what did you want to show me here? Isn't it dangerous to mess with that thing?"
Li Shang took a deep breath, maintaining a calm expression.
"Naruto, there is a method that can help you better manage this energy. Nothing miraculous, but a start. A soul-strengthening technique."
The blond frowned, confused.
"Soul... technique? Does that even exist?"
Li Shang nodded slowly, lowering his voice as if he was revealing something forbidden.
"Yes. It's a secret of the Hyuuga clan. Something almost no one outside the bloodline knows. We use it to strengthen our minds and increase our resistance to genjutsu and external pressures. I shouldn't be showing this to you, but... I believe it will help you."
Naruto's eyes widened, surprised and excited.
"Seriously?! So you're going to teach me?!"
"Yes, but on one condition." Li Shang's pale eyes narrowed, conveying false gravity. "No one must know that I taught you this. If this information leaks out, I will be severely punished by my clan. Do you promise to keep it a secret?"
Naruto puffed out his chest firmly.
"I promise! I won't tell anyone!"
Li Shang touched the boy's forehead with his fingertip. A faint wave of red energy coursed through the mental space, slowly seeping into Naruto's mind.
"Close your eyes. Breathe deeply. Imagine your mind as a turbulent lake. Now, smooth the waters, gradually calming everything. This is the basis of the technique."
Naruto obeyed, breathing raggedly at first, but soon his expression softened. A faint glow ran across his body, a sign that the technique had been implemented.
'Perfect.' Li Shang chuckled in thought, watching the boy tremble with exertion. 'This technique is nothing more than the most basic exercise in soul cultivation. Something even novice alchemists practiced without supervision. In my world, it was considered trash. But here... to this boy... it's like a miracle.'
Naruto opened his eyes, panting, but with a wide smile on his face.
"I felt it! My head felt... lighter, like I could breathe better inside. Neji, this is amazing!"
Li Shang showed a faint smile.
"With practice, you'll get used to it. But there's one more point, Naruto."
"One more?" The blond tilted his head.
"The only thing I ask in return is that you allow me to absorb a small fraction of the fox's energy." Li Shang spoke calmly, but his gaze held a cold seriousness. "This will help you. I will circulate this energy along with yours, purifying some of the flow. At the same time, it will reinforce the technique's effect. You will become stronger in no time."
Naruto widened his eyes, hesitant.
"You want to... absorb energy from the fox? But isn't that dangerous?"
Li Shang kept his tone calm.
"If it were dangerous, I wouldn't have shown it to you. Trust me. I only need tiny fragments, nothing that will weaken you. In fact, it will strengthen you. That's the condition."
Naruto clenched his fists, struggling with the decision for a few seconds. Then, finally, he nodded firmly.
"If it will make me stronger... then do it! I won't back down!"
Li Shang pressed his finger against Naruto's abdomen again. The seal reacted, trembling slightly, and an orange current escaped from the edges. He activated the Celestial Devouring Technique, absorbing small fragments of the fox's energy. Naruto's body shuddered, but resisted, sustained by the newly implanted technique.
"Argh... this... hurts, but I can do it!" Naruto gritted his teeth, but kept his eyes fixed on Neji.
A few seconds later, Li Shang withdrew his hand, and the flow ceased. The seal returned to normal. Naruto sat down, exhausted, but a gleam of victory filled his eyes.
"I held on...for real! This is going to work, isn't it?!"
"Yes." Li Shang helped him up, his calm voice hiding his inner delight. "Keep practicing the technique. The firmer your soul, the easier it will be for you to control this energy. But remember, no one can know. It's our secret."
Naruto smiled confidently.
"Don't worry! I won't say anything!"
Hours later, Li Shang walked the streets of Konoha, now without his two companions. The reddish sunset sky tinted the rooftops, and his expression returned to its cold and calculating self.
'This child actually believes I taught him a Hyuga clan technique. Naive. If he continues at this rate, in a few years I'll return to my previous cultivation…'
He stopped before the imposing Hokage tower, staring at the ninja library within.
'I need to learn more about Fuuinjutsu. That fox's seal is more complex than any restraint I've seen in my past life.'
With that thought, Li Shang pushed open the doors, diving into the dark corridors of the library.
"Time to study."
[Author's Note:This story was originally written in Portuguese, so there may be some translation errors. If you notice any, please let me know so I can fix them. Thank you for reading!]