"Very good. You'll have to keep working hard from here on. As my first disciple, I wouldn't want you slacking off in your studies."
Hagoromo turned to Naruto, whose face was filled with delight.
Hearing this, Naruto quickly nodded. "Don't worry, teacher, I'll work even harder!"
Keep it up, my first disciple! If you don't succeed, how am I supposed to get stronger as your teacher?
"How's your Chakra refinement coming along?"
Seeing that it was still early, Hagoromo asked Naruto about his studies.
Naruto scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.
"Actually, I barely slept last night. I kept trying to refine it, but I was always interrupted halfway through."
"Interrupted?"
Hagoromo was a little puzzled.
As the Nine-Tails, Naruto might not have lived in the best surroundings, but they were definitely the most secluded.
By rights, no outside force should have interrupted him.
Fortunately, everyone in the Shinobi World was part of the Chakra seed. If this had been a martial arts world where people cultivated internal energy instead,
an interruption would definitely have destroyed his prospects and left him an ordinary person.
"Yeah. Whenever I got to a crucial point, there was always a voice nearby distracting me."
Naruto nodded, looking deeply troubled.
At first, he had thought someone was near his home and had spent quite a while searching.
Hagoromo froze for a moment, his eyes moving to Naruto's abdomen, hidden beneath his clothes.
The Nine-Tails?
As the thought occurred to him, Hagoromo hurriedly recalled the original story. There didn't seem to have been any such event.
No wonder he hadn't received any feedback about Naruto's Chakra refinement after taking him as a disciple.
[First student, Naruto Uzumaki, detected. Unable to train due to an external issue.]
[Temporary Sage Art Sealing—Gate of the Great God acquired.]
Upon receiving the message, Hagoromo immediately understood what the secret technique was for and couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
It could only be used once, and only to help Naruto.
Without hesitating any longer, Hagoromo held the index and middle fingers of his right hand together and tapped them lightly against Naruto's forehead.
A ripple spread outward in every direction, imperceptible to ordinary people.
"Naruto, when you get home tonight, just keep refining your Chakra the way I taught you."
"Maybe that voice won't bother you tonight."
Naruto was a little confused. He didn't know why his teacher was so certain it wouldn't happen tonight.
Still, he nodded with a serious expression.
Hagoromo couldn't help feeling grateful. Without the system's help, he might have had a headache over this for some time.
After all, the most direct ways to enter the seal were the Mangekyō Sharingan or an extremely high level of Sealing Jutsu.
Neither was something he could currently get his hands on.
He had to admit, having a cheat was really convenient sometimes.
The two chatted on the rooftop as they cleaned up the mess Naruto's training had made.
Only when class was about to start did Hagoromo tell Naruto to head back first.
It was only then that Hagoromo had a chance to take in the memories that had appeared in his mind.
Wind Nature Transformation and Yang Release Chakra.
The former felt so real that it was as if Hagoromo had trained in nature transformation for a long time, while the latter made him feel that his entire body was brimming with Chakra.
The Yang Release Chakra had also indirectly strengthened his stamina and endurance.
His body's recovery and defensive abilities had greatly improved as well.
At that thought, Hagoromo took out a Kunai and lightly drew it across the back of his hand.
The next second, the scratch had already healed, before so much as a trace of blood could emerge.
As expected of Yang Release Chakra. It's already this powerful at just the Mastery level.
The First Hokage, who could use a Wood Release Gundam, had definitely surpassed the concept of the Transcendent with his Yang Release Chakra.
After all, ordinary Earth Release and Water Release couldn't produce a Wood Release Kekkei Genkai capable of destroying heaven and earth.
Only Wood Release bolstered by Yang Release Chakra could be considered true Wood Release.
Otherwise, it was nothing more than a technique for building houses with earth and wood, like Yamato's.
With that thought, Hagoromo opened his panel to check the changes.
[Name: Sawada Hagoromo] Age: 17 Spirit: 40 Physique: 35 (75% boost from Yang Release Chakra) Strength: 35 (75% boost from Yang Release Chakra) Speed: 20 Chakra: 6000 (75% boost from Yang Release Chakra) Hand Seals: 23 Ninjutsu: Three Basic Techniques, Great Fireball Technique, Phoenix Flower Jutsu, Wind Release: Wind Cutter (C-rank), Wind Release: Great Breakthrough (C-rank) Taijutsu: Konoha Whirlwind Genjutsu: Fox in the Heart Technique Chakra nature: Wind-Nature Chakra Nature Transformation (Transcendent)
Hiss—!
None of the sensations had hit Hagoromo as hard as seeing the actual numbers on the panel.
His physique had only been 20 before, but with the boost from Yang Release Chakra, it had jumped straight to 35.
His strength and Chakra had benefited too, achieving a major breakthrough.
And this boost wasn't temporary. As he continued to grow, it would keep stacking on top.
All this from Yang Release Chakra at the Mastery level.
It seemed he had underestimated what abilities at the Mastery level could do.
Hagoromo muttered to himself.
As for spirit and speed, Hagoromo figured only Yin Release Chakra could boost those.
Then again, the Uchiha Clan was where Yin Release showed its strength.
Every time they awakened their eyes, their spirit attribute was bound to rise.
Uh... spirit, not nerves...
He recalled that every Uchiha who awakened the Mangekyo seemed excessively obsessive and a little mentally ill.
Could it be that, aside from being born with them, if someone tries to boost either Yin or Yang Release by awakening their eyes like the Uchiha,
they won't be able to handle it?
Hagoromo shook his head and stopped dwelling on it.
The increase in strength made him very happy.
After all, a blacksmith needed to be strong himself.
If he had received this boost yesterday, perhaps he wouldn't have needed to deal with Danzo's problem in that manner.
"Still, it wasn't without its benefits."
The Third himself had been uneasy, but after Hagoromo's conversation with Naruto just now, combined with yesterday's talk,
Danzo would probably draw the Third Hokage's attention for the time being.
He needed to hurry and take on some disciples. After all, aside from the nine little elites currently in his class among the younger generation,
through to Konohamaru Sarutobi's generation, there were hardly any outstanding students apart from Konohamaru himself.
It seemed he could only focus on the present if he wanted to get stronger.
As long as he took enough disciples, he hardly needed to worry about increasing his strength.
Then he wouldn't have to be so hesitant because of Danzo alone. At the very least, his ability to protect himself would also improve greatly.
Having set his goal, Hagoromo picked up the box he had already packed, shut the rooftop door, and headed toward the teachers' office.