Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment

Today was the hundredth day since Uchiha Yu began absorbing Natural Energy.

He sensed a change. The rate at which he absorbed Natural Energy was accelerating.

It was not something he was doing actively. Centered on the little courtyard, all Fire-Attribute Natural Energy throughout Konoha was stirring restlessly and converging on him of its own accord.

The Fire-Attribute Natural Energy automatically forced out all other attributes, forming a red energy vortex that surged into Uchiha Yu's body and merged seamlessly into his meridians.

Too fast. This is far too fast.

It's a little scary...

But my body doesn't feel uncomfortable. It should be fine... right?

No, it feels too good. I... can't stop...

The Natural Energy throughout Konoha was in turmoil.

If there had been a Senjutsu expert in Konoha, they would have noticed the terrifying vortex of Natural Energy and followed its flow to find Uchiha Yu.

Fortunately, there were no Senjutsu experts in Konoha at the moment. There was not even a ninja capable of vaguely sensing Natural Energy.

Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was a born politician, while Shimura Danzō, the Darkness of Shinobi, was obsessed with conspiracies. Those with filth in their hearts were unqualified to sense Natural Energy.

Among the Sannin, Tsunade had talent. Her grandfather had been the strongest Senjutsu expert, and she had inherited his keen gift for sensing nature. But Tsunade's heart was unsettled, and she had even developed the psychological illness known as hemophobia. It was as though a thick black cloth had been draped over her eyes; she could no longer sense Natural Energy.

Besides, Tsunade had currently left home and was not in Konoha.

The pure-hearted Toad Sage Jiraiya had successfully cultivated the Senjutsu of Mount Myoboku, so he could naturally sense changes in Natural Energy. Yet he was stranded in the Land of Rain and was not in Konoha either.

For the scientist Cold Lord Orochimaru to truly understand Natural Energy, he would have to wait another twenty years until he found Jugo. Only after gaining an intuitive understanding of Natural Energy from that child, who could naturally enter Sage Transformation, and developing the Cursed Seal would he formally come to understand Natural Energy.

Because no one knew, there was the greatest possible safety.

With no one to disturb him, Uchiha Yu gradually entered a state of forgetting both self and surroundings, his spirit wandering the void. The Fire-Attribute Natural Energy in his meridians grew stronger and stronger until it finally forced out the last trace of chakra, driving it back into his body's cells.

Only pure Natural Energy remained in his meridians. The red torrent naturally accelerated, generating a stronger pull that drew in more Natural Energy. The red torrent became denser and denser, gradually showing signs of misting.

The dense, mist-like Natural Energy flowed rapidly through his meridians and, in Uchiha Yu's tranquil, effortless natural state, converged upon the Ren and Du Meridians at the center of his body.

Starting from the Qugu Point near the perineum, it rose along the body's central line, driving the qi and blood upward in a surging rush. After meeting at the head, the qi and blood churned, yin and yang merged in harmony, and their nature changed slightly.

So this is the so-called convergence of dragon and tiger, the opening of yin and yang. It feels... amazing!

After converging, the Natural Energy turned around and continued downward along the Ren and Du Meridians, passing through the Sea of Yin Meridians and the Sea of Yang Meridians before gathering once more at the Qugu Point.

The two currents of Natural Energy collided, stirring wave after wave of ripples. Three inches above the Qugu Point, they formed a resonance, and the outline of a Dantian that did not exist in reality grew increasingly distinct.

This is the Dantian I searched for so desperately but could never find? So the Dantian isn't found—it's opened up by oneself.

The Natural Energy, after clashing and vibrating, turned upward once more and began another cycle.

After twelve such cycles, Uchiha Yu lost all awareness of the outside world as though struck by lightning. For no reason, he felt himself plummeting at extreme speed. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a chaotic space.

Red mist churned and rose throughout the space, like crimson storm clouds pressing down upon a city before a torrential rain. The oppressive atmosphere battered Uchiha Yu, and his light, tranquil state of mind gradually began to waver.

He sensed danger. It seemed that if his state of mind collapsed, he would suffer fatal harm.

At the same time, something was gestating within the red mist. Intuition told Uchiha Yu that whatever was being born was his hope of escaping danger, and he could not help urging it on.

Hurry, hurry! Whatever change is coming, come quickly! Faster!

At the same time, he encouraged himself.

Hold on. I'm not going to die over something this trivial.

He did not know how long he held on. Then, suddenly, thunder erupted within the clouds and mist. The dense red fog condensed into red raindrops that began to fall in a light patter.

Uchiha Yu's mind suddenly relaxed. An unprecedented ecstasy welled up within him, and everything he sensed and understood became clear and transparent. His entire body felt as though it were flying.

It felt unbelievably good!!!

Though Uchiha Yu had never smoked weed in either of his lives, he felt that this was even better than getting high.

If cultivating immortality felt like this, then becoming addicted to cultivation was simply natural.

Just as Uchiha Yu was immersed in cultivation, the red raindrops became more numerous and larger, until a torrential downpour erupted within the space.

The red mist rapidly faded and nearly vanished, only for layers upon layers of red fog to surge in from every direction and immediately transform into pouring rain.

Uchiha Yu watched water begin to collect beneath the space. There was clearly no ground at all, yet the rainwater accumulated out of thin air, forming a small puddle.

As the rain continued, the surface of the water gradually spread. Uchiha Yu's mind became clearer and clearer, and he broke free from the intoxicating pleasure.

Looking at the steadily expanding puddle, his heart was filled with profound peace and joy.

This was what happiness felt like.

When the body of water became large enough to be called a pool, the influx of red mist stopped, and the red rainfall gradually ceased as well.

Uchiha Yu felt himself rising uncontrollably. His perspective grew farther and farther away, and his speed increased until he soon saw the space in its entirety.

It was an egg-shaped world, divided into above and below but without any distinction between heaven and earth. Pale red mist lay above, while a shimmering pool rested below.

Dantian!

His intuition told Uchiha Yu that this was the Dantian, a miracle existing between reality and illusion that could store Natural Energy.

And he, Uchiha Yu, had just condensed gaseous Natural Energy into liquid form, greatly increasing its density and purity. This should be called Foundation Establishment.

It has been exactly one hundred days since I absorbed that first red speck of light. Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment.

What would have happened if I hadn't completed Foundation Establishment today?

Uchiha Yu did not continue dwelling on it. He had already successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, so there was no meaning in thinking about things that could never happen.

As the sensation of rising grew more intense, he suddenly came to his senses and found himself lying on the bamboo couch in the pose of a reclining Buddha.

It was a sleeping posture he had assumed without realizing it. Though it was strange and twisted, the Natural Energy flowing through his meridians like rivers cleared his body, making it feel unimaginably comfortable.

It was like successfully holding a yoga pose: that wonderful sensation beneath the ache in one's muscles and tendons when the body was stretched to its limit.

Now, he felt no pain at all, making it feel even better.

Wherever the Natural Energy flowed through his meridians, it was like land nourished by spring rain, awakening with vigorous life.

Uchiha Yu felt every cell in his body cheering. The abundant Natural Energy became powerful nourishment for his cells, pushing his body to transform endlessly toward greater strength.

It truly was Foundation Establishment.