Faith in Oneself

"From now on, it was time to start setting the board." Back home, Naruto opened a book and read it carefully, but his thoughts had already drifted far away.

Everything that had happened today had been carefully planned by him.

He was confident that Konoha's upper ranks, led by the Third, would not develop thoughts that violated ethics and morality simply because he had revealed his Kekkei Genkai.

Over the past few years, Naruto had painstakingly built the image of someone who embodied the Will of Fire. He studied diligently every day and tried to help the villagers daily.

Though he was often met with cold stares, the Third had seen his perseverance.

People were not made of grass or wood; how could they be without feelings?

No matter how cold-hearted those in power were, their judgment would still be influenced by their emotions.

That was why formalism was so important.

Naruto had once read about a concept from the knowledge of his former world.

Fairness and justice.

Yet formalism was everywhere.

So-called formalism meant presenting the image others wanted to see, moving everyone else and moving oneself in the process.

In plain terms, it was putting on a show.

That was exactly what Naruto was doing now.

He would use his Will of Fire to move the Third, perhaps even himself.

No matter how deeply the villagers misunderstood him, he would remain filled with love for Konoha, longing to burn himself away and devote himself to it.

A spark could start a prairie fire. In the end, he would become that spark.

He would let the Will of Fire ignite Konoha.

The facts proved that the formalism had worked.

In the Third's eyes, Naruto had already been successfully "brainwashed."

At that point, displaying a certain amount of talent would only earn him more points.

Naruto chose to reveal his Kyoka Suigetsu.

First, in the eyes of others, Kyoka Suigetsu was merely an illusion-type Kekkei Genkai. It disrupted vision through the refraction of water and light, and could not even truly be called Genjutsu; at most, it created an illusion.

Though this Kekkei Genkai did not sound particularly impressive, it was immensely useful in actual combat. The Third would certainly place great expectations on it, hoping to see Naruto fully develop Kyoka Suigetsu. By then, Naruto would become Konoha's sharpest blade.

Second, anyone who had witnessed Kyoka Suigetsu's Shikai would fall under permanent hypnosis. With Naruto's Reiatsu and his own Chakra control, hypnotizing students who were not even genin would be effortless.

Perhaps it had been arranged by the Third, but this class contained many geniuses from great clans.

Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, Sasuke Uchiha, Hinata Hyuga—each of them could grow into Jonin in the future, perhaps even surpass Jonin.

Having them fall into Kyoka Suigetsu's trap from now on was an absolutely foolproof decision.

This was the scheme Naruto had been planning for a long time.

Naruto put down his book, washed up quickly, and fell asleep.

"Drip." The familiar sound of dripping water rang out. Naruto awoke to a vast blue sky.

The cold wind was bleak and piercing, and every breath he exhaled seemed as though it would freeze instantly.

Fine snow drifted through the sky, adding a touch of white to the cliffside.

Naruto rose to his feet. The howling gale made his white robe flutter violently, while beneath his feet lay a cliff above a bottomless abyss. One careless step would send him plunging into its depths.

The profound darkness below inspired fear from the depths of one's heart.

This was the Sealing Space where Aizen resided.

"It had been a long time since I came here." Naruto murmured as he looked toward the highest point of the cliff. Sure enough, a figure sat silently at the summit, unmoving no matter how fierce the wind became.

"Mr. Aizen." Naruto walked over to Aizen and greeted him respectfully.

Aizen opened his eyes and watched the snow fall upon the cliff before him and melt away. He could not help but sigh. "To see such beautiful snow in a place this steep is not bad at all."

He raised his head and gave Naruto a calm glance, his tone gentle. "Naruto, it has been a long time."

"Yes, it has been a long time, Mr. Aizen. I have now mastered Kyoka Suigetsu's Shikai and beginner-level Kido."

"Is that so? Time truly passes quickly." Aizen's gaze grew distant, as if he were thinking of something.

Naruto's talent was astonishing. In just a few short years, he had accomplished training that other Soul Reapers might struggle to complete even in a century.

Perhaps this was the limitless potential of humanity.

Through his research into Soul Reapers and Hollows, Aizen had discovered that humans, regarded as prey by Hollows and as weaklings by Soul Reapers, actually possessed potential that could not be ignored.

Whether it was Naruto from the ninja world or Ichigo Kurosaki from the Bleach world, both were extraordinarily special.

At that thought, Aizen glanced at Naruto.

The latter's clothing and smile were so similar to his own that it was as though they had been cast from the same mold.

In the past, Aizen would not have said anything. But now, he was completely filled with anticipation for Naruto's future, and naturally, his expectations had changed as well.

"Naruto, have you ever considered what your goal is?" he asked.

"A goal? Of course, it is to possess power beyond all things, transcend this world, and stand in the heavens," Naruto said as though it were only natural.

"Stand in the heavens?" Aizen fell into thought. After a long while, he suddenly asked, "Have you ever considered whether that is your goal, or mine?"

Naruto froze in place, astonishment appearing on his face.

He recalled Aizen's teachings over the years.

From them, he had come to understand Aizen's goals and vision, and he had come to admire them.

He wanted to become someone like Aizen, so Naruto had begun deliberately imitating him.

At first, it had been somewhat awkward. Gradually, he became more practiced, and sometimes he even saw himself as Aizen.

"Right now, all I see in you is my shadow." Aizen's gentle voice sounded beside his ear. "Naruto, your talent is exceptional. You should have convictions of your own. Only then will you be qualified to become my opponent."

After leaving the Sealing Space, Naruto found it difficult to sleep.

He got up and looked through the window at the star-filled night sky.

Konoha beneath the night sky was so quiet, yet there were many ninja Chakra signatures around his small home.

At times, they lurked among the dense leaves of the trees; at other times, they hid beside the house.

But no matter what positions they took, none of them slept. They continued their diligent "watch."

Only late at night would other ninja come to relieve them.

Their mission was less surveillance than protection.

As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto was Konoha's most important military asset and had to be protected carefully.

This was what ninja were.

Naruto drew the curtains.

A sudden feeling of disgust rose within him.

Along with it came confusion.

What was my path?

Become a ninja?

Stealth and assassination were everyday matters for ninja.

But honestly, he had little interest in becoming a ninja.

He only wanted his future self to no longer be bound by Konoha, to be free to do whatever he wanted, to broaden his horizons, and to see through to the essence of things.

The world is vast. I want to see it.

At that thought, everything suddenly became clear to him.

This was his goal.

This time, he was no longer deliberately imitating Aizen.

He sincerely wanted to surpass all things, gain power beyond the ninja world, take control of his own fate, and stand in the heavens.

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The recommendation rankings kept rising, and the story had advanced.

P.S. This chapter was a simple transition. Naruto would become more mature afterward and enter the planning stage.