Self-Belief

"Let's start setting up the plan from now on." Back home, Naruto opened a book and read it carefully, but his thoughts had already drifted.

Everything today was the result of his careful consideration.

He was confident that the Konoha leadership, headed by the Third, would not harbor any unethical or immoral thoughts because of the 'Kekkei Genkai' he had revealed.

For the past few years, Naruto had meticulously crafted his persona around the Will of Fire, studying diligently every day and trying to help the villagers.

Although he often received cold shoulders, his perseverance was noticed by the Third.

People are not plants, how can they be without feelings?

No matter how cold-hearted these powerful figures were, their judgment would be influenced by their own emotions.

This was precisely why formalism was so important.

Naruto had once seen a system from his previous life.

Fair and just.

But it was filled with formalism everywhere.

So-called formalism is about presenting oneself in a way that others want to see, thereby moving everyone and oneself.

In other words, it's putting on a show.

This is exactly what Naruto was doing now.

Using his Will of Fire to move the Third, and even to move himself.

No matter how deep the villagers' misunderstandings were, he remained full of love for Konoha, eager to ignite himself and dedicate himself.

A single spark can start a prairie fire, and he would eventually become that spark.

To ignite Konoha with the Will of Fire.

The facts proved that formalism had already succeeded.

In the eyes of the Third, he had been successfully 'brainwashed'.

At this point, displaying a certain talent was actually a bonus.

Naruto chose to reveal his Kyōka Suigetsu.

Firstly, in the eyes of others, Kyōka Suigetsu could only be considered a Genjutsu-based Kekkei Genkai, which distorted vision through the refraction of water and light. It couldn't even be called Genjutsu, at most a misconception.

Although this Kekkei Genkai did not sound high-end, its application in actual combat was very strong. The Third would surely look forward to it, hoping to see him fully develop Kyōka Suigetsu, at which point he would become Konoha's sharpest blade.

Secondly, those who had seen the Shikai of Kyōka Suigetsu would enter a permanent hypnotic state. With the use of Naruto's Reiatsu and his own Chakra, hypnotizing these students, who weren't even Genin, would be effortless.

Perhaps it was the Third's arrangement, but this batch of students included many geniuses from prominent clans.

Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, Sasuke Uchiha, Hinata Hyuga – they all had the potential to grow into Jonin or even stronger individuals in the future.

Getting them trapped in the illusion of Kyōka Suigetsu from now on was absolutely a foolproof decision.

This was Naruto's long-planned strategy.

Naruto put down his book, washed up simply, and went to sleep.

"Drip." The familiar sound of dripping water echoed as Naruto woke up, his eyes met by a clear blue sky.

The cold wind was bleak and chilling; every breath he exhaled felt like it would freeze instantly.

Tiny snowflakes drifted down from the sky, adorning the cliff with a touch of white.

Naruto stood up, the howling wind around him making his white robe rustle. Beneath his feet was a cliff overlooking a bottomless abyss; a single misstep would send him plunging into the depths.

The profound darkness below instilled a primal fear.

This was the Sealing Space where Aizen resided.

"It's been a while since I've been here," Naruto murmured, looking towards the highest point of the cliff. As expected, a figure sat quietly at the summit, unmoved by the fiercest winds.

"Mr. Aizen," Naruto approached Aizen and greeted him respectfully.

Aizen opened his eyes and watched the snow melt on the cliff before him, unable to help but sigh, "It's quite beautiful to see snow in such a precipitous place."

He looked up faintly at Naruto, his tone gentle, "Naruto, it's been a long time."

"Yes, it has. Mr. Aizen, I have now mastered the Shikai of Kyōka Suigetsu and the basic Kidō."

"Is that so? Time does fly." Aizen's gaze was distant, as if lost in thought.

Naruto's talent was astonishing; in just a few years, he had accomplished what other Shinigami might take a century to achieve in their training.

Perhaps this was the infinite potential of human existence.

In his research on Shinigami and Hollows, Aizen discovered that humans, beings considered prey by Hollows and weak by Shinigami, actually possessed an undeniable potential.

Whether it was Naruto in the ninja world or Ichigo Kurosaki in the Shinigami world, they were both exceptional.

Thinking of this, Aizen glanced at Naruto.

The latter's attire and smile were so similar to his own, as if carved from the same mold.

If it were in the past, Aizen wouldn't have said anything, but now, he was completely filled with anticipation for Naruto's future, and his expectations naturally differed.

"Naruto, have you ever thought about your goal?" he asked.

"My goal? Naturally, it's to possess power that transcends everything, to break free from this world and stand in the heavens," Naruto said, as if it were obvious.

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

Naruto froze on the spot, a look of stunned disbelief on his face.

He recalled Aizen's teachings up to this point.

Through them, he had come to understand Aizen's goals, Aizen's vision, and he admired it.

He wanted to become someone like Aizen, which was why Naruto began to deliberately imitate him.

At first, it was awkward, but he gradually became more skilled, sometimes even seeing himself as Aizen.

"Now, I only see my own reflection in you," Aizen's gentle voice echoed in his ear. "Naruto, your talent is exceptional. You should have your own convictions. Only then will you be worthy of becoming my opponent."

Leaving the Sealing Space, Naruto found himself unable to sleep.

He got up and looked out the window at the star-studded night sky.

Under the night sky, Konoha was so quiet, yet around his own cabin, there were many ninja's chakra reactions.

They would sometimes lie dormant in the dense leaves of the trees, sometimes hidden beside the houses.

But no matter their posture, they were not asleep, continuing their diligent 'vigil'.

It wasn't until late at night that other ninja would come to relieve them.

Their mission was less about surveillance and more about protection.

As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto was Konoha's most crucial war resource, and he had to be protected well.

This was the way of the ninja.

Naruto pulled the curtains shut.

Suddenly, he felt a sense of disgust.

And also a sense of confusion.

What was his own path?

To become a ninja?

Stealth, assassination – these were everyday matters for ninja.

But honestly, he had no interest in becoming a ninja.

He simply wished that his future self would no longer be bound by Konoha, that he could do anything he wanted, broaden his horizons, and see the true nature of things.

The world is vast, and I want to see it.

Thinking this, he suddenly felt a sense of enlightenment.

This was his goal.

This time, it wasn't a deliberate imitation of Aizen.

It was a genuine desire to surpass everything, to possess power that transcended the ninja world, to control his own destiny, and to stand in the heavens.

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Recommended a smooth progression and advancement.

Thank you, everyone.

PS: This chapter is a simple transition. Naruto will mature further and enter the planning phase later.