Mastering Reiatsu

"How strange. Why did Mr. Aizen look so shocked?" Early the next morning, Naruto woke up groggily and scratched his head in confusion.

In the past, Aizen had always appeared refined and confident, as if nothing could stir his emotions.

But yesterday, Naruto had seen disbelief on Aizen's face.

Was awakening Reiatsu something so rare?

Naruto did not understand Aizen's inner shock. At the time, he had even asked Aizen for the secret to controlling Reiatsu.

But Aizen had dismissed him with a single sentence: "First, familiarize yourself with the Reiatsu inside your body."

Only after Naruto left the Sealing Space did he discover a plain black katana on his bed.

"Why did a sword suddenly appear out of nowhere?" Naruto grasped the katana.

That heart-to-heart connection left him deeply startled.

The sword seemed to be alive?!

"This is your Zanpakuto." Aizen's somewhat complicated voice sounded in his mind.

"Zanpakuto?" Naruto looked utterly confused. "Mr. Aizen, how do I use it?"

He hurriedly asked in his mind, but no matter how many times he asked, Aizen did not respond.

Helpless, Naruto hid the katana beneath his bed.

In Konoha, no one besides ninjas was allowed to carry weapons without authorization, not to mention that he was the sensitive Nine-Tails Fox Demon.

If he were discovered, it would surely cause unnecessary trouble.

After washing up, Naruto began trying to sense the Reiatsu inside his body.

Just as Aizen had said, Reiatsu was energy that originated from the soul. After awakening it, he should have been able to sense the threads of Reiatsu flowing within him.

Naruto sat cross-legged and quietly focused.

However, in less than five minutes, he could not resist scratching his itchy chin. He opened his eyes and shifted restlessly.

After sighing, he closed his eyes again.

Judging by how restless he was, he would not be able to settle down anytime soon.

"Reiatsu originates from the soul. It is invisible and formless, impossible to see clearly, but it truly exists. Calm your mind and clear away every distracting thought. Only then will you be able to sense Reiatsu." Aizen's helpless voice sounded in his mind.

Though Naruto appeared mature now, he was still, at heart, a child who could not sit still.

With Aizen's guidance, Naruto finally steadied his mind. Closing his eyes, he began meditating according to Aizen's instructions.

At first, he was still restless and distracted, but as time passed, Naruto's breathing gradually evened out and his whole body relaxed.

The sun had risen high in the sky. Birds chirped endlessly outside the window, while Naruto remained motionless, seated cross-legged on his bed.

He seemed to have entered a mysterious state.

He could sense, and even control, his own Reiatsu.

Under Naruto's control, his Reiatsu spread outward like a great net, extending from the entire room to the surrounding area.

Everything seemed to be within his grasp.

He could clearly hear his own breathing, the crisp calls of birds outside the window, and even the Chakra of the hidden Anbu.

The differently colored Chakra outlined the silhouettes of the Anbu ninjas.

One, two, three.

There were three Anbu ninjas around his home.

They did not move at all, like rusted iron men.

Several little birds landed on the Anbu's bodies, completely unaware that their perches were humans.

Yet even so, the Anbu remained perfectly still.

This was the discipline of ninjas.

Like someone who had discovered a fascinating treasure, Naruto continued exploring the uses of Reiatsu.

When he tried to use Reiatsu to further outline the Anbu ninjas' faces, his mind began to strain.

He knew that this was his limit.

The moment he stopped, overwhelming exhaustion washed over him.

"Don't overuse your Reiatsu. Rest well today." After the reminder, Aizen fell silent.

Naruto's talent was even more terrifying than he had expected.

To gain a preliminary grasp of Reiatsu in such a short time... Naruto seems to have tremendous talent for Reiatsu. Combined with the mysterious power within him, perhaps he really can forge a new system of power.

I look forward to seeing Naruto after he has fully developed both Reiatsu and ninjutsu. Aizen's lips curved upward.

"Perhaps one day, you can become my opponent."

The path of the strong was destined to be lonely.

On his road toward strength, Aizen would do his best to foster the birth of powerful people, though they might not necessarily satisfy him.

But at the very least, they could be little toys.

"An opponent? I'm still far from that." Receiving such affirmation, Naruto was delighted. "Then I'll have to trouble Mr. Aizen to guide my training from now on. I'll definitely do everything I can to grow stronger."

Aizen gave a faint hum.

He knew how to seize an opening and climb higher.

Naruto's move pleased him quite a bit.

Doing whatever it took to become stronger was the attitude a strong person should have.

Grrr. At that moment, Naruto's stomach rumbled.

Looking out the window, he finally realized that he had been meditating for at least three hours.

"I'm starving. Let's go to Ichiraku Ramen."

Unable to wait and cook now, Naruto rubbed his stomach and made his decision.

Uncle Ichiraku was one of the few villagers who treated him kindly.

But Naruto rarely went to Ichiraku Ramen.

On one hand, he did not want Uncle Ichiraku to suffer the villagers' cold stares because of him.

On the other hand, he did not have enough money.

Third gave him living expenses every month.

Those expenses were only enough to buy basic ingredients and daily necessities.

It was not much, but it was still a gesture of kindness.

Naruto stepped outside and greeted the large tree at his door.

"Good morning, ninja uncles."

The leaves swayed as if answering him.

The Anbu ninjas had long since grown used to Naruto's daily polite greeting.

They simply felt nothing about it.

He headed toward Ichiraku Ramen.

Naruto deliberately avoided the busiest street.

He was not a masochist. Since others disliked him, he would not keep wandering around in front of them.

Avoiding them as much as possible was the right choice.

Though Naruto had always shown an elegant and composed side, anger and resentment still rose within him whenever others treated him rudely.

If he had not been under surveillance, he might have already retaliated.

As he passed through a secluded street, he heard familiar yet unfamiliar curses.

"White-eyed monster!"

"Beat that white-eyed monster to death!"

"Her eyes are so scary. Just like that Nine-Tails Fox Demon, she's a monster."

Naruto stopped.

He had not expected there to be someone else in Konoha who received the same treatment as him.

He followed the sound.

Not far away, several children surrounded a little girl.

The girl had neat, light-purple hair cut to her ears and delicate features, but her unsettling white eyes ruined her pretty little face.

"This is... someone from the Hyuga Clan." Naruto's gaze flickered.

Before this, he had tried to understand the distribution of forces entrenched in Konoha.

Though the information was not entirely accurate, the basic details had been fairly complete.

The Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan were both prominent clans in Konoha, and both possessed eye-based Kekkei Genkai.

The Byakugan and the Sharingan.

They were both people worth befriending.

They could become his support in the future.

Naruto quietly watched the children insult the girl. She curled up miserably in the corner against the wall, her face covered in tear streaks.

Naruto's lips curved slightly.

"I'll become her light."

He stepped forward and walked toward the boys.