A Night of Reflection

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That night.

Although Naruto did not engage in any other training.

He spent the time reviewing the two battles he had fought recently. Especially after experiencing today's direct confrontation with Hatake Kakashi, Naruto gained a deeper understanding of the life-and-death struggle against the rogue ninja Mizuki a few days ago. He further realized the severe deficiencies in his combat experience and techniques. To put it more bluntly, if the current Naruto were to face the Naruto who had not yet experienced any combat under equal conditions, the former would gain an overwhelming advantage. Without a doubt, this was the most obvious gap brought about by experience and technique.

Of course, in that battle with Mizuki, Mizuki's surge in combat power exceeded Naruto's expectations. After all, in the original story, Mizuki did not have such a sudden spike in strength; the original Naruto had simply relied on the human-wave tactic of Shadow Clone to force Mizuki to his death. In this life, when facing Mizuki, Naruto couldn't even find an opportunity to weave signs and release ninjutsu. While this proved from another angle that Naruto's sign-weaving speed and chakra utilization needed strengthening, it also most intuitively demonstrated a total crushing in terms of combat experience and technique.

Ninjas are not samurai.

They do not advocate for so-called frontal clashes (even though almost everyone in the Naruto World engages in head-on collisions).

In the heat of battle.

Everything changes in an instant.

A tiny change.

Even the slightest opening.

Could lead to the worst possible outcome—death!

And for a ninja.

Survival is everything.

Results take priority over the process.

Regardless of the methods or means.

This is the resolve that a ninja must possess.

On this point, during today's special Survival Exercise, Hatake Kakashi repeatedly emphasized this to the three of them.

The line, "If you want to snatch the bell, you must have the resolve to kill me," was the best direct proof of this.

In the confrontation with Hatake Kakashi.

Naruto realized this even more fully.

It was precisely because of the life-and-death struggle with Mizuki.

That Naruto gained a more genuine feeling for combat.

Judgment, perception, and the ability to see one's own position clearly, while defining the goal of the battle—as a qualified or even excellent ninja.

The most perfect and sharpest battle.

Often depends on a single moment.

A ninja capable of achieving this is the most outstanding existence.

Moreover, one must be able to be decisive in an instant.

One must also have tenacious determination and patience.

In the battle with Mizuki.

Naruto relied on his resolve to fight to the death.

In the bell-snatching battle with Hatake Kakashi.

Naruto relied on his clear goals and tactical baiting.

All of these were part of combat awareness.

Conversely.

These two battles could be transformed into necessary combat experience.

Allowing Naruto to become more adept in the next battle.

One must understand the enemy, but even more so, understand oneself.

Those who cannot see their own position clearly are often rookie extras who don't live past three chapters.

Since he was reborn.

Naruto naturally intended to live until the end, and furthermore, to be the only protagonist in this world.

This world is wrong!

And since there are errors!

They must be corrected.

And Naruto possessed such confidence and ambition.

Of course, one could call it arrogance.

But without a doubt, this was Naruto's greatest goal, originating from the depths of his heart!

If he wanted to change this world.

Then he must possess the corresponding power.

Which is more important: fists or principles?

Naruto had always believed that those without strength could not uphold their principles, while those who possessed strength but lacked principles were merely bullies wielding senseless violence. Naruto did not wish to be the former, nor did he want to become the latter; he simply wanted to be someone with the strength to make his principles heard!

Just like the First Hokage who founded the Hidden Leaf Village.

Did Senju Hashirama truly move the first Kage of the four great ninja villages with his sincerity, thereby exchanging it for temporary peace?

No!

From Naruto's perspective, it was simply that the First Hokage was powerful enough—powerful enough that the other four villages had to be wary even if they united—and when combined with necessary interests (such as the distribution of Tailed Beasts), that was what bought the ninja world its temporary peace.

Both were indispensable.

With only power, humanity would inevitably fight for interests, even if that fighting might lead to death.

With only interests, humanity would fight even more to satisfy the infinite greed within their hearts, regardless of the cost.

Therefore, after Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara fought at the Valley of the End and news spread that both had died, the Great Ninja War erupted. They fought for territory, for resources, for Tailed Beasts, and even for supremacy!

Naruto once thought the path the First Hokage took to build the Hidden Leaf Village was correct, but that the path he took afterward was wrong.

Now, what Naruto wanted to do was to correct the path Senju Hashirama had walked incorrectly.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

That's right, this was almost identical to Uchiha Madara's view—that Senju Hashirama was naive and foolish!

However, Naruto would adopt a more realistic approach.

It was certainly not the approach of Lord Madara, who was equally naive and had been easily manipulated by others.

And to achieve such a goal, Naruto needed even greater strength.

He had to consider not only the enemies currently before him, but also Uchiha Madara, who was waiting in the Underworld to be resurrected.

He had to consider Kaguya, who was waiting to be unsealed.

He had to consider other Otsutsuki who might arrive.

And!

The one who seemed to be the greatest aid to peace, yet could potentially become one of Naruto's greatest enemies—Otsutsuki Hagoromo, commonly known as the Sage of Six Paths.

This old man, who still silently watched over the ninja world from the cracks of the void.

Naruto had never ignored his existence.

Especially since he possessed Asura chakra within his body and was, in a sense, an Asura reincarnate, Naruto held great wariness toward this "convenient father." Who knew if he would notice Naruto's deviant thoughts and decide to eliminate him directly to correct the trajectory of history?

Of course, these were just some of Naruto's nonsensical thoughts from a certain moment.

Setting aside whether this deceased Sage of Six Paths even had the ability to peer into the human heart, even if he did, he might not necessarily think Naruto's ideas were wrong!

Looking at the original story as a whole, this Sage of Six Paths was more like a bystander. The only thing he seemed firmly committed to was preventing his mother from being resurrected; as for the rest, he seemed content to let the humans of the ninja world handle things themselves.

Of course, all of this was merely Naruto's baseless speculation.

The original plot could only serve as a reference to a certain degree, not to mention that it contained many significant loopholes and bugs.

However, all of the above were reasons why Naruto wanted to push himself harder and grow stronger rapidly.

Because he was not strong enough, he could not be certain.

But once he possessed absolute strength, would he still need to look over his shoulder?

As the saying goes!

Whose principles are the greatest?

The principles spoken by those with strength are the greatest principles of all!

After officially becoming a ninja, this night of reflection allowed Naruto to further clarify his future path, as well as the necessary training plans for the current period.

He would fully utilize his advantage of knowing the plot to accelerate his growth as much as possible.

In the future, he would truly take control of his own destiny and thereby realize the ambition deep within his heart!!