An Aberrant Kamui, Natural Energy

Something unknown had definitely happened to Kamui, and it was most likely related to the changes that had occurred within him!

That was Kakashi's judgment. It had to be said that his guess was very close to the truth.

But now was clearly not the time to dwell on that. Kakashi was more curious about what would happen next.

He focused his gaze and saw that, at some point, two young attendants had appeared beside the old man.

Strangely enough, the old man's Ki was tranquil and gentle, like that of an ordinary elder.

Yet the Ki of those two attendants was incredibly intimidating. The pressure they occasionally gave off felt to Kakashi... even more terrifying than the Third Hokage!

The two attendants wore Daoist robes. Waving their horsetail whisks, they spoke in unison.

"Our ancestor is preaching today, enlightening all living beings. All fellow Daoists are welcome."

"Fellow Daoists? There isn't anyone else here, though?"

Kakashi muttered softly as he looked around the scene, but he did not see a single person.

"Wait!"

Kakashi looked again and found a snow leopard standing halfway up the mountain, a crow perched on the branch of an ancient cypress, and a monkey hanging from a vine...

A bull had both forelegs bent against the ground, its head lowered as though bowing in greeting.

Kakashi was startled. Could the fellow Daoists the attendant spoke of be these animals?

After hesitating for a moment, Kakashi also knelt on the ground, adopting a respectful posture.

He did not know whether it was an illusion, but Kakashi felt as though one of the attendants had glanced at him and nodded in satisfaction.

After a while, the old man slowly began to speak.

"All things possess spirit, and all living beings are qualified to attain the Dao. Today, I shall enlighten you all. This, too, is a great merit."

The old man's voice drifted faintly from the scene, bringing a feeling as refreshing as a spring breeze.

"Gain cool clarity, bright and pure; ascend the cinnabar terrace to admire the moon.

The moon hides the jade rabbit, the sun hides the crow; turtle and serpent naturally entwine.

Entwined together, life grows firm; even in fire, Kin lotuses may be planted.

Gather the Five Elements and employ them in reverse; when the work is done, one may become Buddha or immortal..."

The old man quietly expounded the Dao, and Kakashi listened, utterly engrossed.

The old man's voice changed in countless ways. At one moment it was a child's voice, then a young woman's, then an old woman's, and then it became the voice of a middle-aged man.

It was as though tens of millions of people were speaking beside his ears at once, profoundly mysterious.

"The teaching has concluded. Fellow Daoists, return to your respective places."

The attendant's childish voice rang out, and only then did Kakashi suddenly come back to his senses.

The old man in the scene had vanished at some point, leaving only the two attendants standing atop the mountain.

"Thank you for imparting your teachings."

Kakashi rose to his feet and respectfully bowed toward the scene.

As though sensing something, the attendant who had looked at Kakashi before turned toward him once more and smiled faintly.

"What an interesting existence."

The attendant's gaze seemed to cross countless spaces and endless ages. Kakashi's Kamui could not withstand such a terrifying look, and the scene before his eyes instantly shattered into fragments.

The shuriken pattern in Kakashi's eye vanished once more, and even the tomoe seemed listless.

Yet Kakashi was full of energy. "I don't know what changes Kamui has undergone, but it seems I encountered something incredible!"

Kakashi immediately leaped out the window, tapped the wall with the tip of his foot, and landed neatly on his own roof.

He sat cross-legged, formed hand seals, and began cultivating according to the method the old man had taught.

Only when the first ray of sunlight spilled across his face did Kakashi open his eyes again.

"Whew. My chakra does not seem to have increased, but..."

Kakashi carefully sensed the other energy that had appeared within him. "A trace of energy I have never felt before has appeared. It should be the 'Ki' that person mentioned while preaching."

"Could it be?"

Kakashi's eyes lit up. "Could this be Natural Energy!"

Chakra was actually an external energy brought by the Otsutsuki Clan, while Natural Energy was the energy native to Earth.

Normally, Natural Energy could neither be seen nor touched. Ordinary people simply could not draw it into their bodies and use it for themselves.

But once Natural Energy was absorbed into the body and refined through fusion with chakra and spiritual energy, it could produce the so-called Senjutsu Chakra!

Even with Kakashi's temperament, he felt a little excited. Even his breathing grew heavier.

If this energy truly was Natural Energy, just as he thought, then he had essentially obtained a ticket into the ranks of the future's top powerhouses!

By the later stages of the Hokage world, bloodline limits would be everywhere, and Kage Level fighters would be as common as dogs. Only Senjutsu could allow him to surpass most people.

Why most people?

Because there were two cheating bastards, and there was no need to mention them.

Kakashi was in a wonderful mood. He lazily stretched, leaned halfway against the edge of the roof, and closed his eyes to enjoy the baptism of sunlight.

"Yo, Kakashi! I never thought you'd get up earlier than me. As expected of my lifelong rival!" A voice brimming with Ki called out.

Well, why was that guy here?

Kakashi helplessly put on his dead-fish eyes and leaned over to look down.

A boy about his age stood below, looking up at him.

The boy had a bowl cut, wore a green bodysuit, and had those thick eyebrows...

"A spirited young lad?" Kakashi blurted out instinctively.

Kakashi leaped down and landed steadily on the ground without making the slightest sound.

The newcomer was Guy.

Although Guy was simple-minded, he knew how painful it was for Kakashi to lose his bonds one after another. That was why he came to visit Kakashi every few days.

Kakashi let out a sigh of Ki. Guy really could not hide his emotions at all. He might as well have written the word "worried" on his face.

Fine, I'll reluctantly add him to my list of people to protect, Kakashi thought to himself.

But after opening the Eight Gates, one Night Guy from this guy could even go toe-to-toe with Madara...

Yeah, maybe the protection thing could wait...

"Hey, Kakashi, why aren't you answering me?"

Guy looked at Kakashi in confusion, but seeing his good friend display a long-lost smile still made him very happy.

He had not seen his best friend's smile in a long time.

"Nothing. I was thinking about something." Kakashi smiled and shook his head.

"Yo, Kakashi! Come compete with me!"

Guy gave himself a thumbs-up, flashing his gleaming Haku Kiba.

Kakashi chuckled. "Just what I wanted."

Both of them tensed their muscles at the same time, their eyes fixed on each other's hands. Then, in the next instant...

They both jumped toward one another. "Rock, paper, scissors!"

"Ah, damn it!"

Guy raised his fist and stared at the "paper" Kakashi had thrown, on the verge of tears.

Guy turned his back and squatted on the ground, drawing circles.

"Why? Why have I never beaten you, Kakashi?"

Kakashi stepped forward and threw an arm around Guy's shoulders. "Come on, come on. You know you lose to me every time, yet you still insist on competing with me."

"Don't be so down. I'll treat you to grilled meat, and after we eat, we'll train together."

Guy instantly perked up. "Yo, Kakashi! This is youth!"

"How about we train first? I have to win back my pride through training!"

Kakashi put on his dead-fish eyes again. "I'm hungry. We're eating first. Do whatever you want."

With that, Kakashi turned and walked away.

Watching Kakashi's retreating figure, Guy showed a knowing smile.

"Hey, Kakashi, wait for me!"