Naruto was completely speechless.
He had just fallen asleep peacefully, and now someone had kicked his door open.
Was this really necessary?
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Naruto sat up and slowly got out of bed.
"I'm coming!"
He walked toward the door while yawning.
As soon as he reached the entrance, the steward grabbed his arm and pulled him outside.
"Hurry up! The master wants to see you!"
Naruto was dragged into the courtyard before he could even react.
Then, he saw a tall figure standing quietly in the yard.
When Naruto looked at the man, he felt a strange sense of familiarity.
After thinking for a moment, he suddenly realized—
This was one of the six powerful figures he had seen in the hall before.
The leader of the Fire Mountain Gate: Tsuchigen Tianzang.
Although Naruto didn't know his name, he could clearly feel that this person's aura was extraordinary.
He was definitely a high-level expert.
So, Naruto instinctively bowed respectfully.
Tianzhang looked at him, hummed softly, and nodded with satisfaction.
"At least you understand basic etiquette. Not bad."
The steward stood to the side, not daring to speak.
After greeting him, Naruto asked politely,
"May I ask… why have you called me here, teacher?"
Hearing Naruto call him "teacher," Tianzang didn't mind.
After all, Naruto was new here and unfamiliar with the rules.
The steward hurriedly corrected him,
"This is the master of the Fire Mountain Gate and one of the academy's leaders, not your teacher!"
Naruto was about to apologize when Tianzang waved his hand.
"You've just arrived. No need to worry about so many rules."
Then he glanced at Naruto's room.
"Pack your things and follow me."
Naruto froze.
"Huh? Me?"
"But… Senior Sister Yuezi told me to live here."
Tianzang said calmly,
"No need. From today on, you will move to Fire Mountain."
Naruto frowned slightly.
Fire Mountain?
What kind of place was that?
The steward was even more shocked.
Being sent directly to Fire Mountain meant Naruto might become a direct disciple.
Realizing this, he immediately became enthusiastic.
Before Naruto could react, the steward rushed into the room, grabbed Naruto's sword, placed it in his hands, and smiled brightly.
"Brother Naruto, have a safe journey!"
Naruto: "..."
When did I become your brother?
Tianzang waved his hand.
"Let's go."
In the next moment, Naruto felt his body lift into the air.
Tianzang carried him and flew directly into the sky.
The steward waved excitedly from below.
After they left, he sighed.
"Some people are really born lucky…"
Flying through the air, Naruto finally had a clear view of the academy.
Among the many mountains, five stood out in particular.
They were tall, majestic, and surrounded by spiritual energy.
Tianzang pointed ahead.
"That's Fire Mountain."
Naruto looked up.
It was lush and green, full of vitality.
"Uh… why isn't there any fire?"
His innocent question made Tianzang laugh.
"Then should Water Mountain be filled with water too?"
Naruto scratched his head awkwardly.
"Sorry…"
They soon landed on a large square halfway up Fire Mountain.
As soon as they arrived, hundreds of disciples stood in neat rows.
"Welcome back, Master!"
Their voices echoed across the mountain.
Naruto was stunned.
Nearly three hundred people?
No wonder the academy was so powerful.
Tianzang nodded lightly, then gestured to Naruto.
"This is Naruto."
"He is a foreigner brought back by Ichiro and personally favored by the clan leader."
"From today on, he will cultivate in Fire Mountain Gate."
"Do you understand?"
"Yes!"
The disciples replied in unison.
Tianzang then looked at a young man in the front row.
"Tianlang."
"I'm here, Master!"
"From today on, Naruto will be under your guidance."
"Understood?"
"I obey!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding disciples were shocked.
Tianlang was Tianzang's direct disciple and the senior brother of Fire Mountain Gate.
He had mastered Fire Release to an extremely high level.
Letting him personally guide Naruto showed how much importance Tianzang placed on him.
"Alright."
"Tianlang, arrange his residence and schedule."
"Understood!"
After that, Tianzang flew toward the peak of the mountain and disappeared.
Once the master left, everyone relaxed.
The atmosphere immediately became lively.
Many disciples secretly looked at Naruto.
After all, he was a foreigner.
People were naturally curious.
Tianlang walked over.
"Your name is Naruto, right?"
Naruto bowed politely.
"Yes, Senior Brother!"
A muscular youth nearby shouted,
"Call me Senior Brother too!"
Naruto was startled.
Tianlang quickly raised his hand.
"Tianxing, calm down. He's new."
"We should be hospitable."
Tianxing snorted but didn't say anything more.
Tianlang smiled and introduced himself.
"My name is Tsuchigen Tianlang."
"I'm the senior brother of Fire Mountain Gate."
"You can call me Senior Brother from now on."
Then he pointed around.
"This is Tianxing, the second senior brother."
"That's Tianyan, the third."
"And over there is Tianyu, the fourth."
Naruto bowed repeatedly.
"Nice to meet you, Senior Brothers!"
Tianlang nodded.
"Alright, everyone, go back to cultivation."
"Practice well. I'll check your progress later."
"Yes!"
The disciples dispersed.
Tianlang gestured.
"Come on. I'll take you to your place."
As they walked, Tianlang introduced Fire Mountain Gate.
"Our main cultivation focuses on fire-element dark matter."
"In your world, it's similar to Fire Release chakra nature."
"Mastering dark matter here is like mastering chakra in Konoha."
"Fire magic, water magic, lightning magic—"
"They correspond to Fire Release, Water Release, Lightning Release, and so on."
Naruto listened carefully.
His eyes gradually brightened.
"So… it's basically ninjutsu training!"
Tianlang smiled.
"You could say that."
Naruto clenched his fists secretly.
His confidence slowly returned.
No matter what—
He would rise again.
Just like he always had in Konoha.