The next day.
Naruto slowly woke up on the bed in the study room.
The moment he opened his eyes, a splitting headache struck him.
"Hiss… ah! My head!"
Naruto held his temples tightly and sat up little by little, afraid that moving too fast would make the pain worse.
It felt as if his brain were about to explode.
Creak.
The door was pushed open.
"Naruto, are you awake?"
Tsuchigen Tianlang walked in, holding a bowl of steaming soup.
"Big Brother, you're here!"
Naruto forced himself to sit upright.
"Come on, drink this."
Tianlang handed the bowl to him.
Naruto frowned slightly but still took it.
After taking a sip, his brows furrowed even deeper.
"Big Brother… why does this smell like alcohol?"
Tianlang waved his hand.
"It's different. This is hangover soup. Drink it."
"Oh…"
Knowing it was meant to sober him up, Naruto endured the strange taste and gulped it down.
"Ah! That's better!"
He wiped his mouth and returned the bowl.
Tianlang placed it aside, then walked behind Naruto.
He raised his right hand.
"Naruto, relax."
A blue flame suddenly appeared in Tianlang's palm.
When it touched Naruto's back, something strange happened.
Naruto's clothes didn't burn.
He didn't feel pain.
He didn't even feel heat.
Instead, there was a warm and gentle sensation.
"Big Brother, what are you doing?"
Naruto asked nervously.
Tianlang smiled faintly.
"I'm helping you expel the alcohol."
"Follow my rhythm."
"Breathe in quickly, breathe out slowly."
"Come on."
As he spoke, the blue flame gradually turned fiery red.
Naruto frowned.
Sweat appeared on his forehead.
His breathing became difficult.
"Big Brother… my back feels so… hot!"
"Endure it."
"Keep breathing."
With no choice, Naruto followed his instructions.
Fast inhale.
Slow exhale.
Fast inhale.
Slow exhale.
After several minutes, his entire body was drenched in sweat.
"Alright."
Tianlang withdrew his hand.
"Go wash up and take a shower."
"You'll be fine."
Naruto slowly opened his eyes.
To his surprise, the headache was gone.
The dizziness had disappeared.
His whole body felt light and refreshed.
It was as if he had emptied all his fatigue.
"Big Brother, that was amazing!"
Naruto looked at Tianlang with admiration.
Tianlang smiled.
"It's a kind of Fire Release–type healing technique."
"It doesn't cause external damage."
"It converts dark matter into internal energy."
"It can be strong or weak, depending on control."
"The advantage is strong internal effect."
"The disadvantage is slow activation."
"In the past, it was used in close combat."
"Later, healers improved it."
Naruto nodded.
"So it's like medical ninjutsu mixed with Fire Release…"
"Just now," Tianlang continued, "the soup absorbed part of the alcohol."
"And my internal fire energy forced the rest out."
Naruto smelled his clothes.
They really reeked of alcohol.
"Wow… it's true."
Tianlang chuckled.
"Go take a bath."
"And change into your academy uniform."
"I've prepared it."
Then he led Naruto to the bathroom.
After bathing and changing clothes, Naruto felt completely renewed.
The academy uniform fit him well.
He looked energetic and confident.
"Not bad," Tianlang said approvingly.
"You really look like a cultivator now."
Naruto bowed politely.
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
"Alright."
"From today on, I'll officially guide you."
"You've already learned some basics at the farm."
"Now, I'll explain everything systematically."
Naruto straightened his posture.
"Yes!"
Tianlang began seriously.
"The foundation of cultivation is mastering dark matter."
"Dark matter exists everywhere in the universe."
"Our method is to absorb it into the body."
"Then activate it through magic."
"Finally, convert it into power."
"For example, what I just used was internal fire."
"Now, I'll show you bright fire magic."
As he spoke, Tianlang raised his hand.
He didn't deliberately absorb energy.
He activated it instantly.
After several precise hand gestures, he slapped upward.
Boom!
A massive flame palm shot into the sky.
It exploded in midair like a blazing meteor.
"Oh my god!"
Naruto's eyes widened.
"Fire Release?!"
"This is almost like Madara's Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
Tianlang frowned.
"Fire Style?"
Naruto waved hurriedly.
"Ah, nothing! Just something I say sometimes!"
"Senior Brother, I noticed you made some gestures."
"Do you need them to activate magic?"
Tianlang looked at Naruto with appreciation.
"Good observation."
"Yes."
"Some magic requires specific hand signs."
Naruto immediately asked,
"Are there fixed types?"
Tianlang nodded.
"Correct."
"Each of the five major systems has twelve basic gestures."
"That's sixty in total."
"Different combinations create different techniques."
Naruto nodded as if he understood.
In reality, he was shocked.
This was almost exactly the ninjutsu system.
Hand signs = seals.
Magic = ninjutsu.
Dark matter = chakra.
Five systems = five chakra natures.
"So similar…"
He realized that his past experience would be extremely useful here.
Because of his ninja foundation, Naruto learned quickly.
Tianlang also noticed this.
His view of Naruto began to change.
"Common attribute… but amazing comprehension…"
"Interesting."
With growing anticipation, Tianlang led Naruto to the next step.
"Naruto."
"I know sensing dark matter is hard at first."
"Don't worry."
"We have special medicine."
"After applying it, you can sense it using the formula."
Naruto nodded.
"Okay."
Inside, he thought:
"This is like sensing natural energy…"
"Myoboku Mountain training all over again."
Tianlang brought out a bucket filled with green liquid.
A strange smell spread.
Naruto covered his nose.
"Big Brother… what is this smell?!"
Tianlang explained,
"This comes from a creature on our planet."
"It's called the Cuckoo Insect."
"Its body fluid naturally absorbs dark matter."
"The clan leader extracted it."
"Now it's used to help beginners."
He gestured for Naruto to sit.
"I'll apply a small amount first."
"Too much dark matter can cause swelling."
Naruto smiled bitterly.
"I understand…"
He knew this very well.
Too much natural energy once almost turned him into a stone statue.
"I'm ready."
With determination in his eyes,
Naruto prepared to take his first real step—
Toward mastering dark matter,
And walking his new ninja path once again.