"I couldn't beat Naruto…
But can't I at least beat you, someone from another village?"
Hmph.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, silently calculating.
Naruto gave a calm nod.
"Yeah," he replied, "But the guy with the gourd on his back… he's the one we really need to watch."
He was, of course, referring to Gaara of the Sand.
Why had Gaara slipped away so fast?
"That kid with the heavy eye bags—he's the One-Tails' jinchūriki," Kurama muttered from within Naruto.
Earlier, when Naruto had locked eyes with Gaara, Kurama had sensed Shukaku—the One-Tail—hiding within. Kurama had instinctively flared his presence.
That alone was enough to terrify Shukaku, causing the beast to cower deeper inside Gaara's body, shrinking away like a turtle retreating into its shell.
Kurama chuckled at the memory.
"Hah. Coward."
"I know," Naruto thought, eyes gleaming.
"This is a great opportunity to get one back."
He wasn't just talking about Gaara—he meant Shukaku. The scattered Tailed Beasts, each locked away in different nations, had long been on his mind.
He had plans.
Back then, the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, had split the Tailed Beasts among the five great nations—supposedly to maintain balance and peace. He'd thought of them as nuclear deterrents—tools of stability.
Naruto disagreed.
The power of the Tailed Beasts was overwhelming.
Even elite jōnin couldn't stand against them.
Numbers meant little in the face of a Tailed Beast Bomb—a single shot from one was comparable to dozens of elite ninja unleashing their most powerful jutsu all at once.
Only Kage-level shinobi had any hope of facing a Tailed Beast in battle.
Naruto clenched his fists.
Konoha could've kept all the Tailed Beasts. With that power, no other village would have dared oppose them. There'd be no war—only peace through dominance.
But Hashirama had chosen another path. He'd scattered the beasts.
And that—Naruto thought—was no different from handing every ambitious village a weapon of mass destruction.
Meanwhile, as Naruto, Sasuke, and the others were discussing Gaara...
Kakashi arrived, just in time, having wrapped up a meeting with the Hokage.
He delivered the news:
"The Chūnin Exams will begin in seven days."
That gave them one last week to push their training to the limit.
Kakashi himself had made great progress. He'd recently begun mastering both the Lightning Blade and the White Fang Sword Style, two deadly techniques that—when combined—had elevated his combat strength to Kage-level.
Now, it was only a matter of refining them further, step by step, until he reached the peak of that realm.
As for Sasuke, with Naruto's help—especially his guidance on chakra control and natural energy—he was making incredible strides in mastering Sage Mode.
Day by day, he improved.
He could now enter Sage Mode at will and maintain it for at least two minutes.
His next goal: increase that duration as much as possible.
Naruto, meanwhile, was focused on something far more advanced.
Over the past few days, he'd been learning the Flying Thunder God Technique directly from his father—the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
Not only had he mastered it perfectly...
He had also taken things further, integrating his own insights and power to reconstruct one of the Eight Supreme Techniques—Da Luo Dongguan.
With both Tongtian (Heaven-Piercing) and Da Luo Dongguan under his belt, Naruto created a new ability:
Freeform Teleportation—a technique requiring no seals, no tags, no medium.
He could appear anywhere, anytime, with a thought.
But Naruto wasn't done yet.
He felt something stirring within him—something deeper than ninjutsu or chakra.
A shift in his spirit.
He was on the verge of unlocking a long-awaited breakthrough—one he'd pursued for months:
The next Star Gate.
For the next few days, Naruto secluded himself in meditation, focusing on cultivating his mental strength.
And then—on the third night...
As he sat cross-legged under the moonlight, deep in his spiritual world...
He finally saw it clearly:
The next Star Gate, the one that had eluded him for so long, slowly revealed itself.
Its name—
"Harmony Between Man and Nature."
He stood before it—solemn and focused.
And with steady hands, he pushed it open.
The gate swung wide.
And in that moment...
Everything changed.
Everything within Naruto's mind…
It felt like the Big Bang—the instant of creation in a primeval universe.
He could feel time unraveling—past, present, and future—all perceived simultaneously in a single, overwhelming flash.
It was as if—
He stood at the beginning of the universe.
And also at its end.
In that moment, Naruto's spiritual awareness expanded boundlessly—stretching outward from the confines of his own consciousness into the world beyond.
First, it encompassed his apartment.
Then it extended through all of Konoha.
And further still—to the entirety of the Land of Fire.
He could now perceive the thoughts, words, and actions of everyone in the Hidden Leaf Village in real time—like he was watching countless lives play out on a vast spiritual grid.
And the most astounding part?
He could process it all at once, effortlessly.
Among the sea of information, Naruto became aware:
The Chūnin Exams were fast approaching, and teams from across the elemental nations had begun arriving—Sunagakure, Amegakure, Kusagakure...
Within them, he sensed a familiar, sinister chakra.
Orochimaru.
Hidden among the Otogakure genin.
But Orochimaru had no idea—no clue that within Konoha, there now existed a so-called "genin" whose perception transcended dimensions.
The long-prepared plan to crush Konoha?
To Naruto, it was nothing more than a stepping stone—one that would elevate him toward becoming the ultimate Hokage.
The state of "Harmony Between Man and Nature" wasn't just a mindset—it was a realm of spiritual awakening.
It meant complete unity with nature, with all things.
A place where the self, the world, and the cosmos existed as one.
Through it, one could commune with the universe itself.
It granted more than just infinite perception—it opened the door to abilities that defied comprehension.
Upon awakening this state, Naruto's awareness reached an entirely new level.
The seventh dimension.
Then—abruptly—
Naruto retracted his spiritual power, drawing it back into himself like a tide returning to sea.
He opened his eyes.
In the stillness of the night, his sky-blue irises shimmered with a divine light, like reflections of the stars themselves.
He had done it.
He had achieved the "Harmony Between Man and Nature".
And now…
He was ready.
The next phase of his training could begin.
The following day.
Naruto and Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage and his father, arrived at a deserted training ground on the outskirts of the village.
Though Minato had already passed down the Flying Thunder God Technique, he was still training hard himself.
After all—
If Naruto went all out, and Minato fell behind…
As a father, it'd be humiliating.
So, during these days, the two trained together—though each followed their own path.
They would occasionally spar, monitor each other's growth, and encourage breakthroughs.
After reaching the training grounds, the two greeted each other with a nod.
Minato began his own training nearby, maintaining sharpness in his signature jutsu and reactions.
Naruto, on the other hand—
Sat down in silence.
Eyes closed.
He began to recall everything he knew about the power he now sought to awaken:
Ultra Instinct.
The so-called Ultra Instinct—originally a concept from another world, from a tale known as Dragon Ball—wasn't just a fighting style.
It was a divine state of movement and awareness.
In the source world, it was a technique mastered only by gods and angels. Even the mighty Beerus, God of Destruction, had only partially grasped its depth. Only Son Goku, the protagonist of that realm, had truly begun to master it in battle.
But Ultra Instinct wasn't about raw strength.
It was about letting go—of thought, hesitation, control.
It was the ultimate reaction state, where the mind no longer commands the body. Instead, each muscle, each nerve, each fiber of the being moves instinctively, without delay or conscious direction.
The result?
Perfect evasion. Flawless attack. Limitless potential.
It was unlike any ninjutsu, taijutsu, or senjutsu.
It wasn't a technique—it was a state of divine motion.
And now…
Naruto was ready to step into that realm.
Both speed and reaction time—
On the surface, Ultra Instinct may seem like just heightened versions of those two qualities.
But then, why is it revered as a "divine technique"?
The answer lies in the threshold—a line even the mightiest of gods struggle to cross.
Take someone like Beerus, the God of Destruction.
Even at his level—capable of destroying planets with a mere flick—he still thinks before he acts. He anticipates a move, processes it in his brain, then sends the command to his body.
Granted, beings like him have reduced this delay to near zero—but no matter how minimal, a delay still exists.
That microscopic hesitation—
That's the barrier.
The line between ordinary superhuman speed and true Ultra Instinct.
And in battle...
The higher the level of combat, the more everything hinges on that split-second window.
That single, fleeting instant—
It determines victory or defeat.
Ultra Instinct, also called the Ultimate Freedom Technique, removes even that brief pause.
The body moves without thinking.
It dodges, counters, attacks—all by instinct alone.
You can't seize an opening from someone in this state.
And they can seize yours effortlessly.
But mastering Ultra Instinct is no small feat.
Not only does it demand a monstrously powerful body to withstand the strain…
It also requires a state of mind that transcends human thought.
That's why—
Until Naruto achieved the mental state of Harmony Between Man and Nature, he couldn't even begin training in Ultra Instinct.
And then it happened.
At the very moment when Naruto merged completely with nature—body and spirit aligned in harmony—
He understood.
He had an epiphany.
You have awakened the Omen of Ultra Instinct!
Ultra Instinct - Omen (Sign):
Your hair becomes tinged with a silvery glow.
Your pupils shimmer with light silver hues.
Your physical reactions, reflexes, and agility skyrocket.
Your total combat power is boosted to twenty times your previous limit.
However... there remains a minor lag when switching between offense and defense.
In that moment, Naruto was flooded with power and clarity.
He felt lighter than ever—his body relaxed, movements flowing like water.
Serene. Calm. Complete.
If he had to quantify it…
His current battle state—Advanced Body Flicker, Perfect Breathing Technique, Complete Sage Mode, and the Harmony Between Man and Nature mindset—
That was already at a level far above ordinary Kage.
Now multiply that by twenty.
Even Naruto himself couldn't fully grasp how monstrous his combat power had become.
And that tiny flaw—the so-called delay?
"Flaws? With my perception and reaction speed… what flaw?"
Without wasting a moment, Naruto began to refine the technique further.
Starting with the foundation—the Omen stage—
He pushed his mind further.
You begin deducing the complete form of Ultra Instinct based on the Omen!
You have another epiphany!
You have awakened True Ultra Instinct—Ultimate Freedom!
Ultra Instinct – Mastered:
Your entire body, from hair to skin, is suffused in a radiant silver aura.
Your pupils and irises glow like polished silver moons.
Every nerve, every joint—in perfect harmony.
You move as if guided by the universe itself.
The complete Ultra Instinct—the final evolution of Naruto's control, strength, and awareness—had finally arrived.
Naruto's body surged with power.
His speed, strength, and overall capabilities had reached unprecedented heights.
His offense and defense were now honed to a level of absolute harmony—balanced and refined like a perfectly tuned weapon.
In this moment—
Naruto had fully mastered Ultra Instinct.
The complete version.
He slowly rose to his feet, his entire body humming with energy.
He had to experience it. To test this power with his own hands.
Naruto closed his eyes.
Focused.
A blinding silver aura erupted from him, expanding in all directions.
His hair turned silver-white, his pupils shimmering like molten mercury, and a glowing radiance enveloped his entire body.
Now—
Naruto had entered a state of total clarity and calm.
Across the field, Minato—who had been silently training—immediately sensed the change.
He turned toward Naruto, eyes narrowing.
In an instant, he felt it.
A pressure. An aura. Something beyond his understanding.
He couldn't quite describe it…
But it was powerful. Profound.
Almost like…
Naruto had stepped into another dimension.
A place where higher beings reside—untouchable and incomprehensible to those beneath them.
At that moment, Naruto opened his eyes and looked at his hands, now glowing with silvery light.
He felt different.
Strange… but complete.
Then Minato spoke.
"Naruto… how about a little father-son sparring?" he said, smiling with a trace of anticipation.
He could tell his son had reached a new height.
And as a shinobi—and a father—he wanted to be the one to help Naruto explore that power.
Besides, despite their time together, they had never truly sparred.
Naruto looked over.
He saw the eager look in his father's eyes and smiled.
The corner of his lips curled upward as excitement welled up inside him.
"Just what I was hoping for, Dad."
He grinned, silver eyes gleaming.
He had been wondering how to test his Ultra Instinct in a real fight—and now fate was practically handing him the perfect opponent.
Still… he'd have to hold back.
If he activated the full power of Ultra Instinct right away, Minato wouldn't stand a chance.
Even Naruto knew that.
"If Dad could actually keep up with me in this state,"
"Then I might as well slam my head into a wall and retire as a shinobi,"
he thought dryly.
So, for now, he suppressed the full manifestation of Ultra Instinct.
The two stood opposite each other on the open field.
The air between them shimmered slightly with tension and anticipation.
Minato smiled.
Naruto smiled back.
And then—
Minato spoke again.
"I'm coming, Naruto."
The words had barely left his mouth before he vanished—his body becoming a flicker of motion.
The Yellow Flash was on the move.
In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Naruto, striking with precision.
At that moment, Minato Namikaze—the Fourth Hokage, the Yellow Flash—stood tall with the vigor and sharpness of his prime.
Seeing this, Naruto felt a rush of anticipation.
To spar with the man who was once hailed as the strongest in the village, and in his peak condition no less, stirred something deep within him.
Naruto's expression turned serious.
He straightened his stance.
Minato struck first, initiating the match with pure taijutsu.
No ninjutsu. No kunai. Just fists and feet.
Naruto responded in kind.
A punch. A kick. A parry. A counter.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!!"
The sound of strikes echoed across the training field, each collision heavier than the last.
Minato—renowned as Konoha's Yellow Flash, a legend of the last war—unleashed speed and technique refined through countless life-and-death battles.
Naruto—child of prophecy, son of the Fourth, a prodigy with extraordinary comprehension and tireless training—met each strike head-on.
Their movements were a blur.
Their exchanges fierce and rapid.
To a bystander, it would look like a high-speed clash between two shinobi demigods.
In mere moments, they had exchanged dozens of blows.
Minato's face remained calm on the surface, but internally, he was stunned.
These were the battlefield-hardened techniques he'd perfected as a jonin and Hokage—strategies honed during the Third Great Ninja War.
And yet…
He couldn't break through Naruto's defense.
Not even once.
Naruto wasn't relying on tricks or chakra-enhanced feats.
This was pure taijutsu.
Equal ground.
And still, Minato felt pressured.
He was forced on the defensive several times, and on more than one occasion, he sensed a real threat from Naruto's blows—a brush with death.
How was this possible?
"His taijutsu… it feels ancient, refined over a thousand lifetimes. This isn't something a sixteen-year-old should possess."
Naruto's movements were sharp and fluid—no wasted motion, no flaws in form.
His body moved like water, reacting to every shift in momentum with perfection.
Minato couldn't find a single opening.
He was amazed.
And humbled.
Just as they prepared to enter another round, a familiar voice called out from a distance.
"Hey! You two better not be skipping meals again!"
It was Kushina.
She approached the training field, holding a bento box in each hand.
She knew both her husband and son had been training intensely lately.
As a mother—and a wife—she naturally took it upon herself to keep them fed and cared for.
But today, what she saw shocked her.
There they were, Naruto and Minato, locked in high-speed combat.
No jutsu. No clones. Just raw skill.
And what truly stunned her—
Naruto was clearly overwhelming Minato.
Kushina's eyes widened in disbelief as she watched their fierce taijutsu exchange.
"Minato… getting pushed back?"
She knew her husband's strength.
But her son—
Her son was on a whole different level now.
...
TN:
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