A steady current flowed.
Beneath a towering mountain peak, lush green grass stretched as far as the eye could see. Naruto sat cross-legged on the ground, completely alone.
[Spiritual Power +5! Spiritual Power +5!]
[Beginner Meditation Method Proficiency +3!]
Moments later, Naruto slowly opened his eyes and murmured with satisfaction,
"Thanks to Heaven Rewards Diligence, my spiritual power has finally grown at a noticeable rate. As expected of the Meditation Method… a true technique for cultivating the spirit."
He stood up with a faint smile.
Although his spiritual power had always been increasing, compared to the Uchiha clan, his progress had once been painfully slow. Reaching Six Paths–level spiritual power had seemed like a distant dream.
Now, however, relying on insights drawn from Deva Path Pain, Naruto had created his own spiritual cultivation system—
The Meditation Method.
While meditation did exist in the ninja world, it was fundamentally different from this. Naruto's Meditation Method required one to visualize their own existence within their consciousness.
Only when a complete and stable human form could be constructed in the mind did one truly step onto the path.
Ninja cultivation was ultimately too shallow.
Naruto's goal was transcendence and immortality. Relying solely on the ninja world's cultivation methods to break limits was clearly impossible—after all, ninjutsu itself originated from the Ōtsutsuki clan.
In the future, he was destined to confront them.
Using their own system against them would be nothing more than a joke.
Beyond spiritual power, Naruto's exploration of Sage Art had also yielded pleasing results.
He had successfully used Sage Art to construct formations.
These weren't ordinary chakra barriers. Defensive formations woven with Sage Art runes possessed defensive strength more than five times that of conventional barriers.
They were powerful enough to withstand Super Kage–level attacks.
Previously, ordinary barriers could only block Kage-level strikes, forcing Naruto to stack multiple layers—inefficient and troublesome.
Now, one or two Sage Art barriers were enough.
With his gains consolidated, Naruto turned and left.
Compared to the dull confinement of a training chamber, he preferred an environment close to nature—one that seemed to cleanse the soul and bring clarity.
Sky City.
At present, Sky City had expanded even further.
The Dragon Vein's energy flowed endlessly into it, allowing the floating fortress to grow without restraint. No one in the ninja world knew that such a colossal war fortress existed in the skies.
At the same time, to avoid detection by the Ōtsutsuki clan on the moon, Naruto had constructed multiple layers of concealment barriers.
He was extremely cautious.
Even Super Kage–level beings would find it nearly impossible to detect Sky City. Only existences at the Six Paths level might sense something amiss.
The Tenseigan posed a similar risk. Although it monitored the ninja world, even if its gaze occasionally swept across Sky City, the concealment barriers would block it completely.
Unless it conducted repeated scans.
But who would stare at the sky every day without reason?
At some unknown moment, Naruto's figure appeared above Sky City.
The patrolling personnel didn't react—this was already routine. Naruto had been appearing here frequently as of late.
He regularly inspected the progress of Sky City's construction.
In the beginning, people would rush over to greet him enthusiastically, as if meeting an idol.
And in truth, Naruto was an idol to the people of Umbrella.
From astronomy and geography to poetry, music, and scientific manufacturing—there was nothing he didn't understand.
With his powerful spiritual strength, knowledge from his previous life that he had long forgotten now resurfaced with perfect clarity.
Combined with Heaven Rewards Diligence, his abilities in every field were steadily advancing.
Once, he had scavenged for food in forests, struggling to survive in a manipulative Konoha.
Now, he stood as a colossal existence.
Naruto walked through the corridors and chambers of Sky City, eventually arriving at its core.
This area housed the most advanced scholars in the ninja world, along with elite scientific researchers.
The scientists from the former Sky Ninja Village were also stationed here.
Two-thirds of Umbrella's research personnel were concentrated in Sky City, with the rest assigned to the experimental complex in the Land of Snow.
Naruto entered a moderately sized laboratory. Researchers in white coats moved briskly about, absorbed in their work.
His gaze paused on a slightly petite figure.
Naruto stepped forward and said with a gentle smile,
"Little Seiji, you're here as well?"
Hagane Seiji—a shinobi possessing the Steel Release Kekkei Genkai—froze for a moment.
Hearing the familiar voice, he quickly turned around. When he saw Naruto, his eyes lit up, and he ran over excitedly.
"Big Brother Naruto, you're here!"
Hagane Seiji looked up and immediately lit up with excitement.
Naruto smiled and reached out, gently patting his head.
"Mhm. How have you been doing lately, Little Seiji?"
"Big Brother Naruto!" Seiji protested, puffing up his cheeks. "I'm not a kid anymore! Oh—right, can I go downstairs to play? I'm so bored up here!"
Naruto chuckled softly.
"Little Seiji, there's nothing fun down there right now. Let's wait until this busy period is over."
At present, Hagane Seiji was simply too important to Sky City.
Although his strength was already comparable to a jōnin, in the current situation even jōnin were little more than expendable forces. They couldn't change the overall picture at all.
Seiji's value lay elsewhere.
"Hahaha! Lord Naruto, Little Seiji has been performing exceptionally well!"
A vigorous, hearty voice rang out nearby.
Old Dōra walked over, smiling broadly.
"This child's abilities have helped us tremendously," Dōra said slowly. "His understanding of mechanical manufacturing has also improved by leaps and bounds."
"In particular, when it comes to steel shaping, Little Seiji handles it with ease. He's saved us an enormous amount of time."
"Grandpa Dōra…" Seiji pouted. "I really don't want to keep learning those boring things. Can't you let me go down and play for a bit?"
Naruto laughed.
"Little Seiji, do you realize that once you truly master this knowledge, it will greatly help you control your Steel Release?" Naruto said gently. "Hasn't your proficiency improved a lot recently?"
Ye froze, then fell silent.
Thinking about it carefully, that did seem to be the case.
After learning those principles, his control over Steel Release had indeed improved noticeably.
"You should remember this," Naruto continued, looking at him seriously.
"Sometimes, knowledge is more important than raw power."
In truth, Umbrella protected Hagane Seiji extremely well.
Or rather, Steel Release shinobi were simply too precious.
Naruto himself ensured Seiji was kept far from danger.
At present, nearly one-third of Sky City's construction relied directly on Hagane Seiji.
Using his Kekkei Genkai,Seijicould produce massive quantities of steel—not crude iron, but true steel with stable structure and high strength.
With Naruto and the others around, there was no need for Seiji to step onto the battlefield.
A resource-type talent like him was far more valuable than a front-line combatant.
Compared to fighting, Hagane Seiji could generate far greater benefits through the construction and expansion of Sky City.
With him present, it was no different from possessing an inexhaustible steel mine.
Not only did he solve countless current manufacturing problems, but his existence also guaranteed future development.
As a result, everyone in Sky City treated Hagane Seiji like a treasure and doted on him.
And his potential—
Was immense.
Perhaps even greater than Kimimaro's.
...
TN:
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