However, once a person relaxes, starting up again… that becomes a monumental, almost impossible task!
Naruto was currently in this exact state. After finally eating his fill and feeling his previous exhaustion melt away, the System's demand that he immediately begin training felt utterly unbearable.
[Warning! Lightning Release Baptism countdown, 2… 1…]
[0!]
Naruto gritted his teeth, stubbornly refusing to continue his training. He braced himself for the shock, his muscles tensing and his face twisting in defiance…
The next moment.
*Sizzle… crackle…*
*Buzz!!!!*
The Lightning Release Baptism arrived as promised! A violent current of electricity instantly surged through his entire body. Naruto felt as if every one of the 130 trillion cells in his body was first pierced by a searing needle, then utterly obliterated in a burst of agony!
This intense level of pain was simply not something an ordinary person could possibly endure. Even if Naruto was exceptionally gifted, even if he possessed the powerful bloodline of the Uzumaki Clan, and even if he was the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, he still couldn't negate this most direct and brutal form of pain.
"Ah ah ah—"
Naruto instantly let out a hysterical scream that echoed throughout the night sky of Konoha Village.
However, this was just the beginning…
[Lightning Release Baptism continues…]
"Ah ah ah ah ah—"
Relying on his last shred of stubbornness, Naruto tried to resist the Lightning Release Baptism, but he quickly realized how naive and childish he was being. Clearly, this thing wasn't just a one-time event. As long as he refused to cooperate, the "baptism" would descend upon him continuously!
Who on earth could endure this?!
Naruto was still determined to fight to the bitter end, to embrace death in order to live… when suddenly.
"Damn it, Naruto! Hurry up and train!"
Naruto jumped in fright.
"What was that sound?!"
"That isn't the System's voice in my head…"
"You… who are you?!"
...
Inside Naruto's body, within the mental space of the Eight Trigrams Seal, the legendary calamity Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox who possessed the power to destroy heaven and earth, had been living a relatively peaceful and uneventful life.
Ever since being sealed by that damned Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, all those years ago, Kurama could only live in humiliation inside the brat Uzumaki Naruto's body, completely stripped of his freedom. Although this life was painful, over time, Kurama had gradually grown used to it, forced to accept his reality.
However, he had never given up hope. The leakage of chakra through the Eight Trigrams Seal, while a calculated plan by Minato Namikaze, was also a double-edged sword. His chakra, dripping with malevolence and evil, was meant to subtly corrupt Naruto's will over time. If this continued, Naruto would eventually lose control, and Kurama would finally have the opportunity to seize his body, break free from his prison, and regain his liberty!
Although the wait might be long, for Kurama—a Tailed Beast with no concept of death, the ability to constantly regenerate, and who had lived for over a thousand years—this was nothing.
However, those peaceful days were suddenly shattered.
On this particular day, Kurama was still sound asleep within the mental sealing space. He wasn't bothering a soul, wasn't provoking anyone.
Suddenly…
*Sizzle… crackle…*
*Rumble!*
Violent lightning descended from the heavens, striking him while he slept and leaving him utterly scorched and steaming! Even Kurama, who was feared by the entire ninja world, couldn't help but scream repeatedly from the shock, suffering immensely!
The power of this Lightning Release seemed to transcend everything, descending directly upon both the physical body and the spirit simultaneously, making it completely unbearable!
Rage and agony warred within Kurama, and he immediately tried to find out what had happened. Soon, he discovered that a 'System' had appeared in Naruto. Even Kurama had no idea what this thing was. However, the power of this thing was inconceivable, possessing an unimaginable might! It forced Naruto to train with a frantic, death-defying intensity, and if he disobeyed, a warning was immediately issued, activating the so-called "Lightning Release Baptism"!
After understanding this, Kurama was both shocked and enraged! Whether Naruto worked hard or not was irrelevant, and whether he became Hokage was none of his business, but you couldn't shock him and shock me at the same time!
Kurama was, of course, far stronger than Naruto. However, he was only half of the Yang Nine-Tails' chakra, his power was already suppressed and bound by the Eight Trigrams Seal, and this Lightning Release Baptism was practically 'true damage'—it completely ignored all defenses and went straight for the soul! As a result, Kurama was enduring even more pain than Naruto was!
He never wanted to bother with this brat, but now, he couldn't help but have his fur stand on end constantly, paying close attention to Naruto's every move. Every time the System's warning sounded, Kurama couldn't help but tremble! Fortunately, Naruto also feared that pain and had been desperately trying to train all day. This had allowed Kurama to breathe a sigh of relief.
But now… after dinner, that little monster actually started to resist, completely oblivious to the danger! Kurama didn't even have time to react. Violent lightning currents had already struck down fiercely again!
Instantly, all of his fur was blasted apart as terrifying electricity surged through his entire body. The intense pain made even this thousand-year-old fox scream in agony. What was even more terrifying was… that little monster was still being stubborn!
So, the second wave of baptism immediately descended! Kurama's pain was even greater than Naruto's! He could endure it, but Kurama couldn't bear it anymore, so for the first time ever, he roared at Naruto.
"Damn it, Brat! Hurry up and train!"
"And you, you damned System!"
"If that brat isn't working hard, shock him! Why are you shocking me!"
Although Naruto vaguely knew that some kind of monster seemed to be lurking inside him, it wasn't until this very moment that he truly confirmed it.
"You… who are you?!"
Kurama, still enduring the agonizing Lightning Release Baptism, roared angrily, "You wretched brat! Stop talking! Hurry up and start training!"
Actually, Naruto couldn't take it anymore either. Although he was in a panic, he still subconsciously shouted back immediately, "Okay, okay, okay! I get it! I'll train, alright!"
The System's punishment stopped instantly.
Naruto gasped for breath, his recently recovered strength once again depleted. He didn't dare to be stubborn any longer and immediately began practicing the Chakra Refining Technique.
Fortunately, he had already been training for an entire day; whether it was during his lunch break or every short break between classes, Naruto had never stopped refining his chakra. Now, his proficiency in the Chakra Refining Technique had already surpassed 60! This was his first subject to pass.
So now, Naruto found that entering the state of chakra refining was much smoother than he had imagined. The efficiency was even beyond his wildest dreams…
"Huh?! When did my Chakra Refining Technique become so powerful?!"
Although Naruto was still shaken, sensing his progress made him feel a strange mix of pain and happiness.
Kurama, however, was in a much worse state. At this moment, his fur was blasted and scattered, his eyes were wide with fury, and his fox pupils were completely crimson, burning with scorching flames!
*'Damn it… If this continues, I won't even get the chance to seize this brat's body; Since I will go mad from these lightning shocks!'*
*'What in the world is the origin of this damned System? I've lived for over a thousand years, and I've never heard of such an existence…'*
Kurama fumed, lost in thought, then forced himself to calm down.
*'Should I… have a proper talk with that brat? No… forget it, I will not trust humans!'*
*'However, I don't want to experience any more of those Lightning Release Baptisms… It seems I can only temporarily cooperate with that monstrous brat…'*
Over the years, Kurama had been using the "loophole" in the Eight Trigrams Seal to continuously leak his chakra and malice to Naruto. Although this was part of Minato Namikaze's original intention—wanting Naruto to gradually master Kurama's chakra for his own use—at this initial stage, it had the counterproductive effect of disrupting Naruto's training. Naruto being labeled a bottom-feeder was, in large part, actually due to this constant interference.
However… Kurama now feared the Lightning Release Baptism and decided to no longer actively disrupt Naruto's chakra and training. This could be said to have solved this problem at its very source. This was a change that even the System could not have foreseen.
"Huh? What's going on? My chakra extraction seems to have become much smoother! Before, there was always a disruptive force fighting against me, but now that feeling has vanished completely!"
Naruto was overjoyed. His proficiency in the Chakra Refining Technique had already surpassed 60 points, and now, without that external interference, his chakra extraction became much more efficient!
An entire day, plus two hours at noon, and over an hour spread across several breaks, was still far from the required eight hours.