"Heh heh heh, I could smell the aroma from a mile away, Naruto."
Third Hokage Hiruzen's gaze swept over the tidy lean-to and the well-built stove, finally resting on the perfectly roasted fish skewer in Naruto's hand.
A hint of imperceptible surprise and approval flashed in his eyes.
It was unbelievable that a three-year-old child could take such good care of himself in this forest, and even cook such enticing food.
"It seems you're doing quite well here?"
"That's right! The back mountain is my home, and everyone helps with food and drink!"
Naruto grinned, revealing his small white teeth. He raised the roasted fish skewer in his hand and said with a smile, "Want a piece? Third Hokage Hiruzen, I guarantee it's so delicious your tongue will fall off!"
Third Hokage Hiruzen looked at Naruto's unclouded smile, his heart filled with mixed emotions. This child seemed completely unaware of the Village's hostility towards him, or perhaps, he had chosen a smarter way to cope—by staying away.
This precociousness, along with his survival skills that far exceeded his age, made him both heartbroken and unable to hide a trace of relief.
"Haha, then I, your grandpa, won't be polite." Third Hokage Hiruzen took a large piece of fish meat that Naruto offered him, took a bite, and found it fresh, tender, smooth, and perfectly cooked.
"Mmm! It's truly delicious! Naruto, who taught you this skill?" he asked casually.
"No one taught me!" Naruto blinked his clear blue eyes, looking innocent, "I got hungry, caught some fish, tried to roast them, and after roasting a lot, I learned! Isn't this something anyone with hands can do!?"
Third Hokage Hiruzen looked deeply at Naruto, not pressing the matter. He exhaled a smoke ring, his gaze becoming serious: "Naruto, do you remember what grandpa promised you?"
Naruto's heart skipped a beat, but his face still maintained a childish excitement: "I remember, I remember! Is it that thing called Chakra? The one that can make me stronger and catch bigger fish?"
"Yes, it's the Chakra refining technique."
Third Hokage Hiruzen nodded, his smile receding slightly as he said seriously, "This is the foundation of our Ninja's power. Only with Chakra can you learn Ninjutsu, better protect yourself, and more freely do what you want to do."
"Yay!" Naruto cheered, then seemed to remember something, cautiously lowering his voice, "Then… Third Hokage Hiruzen, are you going to teach me now?"
His blue eyes sparkled with light, his acting perfectly natural.
Third Hokage Hiruzen looked at the child before him, who lived freely in the forest with a bright smile, yet was subtly ostracized by the entire Village, and silently made a decision.
"Of course." Third Hokage Hiruzen gently tapped his pipe on a stone, his tone gentle and firm, "Today, grandpa will teach you how to refine Chakra!"
Third Hokage Hiruzen looked at Naruto, who was sitting cross-legged, trying hard to straighten his small back, his face full of seriousness.
A soft light flashed in his eyes, slightly easing the heavy feeling in his heart caused by the Nine-Tailed.
"Naruto, listen."
Third Hokage Hiruzen's voice was low and clear, and with the experience of a decades-long professor, he carefully taught Naruto: "Chakra is the perfect fusion of physical energy and spiritual energy. It is the foundation for us to use Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu."
"Physical energy originates from the vitality of every cell in our body. Spiritual energy comes from our will, experience, and the power of our mind. When these two energies, guided by your will, merge like streams flowing into a river, Chakra is born."
He first explained the meaning of Chakra, and then began to teach Naruto the specific refining method!
As soon as Third Hokage Hiruzen finished speaking, the skill [Uzumaki Chakra Refining Method] indeed appeared on Naruto's system panel. This refining method actually belonged to the Uzumaki Clan; Third Hokage Hiruzen was thoughtful!
With a thought, Naruto instantly removed all other items from the AFK slot, leaving only the solitary [Uzumaki Chakra Refining Method]. The entire system was now fully dedicated to this one skill!
All the Chakra leaked by the Nine-Tailed was used for AFK refining, and the speed was like adding points in Deep Blue. Soon, the refining method's level went from LV0 to LV1—Beginner!
The moment the refining method leveled up, a warm current generated from his body, flowing smoothly and surging through his meridians!
The gentle smile on Third Hokage Hiruzen's face instantly froze, and the pipe in his hand almost fell to the ground!
He had seen countless children refine Chakra, from geniuses like Kakashi and Shisui, to ordinary Ninja with mediocre aptitudes. He had seen those who succeeded on their first attempt, and those who needed guidance several times or even several days. But he had never seen Chakra so vigorous!
The blond child before him had only closed his eyes for less than ten seconds!
A clearly visible stream of Chakra flowed naturally through Naruto's small body, like breathing!
The amount of Chakra was incredibly vast for a child refining it for the first time! And the vitality contained within that Chakra was so rich that it startled him! This was definitely not what an ordinary Uzumaki Clan member should have when first refining Chakra!
Third Hokage Hiruzen's gaze became incredibly sharp, staring intently at Naruto. He could feel that although this Chakra was active, it was extraordinarily stable! It was clearly completely different from his expectation that a Jinchuriki's first contact with Chakra might trigger a Nine-Tailed Chakra rampage!
"How is this possible?"
Third Hokage Hiruzen's heart was in turmoil.
"This refining speed, this amount of Chakra, and this pure sense of life, is it the Uzumaki bloodline? No, even an Uzumaki Clan genius would never refine Chakra so smoothly and in such a huge quantity at this age for the first time! Is it the Nine-Tailed? No, this Chakra has no contamination of hatred?"
Third Hokage Hiruzen perplexedly tugged at his beard, pulling out a few strands without snapping out of his daze!
Naruto was completely immersed in his own changes. His gaze fell on the newly activated [Adamantine Sealing Chains] on the system panel. A subtle curve formed at the corner of his mouth, and he raised his small palm, reaching out towards a towering giant tree not far away!
A small, golden Chakra chain shot out from behind his butt, from below his tailbone, with a whooshing sound!
The chain was only as thick as a thumb, but it exuded a heart-stopping power! It pierced precisely into the main trunk of the giant tree!
Crack—!
Where the golden chain pierced, the hard bark was instantly torn, and wood chips flew everywhere! The entire large tree shook violently, and its dense canopy rustled! The chain was deeply embedded in the trunk, its end still trembling slightly, emitting a low hum!
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Third Hokage Hiruzen's eyes widened, his jaw dropped, and the pipe he was holding clattered to the ground. He didn't even notice the sparks flying as he stared blankly at Naruto, as if he had seen a ghost!