Chapter 30: Returning After Completing Studies, A Slight Regret
"Kenshin, even in a place as isolated as this, I have heard of your fearsome reputation!"
Hiko Seijuro looked no different than he did ten years ago, which surprised Naruto slightly. "Master, you are as young as ever, but I am no longer the person I once was!"
"Your achievements have exceeded my imagination, yet they are far from what I originally envisioned." Hiko Seijuro's voice was filled with disappointment. "You seem to have forgotten who you were, and the true meaning of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū!"
"Whether it be swordsmanship or saber techniques, they all exist to serve the purpose of killing." Naruto did not agree with Hiko Seijuro's philosophy. "Just like the blade in my hand, it exists for slaughter and ends for slaughter."
"It seems our ideologies have diverged..." Hiko Seijuro tightened his grip on his long sword. "Then let me see your resolve and your capacity! Kenshin!"
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"You shall see it!" Naruto crouched down, his body compressing tightly like a spring.
Suddenly, Naruto lunged forward with his left foot, catapulting himself into the air as the long sword in his hand unsheathed with a violent flash!
"Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū Profound Truth! Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki!"
...
[Entry-Level (Intermediate) life experience gamehas ended prematurely. Host Uzumaki Naruto will be forcibly extracted from this game and returned to the Naruto World in 30 seconds.]
[Evaluating the performance of this game session, please wait...]
[Performance evaluation complete. The specific report and rating are as follows:]
[Host Uzumaki Naruto further tempered his Heart-Nature in this life game, but too much of a good thing can be harmful. The Host's Heart-Nature seems to have developed some issues, showing a tendency toward the realm of'Shura'.]
[In the final duel and lesson with Hiko Seijuro, the Host successfully learned all the Profound Truths of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, yet chose to stay his hand and accept death at the end, causing this life experience game to end prematurely.]
[In summary, the evaluation for this life experience game is 'Medium'. Reward: 50 experience points. Current balance: 50 points. The Host may exchange these for rewards in the Experience Mall later.]
"Whew..."
In a space with a milky-white theme, Naruto let out a long breath. In this life experience game, he had completely transformed into an executioner, recklessly taking lives to hone his Heart-Natureand gain experience.
By the time the life experience game ended, Naruto had also experienced the sensation of death...
"Master Hiko Seijuro really didn't hold back!" Naruto touched his chest with lingering fear, only relaxing after finding himself unharmed. "But it's over now. There won't be a second meeting in this life. After all, it was just a game, even if it was frighteningly realistic."
After a few moments of reflection, Naruto looked down, and the piercing killing intent in his eyes vanished completely. The innocent, simple, and sunny Uzumaki Naruto of the past had returned.
Although Naruto did not complete the hidden achievement of 'Slaying the Master to Attain the Dao', dying by Hiko Seijuro's blade on purpose had its own hidden benefits.
It left a flaw in Naruto's nearly formed 'Asura State of Mind'. However, this flaw was not a loophole or a weakness; instead, it was like the concept of 'The Proud Dragon Repents'—allowing him to shift between states freely, controlling his intent at will.
"Furthermore, the 'Asura State of Mind' I obtained isn't my greatest gain from this life experience game. Those combat experiences and the tempering found while hovering between life and death are what I value most."
Naruto knew exactly what he wanted. He gave up the chance to exchange items from the Experience Mall this time, pulled up his character's Five-Dimensional Panel, and dumped all 50 experience points into Mental Energy before preparing to return to his original body.
[Host Title: Uzumaki Naruto.]
[Strength: 4]
[Speed: 3]
[Endurance: 10]
[Recovery: 12]
[Mental Energy: 15]
Glancing briefly at his Five-Dimensional Panel, Naruto noticed that his lowest attributes,'Strength' and'Speed', had each increased by one point compared to last time. This indicated that as his nutrition improved, his physical condition was slowly getting better.
This was a good sign. Naruto planned to put the Medicinal Baths of National Martial Arts on his schedule after returning. After all, having survived the rescue of Hinata Hyuga, Naruto believed his level of freedom could be raised another notch.
As for his Mental Energy, which was currently his highest attribute, Naruto still felt it was insufficient. There would be many more life experience games in the future, and if his Mental Energy was too low, he wouldn't be able to withstand the sudden influx of over a decade of life experience after a game ended.
This led Naruto to a decision: unless absolutely necessary, he would not squander the points gained from life experience games but would instead choose to continue increasing his Mental Energy.
After summarizing everything, Naruto prepared to officially return. If his main body remained unconscious for too long, the number of variables would increase, which was an outcome he clearly wanted to avoid.
...
"How many days has Naruto been unconscious?"
Inside the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still puffing away on his pipe. The thick white smoke drifting through the air indicated that he was not in a good mood.
"One day and two nights," replied a Medical Ninjaresponsible for Naruto's treatment. "The physical injuries on Naruto's body have stabilized, but his consciousness..."
"Has his consciousness been traumatized?" Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared very tense. After all, entering a Tailed Beast transformation at only three years old could potentially cause irreversible damage to Naruto's consciousness.
"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama!" The Medical Ninjalooked somewhat self-reproachful. "We are currently unable to detect whether Naruto's consciousness has been harmed. The only way now is to seek help from the Yamanaka Clan..."
"The Yamanaka Clan?" Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally knew what the Yamanaka Clan specialized in. The Mind Transfer Jutsu was their secret technique, and they possessed a natural advantage when it came to consciousness and even the Soul.
But...
The strongest Tailed Beast was still sealed inside Naruto. If a member of the Yamanaka Clan made a mistake during the procedure and caused the Nine-Tailed to go on a rampage again...
"Hokage-sama! Naruto is awake!"
Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was weighing the pros and cons of asking the Yamanaka Clan for help, good news arrived as an Anbu member guarding Naruto burst through the door.
"Let's go! Let's go see him!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi rose with swift efficiency, donned his Hokage hat, and led the group straight to the Konoha Hospital.
"Thank you."
Naruto took a glass of warm water from a young nurse. His voice was slightly raspy, a clear sign that he had been unconscious for quite some time.
"How long was I asleep..." Naruto slowly shifted his body, trying to sit up against the bed, but this action drew a startled cry from the nurse.
"Naruto! Don't move!" The nurse ran over and held Naruto down. "You have several puncture wounds. Even if your body recovers quickly, moving like that could easily tear the wounds that have just begun to heal!"
"Okay..." Naruto was stunned for a moment, then quickly reacted. "I'm sorry for making you worry, Big Sister!"
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