Chapter 218: Breakthrough
Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its characters belong to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I create.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 218: Breakthrough
" A Heavenly Tribulation?..." Kakashi repeated.
" What is that?" Yamato asked.
Naruto considered for a moment how he could explain this concept to those who knew little about cultivation.
Heavenly Tribulations were the Universe's countermeasures to prevent mortals from going above their assigned stations.
Mortal beings were meant to be born, live for a while, and then die. This is how the universe maintains its balance. This was the nature of things.
Cultivators were mortal existences who threatened to break this balance by pursuing Godhood and immortality.
On the lower ranks of cultivation, nothing happens, but once one reaches the Nascent Soul Stage, is when you are finally powerful enough to be noticed by the Heavens.
And the tools used by the Heavens to stop you from continuing any further…were called Heavenly Tribulations.
" You will see it for yourselves soon enough. Then you will understand better...the dangers that I speak of. " In the end, Naruto decided to avoid giving them a proper explanation. Even if he did, they would not understand until they saw it with their own eyes.
He sat down with his legs crossed in the lotus position and closed his eyes in order to concentrate.
" Wait…what are we supposed to do now? Yamato asked. "He hasn't told us anything!."
" Just stay there and guard me. Don't let anyone or anything disturb me."
There was little chance of anyone coming here before he was done, but one can never be too sure.
Being interrupted in the middle of a breakthrough could be catastrophic so he rather be safe.
" You want us to just stay here?...how long?" Kakashi asked.
" It shouldn't take more than a day," Naruto responded.
Kakashi thought about it for a moment. He did not understand what Naruto was trying to accomplish, but he knew him well enough to realize that it must be something very important.
Naruto was not one to joke around with these things.
Kakashi glanced at Yamato. The young man looked completely exhausted.
' Is not like we can go anywhere right now…' They all needed a good rest.
" Very well, we will wait here for one day. But no longer than that." Kakashi said.
Naruto nodded while keeping his eyes closed and didn't speak again.
Yamato and Kakashi used this time to wrap up their wounds, prepare some food, and take turns to get some sleep.
There was always one of them keeping an eye on Naruto. Even if they didn't comprehend Naruto's motives, they would still do as requested and make sure he was not disturbed.
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" What do you think he is doing?." Yamato asked.
It's been almost twenty hours since he began. They had already had several meals and a few hours of sleep, but Naruto never opened his eyes or moved from the spot, not even to eat something or have a drink.
" It looks like meditation… but I've never seen someone doing it for this long without a break," Kakashi said.
The concept of meditating was not new to them. Some chakra control exercises require the use of meditation, and this also goes for elemental chakra.
But those sessions usually last an hour or two. No one is expected to spend an entire day like that, without sleeping, drinking, or eating...that would be torture.
" Yes … it is very unusual." Yamato had to agree.
" 'Unusual' would be one of the words I would also use to describe Naruto himself," Kakashi added.
' Since the day of that incident…Naruto has been nothing but unusual…' Kakashi thought about the past and the day when everything seemed to have changed.
Inside the center of his Mind Palace, Naruto was observing his progress with a satisfied smile.
The energy he obtained from the two demons, had been enough to push him to the peak of the Core Formation Stage, and there were still enough remnants to break through the next one.
Not only that, but he was also able to form a perfect Golden Core.
At the center of his Mind Palace, there was now a perfect golden sphere, levitating while gently spinning around.
This sphere was now containing most of his energy reserves. A combination of all the Yin, Yang, and Natural chakra he had acquired over the years.
Above this sphere was the golden scripture.
Naruto glanced at it. " I have gotten this far because of your help… I wish I knew what you wanted from me in return, before progressing further…but you won't tell me, right?'
There was no change in the golden divine artifact.
This made him wonder if it even has a mind of its own after all. Sometimes it does give him that impression.
Like the time when it gave Ino that gold page containing a cultivation method. This was one time the artifact acted on its own volition, without input from him.
This made him believe that it was trying to help him progress further, but the fact that he didn't know its motives for this help… made him uneasy.
Good things usually don't come free.
He waited for a bit longer observing the golden pages floating, but still saw no change and knew that he was not going to get an answer to his questions yet.
" Perhaps my cultivation is not enough yet…" Naruto reasoned. If this truly came from the realm of the Gods, then maybe one would also need to be one, in order to communicate with it.
" Very well…" His eyes shifted to the sphere. " it is time for the last step. Preparations are complete."
He was truly looking forward to this one. The Nascent Soul Stage had been the as far he got during his previous life. Now he was just one step away from reclaiming all the power he had lost.
" But this is just the beginning…this time, for sure. I will reach the peak!"
His golden core began to spin rapidly.
" Absorb it all!"
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