Inside the wooden house.
As soon as Ichiro Tsuchigen entered, he spoke excitedly to Naruto.
"Naruto, I really have to admire you. You're amazing! I tried the method you told me, and I didn't expect Keiko to really listen to me and agree to take things slowly!"
Naruto laughed.
"I told you it would work."
The two of them sat at the table.
Ichiro Tsuchigen leaned forward, resting his hands on the table, and said gloomily,
"But tell me… I talked to her before. Why didn't she listen back then?"
Naruto took a sip of water and replied calmly,
"That's because you never clearly said you were willing to accept her."
"You were always resisting her. How could she feel secure?"
Ichiro Tsuchigen held his teacup and nodded thoughtfully.
Naruto was right.
"Oh, right, Naruto," Ichiro added, "didn't you say you also had something to ask me?"
Naruto put down his cup.
"Yes. First, Ichiro, do you know who lives next door to me?"
"I don't know."
Naruto froze.
That answer was far too straightforward.
"If you want, I can ask someone to investigate," Ichiro added. "Why?"
Naruto hesitated, then told him about seeing someone secretly watching him from the second-floor window.
After listening, Ichiro laughed.
"Why don't you just knock and ask?"
Naruto scratched his head awkwardly.
"I'm afraid they'll be scared of me. I'm a foreigner."
Ichiro waved his hand.
"No, that area is special."
"That's exactly why I arranged for you to live there."
Naruto blinked.
"What do you mean?"
Ichiro sighed.
"The people living there are all somewhat… different."
"Some have unusual skin color, some have unstable temperaments, some have overly powerful abilities and might hurt others accidentally."
"So they're gathered together in that district."
"Oh, didn't you notice? When you go out early or come back late, you hardly see anyone."
"Except that neighbor of yours."
Naruto suddenly understood.
So that was the reason.
He had once wondered why he was placed there.
Now it made sense.
As a foreigner, he also stood out.
Living there avoided unnecessary attention.
"By the way, Ichiro," Naruto continued, "I have another question."
"Go ahead. I'm listening."
Naruto explained everything he had experienced recently—chopping wood, carrying water, imitating breathing rhythms, becoming exhausted, and his confusion.
He hoped Ichiro could explain.
After listening, Ichiro sighed deeply.
"Naruto, I have to say… your comprehension is extremely high."
"You're not inferior to the elites of our clan."
"You're right. Ah Shuo and the old man were both consciously guiding you."
Naruto frowned.
"Guiding me… on purpose?"
"Yes," Ichiro nodded.
"They were deliberately leading you."
"They all have their own complete breathing and movement systems."
"Through these systems, they maximize their physical and spiritual strength."
Naruto asked doubtfully,
"But isn't dark matter the main cultivation method here?"
Ichiro nodded.
"Yes. Dark matter is the largest and most abundant energy in the universe."
"It's endless."
"But you must understand something."
"Dark matter can form everything."
"For example," Ichiro continued, "when you self-destruct, you should be completely dead."
"But the dark matter that formed your body doesn't disappear."
"It remains in the universe."
"I found it and reorganized it."
"That's why you were resurrected."
Naruto nodded.
That matched what he had experienced.
Ichiro went on,
"So, how do you find dark matter?"
"That's the key."
"You chopped wood. You carried water."
"Those actions were all methods of sensing and connecting with dark matter."
"Breathing is only one form of expression."
"When you first imitated them, you felt relaxed."
"That was because you were absorbing dark matter."
"But later, when you copied everything completely, you became exhausted."
"Why?"
"Because you absorbed dark matter but couldn't transform it."
"It accumulated inside you."
"Dark matter is different from chakra."
"The amount each person can hold is limited."
"If your capacity doesn't increase, excess energy will harm you."
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"So… in battle, experts can directly draw dark matter from the environment?"
"Exactly," Ichiro replied.
"And remember this."
"Dark matter is the foundation of all matter."
"Including chakra."
Naruto finally understood.
So these past few days…
The woodcutters and water carriers had been teaching him how to sense dark matter.
Each person had their own method.
That was why Naruto felt different when learning from different people.
Suddenly, Naruto thought of Sage Mode.
Natural energy.
The Toad Sages of Mount Myoboku.
The White Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave.
The Slug Sage of Shikkotsu Forest.
Each had different ways of absorbing natural energy.
This was similar.
Dark matter was like universal natural energy.
Everyone had their own path.
Seeing Naruto's expression, Ichiro smiled.
"Next, you'll experience more kinds of work."
"After that, I'll explain again."
"If your comprehension is good, you'll realize it yourself."
Naruto bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Brother Ichiro."
Ichiro laughed.
"You're welcome."
"I believe in you."
"You'll be able to officially cultivate soon."
It was getting late.
"I won't disturb your rest," Ichiro said, standing up. "I'll go."
They walked outside together.
Suddenly, Ichiro stopped.
"Naruto, I must warn you about something."
Naruto nodded seriously.
"Go ahead."
Ichiro stared at him intently.
"Forget everything about your past cultivation."
"Forget it all."
"Do not use any of your old methods."
"I know you haven't truly let go."
"You could probably regain power quickly if you tried."
"But don't."
"Your current body was reorganized by me."
"It is pure and clean."
"Follow the rhythm of farm life."
"Feel it."
"Understand it."
"Practice through it."
"Do you understand?"
Seeing Ichiro so serious, Naruto realized how important this was.
"I promise, Ichiro."
"I won't use any of my old training methods."
Ichiro nodded in relief.
"Good."
"Then I'm at ease."
"I'll pick you up tomorrow."
With that, Ichiro leaped into the air and disappeared into the sky.