The next day.
Naruto got up as usual and opened the curtains.
Outside, thick clouds covered the sky.
"It's cloudy today."
"Well, the weather is good!"
Naruto stretched lazily and sighed in satisfaction.
For someone like him who had to work outdoors, cloudy weather was perfect. No scorching sunlight meant less physical exhaustion.
He opened the door and went out to wash up.
After finishing, Ichiro Tsuchigen arrived right on time.
"Naruto, here! I brought you something different today!"
As he spoke, Ichiro took out a bowl of noodles.
"Huh?" Naruto was surprised. "Why bring something different today?"
Ichiro smacked his lips and replied casually,
"I was eating noodles this morning and thought I'd bring you a bowl."
Naruto laughed.
Without saying anything more, he started eating happily.
After finishing breakfast, Ichiro grabbed Naruto and flew directly to the farm.
As usual, Tomu led Naruto to his workplace.
When they arrived at the farmland, Sister Qing had already arranged the day's tasks.
"Naruto," she said, "today you're responsible for these two fields."
Naruto held the reins of the big blue ox and looked at the two vast plots in front of him.
He took a deep breath.
"Okay! I'll do my best!"
Sister Qing was slightly surprised.
Today's workload was more than double yesterday's.
Yet this outsider accepted it without hesitation.
Before she could say anything more, Naruto had already started working.
Time waits for no one.
Complaining wouldn't help.
It was better to get moving.
Seeing Naruto's energetic attitude, Sister Qing smiled faintly.
"Working hard is good," she said slowly, "but understanding how to work is even better."
After saying that, she walked away in small steps, smoking her pipe.
Naruto watched her back and smiled.
"Another reminder…"
Over the past few days, whether it was chopping wood, carrying water, or farming, there was always someone who would come and say something seemingly casual.
But every sentence had meaning.
They were guiding him.
Naruto understood.
If he wanted to gain something, he had to observe.
So, while plowing with the big blue ox, Naruto carefully watched the people around him.
How did they guide their oxen?
How did they coordinate their movements?
How did they walk?
How did they breathe?
What surprised him was that the farmers seemed to move in perfect harmony with their oxen.
Almost like one body.
Why was that?
Naruto couldn't understand.
But he still tried to imitate them.
Unfortunately, imitation slowed him down.
With such a huge workload today, this was dangerous.
Morning passed in confusion.
Sometimes he sped up.
Sometimes he slowed down to imitate.
It felt extremely uncomfortable.
Soon, it was time for lunch.
"Naruto, time to eat!"
Someone nearby called out.
Naruto sighed, agreed, and led his ox back.
After feeding it grass, he went to eat.
While eating, Naruto actively asked the farmers around him,
"Do you have any special methods for farming?"
"Like breathing rhythms? Coordination?"
Everyone laughed.
"We're just farming," someone said.
"What breathing methods are you talking about?"
Naruto was stunned.
Then why had Sister Qing hinted at him?
And why did imitation improve coordination?
Were they hiding something?
Or did they really not realize it themselves?
Naruto felt helpless.
He could only rely on himself.
In the afternoon, Naruto began working again.
This time, he carefully observed.
How they held the reins.
How they stepped.
How they turned.
At first glance, it looked ordinary.
But when he recalled his morning imitation, he sensed something subtle.
It was hard to describe.
Like something was there…
But also not there.
An indescribable feeling.
Naruto shook his head.
"Forget it. Let's just finish plowing first."
He decided to stop overthinking.
Instead, he focused entirely on cooperating with the ox.
Just like when he once fought alongside Kurama and the other Tailed Beasts.
Trust.
Coordination.
Resonance.
Gradually, Naruto felt his body becoming lighter.
His movements became smoother.
His breathing more stable.
Without realizing it, his meridians and internal pathways were slowly opening.
Unfortunately, Naruto himself didn't notice it yet.
Not far away, Sister Qing sat on another ox and quietly observed him.
Seeing the changes, she smiled faintly.
Then she nudged her ox and slowly left.
The afternoon passed quickly.
As expected, Naruto still didn't finish both fields.
When he suggested working overtime, the ox looked at him and snorted loudly.
Naruto scratched his head awkwardly.
Looks like even the ox hated overtime.
"Let's go," Sister Qing said calmly.
"You've already gained something today."
Naruto was shocked.
"Gained something? When?"
But before he could ask, she had already turned away.
The ox followed her obediently.
Naruto stood there helplessly.
"Hey! Wait for me!"
After washing up and putting away tools, he followed them.
On the way back.
Ichiro Tsuchigen looked at Naruto and asked,
"Naruto, why do you look so down today?"
"Didn't you say yesterday that you were gaining something?"
Naruto sighed.
"It's strange today."
"Sister Qing gave me a lot of work."
"I didn't finish it."
"But she still told me I gained something."
"I don't feel like I gained anything at all."
He looked depressed.
"Do you know what I gained?"
Ichiro laughed.
"It seems you really did gain something."
"But I can't tell you."
"If I do, you won't gain it anymore."
Naruto rolled his eyes.
He really hated this mysterious style.
Everyone liked to speak halfway.
It was unbearable.
"We're here," Ichiro said.
He landed and put Naruto down.
"At this pace, you'll enter the academy soon."
"When you get there, everything will become clear."
Naruto shrugged.
"I hope so."
"But I think I've already guessed what comes next."
"Oh?" Ichiro teased. "Then you really did gain something."
Naruto smiled.
"Fine, I'll admit it."
Ichiro laughed and flew away.
Naruto put his hands on his waist and watched him disappear.
"When will I be able to fly like that again…"
He sighed softly.
Then he turned around.
And froze.
The door next door was open.
The girl who had been peeking at him was standing there.
Smiling at him.