The next morning, Hikaru slowly woke up in the warmth of Kaguya's embrace.
His movements were gentle, but even so, he accidentally disturbed Kaguya's sweet slumber.
She blinked open her drowsy eyes, lazily rubbing her cheeks with a hand, still not quite fully awake.
At that moment, completely unguarded, she exuded a quiet allure—unaware that this sleepy languor had become an irresistible sight in Hikaru's eyes.
Gazing at her hazy expression, Hikaru once again felt an instinctive impulse rising within him.
"You're so cute I can't resist!"
...
An hour passed quietly.
Now hand in hand, Hikaru and Kaguya strolled through Konoha's newly opened commercial street.
To avoid unwanted attention, both had altered their appearances subtly.
After all, Kaguya's peerless beauty was captivating enough, but Hikaru's reputation rang louder than thunder across the land.
If they went out undisguised, even the simplest outing would spiral into chaos, with crowds swarming to ask for autographs.
And so, they chose a more low-key way to enjoy this rare moment of leisure.
Konoha was no longer the small village it once was.
It had undergone a dramatic transformation and now stood as the center of the entire shinobi world.
Shops lined both sides of the street, goods of all kinds dazzled the eyes, and the flow of pedestrians never ceased.
The vibrancy of the scene showcased Konoha's boundless prosperity and growth.
As they wandered the street, Kaguya was filled with curiosity. She stopped frequently to examine various goods, asking about their uses and prices.
Hikaru remained by her side, patiently answering her questions and occasionally pointing out particularly interesting shops.
They soon arrived at a store selling traditional clothing. Kaguya was drawn to a beautifully crafted kimono.
She tugged Hikaru inside and tried it on.
Dressed in her new outfit, she looked even more charming and radiant, causing Hikaru to stare, utterly spellbound.
After leaving the clothing shop, they sampled the street's array of culinary delights.
From sushi to ramen, from desserts to street snacks—every bite left Kaguya wide-eyed with joy and delight.
And Hikaru? He simply smiled, watching her eat with such enthusiasm, his heart brimming with contentment.
Their sweet interaction was like a perfectly choreographed romantic play, one that left a few secretly observing girls gnashing their teeth in jealousy—almost literally.
They were filled with envy and frustration, yet failed to notice the smug little smirk curling at Hikaru's lips.
In the days that followed, Hikaru—perhaps intentionally, perhaps not—took each girl out on their own dates, letting them relive those sweet moments.
Each outing was filled with laughter and romance, like a fairy tale spun into reality.
As for what happened after the dates? Well… those who know, know.
Driven by the growing rivalry, Hikaru even unlocked several new "positions" and picked up a wealth of new knowledge.
All one could say was: The road ahead is long, and I shall seek from above and below.
Setting aside the absurdities of the past month, today, Hikaru arrived early at the agreed-upon location.
Orochimaru and Tobirama had already arrived and were waiting for him.
Hikaru appeared accompanied by Kaguya and Chinatsu, their arrival instantly drawing the attention of everyone present.
After greetings were exchanged, the system finally issued a new notification.
[New World Discovered: The Outcast (一人之下)
World Quest Activated: Obtain the Eight Miraculous Techniques
(The Eight Miraculous Techniques are central to the world's narrative. Acquiring them grants access to the World Origin, which can be used to enhance the Naruto World's potential and promote planar ascension.)
Quest Reward: +100% Idle Training Speed
Quest Notice: This world contains higher-dimensional Dao systems. Peaceful acquisition is recommended.
Open the World Gate?]
Reading the system prompt, Hikaru smiled in satisfaction.
Unlocking a new world didn't just mean exploring new and unknown things—it was that reward that truly tempted him.
His colorful ability progression was far too slow. Even with the world's blessings, going from Lv1 to Lv2 still felt painfully distant.
So doubling the Idle Training speed was undoubtedly a wise choice. It would dramatically increase his power and efficiency.
Not to mention, that precious reward that could strengthen the Naruto World's core essence…
And yet, just as joy began to spread in his chest, Hikaru suddenly fell into a moment of silent contemplation.
A strange sense of unease stirred in his heart, as if a voice were quietly warning him: Follow the system's guidance—deviate, and something unpredictable may happen.
This wasn't mere paranoia. With his current strength, such instincts were not to be ignored.
So he chose to listen.
He shook his head, brushing aside the disordered thoughts, and finally spoke:
"Are you all ready? I'm about to begin."
Everyone nodded in response, each wearing a different expression.
Tobirama and Orochimaru's eyes sparkled with excitement and curiosity, clearly eager to explore the unknown world.
Chinatsu and Kaguya, on the other hand, seemed to have recalled something. A soft blush crept onto their cheeks, adding a bashful beauty to their faces.
Seeing their responses, Hikaru said softly, "Then let's go."
And with that, he whispered in his heart:
'Open the World Gate.'
As the thought took shape, a massive gate shimmering with blue light slowly materialized before him.
Blue luminescence swirled in the air, outlining a mystical passage to another world.
Everyone's gaze locked on the gate as it gradually opened.
Hikaru stepped forward without hesitation.
As his figure was swallowed by the blue glow, the others followed without pause, entering the mysterious World Gate.
They passed through an endless corridor of time and space. The surroundings shifted and reassembled, transporting them into a completely unfamiliar world.
When they emerged on the other side of the blue veil, the scene before them struck like a shockwave.
They found themselves in a deserted alley of a crumbling town.
The buildings were in ruins, bearing the marks of years of erosion and war.
The few people on the streets wore ragged clothes, barely enough to cover their bodies. Some even had old-fashioned hairstyles from feudal times.
Only a few individuals strutted by in extravagant attire, full of arrogance and swagger.
Hikaru's face darkened as he surveyed the scene.
This was completely unlike the modern society depicted in The Outcast. Something was clearly wrong.
And sure enough, the next moment, the system notification popped up—right on cue.
(T/N: Guys don't worry he won't spend a lot of time in the Outcast world, for those who isn't familiar with it, soon he will return to Naruto, then he will visit other worlds: One Piece, Demon Slayer, and Bleach.
Though I understand this part might confuse some of you, I will release the whole chapter in one day, probably Monday, it's less than 50 chapters, so god help me!)