Back in the real world, Naruto found himself sitting in his house once more.
When he came back to his senses, he realized he was still holding a bowl of rice porridge, with the small portion of leftovers from last night sitting on the table in front of him.
This was all the food he had left.
Once he finished today’s breakfast, he’d have to figure out how to survive until next month’s allowance arrived.
But at that moment, food was the last thing on Naruto’s mind.
He stood up and walked into the bathroom.
Facing the mirror above the sink, he carefully examined his reflection.
A three-year-old child with a buzz cut that made him look like a little monk stared back at him.
He wore a black tracksuit, and the whisker-like markings on both cheeks were as noticeable as ever.
Nothing looked different.
“Was everything that happened just an illusion?” Naruto frowned slightly.
“Where’s my Six Paths power?
What about my dojutsu?”
Just as doubt crept into his mind, two sharp horns suddenly sprouted from the top of his head, resembling a pair of ox horns.
At the same time, heat surged into his eyes.
His blue irises were instantly covered with black ripple patterns, within which nine black tomoe appeared.
A white robe rapidly materialized over his body, formed entirely from solidified chakra.
Even his hair changed.
Its length remained the same, but its color shifted from blond to pure white, matching the robe perfectly.
This was the manifestation of Six Paths power.
So it hadn’t been an illusion.
The Sage of Six Paths had truly given him those abilities.
As he entered his Six Paths state, excitement flashed across Naruto’s eyes.
He clenched his fist.
An indescribable feeling welled up inside him.
Ordinarily, his physical strength was already comparable to that of an eighteen-year-old adult, enough to defeat a newly graduated genin around fifteen years old.
But now age was no longer an appropriate comparison.
His strength could only be measured against ninja ranks.
“Aside from lacking actual combat experience…” Naruto narrowed his eyes.
“Even if I faced a jōnin now, I probably wouldn’t be afraid.”
It wasn’t arrogance.
The power of the Six Paths was simply that overwhelming.
Not to mention those eyes.
Whether it was the Mangekyō Sharingan or the Tomoe Rinnegan, either one alone was enough to place someone at jōnin level.
He possessed both.
The only unfortunate part was that his body was still limited by his age.
If he were thirteen instead of three he could leave Konoha immediately.
Shaking his head, Naruto figured out how to withdraw the transformation.
Now wasn’t the right time to reveal it.
“Besides, as I grow older and continue training my body, the amount of power I can draw from this state will only continue increasing.”
It was just like constructing a building.
The stronger the foundation, the taller and sturdier the building could become.
In other words, as Naruto continued strengthening his body, the Six Paths state would naturally become even more powerful.
After all, the Six Paths power wasn’t truly his own yet.
For now, it was merely a transformation he could enter.
Leaving the bathroom, Naruto quickly finished the breakfast on the table before immediately heading outside.
He had no money left.
He wasn’t going shopping.
Instead, he headed toward the outskirts of the village.
Not toward Konoha’s main gate.
Instead, he made his way into the forests covering the back mountain.
He had already made up his mind.
From now on, this mountain would become both his training ground…
And his source of food.
Otherwise he couldn’t very well starve to death at home.
The moment Naruto entered the forest, however, a figure hidden nearby instantly vanished, rushing back toward the village.
Naruto acted as though he hadn’t noticed.
In reality he had.
His sensory ability had long since reached an astonishing level.
He knew people were secretly watching him.
Three ANBU had been assigned to monitor him.
One had just left.
The other two continued following him from the shadows.
Thanks to three years of constantly training his sensory abilities, even ANBU couldn’t escape his perception.
This, too, was one of Ashura’s chakra’s greatest advantages.
And if Kurama ever agreed to cooperate with him in the future.
Kurama’s ability to sense emotions could be combined with his own perception.
Whether someone approached with goodwill or malicious intent, as long as they focused their attention on him, he would detect them immediately.
That would make things even more convenient.
Unfortunately it seemed he’d still have to spend quite some time persuading Kurama.
Inside the Hokage’s office.
The ANBU who had temporarily left Naruto’s trail knelt on one knee before the Third Hokage.
“Lord Third,” he reported, “the target, Naruto Uzumaki, has suddenly left the village residential area and entered the forest on the back mountain.
Should we stop him?”
Behind his desk, Hiruzen Sarutobi was smoking his pipe while reviewing documents.
Hearing the report, he looked up in surprise.
“He didn’t go to the park to play with other children…” Hiruzen frowned thoughtfully.
“Instead, he went to the back mountain?”
After a moment of silence, he muttered to himself, “Is it because the rumors in the village have become too much?
I’ve heard many parents warning their children not to play with the ‘demon fox.’ Has he gone to the mountains because he has nowhere else to go?”
“Actually…
I don’t think that’s the reason,” the ANBU replied hesitantly.
“Ever since Naruto moved out of the hospital, he has rarely left his home.
Although he has encountered quite a few insults from ignorant villagers, he has never once shown any intention of going to the park to play with the other children.”
“I believe there may be another reason.”
“Oh?”
Hiruzen’s interest was piqued.
“Continue watching him.
Make sure he isn’t harmed, and under no circumstances allow anything to happen to him.
Once I’ve finished today’s work, I’ll personally find some time to go see him.”
“Understood.”
With a respectful acknowledgement, the ANBU disappeared.
Left alone, Hiruzen quietly puffed on his pipe while deep in thought.
Meanwhile.
Naruto had no idea the Third Hokage planned to visit him or investigate why he had gone into the mountains.
He already knew people were secretly following him, but he paid them no attention.
Instead, once inside the forest, he began searching for the perfect location.
His main objective was training.
But he also couldn’t ignore practical necessities like food and water.
It didn’t take long before he found exactly what he needed.
A clear stream flowed through the forest.
Beside it lay a fairly spacious clearing.
The ground was rocky rather than sandy, but it was more than adequate.
If he got thirsty, he could drink directly from the stream.
If he got hungry, he could try catching fish and roast them over a fire in the clearing.
And when he grew tired he could simply lie down and rest.
It was perfect.