The following afternoon, after everyone returned from their lunch break, the children who still hadn’t managed to extract chakra prepared to continue practicing.
Just then, Iruka clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention.
“Alright, whether you’ve already learned to extract chakra or not, stop what you’re doing.
This afternoon, we’ll be starting a new lesson.”
Even Naruto, who usually rested his head on the desk whenever he had the chance, couldn’t help but perk up slightly.
Iruka turned to the blackboard and wrote two large characters:
Meditation.
“I know that those of you who still haven’t extracted chakra are anxious,” he began.
“But the more anxious you are, the harder it becomes.”
“That’s where meditation comes in.”
“Meditation means emptying your mind and nourishing your spirit.”
“It doesn’t just help with chakra extraction—it also improves the quality of the chakra you produce.
It’s said that this course was personally established by the First Hokage before the Ninja Academy even existed, and later implemented by the Second Hokage.
It’s an extremely important lesson, and I hope all of you will take it seriously.”
“Especially those of you who haven’t extracted chakra yet.
Learning meditation well may allow you to achieve it much sooner.”
Iruka continued explaining enthusiastically from the front of the classroom.
Naruto’s interest was immediately piqued.
So…
The world of Naruto actually had meditation.
Yet, from what he knew, Konoha’s shinobi didn’t place much importance on it.
Even Jiraiya had treated meditation as nothing more than a way to keep Naruto occupied, never considering it particularly valuable.
To them, meditation merely strengthened one’s mental energy.
But Naruto saw things differently.
To him, strengthening mental energy was merely a byproduct.
The true purpose of meditation…
…was to enter true tranquility.
In Naruto’s view, entering that state was fundamentally no different from sensing natural energy while training in Sage Mode.
In fact, simply remaining motionless during Sage training wasn’t even as profound as true meditative absorption.
Beyond ordinary meditation lay even higher realms of enlightenment—constant tranquility, perpetual stillness, self-forgetfulness, and even transcendence.
If his understanding was correct…
Then meditation wasn’t merely another Academy subject.
It was the single most valuable class the Ninja Academy offered.
The Three Basic Techniques.
Theory lessons.
Intelligence analysis.
Compared to meditation…
They were practically worthless.
Of course, meditation belonged to the realm of the mystical.
It was the sort of thing where belief itself affected the outcome.
If Naruto wanted to walk this path…
He would have to believe in it wholeheartedly.
Regardless…
This class was extremely important.
Naruto immediately straightened his posture and listened with complete concentration.
________________
“Naruto, you seem to care a lot about this lesson.”
Shikamaru glanced over curiously.
“Yeah.”
Naruto kept his eyes on Iruka without even turning his head.
“I think it’s very important.”
Shikamaru shrugged.
“My dad says meditation doesn’t do much.
Besides helping people extract chakra faster, it only improves mental strength a little.”
“I still think it’s important.”
Naruto simply repeated himself without explaining further.
Seeing that Naruto wasn’t interested in debating, Shikamaru let the subject drop.
After all, neither he nor his father regarded meditation as anything special.
The Academy’s meditation method wasn’t any different from the one his father had taught him.
________________
Naruto himself had never formally studied meditation.
But in his previous life, he had read countless wuxia and xianxia novels.
His understanding of meditation differed greatly from that of the shinobi.
The more he listened to Iruka’s lecture…
The rougher the Academy’s meditation method seemed.
Fortunately…
Iruka had at least explained the overall framework.
That was enough.
Naruto had never been the sort of person who blindly followed established methods.
Once he understood the basic structure…
He could refine the rest himself.
Visualization.
That would be the missing piece.
Like carving and polishing a rough block of stone into a masterpiece.
Iruka’s meditation method provided the outer framework.
Visualization would fill in the interior.
The only problem…
Was deciding what to visualize.
Naruto frowned slightly.
For the moment, nothing suitable came to mind.
After all…
He had only been an ordinary office worker in his previous life.
Visualizing the sun…
Or the solar system…
Those grand and awe-inspiring objects sounded impressive.
But those were things fit for people whose hearts embraced heaven and earth.
Naruto considered himself perfectly ordinary.
Trying to act too grand…
Was just asking for disaster.
Besides…
In just a few years he’d be facing the strongest beings in the ninja world.
Eventually he’d even confront Six Paths-level opponents…
And the progenitor of chakra herself.
Better to stay grounded.
No need to get carried away and ruin everything.
________________
“That’s the meditation method.”
Iruka clapped his hands.
“Everyone, stay focused and begin meditating.”
“Even those who’ve already extracted chakra should participate.”
“As I said before, meditation not only increases the efficiency of chakra extraction, but also improves its quality.”
“So no more sleeping, you talented students.”
“Everyone meditates together.”
“…Yes…”
The children responded with miserable groans.
________________
Naruto finally made up his mind.
I’ve decided.
I’ll visualize…
a grass carp.
It was the creature he had caught the most.
Raised the most.
Eaten the most.
For the past three years…
Grass carp had practically been his staple food.
There wasn’t anything more familiar.
So…
He closed his eyes and began meditating according to Iruka’s instructions.
Although he followed the Academy’s method…
His own understanding went far beyond it.
Earlier he’d concluded that meditation required genuine belief.
If you believed…
It worked.
If you didn’t…
It wouldn’t.
So from the very beginning…
Naruto started building absolute faith in the process.
Even Iruka’s explanation hinted at this.
But only briefly.
To Iruka, it wasn’t important.
To Naruto…
It was everything.
He repeatedly reinforced the key sentence in his mind.
“Imagine yourself floating in endless emptiness…
Let go of every thought…
Empty your mind…
Clear away all distractions…
Until a feeling of comfort and relaxation spreads throughout your entire body…”
He focused entirely on those final words.
A feeling of comfort and relaxation spreads throughout your entire body…
Again.
And again.
He hypnotized himself into believing it completely.
Chakra was an extraordinary energy.
It was born from the union of spiritual energy and physical energy.
As Naruto continued reinforcing that belief…
Time slowly passed.
Before long…
He genuinely felt warmth…
Comfort…
And complete relaxation spreading throughout his entire body.
Now…
It was time to begin visualization.
That pleasant sensation drifted freely through the empty void…
Like a fish swimming through water.
Gradually…
The outline of a grass carp appeared.
Its form became clearer and clearer.
Then…
It flicked its tail.
Just like a real fish, it swam freely through the watery expanse of the void.
The surrounding emptiness itself began to flow like a gentle current…
Washing away every speck of dust.
Cleansing both body and mind.
At that instant…
Naruto truly became like a fish swimming freely through boundless water.
He forgot himself.
He forgot everything else.
And entered a state of complete meditative absorption.
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