51. Personal Disciple

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...

"Parasite, huh? That statement is surprisingly accurate," Tori muttered, surprised.

"I thought you, Monks, knew about it?" Naruto observed.

"Who would have thought that one of the most important organs in the human body is a parasite?" Tori looked significantly at Naruto.

"Well, it was assumed that the Chakra Circulatory System is an alien organ to humanity, intended for life evolution, both individually and generationally," Tori explained his understanding.

"Oh, I see. It's almost the same, just a different interpretation," Naruto muttered. If the Monks had modern technological equipment and scientific knowledge, they would come to the same conclusion as Naruto; they just lacked the technology to discover it. However, despite this, they discovered the true function and meaning of the Chakra System, only in a different sense, according to their own reasoning.

"What's your name, child?" the old man asked Naruto at one point.

"Oh, I'm Naruto, Namikaze Naruto."

Tori knew who they were, yet this old man was asking him? Maybe he just wants to look cool.

"Well then, Naruto, would you like to be my personal student?" Shoka-sen asked him seriously.

Naruto involuntarily glanced at Kakashi standing next to him, wanting to know his opinion, but he just shrugged in response.

"Sure, why not?" Naruto replied casually. He probably should consider it more and show more respect as he thought earlier, but it wasn't his style.

"Very well," the old man had a smile of satisfaction on his face. Actually, if Naruto didn't know he was some important Monk, he would treat him like an ordinary old man because there's nothing indicating he's something special.

"And your companion?" Shoka-sen asked.

"Am I also supposed to be your student...?" Kakashi looked slightly surprised.

"No, Senior wants to know what your position is," Tori explained.

"Oh, please, next time speak directly, Senior. I'm Naruto's guardian, the son of my Sensei, and I swore to him that I would keep an eye on Naruto all the time," Kakashi sighed.

"I understand, then it doesn't change anything..." the old man scratched his beard, looking at Naruto again.

"Do you know what the training to acquire the Gift of the Hermit Group looks like?" he asked after a moment.

Naruto shook his head "No, I only have fragmentary information."

"The previous conversation was a good introduction; can you guess what can be drawn from it?" the old man asked his new student. It looked like he was giving him his first lesson, and actually, he was.

To draw something from it... Naruto wondered for a moment. The whole preliminary conversation only talked about how Chakra is evil and presumably that was the answer, but the question about acquiring the Gift of the Hermit Group confused him now.

After a moment, understanding what it was about, Naruto answered without hesitation, "To acquire the Gift of the Hermit Group, one must abandon Chakra, rid the body of it."

Shoka-sen nodded approvingly, "Correct answer. The Gift of the Hermit Group is the Energy of Humanity, created solely from our Will and exhausting body training. It's under our complete control, and each such Energy is different depending on the person."

"How exactly can it be acquired...?" Naruto inquired. He wasn't really eager to abandon his Chakra because thanks to it, he lives and has plans for the future, such as producing Chakra cells in his body.

"Only through proper training and strong Will," Shoka-sen replied, and Naruto grunted discontentedly at this answer.

"Training usually lasts four years before the Gift of the Hermit Group appears in your body; sometimes a genius appears who will acquire it in three years, or even two, but not shorter," Tori expanded his knowledge.

"Oh, that long?" Naruto was stunned. That strange Monk, Wataridori, said he could acquire this Energy in just one year.

"Patience and strict discipline are the foundation of training," Shoka-sen said.

"I can do it faster, just show me how to train," Naruto declared. He was sure he could outdo all other geniuses in time thanks to his mind.

"Arrogance can blind you, so for your own good, abandon it," Tori declared sternly.

"It's not arrogance, it's self-confidence."

"Arrogance and self-confidence are separated only by a thin layer that can collapse at any moment, even without you being aware of it."

Shoka-sen raised his hand, wanting to stop further exchange of words. "It's not particularly important; I'll see for myself how you're doing."

Tori was a nice and sympathetic Monk, but he evidently also had a stern side, and it will probably show more when they start training.

Naruto nodded "That would be best."

...

It's a bit embarrassing for Naruto to be called that, but he became a Training Monk. Every Monk at this stage undergoes a four-year training period before officially joining the Fire Temple and becoming a Junior Monk after acquiring the Gift of the Hermit Group.

The first year of training consists of learning the basics of Kontorōrujutsu, or Control Techniques. It requires mastering three selected basic Control Techniques. After mastering them, the Monk gets rid of Chakra from the body so that during the next three years of intense physical training, they can adapt to acquiring the Gift of the Hermit Group. Besides physical training, the Training Monk undergoes many Trials of Will, one of which Naruto already heard about and was incredibly stunned by its intensity. Furthermore, the Monk must learn additional Control Techniques, but this time at an intermediate-advanced level.

The training plan is very intense, and for ordinary people, it's downright murderous; even twelve hours of self-improvement and enhancement are required. Considering Naruto's condition, he himself doesn't know if his body would be able to withstand it. It wasn't like Shizune's light training; it was intense torture for the body. Nonetheless, he's excited and can't wait to start training.

Tori showed Naruto and Kakashi around the Outer Part of the Temple and showed them their new accommodation.

"I didn't say anything earlier, but we can't stay here for four years, Naruto," Kakashi said to him when they were alone.

"I know, don't worry Kakashi-nii-san. I've already thoroughly checked what my training will look like; I've mastered all the basic Control Techniques, so one year is off the table. My body is also at the highest level, and I can't strengthen it any further, it's my limit. So, I just need to learn how the process of acquiring the Gift of the Hermit Group works, and once I have that knowledge, I'll achieve it in a maximum of six months. I only need to learn two more intermediate-advanced Control Techniques, and it won't take me more than two months," Naruto calmly explained to him, stunning his older brother.

"From your perspective, it looks easy."

Naruto shrugged. "I guess so, I already possess most of what they offer me. Nevertheless, I'm most interested in advanced Control Techniques, which I'll get my hands on after becoming a Junior Monk."

"Tori-san said that learning one of those techniques requires a minimum of a year's work," Kakashi reminded him.

"Right. However, Kontorōrujutsu is the only thing I have a natural talent for, besides sensory perception, so my learning time is always shorter. Even Shizune-nee-chan was surprised at how easily I mastered all those techniques," Naruto said sincerely.

Kakashi had heard about it, but now, having a broader view on the subject, he truly began to appreciate Naruto as a Shinobi, despite not officially being one. During their journey, he noticed many strong traits in Naruto, although he tried to hide his presence. His endurance and strength were also not as small as one might suppose; Kakashi assessed his body at the level of a typical Chunin. It was truly amazing that he had come this far at such a young age, despite his catastrophic health condition.

"Well, I can't advise you anything, but don't overdo it. Despite greater capabilities, your body is still ill, so as soon as you feel something strange happening, stop," Kakashi looked at him with a serious gaze. He always had a stern look after experiencing the Third Great Shinobi War, but now this intensity was several times greater.

"Sure, I promise," Naruto nodded seriously. He knew Kakashi was worried about him; he had sworn to Minato that he would take care of him and felt responsible for him. He would probably give his whole hand if he had to protect him.

Shortly after this conversation, they both heard a knock on the door of their new apartment.

Kakashi opened it, curious, and saw behind it a teenage boy, about Naruto's age, maybe a year older.

"Namikaze Naruto summoned for training," he said quickly, then turned around and walked away.

Kakashi muttered, puzzled by his behavior, but turned to Naruto and said, "Did you hear that?"

"Yeah... I expected it," he shrugged.

...

Two weeks had passed since Naruto started training as a Monk.

From early morning, he joined the training group, where, along with the other Training Monks, they underwent several hours of physical training.

Naruto had to learn the special fighting style of the Monks, which stimulated the internal Energy during specific body movements. Mastering this style was simple and quick, but it wasn't enough; the Monks' Taijutsu relied on continuous and constant execution of these movements to become more sensitive to internal Energy.

Every Training Monk devoted a minimum of four hours a day to Taijutsu under the guidance of Leading Monks. Naruto had seen many times how one of his fellow Monks made a minimal, seemingly invisible mistake, and later was beaten with a wooden stick. The Leading Monks had terribly sharp eyesight and punished even the smallest mistakes. It was torture for the Training Monks; performing Taijutsu required a calm mind, but the thought that they would be punished for even the smallest mistake caused abnormal stress in everyone's minds.

Fortunately for Naruto, despite being a newcomer, he was never punished. He performed the exercises perfectly, and the Leading Monks couldn't find fault with anything.

After the morning training, breakfast was served, consisting solely of herbs and plants. The diet was disgusting and had no good taste at all, but it provided relief and cleared the mind, resulting in less stress during the day and improved sleep quality.

After breakfast, Naruto separated from the group of Training Monks and headed to the private courtyard, which belonged to Senior Shoka-sen. He was Naruto's new master and personally taught him.

Naruto expected to learn basic Control Techniques, such as controlling blood flow or heartbeats, but he was surprised.

Shoka-sen instilled in Naruto the philosophy of the Temple and the Monks, as well as their history, from the very beginning.

"Do you know why we call our Energy the Gift of the Hermit Group?" Shoka-sen asked him once, extending his hand covered with a dense, white aura.

Naruto, of course, shook his head; how was he supposed to know? This old man likes to ask him about knowledge he has no clue about.

"It's because of the memory of our Masters," Shoka-sen explained.

"About a hundred and twenty years after the death of the Sage of Six Paths, it was the year 672, when Hermits from across the ocean arrived on our continent. They didn't possess Chakra, yet they competed in strength with the strongest of that time. They passed their Energy to chosen individuals and founded this Temple before they departed. They supposedly lived close to four hundred years, but even at such an advanced age, their eyes resembled those of a hungry wolf."

"Is it possible to live that long?" Naruto questioned their longevity; even with Chakra, the lifespan of humans usually doesn't exceed a hundred years. Members of the Uzumaki and Senju Clans could live close to a hundred and fifty years if they didn't meet an early demise. However, that's the limit for humanity.

"Chakra is Energy with endless potential; it has more possibilities than any other Energy. It's suitable not only for Shinobi arts but for all known human disciplines, and even now, we don't know its true possibilities. However, the Gift of the Hermit Group focuses solely on you; it's your Energy and serves for your good. Don't confuse good in the form of morally good deeds with personal good. The Gift of the Hermit Group is Kontorōrujutsu, Energy extracted and forged from within your life. Thanks to it, you can cultivate your lifespan, manipulate Life Energy, prolonging your life for many hundreds of years, up to the limits of possibility."