Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 227 The Path of Cultivation

Seeing Hyuga Neji's earnest attitude, Hyuga Kanan nodded in satisfaction. He knew this child had a strong desire for power and strength, but also needed guidance to understand and utilize these powers correctly. So, he continued, "From today onwards, we will begin to learn how to truly embark on the path of cultivation and truly improve ourselves. It will be a long and arduous process, but as long as you have enough perseverance and determination, I believe you will succeed."

Neji Hyuga listened intently; he knew this was the moment he had always dreamed of. He nodded vigorously, his eyes unwavering, as if he were fully prepared to face the challenges ahead.

Looking at the spirited student before him, Hyuga Kanan felt a surge of pride. He knew this child would one day become a powerful cultivator, bringing him honor and pride. However, he also clearly recognized that the path of cultivation was fraught with thorns and difficulties, requiring their joint efforts and continuous exploration to go further.

"I bet you've been feeling really frustrated and resentful lately! Seeing other kids who are even younger than you, yet their strength far surpasses yours. Don't you feel like God is being unfair to you? Why can't you refine your chakra and train as a ninja? While those other kids can refine their chakra and learn all sorts of ninja knowledge and techniques. You must feel really unbalanced!" Hyuga Kanan said to Neji, a teasing smile on his face.

Hyuga Neji blushed slightly and nodded somewhat embarrassedly in agreement. He truly felt the same way. After all, he was exceptionally talented in learning and refining chakra, easily mastering the techniques, yet Hyuga Kanan forcibly forbade him from touching anything related to ninja training. This left him feeling utterly helpless. Every day, he could only follow Kanan's instructions, focusing solely on physical training and constantly honing his physique. Three years passed in this way. Although he understood that his teacher must have had his reasons, seeing the gap in strength between him and his companions widening inevitably stirred feelings of resentment within him.

"What I'm about to tell you, you must not tell anyone, not even your father. This is for their safety, do you understand?" Hyuga Kanan looked at the boy before him with a solemn expression, his voice low and serious. His eyes revealed an indescribable determination and resolve, as if he wanted to bury this secret in his heart forever.

Hyuga Neji's eyes widened; he had never seen his teacher so serious. He could feel an invisible pressure weighing on his heart, but at the same time, he realized that what his teacher was about to say was definitely not trivial. He nodded vigorously, indicating that he understood his teacher's meaning.

Hyuga Kanan sighed softly. He knew this decision might be difficult for a child to accept, but he had to tell Hyuga Neji the truth. He slowly began, "The reason I don't want you to refine chakra is very simple: it's because a ninja's chakra isn't simply their own power. Chakra contains the will of others, and these wills don't originate from ourselves."

Hyuga Neji frowned slightly after hearing this; he didn't quite understand what his teacher was saying. How could chakra possess someone else's will? This seemed to completely contradict his understanding of the ninja world. But he still listened quietly as his teacher continued to explain.

“Think about it. If the person who is the source of chakra can spread chakra continuously throughout the entire ninja world through some means, then it means that the entire ninja world will be influenced or even controlled by this person. In that case, it would be impossible for anyone to resist or break free from the constraints.” Hyuga Kanan’s tone became increasingly heavy, and his gaze was fixed on the distance, as if he was thinking about some profound question.

Hyuga Neji was stunned. He had never imagined that chakra held so many mysteries and dangers. He couldn't help but recall the agonizing feeling he had experienced when he tried to refine chakra. Was it truly because the will within the chakra was resisting him?

"So, now you understand why I've always prevented you from refining chakra, right? It's not just for your own safety, but also to protect your family and friends. If they find out about this, it could cause unnecessary trouble." Hyuga Kanan gently patted Hyuga Neji's shoulder, a hint of concern flashing in his eyes.

Hyuga Neji remained silent for a moment, finally understanding his teacher's good intentions. Although his heart was still filled with doubt and unease, he firmly replied, "Teacher, I understand. I won't tell anyone, please don't worry."

Hyuga Kanan nodded with satisfaction, confident that Hyuga Neji would keep the secret. However, he had no idea what kind of fate this secret would bring to Hyuga Neji.

"None of that matters. Now I will explain my method of cultivation." Hyuga Kanan looked at Hyuga Neji and said, "You must understand that the ultimate goal of any human cultivation is the evolution of the body and the ultimate transcendence of the world's constraints. To cross the threshold of cultivation, one must enable the body to adapt to the natural energy in the environment, and only then can one absorb and refine this natural energy into one's own. This refined natural energy can be absorbed by the cells in the body, thereby fundamentally evolving the cells and enabling one to embark on the path of evolution."

After finishing speaking, Hyuga Kanan looked at Neji and noticed a puzzled expression on his face, as if he didn't understand what Hyuga Kanan had said. So Hyuga Kanan continued to explain: "Simply put, it's about improving one's strength through cultivation, thereby achieving physical evolution and transcending the constraints of the world. To enter the threshold of cultivation, one needs to adapt to natural energy, absorb it into the body, refine it, and transform it into one's own power. Then, this power is used to nourish the cells in the body, causing them to evolve. Only in this way can one embark on the path of evolution."

Hyuga Kanan patiently explained to Neji, but he knew in his heart that these concepts might be somewhat abstract and difficult to understand for ordinary people who had never been exposed to cultivation. However, he believed that as long as Neji was given some time, he would definitely be able to gradually grasp the mysteries within.

Hyuga Kanan continued, "Of course, this process is not something that can be accomplished overnight; it requires continuous effort and accumulation. Moreover, everyone's physique and talent are different, so the speed and effectiveness of training will also vary. But as long as you persevere, you will definitely make progress."

Hyuga Kanan's words were filled with determination and confidence, allowing Neji to feel his resolve and perseverance. Although he didn't know much about cultivation, seeing Hyuga Kanan's seriousness and dedication, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation.

"My constant insistence on training your body using special methods is to enable it to adapt to the natural energy of the outside world, and also to unleash your potential and maximize your physical fitness. Only in this way can you lay a solid foundation for future cultivation. Now, after years of arduous training and effort, your body has finally completed the tempering of the body refining stage, becoming incredibly resilient and able to withstand the impact and nourishment of natural energy. This means you can begin to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, integrating it into yourself and embarking on your true cultivation journey."

Hyuga Neji, are you ready? Now, we are about to enter a brand new stage—the Qi Refining Stage. This stage requires you to fully immerse yourself, to feel the natural energy around you, and to become one with it. This requires not only strong willpower and perseverance, but also an unwavering heart. In this process, you may encounter various difficulties and challenges, but as long as you persevere and believe in yourself, you will definitely be able to overcome everything.

Hyuga Neji, are you willing to accept this challenge and embark on this arduous yet hopeful path of cultivation? If you are ready, then let us face this new challenge together!

Looking at the child before him, Hyuga Kanan couldn't help but admire how precocious the children of the ninja world were. Both physically and mentally, they were remarkably mature. That's why he finally asked for the child's thoughts. The path of cultivation requires unwavering willpower to reach higher levels. Making the child clearly understand the difficulties of choosing this path would better test whether he possessed the steadfast will and courage to embark on the path of cultivation.

After listening to his teacher's explanation, Hyuga Neji finally understood why his teacher had always emphasized physical training and willpower cultivation. Now he was ready to proceed to the next stage of his training. How could he possibly refuse? He wanted to become as strong as his teacher and follow in his footsteps. Therefore, Hyuga Neji said firmly, "Teacher, I am ready! No matter what difficulties I encounter, I will persevere, truly embark on the path of cultivation, and catch up with you." His words were filled with determination and perseverance, expressing his trust and reliance on his teacher.

Hyuga Kanan looked intently at Hyuga Neji, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. He could sense the strong conviction and determination deep within Neji's heart. This unwavering will was one of the essential qualities for becoming an excellent cultivator.

“Very good, Neji. I’m glad to see your unwavering determination. The path of cultivation is full of challenges and difficulties, but as long as you maintain this perseverance and courage, I believe you will definitely succeed,” Hyuga Kanan encouraged with a smile.

Hearing Hyuga Kanan's words, Hyuga Neji felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He knew he had made the right choice, and Kanan's approval gave him even more confidence.

"Thank you, Master! I will definitely train hard and live up to your expectations!" Hyuga Neji said gratefully, tears streaming down his face.