"Chakra is a form of energy produced by the perfect fusion of the body's various internal energies.
It can be extracted from each of the body's 130 trillion cells and refined from spiritual energy through training and accumulated experience. Only after this refinement—combined with hand seals—can chakra be used to perform jutsu."
It was the final two periods of the day.
With an exam approaching, Umino Iruka had devoted the entire class to reviewing fundamental theory.
Uzumaki Naruto rested his chin in his palm, completely tuning out Iruka's passionate lecture. His sensory perception was fully locked onto a single chakra signature inside the Hokage Tower—
Uchiha Shisui.
Half a month had passed.
During that time, Shisui had been visiting the Hokage's office almost daily. On several nights, he had even met Uchiha Itachi at the cliffs along the Naka River.
Naruto had staked out those cliffs repeatedly.
Each time, he returned empty-handed.
But now, he was certain—
Shisui's death was close.
After all, he and Itachi had already surveyed those cliffs too many times.
"Father," Naruto asked calmly within the seal,
"what do you think of Iruka-sensei's explanation of chakra?"
Namikaze Minato was momentarily surprised.
"Why?" he asked. "Do you think he said something wrong?"
Naruto shifted his consciousness deeper into the seal space, using the lecture as cover.
"I've been thinking about something," Naruto continued.
"If a shinobi successfully extracts and refines chakra, then later dies—leaving behind a corpse, or even just a body part—does their chakra still remain in the world?"
Minato's expression grew solemn.
The question immediately reminded him of classified documents he had read as Hokage—research involving the First Hokage's cells.
He also remembered what Kurama had once told him: under the Third Hokage's direction, descendants of the Senju Clan had voluntarily undergone experimental implantation of Hashirama Senju's cells in hopes of awakening Wood Release.
"Don't look so serious," Naruto said casually.
"I'm just curious. Though… it does relate a little to Kurama."
Kurama cracked one blood-red eye open.
"What does this have to do with me?"
"My teacher says chakra is created through the fusion of physical and spiritual energy," Naruto replied.
"But that explanation doesn't fully account for Tailed Beasts."
"You once told me that you're pure chakra constructs—yet you're also living beings. Even if you're killed, you eventually reform somewhere in the shinobi world."
"And when you return, you retain all your memories."
"In that sense… you're eternal."
Naruto's gaze sharpened slightly.
"It feels as though the world itself is preserving you. No—more like you're part of its rules."
"So why does no one question this?"
"What kind of force created laws like that?"
"It's almost as if you're guardians of something."
Kurama's pupils shrank instantly.
"Naruto—stop talking."
His tails curled beneath him as he sat upright.
"I appreciate that you're thinking about these things," Kurama said sharply,
"but I can't answer that right now."
"Others have questioned it before—but most choose to accept a different 'truth' about our existence."
He glanced toward Minato.
"Isn't that right, Fourth Hokage?"
Minato nodded uneasily.
"Then let's return to my original question," Naruto said calmly.
"If a person dies… can their chakra remain in the world for a long time?"
He looked directly at Minato.
"Yes," Minato answered without hesitation.
"Excluding special cases like mine—you already understand that—but consider the First Hokage."
"Though he died long ago, his cells still possess astonishing vitality and chakra. Konoha tried to recreate Wood Release through human experimentation…"
His expression darkened.
"…but every attempt failed. And those experiments were horrifying."
"During the Third Shinobi World War, we also gathered intelligence from the Hidden Sand Village. They possessed techniques to create human puppets—crafted from real corpses."
"If made correctly, those puppets could retain a person's chakra, their jutsu… even kekkei genkai."
Naruto's eyes flickered.
He hadn't expected Minato to know that much.
"That's very detailed, Father," Naruto said softly.
"But Konoha's information is outdated."
"There are people in the village who have already succeeded in using Wood Release."
"What?!"
Minato's heart clenched.
"Yes. More than one," Naruto replied.
"But that isn't what matters right now."
"Let's return to chakra itself."
"In my view, chakra's nature is deeply flawed."
"Humans can use chakra—but chakra seems to exist in us from birth, almost like a parasite."
"It's said to be a fusion of physical and spiritual energy, yet humans possess souls—and chakra normally has no connection to the soul."
"Except for rare cases like the First Hokage, chakra usually dissipates when a person dies."
"You experienced this too, Father."
"After you used the Reaper Death Seal, your soul was taken by the Shinigami. The version of you speaking to me now is only residual chakra—not your soul."
"In that sense, chakra-based constructs like Shadow Clones carry chakra and mental imprints—but no soul."
"You know this, don't you?"
Minato felt a chill run through him.
"Naruto… what exactly have you learned in that Mirror World?"
"Are you planning something again?"
Naruto smiled faintly.
"It was just a question inspired by curiosity," he said lightly.
"I've learned a few things—but I'm only discussing them with you."
Minato hesitated.
"But it sounds like you're very interested in the First Hokage's cells…"
"A little," Naruto admitted, shaking his head.
"But not for the reason you think."
"I'm wondering how Hashirama Senju actually died."
"If his cells were still so alive… then it doesn't make sense for the man himself to have died so easily."
"It's suspicious."
Minato exhaled slowly.
"That… I don't know," he admitted.
"Even now, the cause of the First Hokage's death remains a mystery."
Naruto withdrew from the seal space just as Iruka began handing out the exam papers.
Taking his test from Nara Shikamaru, Naruto began writing—while continuing to think.
In his previous life, Hashirama had always felt wrong to him.
Across the entire history recorded in the series, the battle between the Eyes of the Sage and the Body of the Sage appeared only three times:
Indra vs. Asura
Madara Uchiha vs. Hashirama Senju
Naruto Uzumaki vs. Sasuke Uchiha
In both the first and third battles, it was Nine-Tails Chakra Mode with Truth-Seeking Orbs versus Susanoo.
Wood Release never appeared.
Only in the second battle—Hashirama versus Madara—did Asura's reincarnation display Wood Release.
Even after his mysterious death, Hashirama's cells still exhibited extreme chakra activity—granting immense chakra reserves and enabling Wood Release.
That behavior felt far closer to the Ten-Tails or the God Tree than to any ordinary human.
Ding—ling—ling.
The exam ended.
Naruto handed in his paper just as he sensed Shisui heading to the Hokage's office again.
Night fell quietly.
Naruto sat on a chair on the second floor, holding a book, eyes unfocused.
Shisui's still in the Hokage's office… all day?
Then—
Wait. Where is he going now?
Naruto's senses sharpened.
The Third Hokage is leaving too?
So many people… No—this chakra… they're fighting!
Naruto immediately formed hand seals.
A Shadow Clone appeared.
He pulled a scroll from his pouch, unsealed a black cloak and mask, and vanished.
Whoosh!
Naruto reappeared beneath one of the waterfalls along the Naka River cliffs—a location he had already prepared.
Six more Shadow Clones appeared.
At each waterfall, including the one beneath his feet, he had laid reinforced net traps.
All that remained now—
…was to wait.
Ten minutes later, Naruto sensed Shisui and Itachi's chakra flare atop a cliff above.
Then—
Splash!
A massive spray of water erupted.
Naruto pulled the trap line tight.
The net closed.
He exhaled in relief.
But in the next instant, he sensed Itachi's chakra descending rapidly.
Naruto signaled the clones.
All nets vanished instantly.
Whoosh!
Naruto reappeared deep within the Forest of Death.
A weak voice rasped behind him.
"Who… are you…?"
Uchiha Shisui was still alive.
"Oh?" Naruto said calmly.
"You're still conscious?"
"I… ugh—!"
Before Shisui could finish, Naruto drove a Wind Release–infused kunai straight into his heart.
"It's better," Naruto said quietly,
"if you stay dead this time."
(End of Chapter)
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