Chapter 31: Unconscious Body SkeletonNaruto's gaze paused slightly, his eyes resting on the two characters "Skeleton".The countless brilliant rewards surrounding him lost their luster at this moment, only these two characters made Naruto freeze."This Skeleton?"As soon as he finished speaking, a stream of information forcibly flooded his mind: [Unconscious Body Skeleton, can gather soul energy into it, and complete a physical body transfer!]Physical body transfer?Naruto's pupils shrank violently.Only then did he realize that ever since he transmigrated, he had been occupying the magpie's nest, using Naruto's body.And this reward was clearly telling him—he could leave this shell and change into a brand new skeleton body.But... what about the original Naruto?As soon as this thought emerged, Naruto felt his sea of consciousness shake violently.An aura he had long ignored and almost forgotten awakened and emerged without warning.Naruto's heart tightened, and he immediately probed his consciousness inward.He saw, in that boundless darkness of his consciousness, that unique and pure aura belonging to Naruto....Naruto had never disappeared.It turned out he had been here all along, in his own sea of consciousness.Naruto stood where he was, his heart thumping heavily.His consciousness sank into the depths of the sea of consciousness, and that weak aura belonging to Naruto trembled gently in the darkness.It slowly condensed into a small, semi-transparent figure; it was none other than young Naruto.He hung his head, golden hair covering his eyes, shoulders slightly curled, a completely different person from the flamboyant and fearless appearance Naruto usually controlled.Naruto was shocked. Just as he was about to speak, he heard that weak yet clear voice sound softly in the deathly silent sea of consciousness."I... I could always see."Naruto clenched his small fists, his knuckles turning white, his voice filled with unconcealable grievance and inferiority."From the moment you took over this body, I saw everything that happened outside."He raised his head, his clear blue eyes veiled with a layer of mist, filled with long-suppressed emotions."Before, everywhere I went, people hated me, bullied me. Everyone treated me like a monster. I didn't dare to speak, didn't dare to resist, and didn't even dare to look people in the eye...""I was too weak, too useless, so I hid here. I wanted to escape, to escape those cold looks, to escape those insults, to escape that good-for-nothing self."Speaking up to this point, Naruto lowered his head, his voice as light as a breeze:"But you did very well... really very well.""You weren't afraid of those villagers' gazes, you dared to stand tall and speak, you made this body stronger, made people afraid to look down on it...""I thought, just like this, you stay inside and live for me, that's fine. I don't have to go out and face those pains again."Naruto looked at the young boy curled up in the darkness before him, his heart softening suddenly.He walked over slowly, reached out, and placed his hand gently on Naruto's thin shoulders, his voice gentle yet firm."Naruto, avoidance cannot solve anything.""The bullying and cold looks you saw are not your fault, and they are certainly not a reason for you to hide.""You are not a monster, you are not a burden. You are Naruto, the one and only, the gentlest and bravest person in this world.""Since I can borrow your body to make a name for myself, how can you be so sure that you can't do it yourself?"Naruto paused, his tone becoming even more firm:"This is your body, your life! No one can possess it for you, and no one can live it for you.""Since you are afraid of loneliness... then I will walk the path ahead with you! Isn't your dream to be Hokage? Then let me be the first to support you!"In the sea of consciousness, that weak aura trembled gently.Naruto raised his head, the mist in his eyes gradually dissipated, and little by little, a light that had never existed before ignited.Seeing Naruto slowly reach out, Naruto also proactively met him."I... I'll consider it some more..."There was still timidity in Naruto's voice, and that small hand eventually retracted.Naruto's face remained gentle, and he said softly:"It's okay, I'm always here."The next instant, Naruto's consciousness suddenly withdrew from the mental space.And this time, he could clearly perceive that in his sea of consciousness, there was one more truly vivid aura."My god..."Only overwhelming surprise remained in Naruto's heart.Naruto... Naruto was actually still alive, right here in this body!No, to be precise, in his own body!He looked up at the surrounding forest. After a night of rest, the Chakra in his body had fully recovered.It was time to return to Konoha as soon as possible, to avoid any complications arising from delays.As soon as Naruto stepped into the gates of Konoha, the moment the leaves brushed against his shoulders, he sensed a completely different atmosphere permeating the air."Naruto? Why are you outside! That aura that snuck out last night, it was you, right?"Aoba Yamashiro suddenly appeared from some corner, his tone carrying a touch of reproach."It was me." Naruto scratched his head, looking innocent."I just came out to find something to satisfy my cravings... Here, I brought you one, try it fresh."As he spoke, he handed over a hard lump wrapped in mud.Aoba Yamashiro looked at the black lump of dirt and was stunned on the spot.Naruto didn't explain further; he raised his hand and tapped it lightly, and the clod of dirt shattered upon impact.The Beggar's Chicken wrapped in lotus leaves was revealed, and the aroma surged out, instantly whetting one's appetite.Aoba Yamashiro's eyes lit up, and he reached out to take it."You must report it next time you go out!" He took a bite, but his tone softened significantly."You brat, you run too fast. I couldn't catch up last night. Something big happened in the Village, don't wander around outside, hurry back!"Facing the boy before him who was only a child and had been personally cared for by Hiruzen Sarutobi, no matter how suspicious Aoba Yamashiro was, he could never connect the mysterious and powerful expert from last night with Naruto.A faint smile flashed in Naruto's eyes, and he nodded gently: "Got it."A street vendor saw him passing by and greeted him enthusiastically: "Naruto? Do you want to try the freshly made red bean paste?"Naruto's heart moved. Just as he was about to step forward, he bumped into a few groups of Uchihaclansmen.They were gathered in groups of three or five under the shade of the trees. Their originally tightly pursed lips were now curled with unconcealable excitement. Although their whispering was kept very low, it could not hide that sense of jubilation."...It's true, that old thing Danzo's Root organization was wiped out overnight.""It's still unclear who did it, but I heard it was done cleanly. Even all those secret warehouses he hid underground were emptied out!""Great! That's really great! From now on, no one will dare to hold our Uchiha background against us..."An elder Uchiha took a deep breath, his gaze looking toward the family compound, tears shimmering in his eyes: "Then our organization's coup... does it not need to be executed anymore?""This isn't the family compound! Don't talk nonsense!"Naruto stood not far away, listening to all this, the corners of his mouth slightly raised."A change in mindset is also a change. The trajectory of this night of the clan annihilation should have deviated from its original path..."
