Prince Suigen led Naruto deep into a hidden chamber beneath the academy.
This place was sealed by multiple layers of space–time barriers and chakra formations. Ordinary clan members could never enter.
Inside the secret room, a massive black boulder stood quietly.
Its surface was covered in ancient, mysterious runes that shimmered faintly in the darkness, as if breathing.
Naruto widened his eyes.
"Eh? Why is it here?"
"Wasn't this stone in the academy hall?"
Prince Suigen smiled faintly.
"I summoned it."
Naruto froze.
"Summoned… it?"
Prince Suigen stepped forward and gently stroked the surface of the boulder. His gaze was filled with nostalgia, as if he were looking at an old companion.
"I have been connected to it for tens of thousands of years."
"As long as I think of it, it will come to me."
He turned toward Naruto and waved.
"Come, Naruto."
Naruto walked forward.
Prince Suigen said calmly,
"Extend one hand."
Naruto stretched out his right hand.
Prince Suigen raised his own finger. Dark matter surged and condensed around it, forming a sharp, invisible blade.
With a light stroke—
Slash!
Naruto's palm was cut open instantly.
Blood flowed out.
Naruto sucked in a breath, but didn't cry out.
"Now," Prince Suigen said,
"Place your hand on the stone."
Naruto nodded, stepped forward, and pressed his bleeding palm against the boulder.
His blood slowly seeped into the stone.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Suddenly—
The boulder trembled.
The ancient runes carved on its surface began to glow, absorbing Naruto's blood.
A faint golden light spread across the stone.
Prince Suigen's eyes lit up.
"Hahaha… yes! Yes!"
"I was right!"
"I was right all along!"
He raised his head and laughed loudly.
The secret he had studied for tens of thousands of years had finally been verified.
Naruto tried to pull his hand back.
But he couldn't.
The boulder seemed to cling to him, firmly absorbing his palm.
"Grandpa!"
Naruto panicked slightly.
Prince Suigen hurried over.
"Don't struggle!"
"Press firmly!"
"Feel it with your heart!"
"Try to resonate with it!"
He said seriously,
"This boulder is alive."
"Right now, it is communicating with you through your blood."
"Only those chosen by fate can do this."
"Close your eyes."
"Communicate with it."
Naruto nodded.
He closed his eyes and calmed his breathing.
Alive…
That word made him think of Kurama.
Back then, he had also sensed Kurama through his heart and entered the inner world.
So…
What about this stone?
Naruto focused.
His consciousness slowly sank.
Inside his perception—
There was only chaos.
Endless purple energy surged violently.
Like a storm.
Like a cosmic ocean.
There was no clear shape.
No voice.
No form.
Naruto tried to communicate.
"Hello… is anyone there?"
No response.
"Can you hear me?"
Still nothing.
It was like talking to an empty universe.
"What's going on…?"
Just as Naruto felt confused—
Bang!
His hand was suddenly pushed away.
"Whoa!"
Naruto stumbled back.
He looked down and saw that the wound on his palm had completely healed.
Not even a scar remained.
"This…"
Prince Suigen smiled.
"The power of the boulder."
"How was it?"
Naruto rubbed his hand and said honestly,
"I sensed something inside."
"But it was chaotic."
"There was purple energy everywhere."
"I couldn't see anything clearly."
"And… no one answered me."
Prince Suigen nodded with satisfaction.
"Good."
"You saw the same thing I did."
"That means you are indeed the one recorded in the stone."
"From now on…"
"I will pass on everything I know to you."
"My research."
"My experience."
"My cultivation of dark matter."
"All of it."
He took a deep breath.
Then—
Boom!
Prince Suigen placed his right palm on Naruto's head.
In an instant, an overwhelming torrent of dark matter surged into Naruto's mind.
Along with it came countless memories.
Experiences.
Insights.
Techniques.
Comprehension.
Decades.
Centuries.
Millennia.
Tens of thousands of years of cultivation poured in.
Naruto's eyes widened.
"This is—?!"
In his vision, Prince Suigen seemed to grow infinitely tall.
Golden light surrounded his body like a divine halo.
Prince Suigen smiled kindly.
"My little friend…"
"You are the Child of Prophecy."
"My successor."
"This is our clan's forbidden technique—"
"Inheritance Transfer."
"Close your eyes."
"Comprehend it well."
"Don't let my life's efforts be wasted."
Tears flowed silently from Naruto's eyes.
He closed them.
And accepted everything.
Golden light enveloped both of them.
Three days.
Three nights.
The inheritance continued without pause.
Finally—
The golden light faded.
Prince Suigen withdrew his hand.
His body looked thinner.
Older.
Weaker.
Naruto still stood there with closed eyes, immersed in comprehension.
Prince Suigen smiled in relief.
He knew.
It would take time to digest everything.
He turned toward the boulder.
"Old friend…"
"My mission is complete."
"The rest… belongs to him."
The boulder flashed softly.
As if responding.
Prince Suigen laughed quietly.
Then he walked toward the exit.
Each step was slow.
Yet light.
Free.
At the door, he turned back one last time.
"Son of Prophecy…"
"Go forward."
Outside.
Ichiro hurried over and supported him.
"Grandpa…!"
Tears filled Ichiro's eyes.
Prince Suigen smiled gently.
"Why are you crying?"
"I've lived tens of thousands of years."
"That's too long."
"Now I can finally rest."
"You should be happy."
Ichiro wiped his tears.
Soon, Takero and the five sect masters arrived.
When they saw Prince Suigen's condition, their faces changed.
"Master…!"
Sky Burial narrowed his eyes.
"You used Inheritance Transfer…"
Natsuki covered her mouth and cried.
Moriichi sighed.
Miyayama panicked.
"You really gave everything to Naruto?"
Iwayama nodded.
"Most likely."
Prince Suigen waved his hand.
"Don't panic."
"This is my destiny."
"It is written in the stone."
He laughed.
"I've lived too long."
"Too long."
"It's tiring."
Then his laughter became freer.
"When Naruto wasn't here, I never thought like this."
"But now…"
"I often think…"
"What is a good life?"
"Maybe a hundred years."
"Maybe a few hundred."
"A stable planet."
"Three or five close friends."
"One person to grow old with."
"Then return to dust."
"Hahaha…"
His laughter echoed.
Wild.
Free.
Relieved.
He had finally let go.