Chapter 155 - 5

Chapter 5: Using Transformation Technique to Buy Groceries"I am myself."He spoke, his voice very soft."My name is Uzumaki Naruto. I want to be myself."The moment those words were spoken, the heavy, suffocating feeling in his chest—like being pressed down by something—loosened slightly. It didn't disappear completely, but it eased. Like a string wound too tight being gently turned a notch looser.He took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled."System, open the Mall."The panel popped up, and the content had changed. It was no longer the personal information page, but a long list divided into many categories. Naruto's eyes widened instantly—[System Points Mall]There were many things inside, ranging from cat and dog food to Secret Manuals for divine skills. Then, Uzumaki Naruto saw two interesting items.[Special Class] Random Gift Pack (1,000 points/each, first one free) — Can contain any item, from Secret Manuals for divine skills to ordinary sundries.[Cultivation Class] Cultivation Scroll (15 points/each) — Can Cultivate a designated Cultivation Technique or Ninjutsu on behalf of the host for a duration of one year. After use, the cultivation progress of that technique automatically advances by one year.Naruto's gaze lingered on the "Random Gift Pack" line for a long time.One thousand points each, first time free. It could contain anything—anything at all. From divine skill Secret Manuals to ordinary sundries. It was a gamble, but the first time didn't cost a thing.Then his gaze shifted to the "Cultivation Scroll."Fifteen points each. Cultivates for one year on behalf of the host.He checked his points balance: 15.Not a point more, not a point less—exactly enough for one.He looked back at the "Random Gift Pack"—first time free, but the next one required a thousand points. What did a thousand points even mean? He had done a righteous deed by protecting Hinataand only earned 15 points. A thousand points... how many good deeds would that take?Forget it, don't think about that for now. Use what's in front of me first.He got out of bed, his feet shivering as they touched the cold floor. He walked to the door and pressed his ear against the wood to listen—the hallway was quiet, no footsteps, no one talking. But he knew the Anbu were monitoring him.He needed a private space.The bathroom.He stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. The bathroom was tiny, with a toilet, a sink, and a showerhead without a bathtub; the pipes sticking out of the wall were covered in rust. The latch on the door was loose, but he managed to slide it shut. He turned on the shower faucet, and the water gushed out, hitting the concrete floor and splashing into tiny droplets.The sound of water could cover many things.He stripped off his clothes and stood bare beneath the stream. The water was cold—the heater had broken long ago, and he never used hot water. As the cold water poured over him, he shuddered but didn't turn it off. The sound of the water echoed in the cramped bathroom."System, purchase a Cultivation Scroll and use it on the Nine Yang Divine Skill."[Confirmed purchase of Cultivation Scroll ×1, consuming 15 points. Remaining points: 0.][Cultivation Scroll used. Designated technique: Nine Yang Divine Skill (Inner Core Method). Cultivation duration: One year. Please remain in a relaxed state; the cultivation process will be completed within 30 seconds.]Thirty seconds.Naruto stood under the cold water and closed his eyes.Then he felt it—the tiny speck of light in his Dantian suddenly began to spin faster. It wasn't the slow rotation from before, but as if flicked by an invisible hand, it spun faster and faster, emitting a low hum like a bee flying inside his stomach.Natural Energy surged in from all directions. It wasn't the thread-like seepage from before, but like a tide, it flooded in through his skin, his pores, his breath, and every possible entrance. That energy was no longer cool; it was warm, flowing through his meridians like blood, bringing waves of warmth wherever it passed.The speck of light grew continuously as it spun. From the size of a needle tip to a grain of rice, then from a grain of rice to a soybean. Its color was also changing—from a transparent diamond-like glow to a faint gold, which grew deeper and richer, like a ripening fruit.Then, the first marking appeared.It wasn't carved; it formed naturally—as if the inner core had grown the pattern itself. A thin, golden line started from the top of the inner core, spiraling downwards for a full circle before ending at the bottom. The moment the marking formed, the inner core jolted violently, emitting a low, bell-like chime.That sound wasn't heard with the ears, but felt with the entire body. His bones resonated, his muscles resonated, and every one of his meridians resonated. A warm current erupted from the inner core, spreading in all directions—surging toward his limbs, his internal organs, and every single bone.Wherever that current went, it brought subtle changes. Not immediate transformations, but a slow, silent nourishment. Like parched earth receiving its first spring rain; though crops wouldn't grow instantly, the soil was no longer cracked.In his Dantian, the inner core hovered quietly. It was more than ten times larger than before, its surface marked with a clear golden line like a path winding around a hill. It rotated slowly, and with every revolution, a sliver of Natural Energy was absorbed, and a sliver of warm current was released, nourishing the surrounding body.Naruto opened his eyes.He looked down at his body—still so thin, still so small. But he could feel the difference, a sensation that was hard to describe.He turned off the faucet.The sound of water stopped, and the bathroom suddenly fell silent. Water dripped from the ceiling—patter, patter—like someone striking a slow beat.He formed hand seals—he had already mastered the seals for the Shadow Clone Technique in his memory; with the proficiency directly instilled by the System, he could use it without practice. Chakra flowed through his body, moving along a specific trajectory, and then—A cloud of white smoke exploded in the cramped bathroom, making Naruto cough twice. When the smoke cleared, a blonde boy identical to him stood before him, naked, soaking wet, and looking at him with a dazed expression."What's up?" the Clone asked. Its voice was exactly like the original's, and so was its tone."Go out, run far away, and lure the monitoring Anbu away. Don't get caught."The Clone blinked, then grinned. "Got it."He pulled open the bathroom door, ran out, yanked open the apartment door, slammed it shut with a bang, and then a series of hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway, getting further and further away—Naruto stood in the bathroom, listening intently to the movement outside.He had a window of opportunity. He didn't know for how long, but at least enough for what he needed to do next."System, open the Random Gift Pack—the first free one."[Random Gift Pack (First Free) opened...][Drawing...][Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Transformation Technique (Thoroughly Mastered)][Transformation Technique Description: One of the basic Ninjutsu for Ninjas. Uses Chakra to change one's appearance, allowing transformation into any person or object. System Optimized Version: The physical details after transformation are more precise and harder to see through.]Naruto froze for a moment, then the corners of his mouth curled up.Transformation Technique.It wasn't some divine Secret Manual, but it was exactly what he needed most right now.He couldn't go out to buy things himself—the Anbu were watching. But he could use a Clone to buy them. Clones could act independently, but the Clone's appearance was too conspicuous—a six-year-old blonde boy in hospital pajamas, barefoot, buying groceries in the Village? The Anbu would realize in an instant.But what if the Clone knew the Transformation Technique?Poof.Another Clone appeared, its surface shimmering with a faint halo, and then—Poof.When the white smoke cleared, the person standing in the bathroom was no longer a blonde boy, but an ordinary middle-aged man. He wore a gray jacket and black pants, with a face devoid of any distinguishing features—the kind of look that would vanish into a crowd instantly.The Clone looked down at its hands, touched its face, and then nodded."Go buy some things.""Buy what?""Food. Milk, bread, instant noodles, eggs, rice. You can't just keep eating expired rice balls from the convenience store.""What about the money?""Hold on."Naruto thought for a bit, walked to the bed, and pulled out a few crumpled bills from under the pillow. That was the allowance the Sandaime sent him every month; he had saved it by being frugal. It wasn't much, but it was enough for a few days' worth of food.He handed the money to the Clone.The Clone took the money, stuffed it into the pocket of the gray jacket, and then opened the apartment door and walked out. The footsteps gradually faded in the hallway, heading in a different direction from the previous Clone—this way was toward the commercial district.Naruto closed the door, stepped back into the bathroom, and turned the faucet back on. The sound of water gushed once more, masking all other sounds.He sat cross-legged on the bathroom floor; it was chilly, but he didn't mind. He closed his eyes and began to circulate the Nine Yang Divine Skill.The inner core in his Dantian rotated slowly, that golden marking pulsing with the rotation like a beating heart. With every pulse of light and shadow, a warm current surged from the inner core, flowing through his meridians to his entire body. Where those currents passed, he could feel his cells absorbing nutrients, like a traveler who had trekked through the desert for a long time finally getting a drink of water.He didn't need to do anything consciously—after being advanced by a year's progress by the Cultivation Scroll, the Nine Yang Divine Skill had become a physical instinct. The inner core would absorb Natural Energy on its own, circulate on its own, and nourish his body on its own. He only needed to relax and let the process happen naturally.Time passed minute by minute.The first one to return was the Clone that went shopping.Naruto heard the apartment door being pushed open, followed by footsteps—very light and careful, as if afraid of being discovered. The footsteps stopped at the kitchen area, followed by a rustling sound, the friction of plastic bags, and the dull thud of things being placed on the floor.Then, poof—a very soft sound, like a balloon popping.The Clone was dispelled.The groceries were all left on the kitchen floor: milk, bread, ham, eggs, rice, plus a bag of salt and a bag of sugar.Enough to eat for a week.He continued sitting on the bathroom floor, letting the inner core slowly circulate within him.More time passed. The sky outside began to darken, turning from a bright blue to a hazy blue-purple, then slowly sinking into deep navy. The streetlights flickered on, their orange glow refracting through the water droplets on the window into tiny flecks of light.Then, he heard footsteps.It was the second Clone returning. He came through the front door, a set of light footsteps heading toward the bathroom.The Clone stood at the bathroom door, covered in mud, hair messy, and clothes caked in dirt. He looked like he had run a long way and climbed over several hills to get back. He nodded to Naruto, then stepped into the bathroom, pretending he was going to take a shower.Poof.The Clone was dispelled.A moment later, Naruto turned off the faucet.The bathroom fell silent. Water dripped from the ceiling—patter, patter. He picked up the old, soaked towel and haphazardly rubbed his hair and body. Then he threw his wet clothes into the corner and changed into the relatively clean set from the pile by the bed—it was washed until it was fading, and the collar was loose, but it was the only one he had.He walked out of the bathroom, his bare feet stepping on the hallway floor, and headed toward the kitchen.Then he "saw" those things—the milk, bread, ham, eggs, rice, salt, and sugar. They were placed neatly on the kitchen floor inside a clean plastic bag.Naruto stood at the kitchen door, looking at those things for a long time.His stomach growled loudly.Then he took a deep breath and shouted in a voice that even he found a bit exaggerated—"Wow! I don't know which kind person bought these supplies for me! It's enough to last me a week! Thank you!"His voice echoed briefly in the empty apartment before being swallowed by the walls. He didn't know if the Anbu were listening from somewhere. But whether they were or not, those words were meant for them.He crouched down and took a carton of milk and a bag of bread from the bag. The milk was cold, but he didn't care. He bit open the corner of the milk carton with his teeth, tilted his head back, and took a gulp—the milky fragrance exploded in his mouth and slid down his throat into his stomach, ice-cold.He took another gulp.Then he tore open the bread bag, took out a slice, and stuffed it into his mouth. It was ordinary white bread, a bit dry, but sweet and soft to chew. He ate slice after slice, alternating with gulps of milk, crouching on the kitchen floor and eating quickly, as if afraid these things would vanish.After eating two slices of bread and finishing the whole carton of milk, his stomach finally felt full. He hadn't had that feeling in a long time—his stomach felt warm and heavy, like he was holding a small heater.He took the remaining items out one by one to look at them, then put them back in the plastic bag and placed them in the refrigerator.Finally, he stood up, walked to the window, closed it, and slid the latch shut. The sky outside was completely dark now, the streetlight reflecting a faint orange layer on the snow. In the distance, the four heads on the Hokage Rock were reduced to black silhouettes in the night, like four silent giants.He drew the curtains, walked back to the bed, and lay down.The pillow was still flat, the bedboard was still hard, and the quilt was still thin. But his stomach was full, the inner core in his Dantian was rotating slowly, and a warm current was flowing through his body, like a small stove lit inside him—not blazing, but enough to keep him from feeling cold anymore.He closed his eyes.Tomorrow's matters would be for tomorrow.Tonight, he just wanted to sleep.He rolled over, tucked the quilt a bit tighter, and buried his face in the pillow. His nose caught the scent of old bedsheets mixed with a hint of the milk's sweet fragrance.Then he fell asleep.This time, he didn't dream.