The Demon Mark!
Those who master the Breathing Techniques, once they reach sufficient mastery, can awaken the power known as the Mark.
Normally, to activate it, one's body temperature must exceed thirty-nine degrees Celsius and the heart rate must reach two hundred beats per minute. When the mark manifests, body heat spikes dramatically, but in return the user's physical ability multiplies — far surpassing even the already enhanced state of ordinary Breathing users.
In Demon Slayer, only Yoriichi Tsugikuni survived beyond the age of twenty-five after awakening his mark. For most humans, bearing that burden was impossible.
But Naruto's body… was anything but ordinary. His physique was that of a human-shaped tyrannosaur — such limits meant nothing to him.
In the next instant—
As Naruto breathed, a flame-shaped pattern suddenly bloomed upon his forehead. The moment it appeared, his heartbeat thundered louder, fiercer— like war drums pounding across a battlefield.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! !!
Power surged through every vein like the flooding of the Yellow River. Activating his Kagura Mind's Eye and Observation Haki, Naruto examined the changes in his muscles and chakra flow. Immediately, he realized— his entire body was transforming.
With the combined amplification of All Breathing Styles and the Demon Mark, every cell from head to toe seemed to arm itself for battle!
Then something unexpected happened— the fiery pattern on his brow resonated with the latent Sage Mode within his body.
In an instant, orange-red markings bloomed around his eyes, echoing the burning design on his forehead. Natural energy flowed into him in torrents, merging with his chakra to form Sage Chakra— once again strengthening his already monstrous physique.
Now, Naruto stood under the combined enhancement of Sage Mode, All Breathing Styles, and the Demon Mark.
He had no doubt— the power behind a single punch now… was simply beyond imagination.
He chuckled inwardly. At this point, I could probably play the role of One Punch Man just fine.
Then, quite naturally, his mind drifted to another mystery from Demon Slayer— The Transparent World.
A realm said to be glimpsed only after one has endured immense pain and pushed past mortal limits.
Those who enter it perceive the world as if all veils were lifted— able to see what no normal sight could grasp.
They can predict attacks, dodge faster, and perceive every movement within an opponent's body— the flow of chakra, the pulsing lungs, the rhythm of the heartbeat, even the tension in each muscle.
By reading these subtle shifts, they can read an opponent's intent before it's acted upon.
You deeply analyzed the Transparent World and combined it with your mastery of sensory perception. You attained enlightenment!
You created The Transparent World!
In an instant, Naruto's vision transformed. The world before him shed its illusions, revealing its truest form.
But he didn't stop there.
He merged The Transparent World with his Kagura Mind's Eye and Observation Haki, creating a perception that pierced all things—
The Ultimate Mind's Eye!
His sensory range expanded exponentially. Now he could detect everything within dozens of kilometers— every movement, every presence, every emotion, even the inner voice of each being.
And more terrifying still— he could glimpse several seconds into the future.
At this level, Naruto felt he was drawing ever closer to the mythical realm of Da Luo Insight—the ultimate perception that transcends space and time.
His eyes shifted toward the caged Nine-Tails. The sweep of his Mind's Eye fell upon the beast.
Kurama, who had been watching Naruto the whole time, froze the moment their gazes met.
Those sky-blue eyes— they weren't eyes anymore.
It felt as if Naruto's gaze pierced straight through his soul… and maybe even through his fur and pride while it was at it.
Kurama's whole body stiffened. For a heartbeat, he swore Naruto could see him down to his underwear.
Then, mercifully, Naruto withdrew that soul-piercing look and replaced it with his familiar grin.
Kurama let out a subtle sigh of relief.
Damn it! he thought. How is this little brat getting scarier by the day? I'm the Nine-Tails here!
But of course, those words stayed only in his head. Kurama might die— but he'd never lose his pride.
Even if this brat terrifies me, this fox's mouth stays hard!
Time flew by in a blur.
Before anyone realized, more than half of Naruto's sixth year at the Ninja Academy had passed.
In nearly six years of study, the academy had taught them: the Three Basic Techniques, basic shuriken and kunai training, information gathering, field survival, the history and culture of Konoha, the moral code of shinobi, and the "Will of Fire. "
But for Naruto— these six years of cultivation had forged him into something far beyond the strongest ninja in Konoha— beyond even the Hokage.
Spirit and Mind: His spiritual energy had reached the edge of transcendence, nearly touching the state of unity between man and heaven. His mind was so fortified that not even the illusions of the Mangekyō Sharingan could affect him. His perception—the Ultimate Mind's Eye— could read location, power, emotion, and even future outcomes.
Taijutsu: He possessed a monstrous, bijuu-level physique. He had mastered the Six Powers of the Navy, perfected Hakuda through millennia of refinement, and wielded Yoruichi's forbidden combat art Shun and its evolved forms— including the Thunder Beast Battle Form: Nine-Tailed Fox Mode!
All layered atop seven breathing styles: Wind, Thunder, Earth, Water, Flame, Sun, and Moon. And his body continuously strengthened under the divine art Rokukō Sennō (Six Paths Sage Thief).
Ninjutsu: He had achieved the ultimate elemental transformation of Wind and Fire chakra. He had mastered every Fire Release jutsu, the Rasengan, the Giant Rasengan, the Planetary Rasengan, Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, Wind Release: Giant Rasenshuriken, and even the Stellar Rasenshuriken.
He had also mastered every Hadō and Bakudō, could maintain Sage Mode at will, wielded Divine Machine Manipulation, and could even perform Sky Dance.
Looking back at all he had accomplished, Naruto couldn't help but feel amazed. Who would have thought he could become this powerful one day?
Yet, even now, he knew— it still wasn't enough.
The future would demand far more of him.
His eyes turned to the Eight Mysterious Techniques—his most prized pursuit. He had mastered some, prepared for others… but three still remained beyond his reach:
Soul Summoning and Command, The Double Perfect Hands, and The Wind-Behind-the-Gate.
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