Chapter 58

Hades, standing beside Naruto, continued speaking, his voice calm yet filled with the weight of experience. "It is my pleasure to explain," he said, offering Naruto some reassurance. "And, you don't have to worry too much about Ishiki. He's not above my level. In fact, he might be even weaker now because we have all continued to improve since the day we lost to him in battle."

Naruto listened intently, trying to grasp the full scope of the situation. Hades continued, "When Ishiki and Kaguya arrived in this world, Ishiki was at the same level I am now. He defeated all the immortals, but he didn't kill us. Instead, he had a peculiar wish. He wanted us to improve the human beings with blessings so their harvests would be better. Strange, I know, but that was his demand."

Naruto couldn't help but think about the implications of that. A being with such overwhelming power and yet a seemingly benign request. Hades gave a thoughtful pause before going on. "Fortunately, Kaguya managed to take Ishiki out of the picture, and we were granted our freedom once more. But by that point, we were in no condition to fight her ourselves. Our bodies had been damaged greatly by Ishiki's assault. By the time we fully recovered, Kaguya had already been sealed away by her sons, and we didn't have the desire to fight them."

Naruto could sense the weight of the history in Hades' words. The power struggles, the losses, and the way things had spiraled out of control.

"But we acted arrogantly," Hades added, his tone slightly more somber. "And that caused the chain of events that led to our future battle with Hagoromo. At that time, Hagoromo was around 50 years old, and his power exceeded ours by far. I can't say for certain where it stood, but it was said to be equivalent to the power of 100 stars. His mastery of reality warping was so advanced that, when we fought him, we were in a similar state to you during our battle. We were completely outmatched."

Naruto furrowed his brow, his mind racing with questions. "But... if Hagoromo was that powerful, how did he die? It doesn't make sense. With that level of strength, he should've been invincible."

Hades' expression grew more thoughtful, as if considering the very same question. "I doubt he died," he said slowly. "It's possible that he's still out there, traveling the universe, while ensuring this place is safe from stronger Otsutsuki. His bloodline connection to the Otsutsuki may have attracted their attention, so he might have created a convoluted plan to keep them from finding out about this place. It's all speculative, though. I can't locate his soul or confirm his existence."

The revelation sent a shockwave through Naruto and Kurama. The very idea that Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths, might still be alive was something they hadn't even considered. They had always believed he had passed on, his ghost serving as the last reminder of his legacy. But this new possibility was both unsettling and strangely hopeful.

"I knew it was impossible for him to die," Kurama muttered, his voice full of both awe and reverence. "Father was invincible."

Naruto, still processing the implications, took a deep breath. "Okay, okay, let's focus," he said, trying to center himself. The weight of the information was immense, but there was no time to dwell on it. They had a mission to accomplish. "We need to stay focused on what's in front of us."

Before beginning the procedure, Hades turned to Naruto, his deep, resonant voice echoing through the chamber. "Before we proceed, have you noticed the difference in our energies?" he asked, his tone both instructive and curious.

Naruto nodded, his sharp senses having already dissected the phenomena. "Yes," he replied thoughtfully. "It felt similar to Senjutsu, but without the connection to the world. Instead, it felt like there were constant explosions happening inside your bodies, creating the energy you use. Is it based on the concept of creating a stronger energy by detonating what already exists? How does that work? And isn't it dangerous?" Naruto's eyes gleamed with intellectual curiosity. His ability to perceive the energy within Phobos and Ares during their earlier skirmishes had left a vivid impression. He had felt the violent but harmonious energy coursing through their forms.

Hades smiled faintly, impressed by Naruto's observation. "Very good. It is as you described. Unlike chakra, which inherently ties you to the natural flow of the world, our energy feels natural because we employ the concept of the Big Bang. Our energy is called the cosmos. In our world, every living being possesses it."

He extended his hand, and for a brief moment, Naruto saw a vision of Hades' internal energy—a vast, celestial dance of miniature stars that erupted in controlled explosions, radiating incomprehensible power. "By burning our cosmos," Hades continued, "we create an explosion similar to the Big Bang, with the hope of forming a universe within ourselves. That is the ultimate goal of our method: to create a personal universe. However, most of us have not gone beyond creating star-sized universes within. This is the foundation of our strength."

Naruto listened intently, absorbing the explanation. Hades' words resonated deeply with him. The potential seemed limitless, yet it was clear this power came at an enormous cost.

Hades looked at Naruto, his expression turning serious. "I believe that with your potential, you can use this method to completely surpass even the realm we exist in. However, before you can wield this power, you must remove the gates and limitations within your body. Those gates are essential for the chakra system, but they will only hinder you in utilizing the cosmos. To withstand the strain of this energy, your physical stats must reach a level capable of enduring the explosive force of creation itself. While our contract will grant your body a minor adjustment, it will not be enough. Naruto, are you prepared to endure an inhumane training regime to achieve this?"

As he spoke, Hades revealed a deeper look into his body. Through a mystical projection, Naruto could see the process: countless miniature stars forming and detonating, their destructive force converting into raw, unimaginable power. Each star burned with the ferocity of creation itself.

Naruto clenched his fists, his gaze unwavering. "I understand," he said, "but how will this work with my Sage Mode? Your method relies entirely on personal power, while Sage Mode draws from the harmony between my own energy and the natural world. Isn't there a conflict?"

Hades tilted his head slightly, his gaze thoughtful. "That is uncharted territory," he admitted. "It is for you to explore. Every warrior's path is unique, and your journey will require you to find a way to unify these forces—or perhaps to transcend them entirely."

The words reminded Naruto of the Sage of Six Paths, who had also urged him to explore and master the deeper aspects of Sage Arts, particularly focusing on the manipulation of reality itself. This was yet another challenge that pushed him toward the unknown.

Hades' earlier mention of an inhumane training regime echoed in Naruto's mind, forcing him to take a moment to consider the implications. This was no ordinary step forward; it was a leap into a completely different existence. By agreeing, Naruto knew he would be leaving behind the human limitations that defined his current life. He would be reshaping himself, in body and spirit, to wield power that transcended human understanding.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto found his resolve. His voice was steady as he spoke. "The body is not what makes me human. It is my soul. And it doesn't matter whether I am human or not—I only desire to be a force of good, no matter what I become. I am ready to do anything, as long as it doesn't ask me to commit acts of evil."

Hades smiled, his expression softening. "I would never guide you toward evil, Naruto. My purpose is to lead you toward becoming the ideal king of your world."

Naruto frowned slightly. "Can you not call it that? I don't desire to be a king. My dream has always been to become Hokage and help the people. I don't want to rule over them."

Hades chuckled lightly, his expression unreadable. "I see. You still have much to learn about the importance of singular leadership. Regardless, the skills you'll gain on this path are valuable, no matter what you choose to do with them."

Naruto took a deep breath, calming his racing thoughts. His resolve was clear. "Then let's begin. I'll do whatever it takes to protect my world and the people I care about."

Hades nodded, stepping forward to initiate the process. "Very well. Let us begin your evolution."