Chapter 93: Chapter 93
What was Kiriya doing?
He was at Mount Myōboku, making the final preparations to learn Sage Mode.
The core of Sage Mode was to absorb natural energy into the body, then perfectly balance it with one’s own physical energy and spiritual energy at a strict ratio of 1:1:1, ultimately refining it into senjutsu chakra.
This required the user to control the three energies with extreme precision.
If too little natural energy was absorbed, it would not be enough to refine the senjutsu chakra needed to activate Sage Mode.
But once the amount absorbed exceeded that boundary, the body’s tissues would begin to mutate.
Mount Myōboku’s senjutsu would turn the practitioner into a toad. Ryūchi Cave’s would cause snake-like transformation. Once that change went too deep, the practitioner would directly turn into a stone statue, which basically meant instant GG.
And once a unique facial pattern formed on the practitioner’s face, it marked the successful activation of Sage Mode.
Generally speaking, only shinobi with massive amounts of chakra even had the right to begin training.
If one’s chakra was insufficient, there was no way to resist the corrosion of natural energy.
In short, this was a ninjutsu with an extremely high entry threshold, enormous difficulty, and tremendous risk.
But even so, countless shinobi still threw themselves into Sage Mode training one after another.
The countless stone toad statues on Mount Myōboku were proof of that.
Why?
Naturally, because Sage Mode offered returns worthy of its high risk.
Once Sage Mode was successfully activated, the user’s overall strength would undergo a complete transformation.
With the enhancement of senjutsu chakra, the user’s ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu would all receive terrifying, geometric increases in power.
Their sensory ability would also rise by leaps and bounds.
After entering Sage Mode, the small-bodied Fukasaku could easily lift a stone statue dozens of meters tall. Sage Naruto could even throw away the giant rhinoceros summoned by Pain’s Animal Path with ease.
That alone showed how powerful it was.
Hadn’t Naruto’s overall strength only been around jōnin level before the Pain’s Assault arc?
By relying on tailed beast transformation, he could reach Kage-level power, but the price was that his rationality would plummet, easily turning him into a bomb that could no longer distinguish friend from foe.
Yet after returning from his study abroad program at Mount Myōboku, he transformed into a Sage and was immediately able to fight evenly with the Six Paths of Pain, who were beyond ordinary Kage level.
In just a few exchanges, he took down every Path except the Deva Path.
It was basically like riding a rocket straight upward.
Although the Six Paths of Pain at that time were indeed in a weakened state after using an enormous area-of-effect attack, a weakened Rinnegan was still the Rinnegan.
With Sage Mode being this powerful, even if the difficulty and danger were high, Kiriya was determined to obtain it.
Besides, with two toad sages protecting him, there should not be any major problems.
"How rare..."
Fukasaku and Shima circled around Kiriya, their two pairs of eyes carefully examining him from top to bottom as they clicked their tongues in wonder.
"Look, Ma. This boy’s chakra is really powerful. Jiraiya-chan didn’t have this level at his age," Fukasaku said emotionally.
"That’s right, Pa. Forget back then, even the current Jiraiya-chan might not compare to him in chakra," Shima said, nodding repeatedly, her eyes narrowing into slits.
"I really don’t know where Jiraiya-chan found such a fine seedling. His luck is too good! No, I should say Konoha is truly blessed."
"I heard he’s a descendant of the Senju clan, and he only recently awakened his kekkei genkai. I didn’t expect his chakra to improve this much too."
"..."
Being stared at by two pairs of lightbulb-like toad eyes made Kiriya’s scalp tingle.
He hurriedly smiled and said, "Sages, can I start training Sage Mode now?"
"What’s the rush, boy? I have to study you properly first so I can tailor a plan for you."
Fukasaku waved his hand, wearing an expression that clearly said, ’I’m doing this for your own good.’
’I believe you my ass. You sly old man, you’re clearly up to no good.’
Kiriya’s face remained calm, but inside, he was roasting him nonstop.
The look in Fukasaku’s eyes was frightening, as if he wanted to slice Kiriya apart piece by piece and study him.
"Incredible. Truly incredible!"
The more Fukasaku and Shima looked, the more amazed they became.
It was not only because Kiriya’s chakra reserves far exceeded ordinary people, but more importantly, because they could sense the life aura inside him.
At first, it felt warm like sunlight.
But when they sensed it carefully, it felt blazing hot, like the scorching sun itself.
Contradictory, yet harmoniously fused.
Listening to the two sages’ questions, Kiriya’s heart moved.
He knew this was probably the result of Hestia’s divine blood merging and blending with the Hashirama cells and Sharingan inside his body.
Most likely, it was something beyond the worldview of Naruto itself, so it was normal that Fukasaku and Shima could not understand it.
The two toad sages were old and shrewd.
Naturally, they could see the understanding in Kiriya’s eyes and knew that he already had an answer.
But since Kiriya did not say anything, they did not intend to keep digging.
After all, they were respected sages, not gossip-loving aunties from a vegetable market.
After giving Kiriya a detailed examination, they finally had him officially begin Sage Mode training.
The process was divided into three steps, as simple as putting an elephant into a fridge.
First, sense natural energy.
Second, absorb the natural energy he sensed into his body and fuse it with his physical energy and spiritual energy to refine senjutsu chakra.
Third, practice Sage Mode combat and endurance.
It looked simple, but the first step alone had stopped countless talented people.
After all, natural energy was invisible and intangible.
The vast majority of people in this world had no concept of it whatsoever, so how could they sense it?
That was why some small assisting methods were needed at this stage of training.
"Toad oil, a specialty of Mount Myōboku."
Fukasaku led Kiriya to a waterfall.
After having Kiriya sit cross-legged, Fukasaku dipped a finger into the oil pool in front of them and smeared a little onto Kiriya’s palm, explaining as he did, "This toad oil has the property of automatically absorbing natural energy. For beginners, it’s a very good support tool."
"Right now, this is to create an opportunity for you to grasp the feeling. Remember this sensation firmly. Once you’re familiar with it, you’ll be able to sense natural energy on your own."
"Is that so?"
Through his skin, Kiriya felt a strange tingling sensation, as if a clear breeze were brushing over him, yet also as if an electric current were passing through.
It was a little comfortable and a little stimulating, making him unconsciously sink into it.
"However, using toad oil does come with a hidden danger."
Fukasaku chuckled, revealing a bit of the mischievousness of an old prankster.
"If you absorb natural energy into your body but don’t know how to control it, you’ll turn into a toad."
Beside him, Shima could not help covering her mouth and laughing as she remembered what had happened to Jiraiya before.
That child had nearly fainted the moment he saw himself covered in warts and looking like a toad.
"Well, I suppose this little one will be the same."
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