-------------------------------- P.O.V Jiraya (continued) --------------------------------
Seeing that energy up close sent a chill down my spine — a deep, instinctive rejection.
— "Want some?" she asked, still smiling.
When I didn't answer, she went on:
— "This is negative energy. The absolute opposite of life energy. You know, the purest form of it that, when combined with mental energy, gives birth to chakra. This is the energy that acts as life force for the undead."
I nodded in understanding. That explained why chakra could counter the necrotic effects of her techniques.
— "So this is how you use your new techniques? By combining it into another kind of chakra?"
She looked at me again as if I were incredibly slow.
— "This energy is already comparable to chakra. It's my source of 'life.' Would you use your own life energy for flashy party tricks?"
— "No, but… you just used it, didn't you?"
— "Not at all. Humans lose vitality as they age, then wither and die. It's the same for me—except I don't wither, and I don't die. That's one of the fundamental differences between undeath and life."
— "So… do you release this energy wherever you go?"
She shook her head.
— "Of course not. I keep it contained in my body and only use the excess when necessary. Otherwise, I'd kill most of the surrounding flora wherever I passed."
— "I see… and Nazarick?"
— "Ah, right. Back to the topic. The Great Tomb of Nazarick — that's the true name of this domain. It exists in a very peculiar way… between the physical and spiritual world. And it's saturated with negative energy. Only beings who depend on it or are extremely resistant to it can survive there."
— "Hence the condition of death for humans to access it."
— "So you can think, after all?"
I clenched my fists. Her childish sass had its charm, but I was starting to miss the quiet version of her.
She looked at me again and asked:
— "There's one difference between Nazarick and Mount Myōboku. Can you guess what it is?"
I couldn't. Not with what she'd told me so far.
She continued:
— "The Sage Mode. Nazarick has no such state."
— "Then why call it a 'Sage Land'?"
— "Good question. Maybe because they're real sages and not half-baked ones like you?"
— "Could you maybe not jab me every time you answer?"
— "No."
— "..."
— "Nazarick's 'Sage Arts' involve absorbing and internalizing natural energy — not just channeling it, but making it theirs. That's what makes them fundamentally different from other Sage Modes. From that energy, various techniques have been created. The most prominent are called 'Arcane Arts.'"
She lifted her hand. Symbols shimmered briefly in the air before vanishing, replaced by a small flame orb. With a flick of her wrist, the orb turned into a ring of fire, then scattered into tiny flaming butterflies.
— "This is an example of what Arcane Arts can do."
An idea struck me.
— "Wait if it's not linked to negative energy, does that mean others can learn it?"
— "Again, no. The beings of Nazarick don't have chakra. Even those who don't rely on negative energy lack chakra entirely. That's exactly why you can't learn this. Chakra itself is the limiter. Still, if you manage to absorb natural energy, you might reach a similar — though temporary — state."
— "Sage Mode."
— "Exactly! Do you want a treat for that?"
Annoyed, I watched her offer me the sandwich she'd bitten into. Noticing my expression, she glanced at it too.
— "Oh… is that the problem?"
She pointed at the bitten part. It detached, dropped into her palm, and instantly decayed into rot.
— "There, no more spit. Just so you know, I don't produce any."
— "That's not the problem."
— "Then what is?"
— "I'm not your pet."
— "Ohhhh… so you don't want it?"
I rubbed my eyes, trying to stay calm. Then I asked the real question.
— "Narume… do you want to see Naruto again?"
She froze.
— "Why that question?"
— "Because he seems to be the only one who really matters to you."
— "No… I mean, I can see him whenever I want. You guys can't do anything to stop me."
She was right. We couldn't stop her.
— "I could even go grab him right now and bring him to you… just give me a second."
— "No! No, don't do that."
— "Then what is it?"
— "What I meant was… Narume, do you want to come back to Konoha?"
Her expression twisted into something like a smirk.
— "My dear godfather, we've just met, and already you're in a rush to send me back to my grave?"
— "That's not what I meant, Narume."
— "Then go on… explain it to me."
-------------------------------- P.O.V Hiruzen --------------------------------
I slowly set the scroll down on my desk, the wood creaking beneath my fingers.
Jiraiya's report.
I hadn't expected him to encounter her so soon.
The contents… surprised me more than I expected.
The report confirmed much of what we feared — and a few things we hadn't even imagined.
That childlike nature she displayed. The origins of her powers.
As implausible as it sounds, the existence of beings like the Shinigami makes her story more… believable.
But it also means she's not alone.
And truth be told, I was relieved that Narume wasn't openly hostile to Konoha.
But the fact that she sees the village as nothing more than her brother's cage — and her own grave — is troubling.
She told Jiraiya she would return to Konoha, eventually, to visit Naruto.
And everything she's done so far… seems aimed at making him stronger.
Even making Jiraiya promise to go back and teach him.
Now… all we can do is hope things won't spiral further than they already have.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Here is the Chapter as promised. Sorry for the delay"