Chapter 205: Guy and Sage Mode
The very next day, Orochimaru returned to the Hidden Leaf Village with Kabuto in tow. Given his status, he had no trouble acquiring the intelligence report Genichi had brought back regarding the Rinnegan.
When he met with Tsunade, however, she gave him a stern warning. "Don't even think about going after Nagato. Even with this information, he's not an opponent you can afford to underestimate."
Orochimaru simply smiled. "I'm well aware of that. Don't worry, Tsunade. I won't do anything reckless."
She didn't look convinced. "Just be careful," she huffed. "I have no desire to visit your name on the Memorial Stone."
A flicker of genuine warmth touched Orochimaru's heart. "You can rest assured on that front," he chuckled. "I'm not a fool like Jiraiya. Now, if there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."
Tsunade looked as if she wanted to say more, but in the end, she just waved a dismissive hand. "Get out of here."
Orochimaru, long accustomed to her abrasive affection, simply smiled and left the office.
Outside the Hokage Tower, Kabuto hurried to his side. "It seems everything went smoothly, Lord Orochimaru. I just learned that the village has decided to release the intelligence on Nagato to the general jonin populace."
"That's to be expected," Orochimaru said, nodding. "An enemy of that caliber is not easily dealt with."
"By the way," Kabuto asked, "did you inquire about the outcome of the battle?"
Orochimaru held up the scroll in his hand. "To have gathered intelligence this detailed… it must have been the result of extensive probing. I'd wager the fight went to its very conclusion." A thoughtful, dangerous glimmer appeared in his eyes. "Genichi-kun's power exceeds even my most generous estimations. He never fails to surprise."
He had already skimmed the scroll. The information on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path was particularly alarming, far more so than the vague intel Root had possessed.
"Let's go, Kabuto," Orochimaru said, his pace quickening. "We have to speed things up."
"I won't slow you down, Lord Orochimaru!" Kabuto promised, hurrying to keep pace.
Inside the office, Tsunade stood at the window, arms crossed as she watched them leave. "That boy with him…" she murmured, a flicker of recognition in her mind.
Shizune, who had just entered, followed her gaze. After a moment, she said, "I believe that's the boy who was with Lord Orochimaru during the Battle of Kikyō Pass."
The memory clicked for Tsunade. "He must be a talented one, then."
"Is something worrying you, Lady Tsunade?" Shizune asked.
"It's Orochimaru," Tsunade said, turning from the window. "He's obsessed with researching every jutsu in existence. There's no way he'll be able to leave a dōjutsu like the Rinnegan alone. The man has mastered who knows how many forbidden techniques. He may be cautious, but he's also incredibly bold."
Shizune's eyes widened. "Do you think he would really go after Nagato himself?"
"It's not out of the question," Tsunade said, slumping back into her chair. "Hmph. I wouldn't be surprised if I heard news of his death one of these days."
"You worry too much, my lady," Shizune said with a gentle smile. "Lord Orochimaru may not be as strong as Genichi, but he's on par with Lord Jiraiya. Even if he couldn't win, surely he would have no trouble escaping."
Tsunade shook her head. "Forget him. I need to focus on mastering Wood Release."
"Speaking of which," Shizune said, suddenly remembering a scroll she was carrying. "I almost forgot. Ina-san asked me to give this to you. It's from Genichi."
Tsunade took the scroll. "What is it?"
"Something to help with your training, I imagine," Shizune replied with a smile.
Tsunade unrolled it and began to read. Her expression quickly turned to one of shock. "That kid… he's already gotten this far in his research?" The scroll was filled with detailed notes on the nature of Yin–Yang Release, specifically the creation of form from nothingness with Yin Release—a concept that gave her a flash of profound insight.
Meanwhile, Genichi was back in his home, absorbing the natural magnetic field of the earth to further his body's Sage transformation. In truth, he was in a near-constant state of Sage Mode. When his cells were saturated with natural energy, he would supplement them with the senjutsu chakra stored in his Yin Seal, ensuring his entire body was perpetually nourished. Thanks to his mastery of the Strength of a Hundred Seal, this process was incredibly refined. Even his "Primordial Spirit" within the seal was cloaked in a protective layer of senjutsu chakra. The process was a massive drain, but with the Nine-Tails acting as a battery, it was a non-issue.
That afternoon, he arrived at his secret research facility.
Unit Alpha, the White Zetsu clone in charge of the base's internal affairs, greeted him immediately. "Lord Genichi, I have some bad news."
"Does it concern the Demonic Statue?" Genichi asked without missing a beat.
"As sharp as ever, my lord!" Unit Alpha gushed. "Indeed, it does. The statue's cells are astonishing. We can't cultivate them like we did with the Zetsu cells. They devour every form of energy we provide to sustain themselves!"
So it's a creature that only consumes, Genichi thought. He wasn't surprised. It was the husk of the Ten-Tails, a being that could drain the very life from the planet.
He entered the specialized lab where the statue's arm was being held. The clones working there paused as he entered.
"Our previous plan is likely a failure," one of the clones reported.
"With our current technology, we can't guide its growth," another added. "All nutrients and chakra are simply absorbed to strengthen itself. It's highly aggressive and assimilates all other cellular matter. Unless…"
"Unless we have the Rinnegan?" Genichi finished.
The clones all shrugged in unison. "Precisely. And even then, it's not a guarantee."
"Seal it away for now," Genichi ordered decisively. "We'll revisit this when I have a Rinnegan to study."
Hidden Sand Village
In the Kazekage's office, a more mature and confident Pakura unrolled the scroll from Konoha. Her expression hardened as she read its contents.
Hanzō is dead? They're after the Tailed Beasts… the Ten-Tails…
Her mind flashed back to the massive disturbance in Konoha a couple of years ago. Details were scarce, but the incident was too big for the other villages not to notice. So, that was an attempt to capture the Nine-Tails?
She immediately called a meeting of the village elders. Soon, the Suna council was assembled, including Rasa's widow, Karura. Because the One-Tails had been sealed into her son after his birth, she had survived the process and now held a position of influence.
Pakura laid out the intelligence from the Leaf, and a wave of shock rippled through the room.
Chiyo was the first to speak. "Lady Fifth, is Konoha demanding that we send the jinchuriki to them for protection?"
"No," Pakura said calmly. "They have made no such request. This intelligence was shared as a consideration for our alliance and the stability of the ninja world. It is a warning."
Chiyo let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"In that case, we must strengthen Gaara's protection," Ebizō stated.
Pakura nodded. "Select two or three elite squads for specialized training. While they may not be able to stop an invasion, they can at least buy us time. According to Konoha, the enemy's intelligence network is superb. We must assume they already know about our jinchuriki."
"What if we were to relocate the jinchuriki to a secret location?" one elder suggested.
Karura's expression tightened, but she remained silent. From the moment Shukaku was sealed within him, Gaara was no longer just her son; he was a weapon of the village.
But Pakura dismissed the idea immediately. "That's out of the question. There is no guarantee we could hide him from the enemy, and isolation would hinder his development. We must stop viewing jinchuriki with the old mindset. We chose this child. Now we must trust him and help him master the One-Tails' power. In this, we are already far behind the other villages."
She turned to Gaara's mother. "Karura, I am putting you in charge of Gaara's protection. I can think of no one more suitable for the task."
Tears of gratitude welled in Karura's eyes. "Yes, Lady Fifth! I will do everything in my power."
Pakura nodded, then addressed the council again. "Furthermore, once Gaara turns five, I will personally begin his training and teach him the secrets of Magnet Release."
Chiyo looked up in surprise. "Lady Fifth, you've mastered the Magnet Release secret arts?"
"I have," Pakura confirmed. "The same Gold Dust as the Fourth Kazekage."
A wave of excitement and relief washed over the Suna elders. Pakura allowed herself a small, secret smile. If only they knew I've also mastered the Kekkei Tōta, Scorch Release…
A fleeting thought crossed her mind. It had been a long time since he had visited.
Hidden Leaf Village
After visiting the mother of his late teammate, Namiichi, Genichi made his way to the home of his teacher, Sakumo Hatake.
"What brings you here today?" Sakumo asked, sipping his tea leisurely.
Genichi sat down opposite him and poured himself a cup. "Even training requires a balance of work and rest, Sensei."
Sakumo chuckled. "That's a line I should be saying to you. You've progressed so quickly, Genichi. No one from your generation can keep up."
"You don't expect me to stop, do you?" Genichi said with a shrug. "By the way, where's Kakashi? I thought he had the day off."
"He went out with Guy," Sakumo replied. "Did you need him for something?"
"It's about Sage Mode," Genichi said. "Would you be interested in trying, Sensei? Your chakra reserves must have increased quite a bit."
Sakumo paused, then shook his head. "I doubt I meet the requirements." His own arm had only been repaired with White Zetsu cells, a far cry from the fully integrated, custom-grown arm Kakashi now possessed. The technological advancements had made all the difference.
They chatted for a few hours, discussing the finer points of Lightning and Wind Release, the changes in the village, and the younger generation of shinobi. Finally, Genichi took his leave.
He found them sitting on the edge of a barren cliff, drenched in sweat. The setting sun painted the sky in shades of fiery orange.
"Kakashi, your stamina has improved a lot!" Might Guy exclaimed, playfully squeezing Kakashi's bicep.
Kakashi leaned back on his hands, stretching lazily. "I guess it's because of my Kekkei Genkai." And the First Hokage's cells, he added silently. Since awakening his Storm Release, his physical growth had accelerated. He'd even started re-reading the notes on Magnet Release Genichi had given him years ago. With his mastery of both Earth and Lightning Release, maybe it was possible.
"A Kekkei Genkai…" Guy's eyes suddenly lit up with excitement. "Hey, Kakashi! Do you think I could learn a Kekkei Genkai?"
Kakashi sighed. "Guy, do you even know what a Kekkei Genkai is?"
"Huh? Did they teach that at the Academy?" Guy looked completely lost. "Uh… so what is it?"
A vein throbbed on Kakashi's forehead. "If you want to learn one, go ask Genichi. Maybe he has a way."
"What way do I have?" a voice asked from behind them.
They both whipped their heads around.
"Genichi!" Guy leaped to his feet. "We were just talking about Kekkei Genkai! Kakashi said you could teach me one!"
Genichi shot Kakashi a deadpan look. What do you think I am, a genie?
Kakashi just gave him an infuriating smirk. "You're Kinoshita Genichi, aren't you?"
Ignoring him, Genichi turned to Guy. "Guy, how is your training with the Eight Gates coming along?"
The question immediately shifted Guy's focus. He flashed his signature grin. "I can now fully open the Sixth Gate!"
Beside him, Kakashi was stunned. This guy… he's unbelievable. He had tried opening the gates himself but had only managed the first. It required a level of willpower that went far beyond simple hard work.
"The Sixth Gate… Your efforts have certainly paid off, Guy," Genichi said, impressed but not surprised. "As for a Kekkei Genkai, it requires a talent for chakra nature transformation, which isn't your strong suit. However, there is another art you could try."
This time, it was Kakashi who was intrigued. Guy's aptitude for ninjutsu and genjutsu was famously terrible. What kind of "art" could possibly be suited for him?
Guy, on the other hand, exploded with excitement, striking a series of bizarre, dramatic poses. "HAHAHA! KAKASHI WAS RIGHT! As expected of you, Genichi, my eternal rival! So, what kind of art is it? Can I really do it?" His excitement suddenly morphed into a flood of tears.
Genichi and Kakashi exchanged a look of pure exasperation.
A short while later, the three of them stood on an empty patch of land at the base of the cliff.
"Kakashi," Genichi began, "do you remember what I told you about before?"
"Sage Mode?" Kakashi replied.
Guy looked from one to the other. "Sage Mode? Is that the art you're going to teach me?"
Genichi nodded. "Sage Mode is the art of absorbing the natural energy that fills the world and blending it with your own physical and spiritual energy in a perfect one-to-one-to-one ratio. This creates what we call senjutsu chakra."
Guy raised his hand. "Uh… this natural energy… where is it?" He looked around wildly. "Do you need special eyes to see it?"
"You don't see it, you sense it," Genichi explained patiently. "That is the first and most crucial step of the training. If you cannot perceive natural energy, you can never master Sage Mode."
"Do you need a special sensory ninjutsu?" Kakashi asked.
"No," Genichi replied. "You need to empty your mind and become one with nature."
Both Kakashi and Guy stared at him blankly. They understood the words, but the meaning was completely lost on them.
Genichi just smiled. With a mere thought, two thick wooden spires erupted from the ground, growing rapidly until they were thirty meters tall, each ending in a sharp point. He then pointed at the ground, and two flat stone slabs lifted into the air, hovering before his students.
Kakashi's eyes widened. It wasn't the Wood Release that shocked him, but the casual, effortless way Genichi had used it. Guy, on the other hand, simply took the floating stone slab with a look of confusion.
"Take these slabs to the top of the spires," Genichi instructed. "Place them on the very tip, then sit on them without falling off. Once you can do that, you will be able to sense natural energy."
Guy's passion circuits immediately switched on. "I see! I get it! Let's begin! I can't wait to let my youth burn!"
Giving them a thumbs-up, Guy grabbed his slab and began to climb. For all his focus on taijutsu, Guy's chakra reserves were immense, easily dwarfing Kakashi's and rivaling even Jiraiya's.
He scurried to the top and tried to place the slab on the point. It wobbled precariously. He finally managed to get it balanced, and with a series of awkward, contorted movements, he slowly lowered himself onto it.
From the ground, Genichi felt his eye twitch watching the spectacle.
At the top, sweating from the effort, Guy finally sat on the slab. He let go with his hands, a triumphant grin on his face. He was about to give them a victory thumbs-up when the slab suddenly tilted.
"Wait—!"
With a startled cry, Guy plummeted to the ground, landing with a THUD that left a man-shaped crater. A moment later, the stone slab followed, crashing squarely on his head and shattering into pieces.
"Guy!" Kakashi yelled.
A single hand emerged from the crater, giving a weak thumbs-up. "I'm… okay…"
Kakashi sighed in relief, then looked up at the towering spire. "It seems mastering this Sage Mode isn't going to be simple."
"Right now, in all of Konoha, only Brother Minato, Master Jiraiya, and myself have mastered it," Genichi said. "The Fourth Hokage once tried to learn it, but she failed."
Hearing this, Kakashi's expression grew even more serious. "Even Lady Fourth failed…"
Genichi clapped a hand on his shoulder and smiled. "Don't worry, Kakashi. I have high hopes for you. Good luck."
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