"It's nothing, nothing, what could possibly happen to me?"
Jiraiya let out a long, complicated sigh, dispelling his Sage Mode. His eye shadow and frog-like features quickly faded.
"Phew—I'm getting old, my stamina can't compare to you youngsters."
Jiraiya waved his hand. Although his tone was relaxed, the shock and relief in his eyes were hard to conceal.
Stamina?
Naruto quipped, "Jiraiya-sensei, you're giving up so quickly. You should write fewer erotic novels in the future."
"Brat, what do you know?"
Jiraiya rolled his eyes, walked up to Naruto, and patted him hard on the shoulder.
"You monster, you're a monster through and through!" Jiraiya exclaimed, then burst into laughter. "But well done, Naruto! Your Sage Mode has already surpassed mine! At least in terms of 'duration' and 'stability,' you've achieved perfection!"
He sobered up, his eyes becoming incredibly serious and proud: "But remember! The power of Sage Art isn't just about maintaining it! More importantly, it's about how to unleash it to its fullest in extreme combat, integrating it with your will to protect everything you want to protect! That is the true meaning of a 'Sage'!"
"Naruto, you still have a long way to go!"
...
Naruto shrugged, thinking that Jiraiya, as expected of a novelist, spoke in such a way that made people feel awe without fully understanding.
Fukasaku jumped onto Jiraiya's shoulder, looking at Naruto, his small eyes sparkling with wisdom: "Little Naruto, your path may be different from Little Jiraiya's, or even from the Sage Mode of other inherited lands."
"This unrestrained, perfectly integrated natural power—master it well. Mount Myōboku acknowledges you."
Shima also spoke: "Little Naruto, one hand cannot clap, a single tree does not make a forest. Although your current strength is formidable, you still need the support of your companions."
"How about it, would you like to sign a summoning contract with this old woman—?"
"Cough, cough!"
"—and my children? Then, when you fight, you can summon the brothers from Mount Myōboku to help you out and hold the line!" After coughing, Jiraiya helplessly said, "Lady Shima, Naruto already has powerful summoning beasts."
"Oh? From Shikkotsu Forest, or those stinky snakes from Ryūchi Cave?!"
Shima asked, a bit unwilling to give up.
Fukasaku, echoing his wife, said, "Little Naruto, summon them and let us see."
"Thank you, both Sages, I—"
Naruto was about to summon Hell Cerberus when Jiraiya put an arm around his shoulder, half-pushing, half-leading him forward, and waved back, saying, "Hahahaha, both Sages, I just remembered Naruto and I have something to do. We're heading back to the Village now, we'll visit Mount Myōboku again next time."
"Hahahahaha!"
Jiraiya, fearing that the two Toad Sages would embarrass themselves, quickly led Naruto away.
After learning Sage Mode, Naruto had officially graduated from Jiraiya's tutelage.
Although—from learning to graduating, less than a day had passed—Jiraiya was incredibly proud. Standing on a rock in his wooden clogs, he struck a pose similar to a kabuki actor, one arm extended forward, the other back, one leg bent and raised, and declared, "Naruto! You have officially graduated now! From now on, when you travel the Ninja World, you can announce your teacher's name—Jiraiya the Sage!"
Naruto turned away mercilessly, dropping three words:
"Dream on!"
"Kid, don't leave! You've learned all my secret techniques, and now you're abandoning me?"
"Secret techniques?"
Naruto paused, recalling the Frog Transformation Technique and the Toad Flat Shadow Manipulation Technique that he had considered learning before.
But now, upon careful thought, the Frog Transformation Technique was likely related to Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode, merely cleverly using the results of failed Sage Mode. It might be effective against minor characters but could very well lose its effect against powerful Kage-level experts with vast amounts of Chakra.
As for the Toad Flat Shadow Manipulation Technique, it was a bit more advanced than the Shadow Manipulation Technique, but the underlying logic should be similar. Naruto only needed to put in some effort to create an advanced secret technique similar to the Toad Flat Shadow Manipulation Technique.
Even with Sage Mode, Naruto already had one foot into Sage Mode with his Blood Demon Art, which allowed him to absorb natural energy. The other foot was putting theory into practice—combining natural energy with his own physical energy and spiritual energy, merging the three energies in a 1:1:1 ratio to form Sage Art Chakra.
"No, no, I won't leave. How about I use your name for everything I do from now on?"
Naruto turned back, smiling.
"That's more like it."
Jiraiya nodded with satisfaction, then changed the subject: "Hurry and pack your bags, we're departing tomorrow immediately."
"Departing? For what?"
"To find the new Hokage, of course. Tsunade, that fellow, who knows which casino she's run off to again," Jiraiya muttered, shaking his head.
"Why does the job of finding Tsunade always fall on me?"
Naruto grumbled inwardly but decided to agree after some thought. He could meet the legendary healer early and build up some goodwill.
"Tomorrow at nine, we'll meet at the Village gate."
After Jiraiya and Naruto agreed on a time, he used the Body Flicker Technique to leave, seemingly to gather intelligence and find Tsunade's exact whereabouts.
After Jiraiya left, Naruto did not return to his new home in the hot spring district. Instead, he deployed the Shadow Instant Kill Array and teleported a hundred kilometers away.
This was a forgotten circular valley within the primeval forest outside Konoha Village.
Scaly black giant rocks, like silent ancient giants, guarded a relatively flat gravel area in the center.
There was no bird song, no wind, only eternal silence.
"Swish!"
A afterimage appeared out of thin air; it was Naruto, who had "teleported" from Konoha Village.
"Hmm, this place is far enough from Konoha Village and uninhabited. I'll choose here."
Naruto surveyed his surroundings, nodding silently.
"Let me see where my limits lie."
"After stacking all my buffs, can I create a new mode and break through to the Six Paths level?"
He stood alone in the center of the valley, his shadow stretched long by the orange light of the setting sun.
"First, I'll activate Sage Mode. After all, it's a purely positive amplification for me, with no side effects, and it can further activate my cells."
Naruto closed his eyes, his mind sinking into a clear state.
Without conscious guidance, the Blood Demon Art, originating from the Demon Slayer world and integrated into his instincts, activated.
Several translucent, golden ribbons, seemingly made of pure energy, extended from his back, dancing gracefully like living things in the silent air.
"Whoosh—!"
The natural energy in the air, though far less than the Toad Oil Waterfall of Mount Myōboku, was absorbed over a wide range by Naruto. The natural energy of the entire circular valley seemed to find an outlet, instantly being frantically and efficiently sucked and plundered by those ribbons, pouring into Naruto's body!