The next day, during outdoor class.
"Senju Nawaki?"
Ruri frowned when she heard this familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar name from Shiraishi.
"Yeah, I ran into him yesterday afternoon before the experimental class started. He seems very interested in defeating you."
Shiraishi observed Ruri's facial expression with interest, curious to see her reaction.
Unfortunately, Shiraishi was disappointed. Ruri merely nodded indifferently. Too many people wanted to challenge her; he was just a Genin from the Senju clan.
However, the opponent was, after all, the grandson of the First Hokage, so he should have some skill.
"How strong is he?"
"Probably a little weaker than me."
"Then he is indeed a challenger worth a little anticipation."
Ruri, who knew Shiraishi's full strength, lowered Nawaki's standard slightly. Although it was impossible for him to defeat her, he should be able to provide a little enjoyment.
"But I heard from Senior Nawaki that his teacher is the Jonin Orochimaru, who recently returned to the village. He is said to be a genius ninja seen only once in decades, so it's better to be a little careful then."
"Don't worry. The Jonin who teaches me is a highly respected elder within the Uchiha clan. Although he has retired, his experience and understanding of ninjutsu are comparable only to Lord Third Hokage in Konoha Village. What's more, I have the Sharingan and your so-called scientific training method. Give me two more years, and I can even contend with a Jonin."
Ruri said confidently.
She was only in her fourth year now, with two more academic years until graduation. She had enough time to grow.
Senju Nawaki's connections and resources were considerable, but the treatment she received within the Uchiha clan was not necessarily worse than his.
The Uchiha certainly did not lack powerful Jonin.
"I'm just giving a slight reminder. I have full confidence in you. After all, no one knows if Senior Nawaki will encounter any accidents two years from now. The war has just ended, and executing missions outside is still a bit dangerous."
Shiraishi wasn't cursing Nawaki, but rather, the period right after the war might be even more dangerous than during the war. Executing missions outside, even with the Sannin's care, was still quite risky.
"Speaking of which, Senior Nawaki is the grandson of Lord First Hokage. Has he perhaps inherited Lord First's Wood Style? That is the bloodline power that pacified the Warring States period."
Shiraishi was considering this point.
Hearing Shiraishi say this, Ruri replied, "That's impossible. According to the Uchiha clan's records, among the Senju clan, only Lord First awakened the Wood Style."
Shiraishi raised an eyebrow: "That's really strange."
"Strange?"
"Yes, Wood Style is a Kekkei Genkai, right? This ability is inherited by the next generation of descendants, just like the Uchiha's Sharingan and the Hyuga's Byakugan. If Senior Nawaki hasn't awakened Wood Style, isn't that very strange? After all, Senior Nawaki is only one generation removed from the origin of the Wood Style bloodline; his bloodline is very close to Lord First."
"As far as I know, Jonin Tsunade also cannot use Wood Style."
Shiraishi was even more puzzled.
He hadn't thought much of it before, but upon closer reflection, it was understandable for other Senju clan members not to inherit Wood Style. Shiraishi could consider Wood Style a Kekkei Genkai self-created by the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
In other words, the Wood Style bloodline might not awaken in other Senju clan members, but it would definitely manifest in his direct descendants.
Nawaki not awakening Wood Style could be explained by his young age and insufficient strength, but Tsunade was already a renowned Jonin in the village, an outstanding one among Jonin.
Such a Jonin had also not awakened Wood Style.
Could it be that Wood Style isn't a Kekkei Genkai at all? Or does awakening Wood Style require something special?
Shiraishi couldn't figure this out.
"I remember you once said that Lord First also used something called Sage Mode, right?"
"Ah, I did say that. I also saw it by chance in our family's ancient texts. It is said that in nature, there is a special energy called 'natural energy,' which seems to be related to Sage Mode. I don't know anything else."
"Could this be related to Wood Style?"
"Who knows? Many things about our predecessors are difficult to verify. After all, I haven't heard of anyone in the Uchiha who has mastered Sage Mode; otherwise, relevant training methods would surely have been passed down."
Ruri was also interested in Sage Mode, but she didn't know how to acquire its power.
Compared to something so elusive and unseen, the Sharingan felt more tangible to her.
This was the source of power for Uchiha clan ninjas.
"Natural energy, what exactly is it like?"
Shiraishi looked up at the sky, a puzzled expression on his face, but his eyes held a desire for exploration.
To understand Sage Mode, one must first grasp natural energy, and to grasp natural energy, one must first discover and then accept natural energy.
Ruri could tell that Shiraishi was also very interested in the so-called Sage Mode. This was his common trait; once he encountered something unknown, his curiosity would become even stronger than hers.
"I'll bring you the ancient texts about Sage Mode tomorrow."
"Huh? Is that okay? Aren't those texts very valuable?"
"Valuable? They aren't really valuable. It's just a superficial understanding. It's like many people in the ninja world know about the existence of Wood Style, but only Lord First can use it. Sage Mode is the same; knowing about its existence and learning to master it are two different things."
◎
A day later, Ruri, as promised, gave Shiraishi some Uchiha ancient texts concerning Sage Mode.
Anyway, these things were just gathering dust in her house, completely useless.
Yet, Shiraishi treated them as if he had found a treasure.
Even if it was just superficial information about Sage Mode, he felt this data was extremely valuable.
That evening, after practicing with Ruri for a while, Shiraishi eagerly returned home and spread out the Sage Mode documents on his desk under the lamp.
The scroll recording Sage Mode was very old and worn, with some dust that couldn't be brushed off, permanently fixed to it.
Shiraishi didn't mind, he opened the scroll and began to read the text.
The general information recorded on the scroll was that, based on ordinary chakra, one absorbs natural energy from the outside world and merges it to form what is called Sage Mode Chakra.
By creating Sage Mode Chakra, one can use Sage Mode.
When using Sage Mode, one must first enter Sage Mode.
It was a very brief introduction.
However, the most important thing within it was the so-called natural energy.
Ordinary chakra can be generated by combining the ninja's own physical and spiritual energy.
Sage Mode Chakra is formed by adding natural energy to these two types of energy.
And natural energy exists in the air and the earth.
In other words, natural energy is actually omnipresent.
To sense natural energy, one must become one with nature.
The record stopped here.
How to become one with nature was not recorded, not a single mention.
How to become one with nature, how to sense natural energy, how to receive it, how much to receive, and what ratio of the three energies is needed to balance them—none of it was recorded.