Chapter 273: The Heretical Sage Mode
"What? Is there really a shortcut? Nine-Tails, why didn't you say so earlier? I've been struggling here for so long. Hurry! Tell me!"
Naruto urged excitedly.
That was right. Even though the Nine-Tails had agreed to let Naruto use its power unconditionally and without limit, it still had not told Naruto its name.
Part of it was pride.
Another part was that the Nine-Tails understood the significance of a tailed beast's name.
Even if it were to tell Naruto its name, it would have to wait until Naruto and Sasuke had confirmed their relationship.
It had to be cautious and ensure that it was not the one closest to Naruto.
"It's that foolish thing you did last night."
When the Nine-Tails said this, it actually felt a little embarrassed.
"Which one?"
"The one I stopped you from doing!"
"Oh, that? Why? How?"
Naruto scratched his head, completely confused.
The origin of Naruto's "takeoff" traced back to when he brought Boruto home to sleep. Boruto had been worried that he might have harmed Naruto's vital area, which would prevent his own future birth, so he had tested it a few times.
At the time, Naruto was terrified.
But afterward, when Naruto recalled the sensation, it was as if Pandora's box had been opened.
"Based on my many years of experience in the ninja world, after completing that activity, people enter a special state where their minds are emptied."
"There was a monk during the Warring States period who once said that after completing that activity, a person's mind is at its closest to the Sage of Six Paths."
"That statement is somewhat exaggerated, but from my observations of their behavior, it does have an effect."
"You can give it a try."
The Nine-Tails spoke slowly.
"Really? Nine-Tails, you're not just trying to enjoy it, but you don't have that thing, so you want me to do it instead, right?"
Naruto was half-convinced.
"Get lost! I'm kindly reminding you and you dare slander me!"
The Nine-Tails was furious.
"Sorry, sorry! I wasn't doubting you. I'll do it right away."
Naruto hurriedly apologized and obediently began to try.
A few minutes later.
"Alright, I'm going to start trying to train in senjutsu!"
Naruto did not even bother cleaning up properly. He immediately sat cross-legged and began condensing senjutsu chakra.
Sure enough, his mind emptied, becoming completely tranquil. He entered the state almost instantly.
Even the chakra control ratio required for Sage Mode was completed with ease.
"Haha, I did it! I succeeded on my first try! I'm a genius!!!"
Naruto opened his eyes. As he walked to the river to wash his hands, he saw the markings around his eyes and began dancing excitedly.
He eagerly called Shima and Fukasaku over, wanting them to praise him again.
However, since it was his first time entering Sage Mode, the duration was short, and he had already exited it.
"It's fine. I'll condense it again."
Naruto sat down and began trying to condense chakra again.
But within seconds, his face started to swell.
Sage Fukasaku hurriedly slapped him, "Idiot! I told you to meditate first. Why did you absorb natural energy on your own?"
"Huh?"
Naruto was snapped awake by the slap. He touched his face, looking not repentant but simply puzzled.
Then a look of sudden realization appeared on his face.
"Grandpa Toad, Grandma Toad, wait a moment. I need to change locations to condense senjutsu chakra."
Embarrassed to "take off" in front of them, Naruto wanted to find a secluded spot.
"Don't worry. I'll create a shadow clone to watch over me. If something goes wrong, the clone will knock me awake."
After saying that, Naruto dashed into the forest.
More than ten minutes later.
Naruto walked out in Sage Mode.
"He actually managed to complete Sage Mode?"
"Although it took a bit long, the level of completion is even more perfect than Jiraiya boy's. He entered Sage Mode on his own!"
The two toads stared in shock.
Could Naruto really be a genius?
But how exactly had he done it?
Why did changing locations suddenly make it work?
"Took too long?"
Naruto was delighted by their praise but also caught the imperfection they mentioned.
"Yes. Entering Sage Mode requires preparation. For Jiraiya boy's imperfect Sage Mode, he has to summon the two of us, which takes about five minutes."
"Even then, unless you prepare in advance before launching an attack, spending five minutes condensing senjutsu chakra during battle is a long time and can easily lead to unexpected changes."
"Your Sage Mode is more complete, Naruto boy, but taking too long is a fatal flaw."
Sage Shima shook her head as she explained.
"Fatal flaw?"
Naruto's smiling face immediately fell.
"Don't be discouraged, Naruto boy. Mastering Sage Mode this quickly already makes you a genius. Keep practicing and you'll gradually speed up."
"That's right. To reward you for successfully cultivating Sage Mode, your grandpa and I have decided to go to Konoha and bring you something tasty. What would you like, Naruto boy?"
The two toads spoke one after the other.
"Uh, thank you, Grandpa Toad, Grandma Toad. Just bring me a few cups of instant ramen."
Naruto replied absentmindedly. His mind was entirely focused on how to improve and shorten the time.
After Shima and Fukasaku left, Naruto created a shadow clone and prepared to continue practicing.
Hm? Shadow clone?
Naruto formed hand seals.
"Harem Technique!"
Before, it had been a performance without physical reference. Now, with an actual target, Naruto's speed in entering Sage Mode doubled.
"Not enough."
Naruto looked serious and asked the Nine-Tails in his mind, "Nine-Tails, do you have any ideas?"
"I recall that shadow clones synchronize their memories and sensations back to the original, correct?"
The Nine-Tails' voice echoed in Naruto's mind.
Hearing this, Naruto's eyes lit up. He clapped his hands together.
"Nine-Tails, you're a genius! That's it!"
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
Naruto created a thousand shadow clones in one go, filling a corner of Mount Myoboku.
Then all one thousand clones began "taking off" simultaneously.
After ten seconds, Naruto dispelled all of them.
It worked!
He had succeeded in just ten seconds!
Next was condensing senjutsu chakra…
That time was almost fixed.
With repeated use, it could be gradually shortened.
The first time he condensed it, Naruto took one minute.
This time, with prior experience, it only took forty seconds.
Adding the ten seconds of "takeoff," he entered Sage Mode in just fifty seconds!
Perfect!
"It looks like rescuing Sasuke, Pervy Sage, and Mom is just around the corner."
Naruto clenched his fists, extremely excited.
"Wait, Naruto."
The Nine-Tails' weak voice sounded in his mind.
"Don't forget that Uchiha Sasuke still needs your power to advance his Sharingan."
"Oh right. I almost forgot if you hadn't reminded me, Nine-Tails."
(End of this chapter)