At the gates of Konoha, the Third Hokage was also standing there, smiling quietly as he watched everything unfold.It was a pity that he couldn't persuade Jiraiya to stay, but this outcome was something he had already anticipated, so he wasn't particularly bothered by it.
What pleased him most was that the relationship between Xia Li and Jiraiya had developed exactly as he had hoped. That was a very good thing.
Jiraiya had also informed him of Xia Li's future arrangements, including his training at Mount Myōboku, and the Third Hokage had no objections. After all, hadn't Jiraiya followed the same path back then?
That said, Xia Li's mother's salary might need to be increased. The cost of this kind of training truly exceeded what an ordinary family could bear, the Third Hokage thought to himself.
He watched Jiraiya's retreating figure, then saw Jiraiya pause, turn around, and look back at Konoha—raising his head slightly, as if bidding farewell to him as well.
Seeing this, the rigid lines on the Third Hokage's face softened a little.
Mount Myōboku
Sage Fukasaku looked at Xia Li with a serious expression.
"Next, I will be watching your training. First, I must make this clear—my standards are extremely strict."
"Yes."
Xia Li answered simply. No matter how strict it was, he believed he could complete it.
Chapter 68: Training at Mount Myōboku
Sage Fukasaku watched Xia Li practicing in the distance. Xia Li was following the training plan that Fukasaku had personally designed for him.
In Fukasaku's memory, this should have looked like Jiraiya's first training session here—unable to last long, movements sloppy, requiring constant correction before reaching the proper standard.
Yet this was clearly Xia Li's first time seeing this training plan.
And still, his movements required no correction at all.
They were flawless.
So perfect that even Sage Fukasaku couldn't find a single fault.
Fukasaku stroked his beard, a satisfied expression appearing on his face. It seemed that Xiao Xia Li's taijutsu foundation was even better than he had expected.
His physical strength might not be outstanding yet, but his fundamental movements were textbook-perfect.
This wasn't Jiraiya's achievement—it was the work of Konoha's taijutsu master, Might Dai. Only someone who had refined taijutsu to that level could break down basic movements so thoroughly.
Perfect.
Sage Fukasaku glanced at the black ruler in his hand and thought that he probably wouldn't need to use it many times this session. Xia Li wasn't like Jiraiya back then, collapsing from exhaustion almost immediately.
In fact, Xia Li's physical condition was even better than Fukasaku had imagined. A long time passed, and his first training phase still hadn't ended.
"Little Jiraiya… you've accepted an incredible disciple this time."
Sage Fukasaku sighed once more.
Eventually, after some time, Xia Li finally reached his first limit.
"Eat this, then continue training," Sage Fukasaku said, taking out a pill and handing it to him.
Xia Li took the pill but didn't swallow it immediately. Under Fukasaku's curious gaze, he sat cross-legged, and arcs of lightning began to flicker across his body.
"Oh? So that's it… no wonder," Sage Fukasaku muttered in surprise. He had felt earlier that Xia Li's physical development was unusually fast. Now he understood why.
This time, however, Fukasaku grew thoughtful.
The training plan needed adjustment.
The intensity needed to be increased.
After finishing the lightning stimulation, Xia Li swallowed the pill.
He didn't know what the pill was made of—and he didn't want to know. At least not until he finished these years of training.
Once the pill entered his body, a warm current spread through him. The fatigue was still there, but—
Xia Li clenched his fists.
He was still tired, but he felt that he could continue.
"So this is Mount Myōboku's secret medicine…" Xia Li let out a breath.
"Of course. This is our unrevealed secret," Sage Fukasaku said. "Continue training. To fully utilize the medicine's effects, you must keep pushing yourself."
The extra foundation provided by the medicine couldn't fully manifest the first time. The first breakthrough afterward would be the hardest.
But Sage Fukasaku still underestimated Xia Li.
Before this, Xia Li had never chosen to forcefully break through his limits. After taking the medicine, he understood—
With this formula, the side effects that usually appeared after his first daily breakthrough would no longer occur.
Maybe even the second. The third.
From that point on, Sage Fukasaku stared in stunned silence at the scene before him, unconsciously swallowing.
A doubt surfaced in his mind.
Had he fallen behind the times?
Was the training plan too simple?
And the family's secret medicine… was the dosage even enough for Xia Li?
This realization left him speechless.
Back then, Jiraiya had consumed far fewer pills—and hadn't even finished them all.
From this perspective, Xia Li was squeezing every drop of effectiveness out of the medicine during its active period.
Once his body entered the next stage, his chakra reserves would begin to grow explosively.
It was already predictable—
Xia Li's chakra would far surpass Jiraiya's.
"With chakra like this, it would be a waste not to learn senjutsu…" Sage Fukasaku stroked his white beard, his interest fully piqued. He silently resolved that once Xia Li's chakra reached a sufficient level, he would begin teaching him Sage Arts.
After Xia Li completed his second limit breakthrough, he finally felt that his body had truly reached its boundary. A third breakthrough was clearly out of reach—but he was already very satisfied.
Still…
Looking up at the sky, Xia Li sighed.
The secret medicine greatly extended training time, but there was no alternative.
If you wanted to grow stronger, you had to endure the monotony and exhaustion.
What surprised him most was that he had broken through twice.
In his previous life, his physical education teacher had said that limits existed—and could be broken. But back then, he lacked the willpower.
Now, it seemed his willpower might not be as weak as he had once believed.
What would this lead to?
Xia Li felt a flicker of excitement. Maybe he could catch up to Little Lee's physical level—or even surpass him.
More importantly, with the support of the secret medicine, Xia Li was training within the limits his body allowed.
Little Lee, on the other hand…
At this moment, Xia Li deeply understood how important background and resources were.
It was obvious—his efforts were already extraordinary. And because of his presence, he had entered Might Guy's awareness far earlier.
Even if Lee admired Jiraiya, in taijutsu, he might never catch up.
Jiraiya's taijutsu might not surpass Might Guy's, but his background was something Guy could never match.
Mount Myōboku's secret medicine alone was proof.
Could Guy ever give Lee something like this?
At the very least, during the medicine's active period, Xia Li's physical development would outpace even a harder-working Lee.
Xia Li sighed, then dismissed the thought.
Fair or not, these opportunities were things he had earned step by step.
He crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and lightning flickered across his body once more.
As usual, he emptied himself and entered the state of emptiness and darkness.
This time, however, he forgot that Sage Fukasaku was still nearby.
And Fukasaku immediately noticed that something was wrong.
After careful observation and deep thought, he reached a conclusion—
Was this the prerequisite state for Sage Mode?!
Sage Fukasaku was shocked once again.
Chapter 69: Immortal Arts
"Thump!"
Xia Li clutched his head and looked up in confusion, only to see Sage Fukasaku holding the black ruler, his face filled with shock.
Just now, Fukasaku had struck him with the ruler.
Xia Li had sensed the movement and tried to dodge—but the result was obvious.
He couldn't dodge it at all.
The ruler struck his head cleanly, knocking him out of the void state.
After taking a deep breath, Sage Fukasaku asked sternly,
"Did Little Jiraiya teach you this state? That's far too irresponsible! With your current chakra level, how could he teach something like this—"
Normally gentle, Sage Fukasaku rarely showed anger. If this misunderstanding wasn't cleared up, Jiraiya would be in serious trouble.
"My teacher never taught me this," Xia Li explained honestly. "I've always rested like this after intense exercise since I was little. It feels comfortable. Is there something unusual about it?"
"What? Really?!" Sage Fukasaku stared at him as if looking at a monster.
After Xia Li nodded, Fukasaku took several deep breaths, then spoke excitedly:
"If you don't learn immortal arts, it would be an absolute waste of your talent!"
"Immortal arts?" Xia Li asked, confused.
"Yes. Celestial techniques. Unfortunately, your current chakra isn't enough to learn them," Sage Fukasaku said. For the first time, time felt unbearably slow to him.
If only Xia Li's body matured faster…
Seeing Xia Li's curiosity, Fukasaku decided to explain.
"In this world, not only living beings possess physical and spiritual energy. Nature itself contains natural energy. Immortal arts are achieved by combining natural energy with one's own physical energy in a precise ratio, forming senjutsu chakra."
"How is senjutsu different from ordinary ninjutsu?"
"Once senjutsu chakra exists, ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu are all vastly enhanced."
"Then… can I learn it?" Xia Li's eyes sparkled.
"Not now. Learning Sage Arts requires massive chakra. Otherwise, you'll be devoured by natural energy. You saw those stone statues during your walk with Jiraiya—those are the result."
Xia Li looked disappointed but didn't press further.
Still… the natural energy he sensed in the void didn't seem as overwhelming as Fukasaku described.
But Fukasaku was the expert. Xia Li didn't dare test it recklessly.
"Earlier, in that state—did you sense any other kind of energy?" Fukasaku asked again, expecting a no.
"…Yes," Xia Li answered after thinking.
"…You actually did?!" Fukasaku's eyes widened.
"Very faint," Xia Li added.
Fukasaku took a deep breath and said solemnly,
"Remember this—your chakra is not enough. Absolutely do not try to absorb it. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
"Have you ever used that state in front of Little Jiraiya?"
"Yes."
"You call it emptiness and darkness… Did you name it yourself?"
"Yes."
Fukasaku nodded, then frowned deeply.
"Little Jiraiya has practiced senjutsu for so long, yet he couldn't even recognize your state…"
Xia Li had nothing to say. It seemed he had fooled Jiraiya completely.
"Alright. Continue—but be extremely careful. Do not absorb that energy."
"I understand."
Xia Li closed his eyes and entered the void once more.
Watching him, Sage Fukasaku nodded in satisfaction.
Even now, Xia Li's progress speed far surpassed Jiraiya's.
Within the emptiness, Xia Li's thoughts stirred.
He recalled the moment when Sage Fukasaku struck him.
At that instant—
He had opened his eyes.
And yet…
He hadn't exited the void.
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