"Natural Energy is vast and violent," Gamamaru continued. "If it is drawn in improperly, it will turn against the user. The consequences would be disastrous."
He paused before adding,
"However, you possess both Ōtsutsuki blood and the power of the God Tree. Your constitution is unlike that of ordinary people. Perhaps... you will have unexpected advantages—or unexpected obstacles—when it comes to sensing and adapting to Natural Energy. Only by trying will we know."
Hagoromo's gaze remained unwavering.
"No matter how difficult it is, I'll do it."
"Please tell me."
"Where do I begin?"
Throughout the shinobi world, the audience finally gained a clear understanding of the true nature of Senjutsu.
So...
Beyond the chakra system, there had always existed an ancient and immensely powerful system founded upon nature itself.
Was this the world's original power?
Then why had it nearly vanished in later generations?
"What about Sage Mode?"
That's still built upon chakra. It isn't the same thing!
The Sage of Six Paths had begun his journey to oppose his mother and save the world...
By first learning Senjutsu.
The revelation opened an entirely new path before countless shinobi.
At the same time, it filled them with even greater curiosity toward the birthplace of Senjutsu—
Mount Myōboku—
And toward the mysterious Gamamaru.
"So, Hagoromo," Gamamaru said with absolute certainty, "if you truly wish to stop your mother..."
"If you wish to gain the power to stand against Kaguya—or even defeat her—then your first step..."
"...and the one step that cannot be avoided..."
"...is to become a Sage."
"...A Sage..."
Hagoromo quietly repeated the title.
Unlike the word god, it carried none of the cold, distant authority of divinity.
Instead, it evoked harmony with heaven and earth...
A state that transcended the ordinary world.
Taking a deep breath to steady his emotions, he bowed deeply.
"Master Gamamaru..."
"I humbly ask you..."
"Teach me."
"Teach me how to become a Sage."
"Teach me the power of Senjutsu."
Gamamaru accepted both the request and the respectful title with a satisfied nod.
However, rather than immediately explaining the methods of Senjutsu training, he turned to the second power he had mentioned earlier.
"As for the second power..."
His tone became unusually solemn.
For perhaps the first time, there was even a trace of reverence in his voice.
"Its might far surpasses even Senjutsu."
"Its true nature is so profound that, despite the countless years I have spent cultivating myself, I have never fully understood it."
"Much less mastered it."
He looked directly at Hagoromo.
"You are not yet capable of touching that power."
"If you attempt to do so now..."
"It will only bring about your own destruction."
"Only after you have mastered Senjutsu..."
"Only after you have been fundamentally transformed and truly stepped into the realm of a Sage..."
"When both your heart and your strength have reached an entirely new level..."
"Will you possess even the slightest qualification to perceive and comprehend that power."
"When that day comes..."
"I shall decide the next step based upon your progress."
Hagoromo solemnly nodded.
He understood that true strength could only be attained one step at a time.
Especially a power that sounded even more unfathomable than Senjutsu.
There was neither impatience nor disappointment in his expression.
Instead, he became even calmer.
"That is only proper."
"A towering structure begins with its foundation."
"I will first devote myself to mastering Senjutsu."
"Only then will I be worthy of pursuing a higher realm."
"I shall follow your guidance, Master Gamamaru."
Seeing Hagoromo's steadfast resolve and mature understanding, Gamamaru's eyes revealed a hint of satisfaction.
He said nothing further about the second power.
Instead, he formally began guiding Hagoromo toward the first stage of Senjutsu training.
The scene within the Heavenly Curtain suddenly changed.
It was as though an invisible hand had pressed fast-forward.
Or perhaps this portion of Hagoromo's training had been deliberately concealed and compressed by some mysterious force.
The Heavenly Curtain no longer showed Gamamaru teaching him how to sense Natural Energy...
How to harmonize himself with nature...
Or how he overcame one hardship after another.
All of those long, arduous years of training—and every profound detail of the process—were skipped entirely.
Light and shadow flowed across the Heavenly Curtain so quickly that they blurred together.
Only fleeting images remained.
Hagoromo sat motionless upon the great stone beside the waterfall, bathed first in dawn, then moonlight, as though he had become one with the mountain itself.
At other times, he slowly walked through the ancient forest with his eyes closed, gently brushing his hand across the rough bark of old trees.
Elsewhere, he stood before raging storms and rushing rivers, learning to harmonize with—or withstand—the overwhelming power of nature.
The scenery shifted rapidly as the seasons passed.
Spring blossoms.
Summer thunder.
Autumn leaves.
Winter snow.
Again...
And again.
There was no dialogue.
No detailed instruction.
Only the silent passage of countless years.
Eventually, the rushing flow of time slowed.
The image became clear once more.
It was still the same waterfall.
Hagoromo sat cross-legged upon the very stone where Gamamaru had once meditated.
His eyes were gently closed.
Compared to when he had first arrived, his entire bearing had changed completely.
The restlessness born of grief and desperation had disappeared.
In its place remained only profound tranquility...
And an almost ethereal serenity.
A faint aura surrounded his body.
It was neither the blue nor the golden glow of chakra.
Instead, it was a soft, translucent radiance that felt inseparably connected to nature itself.
His breathing had become incredibly slow and steady.
Each inhalation...
Each exhalation...
Seemed perfectly synchronized with the waterfall's roar and the whispering wind through the forest.
Slowly...
He opened his eyes.
His Sharingan remained unchanged—
Scarlet irises...
Three black tomoe...
Yet around his eyes appeared something new.
A faint orange pigmentation, reminiscent of a toad's eyes.
It was subtle.
Not especially striking.
Yet it lent him an unmistakable air of mystery and transcendence.
More important than his appearance...
Was his gaze.
The pain.
The anger.
The confusion.
The desperation.
All of it had settled into stillness.
In their place remained calm wisdom, deep enough to reflect mountains, rivers, and the sky itself.
As Hagoromo looked upon the waterfall...
The forest...
And the sky ...
There was now a profound sense of connection and understanding within his eyes.
He had succeeded.
Although the Heavenly Curtain had hidden the training itself...
The result spoke for itself.
After an unknown span of arduous cultivation under Gamamaru's guidance...
Hagoromo had finally mastered the fundamentals of Senjutsu...
And stepped across the threshold of Sage Mode.
Throughout the shinobi world, everyone stared at the transformed Hagoromo.
Especially the distinctive orange pigmentation around his eyes.
So...
This was what a Sage looked like?
This was the realm that stood beyond ordinary shinobi?
...
Although...
It looked...
Surprisingly ordinary.
And wasn't that...
Remarkably similar to the Sage Mode used in Konoha?
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