Sage Arts — techniques used while in Sage Mode.
A ninja's chakra is formed by combining Physical Energy and Spiritual Energy in a 1:1 ratio.
Senjutsu chakra, on the other hand, is created by mixing Natural Energy into ordinary chakra. Those three energies must be kept in perfect balance — 1:1:1.
If there isn't enough Natural Energy, you can't enter Sage Mode. If there's too much Natural Energy, the body begins to "naturalize". For example, with the toad clan's Senjutsu at Mount Myōboku: take in too much Natural Energy, and your body will toadify — or even turn to stone.
Once you enter Sage Mode, your strength and speed increase dramatically. In Sage Mode, Naruto could easily fling the Nine-Tails away. Beyond that, Taijutsu, Genjutsu, and Ninjutsu used in Sage Mode all become several times — sometimes dozens of times — more powerful.
"Mount Myōboku's toad Senjutsu really is impressive, but I'm not interested!"
The toad clan's Senjutsu was indeed strong. But to Mizuki, it was only so-so.
Besides — having watched the anime — he knew Mount Myōboku's training method like the back of his hand. The only thing he lacked was toad oil.
But that didn't matter. All he had to do was organize the method into a scroll and give it to a disciple; the system would return something even higher-level.
Mizuki's indifferent attitude made things difficult for Jiraiya.
Still, Jiraiya didn't want to give up.
"Do you know why the First Hokage was called the God of Shinobi? Aside from Wood Release, the main reason was Senjutsu. Madara Uchiha lost to the First Hokage because he couldn't beat Senjutsu. And the progenitor of ninjas, the Sage of Six Paths, was called a 'sage' for the same reason — Senjutsu. You have the Rinnegan. If you learn Senjutsu, you might even become a second Sage of Six Paths."
Jiraiya's words were tempting.
Unfortunately, Mizuki wasn't short-sighted.
"Stop wasting your effort. Naruto won't return to Konoha. He's my disciple. I won't stand by and watch him go back to that cold village filled with cold eyes."
Jiraiya immediately said, "The Third is dead. Danzō is dead too. As long as Naruto returns, I'll publicly reveal his identity as the Fourth's son right away. When that happens, the villagers won't hate him anymore. They'll respect him and love him. When he grows up, I'll also support him becoming Hokage."
Mizuki shook his head.
Jiraiya was a good person. If he made that promise, he would keep it.
But Mizuki still wouldn't agree. If Naruto went back, the loss would be too great.
"You want Naruto to return to Konoha for one reason only — the Nine-Tails. As for the Nine-Tails… returning it to Konoha isn't impossible. How about this: after some time, I'll extract the Nine-Tails from Naruto and return it to Konoha."
Once he mastered Heaven Grudge Fear, he would extract the Nine-Tails from Naruto. After Naruto died, he would revive him using Samsara of Heavenly Life.
As for the extracted Nine-Tails, he would hand it to Lee to trigger the system's return. Maybe it would return a Ten-Tails.
"Don't! Absolutely not!" Jiraiya's expression changed drastically, "I'm not doing this for the Nine-Tails."
Good grief — if the Nine-Tails were extracted, Naruto would be as good as dead. No matter what, the boy was Minato's child. He couldn't be allowed to die like that.
Mizuki said, "I know a Jinchūriki dies when the tailed beast is extracted. But don't worry — I can use the Rinnegan to revive Naruto. Naruto doesn't have to return to Konoha, and the Nine-Tails can return to Konoha. Wouldn't that make everyone happy?"
Jiraiya glanced at Mizuki's right eye, "Reviving the dead… the Rinnegan really is powerful. But no. I still want Naruto to return to Konoha — and it's not for the Nine-Tails. Honestly, I'd rather you keep the Nine-Tails and let me take Naruto."
Ever since Orochimaru defected from Konoha, Jiraiya had been tracking him.
He knew Orochimaru had joined the Akatsuki, then left. He had also discovered that the Akatsuki were capturing tailed beasts.
If the Nine-Tails were brought back to Konoha, the Akatsuki would come. Konoha couldn't afford that.
That was why he said the tailed beast should remain in Fushigakure — he believed that with Mizuki's strength, the Nine-Tails would be better protected. As long as Konoha didn't get hurt, that was enough.
"If it's not for the Nine-Tails, then what is it for?" Mizuki asked, curious.
Jiraiya was about to explain when a kunai suddenly flew in from afar, aimed straight at him. His eyes narrowed, and he dodged in an instant. The kunai lost its target and stabbed into the ground.
"Which little brat just ambushed me? With trash throwing like that, you think you can hurt me? Don't underestimate me!" Jiraiya cursed as he turned.
Mizuki glanced at the kunai on the ground and let out a soft, surprised sound.
The next moment, Naruto appeared right where the kunai had landed. He dropped into a cool half-crouch and picked it up.
"T-This… this is… M-Minato?" Jiraiya's eyes went wide, like he'd seen a ghost.
That familiar back — seen from behind — looked far too much like Minato in his youth.
Mizuki was thrilled. At this moment, Naruto had mastered both the Rasengan and the Flying Thunder God. He had truly become a Yellow Flash copy.
If his combat experience caught up, Naruto's strength would be no worse than Minato's — enough to instantly kill a Jōnin.
"It's only been a few days, and you already learned it?" Even knowing Naruto was a genius, Mizuki still found it hard to believe.
Naruto grinned smugly, "Heh heh. I'm a genius. The Flying Thunder God? Piece of cake!"
In truth, he learned so quickly entirely thanks to the Shadow Clone Technique.
Mizuki had mentioned it casually, but Naruto had remembered. These past few days, while training the Flying Thunder God, he had used Multi Shadow Clones. With a thousand clones, his learning speed became a thousand times faster — so he could master the technique in such a short time.
Jiraiya was still staring in shock, "Y-You really learned the Flying Thunder God?"
Naruto turned to him, "I heard everything you said. If you want me to return to Konoha — impossible. And I hate Konoha's ninja. Leave now, or don't blame me if I'm not polite."
Mizuki patted him on the shoulder and smiled, "Don't be like that. Not all Konoha ninja are as hateful as the Third. This is Jiraiya — your father Minato Namikaze's teacher. He's a good person."
Among the people in the ninja world, Jiraiya was one of the ones Mizuki respected. The heroic Perverted Hermit deserved to be treated with goodwill.
Hearing that Jiraiya had been his father's teacher, the hostility in Naruto's eyes faded.
But Jiraiya was still too shocked that Naruto could learn the Flying Thunder God.
"Only someone with terrifying chakra control can learn the Flying Thunder God. Only someone extremely meticulous can train chakra control to that level. But this kid's personality… isn't he careless and brash, just like Kushina?"
There had been too much going on recently, and Jiraiya hadn't had time to learn Naruto's situation in detail.
No one had told him that Naruto's chakra control had reached the point where he could release ninjutsu directly without hand seals. All he'd heard from Sakura was that the boy was brash, not careful at all — a fool.
That was why seeing Naruto master the Flying Thunder God was so unbelievable.
"Uncle Jiraiya." Naruto said, "Even if you're my father's teacher, I won't agree to go back to Konoha. Maybe if you'd shown up earlier, I wouldn't have left. But since I already left, I won't go back."
Jiraiya looked at him and sighed, "Naruto… I'm sorry. These past years, I neglected you."
With that, he turned and left.
He had seen the determination in Naruto's eyes. No matter what he said, the boy wouldn't return to Konoha. He could only give up.
As for Tsunade… he could only think of another way.
❊❊❊❊❊
Land of Rice Fields — Otogakure.
Kabuto sat in the laboratory, his face full of confusion.
Kimimaro lay on the hospital bed. His illness had no cure; his body had reached its limit. Nearby, instruments monitored him. The heart-rate monitor showed his heartbeat dropping rapidly…
Until it stopped completely.
Beep — Beep — Beep —
The alarm sounded. Kabuto came back to himself, looked at Kimimaro — now utterly devoid of life — and sighed.
"Lord Orochimaru is gone. And now you're gone too. What am I supposed to do? Where am I supposed to go?"
He turned and walked toward the exit.
He didn't know what to do next. He didn't know where to go.
Just as he opened the door to leave, a familiar chakra fluctuation rose behind him.
"Lord Orochimaru?"
Kabuto spun around — and saw chakra surging at the cursed seal on Kimimaro's neck. The next moment, something white pushed out from it.
A snake head. A huge white snake head. Then another head emerged, and another — eight in total.
"The Eight Branches Technique… Lord Orochimaru's Eight Branches Technique!"
The eight-headed serpent crawled out from the cursed seal, nearly filling the empty laboratory.
One of the snake heads opened its mouth — and Orochimaru slid out, slick and sticky.
"Lord Orochimaru… you're not dead! That's wonderful!"
◈◈◈
T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want 20 chapters ahead of this novel for just $5 or enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations (free or starting at $1.5): MrBlackWing (you know where to search)
Take a look at the new books I'm translating on my profile, Cyberpunk 2077: A God-Level Skill Every Day and Infinite Worlds: Building the Strongest Harem! They are also on my website for $5 and $1.5, respectively!
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)