Arrival at Mount Myōboku
The transition from the mundane world to the sacred realm of Mount Myōboku was both sudden and breathtaking in its otherworldly beauty. One moment Naruto had been standing in the familiar surroundings of his family's compound, and the next he found himself immersed in an environment that seemed to exist in defiance of every natural law he had ever understood.
Splash! La la la!
The sound of flowing water filled his ears with a musical quality that seemed almost supernatural in its purity and clarity. As the summoning smoke cleared from around him, Naruto's eyes widened in wonder at the spectacular vista that unfolded before his gaze.
"Is this really Mount Myōboku?" he breathed, his voice carrying the awe of someone witnessing something that existed beyond the boundaries of ordinary experience.
The massive toad oil waterfall that dominated the landscape was unlike anything he had ever imagined. The cascade didn't consist of ordinary water—instead, it was composed of a thick, golden substance that caught and reflected light in ways that created an almost hypnotic visual effect. The oil moved with a viscous grace that made each droplet seem to hang in the air for impossible moments before joining the pool below.
The geographical environment and vegetation of Mount Myōboku were fundamentally different from anything found in the outside world, shaped by forces that had been at work for millennia before human civilization had even begun to develop. Ancient trees whose trunks were wider than houses stretched toward a sky that seemed somehow more vast and colorful than the one visible from the elemental nations.
Massive lily pads floated on ponds that reflected not just the physical world but seemed to capture glimpses of other dimensions entirely. Flowers bloomed in colors that had no names in human language, their petals shifting through spectrums that ordinary eyes could barely perceive.
"Hey, Naruto! You're finally here!" a booming voice called out from beside the waterfall.
Naruto turned toward the source of the greeting and immediately jumped backward in surprise. What he saw defied every memory he possessed of their previous encounters.
A massive toad that could easily have been mistaken for a small building was waving one enormous webbed hand in his direction. The creature's size was so overwhelming that Naruto had to crane his neck back just to see its head properly, and its voice carried the kind of deep resonance that seemed to make the very ground vibrate beneath his feet.
Despite the dramatic change in scale, something about the toad's expression and mannerisms sparked recognition in Naruto's mind. The way it tilted its head, the particular rhythm of its speech, the friendly gleam in its massive eyes—all of these details combined to trigger memories of much smaller encounters.
"You're... Gamakichi!" Naruto exclaimed with dawning recognition and delight. "I haven't seen you for a few years, but you've grown so incredibly huge!"
"You've grown quite a bit taller yourself," Gamakichi replied with obvious pleasure at being recognized despite his changed circumstances.
His voice had deepened considerably along with his size, but it retained the same cheerful quality that had characterized their earlier interactions. The growth was clearly a natural part of toad development within Mount Myōboku's unique environment, where time and space seemed to operate according to different rules than those governing the outside world.
"Little Naruto," a new voice interrupted their reunion, carrying the authority and wisdom that came from centuries of accumulated knowledge and experience.
With a graceful leap that belied his advanced age, Fukasaku the Sage landed on the edge of the pool that collected the waterfall's golden flow. His diminutive stature was deceptive—every movement spoke to power and knowledge that had been refined through countless years of dedication to the highest forms of ninja art.
"Starting today, you will remain here to practice Sage techniques for an extended period," Fukasaku announced with the kind of formal solemnity that marked significant moments in a student's development.
"Yes, sir!" Naruto responded immediately, snapping his right hand to his forehead in a crisp salute that reflected both respect and enthusiasm.
His entire body language conveyed eagerness to begin training that he understood would push him far beyond anything he had previously attempted. The opportunity to learn Sage Mode represented not just advanced technique acquisition, but entry into a realm of power that only a select few individuals in history had ever mastered.
"Well then, let's begin immediately without further delay," Fukasaku declared, his tone carrying the no-nonsense efficiency of someone who had guided countless students through this same process.
Naruto's expression brightened with anticipation, his natural energy and enthusiasm practically radiating from every pore. This was the kind of challenge he lived for—something that would test his limits and force him to grow in ways he had never imagined possible.
"Before we begin practical training, I need to explain the fundamental principles of Sage techniques," Fukasaku began, settling into the patient teaching mode that had served him well throughout his long career as an instructor.
Gamakichi, recognizing that this was the beginning of serious training that would require extended focus and concentration, offered a friendly wave of farewell before departing to attend to his own responsibilities. His massive form moved with surprising grace as he navigated the unique terrain of Mount Myōboku.
Fukasaku launched into a comprehensive explanation of the relationship between Sage techniques, chakra, and natural energy that drew upon knowledge accumulated over thousands of years of toad sage tradition. His teaching style was methodical and thorough, covering every aspect of the theoretical foundation that would be necessary for successful practical application.
He explained how natural energy permeated everything in the world around them, from the smallest pebble to the mightiest mountain, creating an invisible network of power that most beings remained completely unaware of throughout their entire lives. This energy was fundamentally different from the chakra that ninja typically manipulated—older, wilder, and far more dangerous to those who attempted to harness it without proper preparation.
The process of learning Sage Mode required a student to sense this natural energy, draw it into their body, and then combine it with their own physical and spiritual energy in precise proportions. When perfectly balanced, this combination would create Sage chakra—a form of power that transcended anything achievable through conventional ninja techniques.
But the risks involved were extraordinary. Natural energy possessed a will of its own, and it actively resisted attempts at control by those it deemed unworthy. Students who lost control of the balance could find their bodies transformed in ways that ranged from temporarily inconvenient to permanently catastrophic.
Fukasaku's explanation was comprehensive and detailed, covering everything from the philosophical underpinnings of natural energy to the specific physiological changes that occurred during successful Sage transformation. He spoke of harmony between human consciousness and the natural world, of respect for forces that had existed since the dawn of time, and of the responsibility that came with wielding such power.
Throughout this extended lecture, Naruto's expression grew increasingly strained. His eyes began to glaze over as concepts that were completely foreign to his practical, action-oriented mindset piled one upon another in an overwhelming cascade of theoretical knowledge.
When Fukasaku finally concluded his explanation and fixed Naruto with an expectant stare, the result was exactly what the experienced teacher had feared.
"Do you understand?" Fukasaku inquired with hopeful patience.
"It's completely incomprehensible," Naruto admitted with the kind of honest bewilderment that left no room for pretense or false confidence.
His expression was that of someone who had just been asked to solve complex mathematical equations in a language he had never heard before. The theoretical framework that Fukasaku had carefully constructed might as well have been ancient hieroglyphics for all the sense it made to Naruto's practically-oriented mind.
Small beads of perspiration appeared on Fukasaku's forehead as he processed this response. When Minato had first arrived at Mount Myōboku to learn Sage techniques, a brief overview of the basic principles had been sufficient for him to grasp the essential concepts and begin making immediate progress.
The contrast between father and son was stark and somewhat concerning. Where Minato had possessed an almost supernatural ability to understand complex theoretical frameworks and immediately apply them to practical situations, Naruto seemed to approach learning from an entirely different direction.
"Sage Master, I've never been good at this kind of theoretical stuff," Naruto explained with the kind of self-aware honesty that was both refreshing and problematic. "Could you just tell me what I need to do?"
His request reflected a learning style that favored direct experience over abstract conceptualization, hands-on practice over theoretical study. It was an approach that had served him well in many areas of his ninja development, but Sage Mode traditionally required a deep understanding of the underlying principles before practical application could begin safely.
"Very well," Fukasaku replied with a slight sigh, recognizing that he would need to adapt his teaching methods to accommodate his student's unique learning style.
Fukasaku extended one webbed finger toward the pool of toad oil that collected beneath the waterfall, the golden substance rippling gently in response to subtle air currents that moved through the sacred space.
"Extend your arms," he instructed, his tone shifting from theoretical explanation to practical demonstration.
Naruto complied immediately, stretching both arms toward his teacher with the kind of eager cooperation that marked him as someone ready to trust completely in his instructor's guidance. His blue eyes were bright with anticipation, even though he had no idea what to expect from the coming experience.
Fukasaku carefully applied a small amount of toad oil from his finger to Naruto's palm, the golden substance seeming to glow with inner light as it made contact with human skin. The oil was warm to the touch and possessed a consistency that was unlike anything Naruto had ever encountered—neither fully liquid nor completely solid, but something that seemed to exist in a state between the two.
At first, Naruto felt nothing unusual beyond the strange texture of the oil against his skin. But then, suddenly and without warning, it was as if an entirely new sense had been awakened within him.
The air around him felt different—charged with an energy that had always been present but which he had never before been able to perceive. It was like discovering that he had been colorblind his entire life and suddenly being able to see entirely new spectrums of light.
Natural energy began flowing into his body with the force of a rushing river, following pathways through his chakra network that he had never known existed. The sensation was overwhelming and exhilarating, like being caught in a powerful current that threatened to sweep away everything he thought he understood about his own capabilities.
"Do you feel it?" Fukasaku asked, leaping onto the edge of the pool so that he could observe Naruto's reactions without having to strain his neck upward. "This is natural energy."
The ancient sage's voice seemed to come from very far away, filtered through the overwhelming sensations that were flooding through Naruto's consciousness. Every nerve ending in his body felt hyperactive, as if he had suddenly become aware of electrical currents running through his skin.
"As I explained earlier," Fukasaku continued with the patient tone of someone repeating crucial information, "Sage techniques require the addition of natural energy to the physical and spiritual energy that comprise ordinary chakra. When all three are perfectly balanced, the result is Sage chakra—power that transcends anything achievable through conventional means."
"But if that three-way balance cannot be maintained, then..." Fukasaku's voice trailed off meaningfully as he observed the changes that were beginning to manifest in his student.
Naruto remained completely unaware that his appearance was undergoing dramatic alterations. The natural energy flowing through his system was beginning to assert its influence over his physical form, reshaping features according to principles that had nothing to do with human anatomy.
"Walk over here and look at yourself," Fukasaku suggested mildly, stepping aside to provide clear access to the pool's reflective surface.
Naruto moved forward with the slightly unsteady gait of someone whose sensory input had been dramatically altered. When he looked down at his reflection in the toad oil's golden surface, his reaction was immediate and explosive.
"AHHHHH!" he screamed in panic, his voice echoing across Mount Myōboku's mystical landscape.
The face staring back at him from the pool bore only passing resemblance to his normal appearance. His features had taken on distinctly amphibian characteristics—enlarged eyes, flattened nose, and skin that showed the beginning stages of the warty texture characteristic of toad physiology.
"This is terrible! This is awful!" he continued, his voice rising to levels that probably disturbed wildlife across several dimensions. "Why has my face become like this? I've never even had a girlfriend, and no girl will ever like me if I look like this!"
His emotional state shifted with characteristic speed from panic to deep depression. The shouting stopped abruptly, replaced by an expression of such profound dejection that it would have been comical under different circumstances.
Fukasaku found himself completely nonplussed by this reaction. In all his centuries of teaching Sage techniques, he had never encountered a student whose primary concern about toad transformation was its potential impact on romantic prospects.
The disconnect between Naruto and his father was becoming increasingly apparent. Minato's approach to new challenges had always been analytical and methodical, characterized by careful consideration of risks and systematic development of countermeasures. Naruto's response was purely emotional, immediate, and completely unfiltered.
WHACK!
Fukasaku pulled out a wooden stick and delivered a sharp blow to the top of Naruto's head, the impact calculated to disrupt the flow of natural energy without causing actual injury.
"Ow!" Naruto yelped, both hands flying to his head as he spun around to confront his attacker.
The movement brought him face-to-face with his reflection once again, and he was amazed to discover that his features had returned to their normal human configuration. The toad characteristics had vanished as completely as if they had never existed.
"That's wonderful!" he exclaimed with characteristic enthusiasm, his depression vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.
Although he didn't understand the mechanism involved, the return to normal appearance was sufficient to restore his natural optimism and eagerness to continue learning.
Fukasaku waited for Naruto's excitement to subside before delivering the sobering explanation that every prospective Sage student needed to understand.
"If you cannot control the balance of natural energy within your body, your body will undergo transformation into toad form, just as you experienced," he began with the gravity that such information demanded.
"And if you absorb too much natural energy without being able to control it properly, you will end up like them," he continued, extending one webbed finger toward a distant area of Mount Myōboku.
Following the direction of Fukasaku's gesture, Naruto's gaze fell upon what he had initially assumed to be decorative sculptures scattered throughout the landscape. Now, with the context provided by his teacher's words, he realized they were something far more sinister.
Dozens of stone statues in the shape of toads stood frozen in various poses throughout the sacred grounds. Some appeared to be reaching upward as if grasping for something just beyond their reach, while others seemed to be calling out in expressions of eternal anguish. Each statue represented a unique tragedy—someone who had come here seeking power and instead found only transformation into immobile stone.
"These individuals all failed in their practice of Sage techniques," Fukasaku explained with solemn respect for the fallen. "They were completely consumed by natural energy, transformed beyond any possibility of recovery."
The statues served as a permanent reminder of the stakes involved in Sage training. They were not merely decoration or historical curiosities—they were monuments to ambition that had exceeded wisdom, warnings to future students about the consequences of overreaching.
Naruto's pupils contracted slightly as the full implications sank in. This wasn't just advanced training—it was a process that carried genuine risk of death or permanent transformation. The power he sought to obtain came with a price that could include everything he valued about his own identity.
"The practice of Sage techniques is accompanied by tremendous risk," Fukasaku continued, his ancient eyes studying Naruto's face for any sign of wavering resolve. "So, little Naruto, do you still wish to continue?"
The question was delivered with the formality that such a moment demanded. This was the point where students either demonstrated the kind of unwavering commitment that Sage training required, or they revealed that they lacked the fundamental courage necessary to proceed.
"Of course," Naruto replied without the slightest hesitation.
Although shock was still visible in his eyes from seeing the stone testimonials to failed attempts, his voice carried absolute conviction. The danger was real and substantial, but it didn't change his determination to acquire the power necessary to protect those he cared about.
Fukasaku felt a small smile cross his features as he observed his student's response. While Naruto and Minato were completely different in terms of personality and learning style, they shared one crucial characteristic—the kind of determined, unwavering resolve that formed the foundation of true strength.
"Very well," the ancient sage declared with satisfaction. "Let's try again."
"This time, you must attempt to control the balance of energy within your body," Fukasaku instructed as he prepared to apply another small amount of toad oil to Naruto's palm.
The golden substance seemed to pulse with its own internal rhythm as it made contact with skin that was now sensitized to energies that most humans would never perceive. Natural energy began flowing into Naruto's system once again, but this time he was prepared for the sensation.
Naruto closed his eyes and frowned in concentration, turning his attention inward to focus on the interplay between the different types of energy now circulating through his chakra network. Years of intensive training in chakra control had developed his sensitivity to internal energy flow far beyond that of most ninja his age.
"So this is natural energy," he murmured with growing understanding.
He could feel it moving through his system like a wild current, seeking to impose its own patterns and rhythms on the more familiar energies of his physical and spiritual chakra. The challenge was to guide these forces into harmony without allowing any single component to dominate the others.
The process required a delicate touch—too much control and the natural energy would resist and break free, too little and it would overwhelm his human energies and begin the transformation process that had already given him a preview of its effects.
As expected, his first deliberate attempt at maintaining balance failed relatively quickly. The natural energy proved to be far more stubborn and unpredictable than he had anticipated, slipping away from his attempts at guidance like water through his fingers.
WHACK!
Once again, Fukasaku's wooden stick drove the uncontrolled natural energy out of Naruto's body with precise application of force at exactly the right moment. The technique was clearly something the ancient sage had refined through countless repetitions with students who faced similar challenges.
Naruto's eyes snapped open immediately, and rather than showing frustration or discouragement, his expression was bright with excitement and growing comprehension.
"Let me try again!" he declared with enthusiasm that bordered on reckless confidence. "I think I've figured out the trick!"
Without waiting for permission or additional instruction, he walked directly toward the pool and plunged his palm straight into the waterfall of toad oil.
"Boy, what are you doing?" Fukasaku's expression shifted to alarm as he realized the full scope of what his student was attempting.
Naruto had just begun his introduction to Sage techniques, and direct immersion in concentrated natural energy was essentially suicide for someone at his level of experience. The amount of energy that would flow through such contact was orders of magnitude greater than the controlled doses Fukasaku had been providing.
Sure enough, as soon as Naruto's hand penetrated the oil's surface, his arm began to show visible signs of transformation. The skin took on a mottled, warty texture while the underlying muscle structure began to shift toward amphibian configuration.
Fukasaku prepared to rush forward and forcibly separate his student from the energy source before the transformation could progress beyond reversible limits. But as he reached Naruto's side, he was amazed to discover something unexpected.
While Naruto's arm was indeed showing clear signs of toad transformation, his face remained completely human in appearance. This suggested that he was somehow managing to regulate the energy flow enough to prevent full-body transformation, even though his control wasn't yet sophisticated enough to prevent all physical changes.
"Are you trying to use this method to adapt your body to natural energy as quickly as possible?" Fukasaku asked with dawning recognition of the strategy involved.
The approach was undeniably the most dangerous possible method for learning Sage techniques, but it was also potentially the most efficient. By exposing himself to high concentrations of natural energy while maintaining just enough control to prevent complete transformation, Naruto was essentially forcing his body to adapt at an accelerated rate.
Moreover, the fact that he had been able to maintain any level of control under such conditions suggested natural aptitude that went far beyond what Fukasaku had initially assessed. Most students required months of gradual exposure before they could safely handle such concentrated energy flows.
The precarious balance didn't last indefinitely. After several minutes of sustained exposure, Naruto's face finally began to show the first signs of transformation as his control started to slip under the relentless pressure of the natural energy flood.
But crucially, he was aware of what was happening. The moment he felt his control beginning to fail, he immediately pulled his hand away from the oil and stepped back from the pool.
WHACK!
Fukasaku's wooden stick once again provided the precise intervention necessary to drive the excess natural energy from Naruto's system and restore his normal appearance.
"Thank you, Sage Master," Naruto said with genuine gratitude, his smile reflecting both appreciation for the assistance and satisfaction with his progress.
Rather than showing any sign of being discouraged by the temporary transformation, he immediately approached the pool again and lightly touched its surface with his fingertips. Just enough toad oil adhered to his skin to provide another controlled dose of natural energy.
This time, he sat down in a meditative posture and closed his eyes, focusing all his attention on the internal balance he was trying to achieve. The hand covered with oil began to show the characteristic changes of partial transformation—skin mottling and muscle structure shifting—but the rest of his body remained completely stable.
Fukasaku watched with growing amazement as Naruto demonstrated an intuitive understanding of natural energy manipulation that typically took students months or years to develop. The young ninja had grasped the essential principle of controlled exposure and was implementing it with a boldness that was both inspiring and terrifying.
Naruto's training approach was completely different from his father's methodical, step-by-step progression. Where Minato had been cautious and analytical, carefully testing each stage before proceeding to the next, Naruto was diving headfirst into the most challenging aspects of Sage training with a kind of fearless determination.
Objectively speaking, Minato's approach had been safer and more in line with traditional Sage training methods. But in terms of raw progress and intuitive understanding of natural energy, Naruto was already showing capabilities that surpassed what his father had achieved at a similar stage of training.
The contrast in learning styles was remarkable. Minato had approached Sage Mode like a complex mathematical equation to be solved through careful analysis and systematic testing. Naruto was treating it like a sparring partner—something to engage directly, learn from through experience, and gradually overcome through persistence and adaptation.
As Fukasaku continued to observe the quietly focused figure sitting before him, a smile of genuine anticipation crossed his ancient features. This young ninja possessed something that couldn't be taught through any conventional method—an instinctive connection to natural energy that suggested he might one day achieve levels of Sage mastery that few beings in history had ever reached.
The training had only just begun, but already Fukasaku could sense that this student would challenge every assumption he had developed about the learning process. Naruto's journey toward Sage Mode would be unlike anything the ancient toad had witnessed before, and the results promised to be equally extraordinary.
Deep within Mount Myōboku's sacred atmosphere, where natural energy flowed like invisible rivers through dimensions that touched every corner of existence, a new Sage was beginning to take shape. The process would be dangerous, unconventional, and probably faster than anyone thought possible—but then again, Naruto had never been known for doing things the traditional way.
The golden waterfall continued its eternal flow, the stone statues maintained their silent vigil, and somewhere in the distance, the sounds of Mount Myōboku's mystical ecosystem provided a backdrop for training that would reshape not just one young ninja's capabilities, but potentially the balance of power in the conflicts to come.