"Uh… maybe that's not such a good idea."
He could swear to the heavens that he was honestly trying to look out for Jiraiya. Hoshiyomi really didn't want to see the man embarrass himself in front of everyone.
After all, Jiraiya's Sage Mode had nothing to do with "cool" or "handsome." Just look—Kushina, Kuugetsu, and even little Kurenai were all secretly shaking their heads at the sight.
If it weren't for the fact that Jiraiya's Sage Mode gave off an overwhelming aura, and that Fukasaku and Shima were standing there with him, with Kushina's loud and carefree personality, she definitely would've burst out laughing already.
As the saying goes: no comparison, no harm. If everyone saw the contrast between his Sage Mode and Jiraiya's, the man might collapse into despair on the spot.
But unfortunately, Jiraiya misunderstood. Hearing Hoshiyomi's hesitation, and catching that strange look in his eyes when he glanced at Jiraiya's form, he subconsciously assumed Hoshiyomi hadn't mastered Sage Mode—or that his version was worse.
The thought immediately conjured up an image in Jiraiya's mind: Hoshiyomi standing there with slimy slug-like antennae on his head, just like Tsunade's summon. The mental picture nearly made him laugh out loud.
They'd been comrades for nearly thirty years. For all those decades, it was always Hoshiyomi showing off. When had there ever been a time Hoshiyomi looked ridiculous? And now such a perfect chance had fallen into his lap—if he didn't seize it, would he still be Jiraiya?
Besides, everyone here was a close friend. No outsiders. Even if Hoshiyomi's Sage Mode looked pathetic, no one would spread the word, and his reputation wouldn't take a hit.
Thinking this way, Jiraiya pressed him further:
"C'mon. Today's a celebration of your return after learning senjutsu. You've at least gotta show everyone a little something, right?"
As he spoke, Jiraiya even gave exaggerated winks at Shinku, Sakumo, and the others. Half because they couldn't do anything about Jiraiya's antics, half because they were genuinely curious—was there really something in this world Hoshiyomi couldn't master?
Soon, they all started chiming in, urging Hoshiyomi to show his Sage Mode.
Among them, Tsunade was the only one who knew the truth. She had asked the Slug Sage about Hoshiyomi's progress during her weekly visits to Shikkotsu Forest, and she knew perfectly well that Hoshiyomi's Sage Mode was the real deal—beyond even Hashirama's, a truly perfect Sage Mode.
She had zero concern about him being embarrassed. In fact, she was secretly looking forward to Jiraiya being slapped in the face by the comparison.
With the crowd egging him on, Tsunade gently tugged his arm and said with a teasing smile:
"Since everyone's so eager, why don't you show them? To be honest, I haven't actually seen what your Sage Mode looks like either."
With Tsunade giving the word, Hoshiyomi naturally complied. He glanced at Jiraiya once more. Not wanting to humiliate him too badly, Hoshiyomi decided against instantly activating it. Instead, he went through the motions, forming a seal as though he needed to prepare.
After waiting only two or three seconds, Fukasaku and Shima—who had been perched idly on Jiraiya's shoulders—suddenly widened their eyes.
Shima said in disbelief:
"Old man, am I sensing things wrong? How could the natural energy of the world be surging into that young man so fast?"
Fukasaku was just as shaken:
"You're not mistaken, wife. This absorption speed is unheard of! And you—half-trained, running around showing off everywhere… Little Jiraiya, this time you're in for it."
Jiraiya's eyes went wide at Fukasaku and Shima's words.
"You two aren't messing with me, are you? Hoshiyomi's been training Sage Mode for about the same amount of time as me. There's no way he's that much stronger than I am!"
But just as Jiraiya was struggling to believe it, the crowd suddenly burst out in gasps of amazement.
He turned toward the sound—only to see Hoshiyomi's perfect Sage Mode.
Around him floated faint silver-blue motes of light. Two soft markings framed his eyes, and a mysterious crest glowed on his forehead.
Jiraiya's jaw practically hit the ground.
"Y-you're kidding me, right? You're telling me… that is Sage Mode? We were supposed to all look ugly together, and then you—what the hell is this!?"
As he fumbled to pick his jaw back up, he noticed the crowd slowly turning their heads toward him.
They looked at Jiraiya… then at Hoshiyomi… then back at Jiraiya…
And then—
"Pfft—!"
Kushina was the first to burst out laughing. Then Nawaki, then Kurenai, and soon more and more voices joined in, until the air was filled with roaring laughter that cut deep into Jiraiya's already fragile pride.
Kushina leaned against Minato, laughing so hard she could barely breathe. Between gasps, she managed to say:
"Hey, Jiraiya-senpai, are you sure you and Brother Hoshiyomi learned the same thing?"
Jiraiya wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole. His face burned red, but he wasn't willing to completely accept defeat. Turning to Fukasaku and Shima, he protested:
"Didn't you two say that people capable of mastering Sage Mode are one in a hundred? By reaching this level, isn't that already one in ten thousand?"
Shima shook her head helplessly.
"Little Jiraiya, your talent really is one in ten thousand. But this Hoshiyomi—his talent is unprecedented. I don't even need to fight him to know: the power boost from his Sage Mode far outstrips yours."
Fukasaku patted Jiraiya's shoulder kindly.
"Little Jiraiya, you have to understand—sometimes the gap in talent between people just can't be measured by normal standards."
Then he turned to Hoshiyomi, who had just withdrawn from Sage Mode.
"Hoshiyomi, right? Your Sage Mode is truly flawless—one of a kind. And I don't sense any trace of the three great holy lands on you. That means you must have developed this Sage Mode entirely on your own. It's uniquely yours, isn't it?"
Hoshiyomi glanced awkwardly at Jiraiya, then gave a small nod. That single motion drained the last bit of color from Jiraiya's face.
A perfect Sage Mode… no external influences… entirely self-taught.
And here Jiraiya was, thinking of the three-plus years he'd spent soaking in toad oil every single day. The thought felt like being stabbed in the chest again and again.
Fukasaku nodded at Hoshiyomi.
"If there's a chance, I hope you'll come to Mount Myōboku. With a talent like yours, the Great Toad Sage might even foresee a new prophecy."
With that, the two sages exchanged a look, shook their heads at the gray-faced Jiraiya, and reversed-summoned themselves back to Mount Myōboku.
Not long after, Jiraiya himself slipped out of Sage Mode as his natural energy dissipated. He cast one last resentful glance at Hoshiyomi and silently resolved: unless his life was truly on the line, he was never showing off Sage Mode again.
Comparisons really do kill the soul.
...
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