In a cavern filled with stalactites.
Naruto followed Takitsuhime, observing the stalactites overhead.
Is this just a snake's nature? he wondered. Even the training grounds are dark and damp.
"Do you need to rest?" Takitsuhime asked. "Starting Sage Mode training takes a heavy toll on both mind and body."
"Not for now, I've already recovered," Naruto said, shaking his head. He could withstand the strain of hundreds of shadow clones; the drain from cultivating Sage Mode was nothing to him. Besides, after entering Sage Mode, natural energy would also alleviate his physical and mental fatigue.
"Suit yourself," Takitsuhime said indifferently. "For the Matriarch's sake, I'll remind you: practice Sage Mode within your limits. Pushing past that line will only be counterproductive."
"I understand." Naruto nodded. His frequent fishing trips were a way to relax his tense mind through such leisure activities.
"Having entered Sage Mode, you should have noticed the difference between senjutsu chakra and regular chakra," Takitsuhime stated.
Naruto nodded slightly. "Senjutsu chakra enhances physical abilities far more than regular chakra. And unlike regular chakra, which drains the body, using senjutsu chakra not only doesn't cause strain but actually restores physical and mental fatigue."
"Moreover..." Recalling the punch he had thrown earlier, he added, "senjutsu chakra can also draw upon the surrounding natural energy for coordinated attacks. Additionally, sensory perception is greatly enhanced."
Takitsuhime nodded, then shook her head. "That's not the full extent of Sage Mode's enhancements. Besides improving physical abilities and perception, senjutsu chakra also significantly boosts the power of ninjutsu and genjutsu. Simply put, you can consider one unit of senjutsu chakra to be equivalent to two or even three units of regular chakra."
Naruto nodded slightly, indicating he understood.
"Next, I will teach you some senjutsu combat techniques and Ryuchi Cave's unique Sage Arts." As Takitsuhime spoke, her delicate hand gently swept past a stalactite. Though she hadn't touched it, the stalactite reacted as if struck, several cracks appearing on its surface.
"This is what you mentioned earlier—senjutsu chakra can mobilize the surrounding natural energy for coordinated attacks," Takitsuhime explained. "We call this Serpent Hand. You've already grasped this. You just need to become more familiar with it."
Takitsuhime picked up an insect from the ground. After a few breaths, the once-lively insect turned into a lifeless stone. "The use of senjutsu chakra carries great risks, especially for enemies encountering natural energy for the first time. If you encounter a troublesome enemy, try injecting some natural energy into their body. Enemies deeply engaged in battle often find it difficult to calmly guide natural energy. The consequences of being invaded by a large amount of natural energy..." Takitsuhime held up the stone insect, her meaning clear.
In the time that followed, Takitsuhime taught him many practical aspects of senjutsu.
Half a month later.
"Sage Art: White Rage Technique!"
In the dim space, Naruto, in Sage Mode, rapidly formed hand seals. Senjutsu chakra, mobilized by the jutsu formula, was released from his mouth. A red dragon, glowing with crimson light and holding a black orb, materialized before Naruto. After moving a short distance away from him, the red dragon began to circle the black orb. Once it reached a certain speed, it suddenly plunged into the black orb.
BOOM!
An intense white light erupted from the black orb, illuminating the dim underground space as if it were daytime. Immediately after, a piercing noise emanated from the white light.
VMMMMMM!
Numerous stalactites, unable to withstand the terrifying noise, shattered into countless fragments. After a long while, the white light and noise slowly subsided, revealing a scene of devastation.
In the distance, Takitsuhime watched with a numb expression. From initial shock to her current unflappability, she had been through too much...
Every teacher loves a bright student, but a monstrously talented one likely frightens every teacher. Clearly, for Takitsuhime, Uzumaki Naruto belonged to that frightening category. Not only did he learn everything quickly, but the Sage Arts he unleashed, whether in scale or power, far surpassed her own. How was she supposed to establish her authority as a teacher with this...?
"Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation!"
Naruto formed hand seals once more. Infused with senjutsu chakra, the stalactites within the cavern seemed to come alive, suddenly elongating. In an instant, the once spacious cavern became incredibly cramped. Inorganic Reincarnation, a secret Sage Art of Ryuchi Cave, was a reincarnation ninjutsu that could grant life to inanimate objects and control them, not merely manipulate matter with chakra.
"That's enough," Takitsuhime said.
Hearing her, Naruto withdrew the senjutsu chakra infused into the stalactites, and the underground space became spacious again.
"I have nothing left to teach you," Takitsuhime said helplessly. Though it should have been a joyous occasion, a sense of unwillingness lingered in her heart...
"Thank you for your trouble during this time." Naruto deactivated Sage Mode and expressed his gratitude.
"It certainly was trouble," Takitsuhime said, nodding. Having spent some time together, she had come to understand this prodigy's personality a bit better, no longer feeling only unfamiliarity and fear as she had at the beginning. Overall, he was a decent human being.
After bidding farewell to the White Snake Sage and the three Hime, Naruto left Ryuchi Cave.
Finally, he thought, farewell to the darkness and dampness, and the endlessly creative "dark cuisine"...
Gazing at the lush green forest, Naruto felt a wave of relief wash over him. Life in Ryuchi Cave wasn't bad, per se; it just wasn't for him... Very much not for him...
Sensing the Flying Thunder God formula he had left along the way, Naruto quickly headed towards the Land of Hot Water. He had traveled through most of the major and minor countries of the shinobi world, and the Land of Hot Water had the most comfortable living environment. So, he had purchased a property in the Land of Hot Water to serve as his residence.
Creek~
Pushing open the window and looking at the house, which had gathered a layer of dust from being uncleaned for a long time, Naruto felt his heart relax. Perhaps this was the meaning of home.
Instead of immediately cleaning the dusty house, Naruto went into the courtyard and sat down cross-legged.
"Kurama, let's begin," Naruto said.
"Ready. This might hurt a bit." The moment Kurama's voice fell, a large amount of chakra surged towards Naruto's arm—or rather, towards the spot where the White Snake Sage had bitten him.
Although the 'channel' left by the White Snake Sage's fangs was beneficial for absorbing natural energy more effectively, he always felt something was off.
Why would the White Snake Sage kindly leave him a 'channel'? Why did his body show signs of serpentification when he entered Sage Mode? Why would the Three Great Sage Grounds so benevolently spread Sage Mode to the world...?
Consider this: even the most basic D-rank ninjutsu weren't openly shared with the rest of the shinobi world by the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Were the Three Great Sage Grounds truly so 'noble'?
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