"Of course it's true. You are my disciple after all," Elder Fukasaku chuckled.
"However, the training for Sage Art is not only extremely difficult, but also carries great risks. If you fail, you'll end up like those statues standing over there."
Swoosh!
Elder Fukasaku turned his gaze toward a wide waterfall of oil cascading downward, with several massive stone statues standing before it.
Jiraiya looked over in surprise. He had never heard about such dangers associated with Sage Art training before.
Minato, who had previously trained in Sage Art, remained calm.
"How many have succeeded?" Jiraiya's voice grew serious. The answer from Elder Fukasaku that followed made him freeze in shock.
"Not a single one."
Jiraiya gulped audibly.
Although he had been at Mount Myoboku for more than a decade, this was the first time he had heard about Sage Art and its risks.
"I didn't teach you Sage Art earlier because it's not something just anyone can master. It requires absorbing immense natural energy. First and foremost, one must possess a certain level of chakra; otherwise, they will be completely consumed."
Elder Fukasaku explained, as he already knew that Sage Art utilized natural energy.
Jiraiya nodded, finally understanding why Elder Fukasaku was teaching him now.
It wasn't due to hesitation, but because he hadn't met the basic requirements for Sage Art training before.
"Sage Art training is extremely arduous. Even among our Toad Clan, very few have successfully mastered it. However, when natural energy achieves balance with the other two energies within your body, you enter Sage Mode."
"Sage Mode?" Although Jiraiya had heard of Sage Art before, this was the first time he had heard this term.
Fukasaku nodded with a smile. "Once you enter Sage Mode, not only does your ninjutsu get way stronger, but because you're in tune with nature, you'll also gain sensing abilities."
"That powerful?" Jiraiya exclaimed in amazement. If he could master Sage Mode now, he believed he'd have the strength to stand up to even the Third Hokage.
"This is precisely what we call a path of great danger and even greater power. So, what do you think? Do you want to learn it?" After explaining all the pros and cons, Elder Fukasaku asked.
Jiraiya pondered for a moment before solemnly nodding.
"Learn it? Of course I do." Jiraiya grinned. He glanced at Minato beside him and added, "My apprentice's right here watching me. If I backed out now, I'd look like a total coward."
Minato smiled faintly too. In this rebirth, being able to see his late teacher once again and witness Jiraiya—his future student who would become one of the Sannin—growing stronger truly felt surreal.
"Then follow me. Training in Sage Art won't happen overnight, but at least during the time before Great Toad Sage awakens, I can let you experience the sensation of your body merging with natural energy."
After saying that, Elder Fukasaku led Jiraiya and Minato toward the oil waterfall. He dipped his finger slightly into the pool at the base of the waterfall, collecting a bit of oil, which he then smeared onto Jiraiya's palm.
Jiraiya was still in shock, wondering what Elder Fukasaku was trying to do...
The next moment, he suddenly felt a swelling sensation on his left side, particularly coming from his left hand.
"Ahh!"
When he lifted his left hand and looked, he gasped in shock and shouted out loud. His palm had transformed into a toad's claw, and his left arm had visibly swollen, nearly bursting through the ninja outfit he was wearing.
"That's not all yet. Take a look at yourself," Elder Fukasaku chuckled.
Looking around, Jiraiya saw both Elder Fukasaku and Minato wearing peculiar expressions. He finally saw his reflection in the Oil Pool.
He let out another startled cry, even louder than before.
"My gorgeous face! How the hell did this happen? All those cute little fans of mine are gonna cry their hearts out over this!" Jiraiya wailed, raising his arms toward the sky.
Both Elder Fukasaku and Minato broke into a sweat.
Even at a time like this, their teacher was still thinking about such things.
Smack!
Elder Fukasaku suddenly appeared with a staff in hand and gave Jiraiya a solid whack on top of his head.
"Hey boss, that hurts!" Jiraiya rubbed his head sorely but instinctively glanced at the Oil Pool. To his delight, both his hand and left face had returned to normal.
"When you're just beginning to learn Sage Art, it's hard to balance Natural Energy properly. As long as you haven't absorbed too much, I can use this staff to revert your transformation," Elder Fukasaku explained.
"I knew it! This world simply cannot afford to lose my handsomeness! Haha!" Jiraiya finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Right then, from atop the Oil Waterfall, a humanoid toad of similar size to Elder Fukasaku leaped down.
"I could hear your screeching from far away already, little Jiraiya," said the new arrival—Sage Shima, holding a basket covered by cloth. However, Minato noticed something wriggling inside.
Then his eyebrow twitched slightly.
"Boss lady." Jiraiya respectfully greeted her, then turned to Minato beside him. "Minato, meet Sage Shima—the other toad sage of Mount Myoboku."
"This child is..." Sage Shima eyed Minato with curiosity.
Jiraiya introduced, "My disciple, Minato Namikaze."
Minato politely bowed to Sage Shima.
Upon hearing that, Sage Shima's eyes narrowed slightly. "Could this be the one our old man mentioned—the Child of the Prophecy?"
Then, Elder Fukasaku told Shima all about why Jiraiya and Minato came to Mount Myoboku—and how they wanted to learn Sage Art.
"Wife, since you're here anyway, help little Jiraiya train in Sage Art. I'd like to see how capable the student taught by little Jiraiya really is."
But Sage Shima merely scoffed, saying, "You men always offload all responsibilities onto us women without understanding our struggles at all."
She sounded just like an irritated housewife from the human world.
The three men standing there exchanged bitter smiles.
"Testing Minato will be my responsibility," Sage Shima said. Sage Fukasaku did not dare to object.
She could be extremely talkative — almost unbearable at times.
"Minato, come with me," Sage Shima said. Since [Sage Art] cultivation required peace and quiet, there was no way they could perform the test here.
"Teacher Jiraiya, I'll be taking my leave for now," Minato said. Jiraiya smiled and gave a slight nod, his thoughts drifting inward.
"Big Sis, this kid's talent is going to shock you..."
Immediately afterward, the human and the toad temporarily left this place.
...
...
Sorry, I had some stuff to take care of yesterday — really sorry about that. (To be continued.)
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