On the second day, deep within a secluded temple hidden in the densest reaches of the Shikkotsu Forest, Ryoma sat cross-legged in absolute darkness. There was no light—only endless blackness where even his own hands were invisible to him.
This was the deepest sanctuary of the Shikkotsu Forest, the zone where natural energy was most concentrated—personally designated by the Slug Sages as the most suitable place for his training.
Ryoma's eyes remained shut. Here, sight and sound served no purpose. Silence was absolute, and the air thrummed with an overwhelming quantity of natural energy. A normal person left alone in this void would quickly lose track of time—panic within hours, and collapse into madness within days.
Even a trained shinobi attempting to absorb the surrounding natural energy would perish instantly from imbalance.
A long breath escaped Ryoma's lips—white vapor trailing into the darkness.
Sage Chakra surged through his body.
Cracks of dark, branch-like patterns—the mark of the Slug Sage Transformation—spread across his face.
He had succeeded.
For seven full days, Ryoma did not leave the sacred chamber of the Shikkotsu Forest.
And on the seventh night, he finally opened his eyes. A sharp glint flashed through them—like the strike of steel.
"…Finally."
In that time, he had merged all three Great Sage Arts—Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest—with the preliminary Sage Mode he once created on his own… refining their strengths, discarding their flaws.
From that fusion, a new Sage Mode was born—
one that belonged to him alone.
"It's time to test the results."
In a blur, his figure vanished.
Ryoma appeared high in the sky—more than ten kilometers away—hovering before a towering mountain nearly 1,600 meters tall.
"Perfect target."
He drew back his fist.
Air detonated.
The white-hot punch shot forth like a meteor streaking across the heavens.
BOOM!!!
The mountain didn't crumble—it ceased to exist, reduced to a tidal wave of pulverized stone and dust that engulfed the sky.
Ryoma exhaled faintly.
"A Sage Mode crafted from the unification of all Sage Arts… the pinnacle of the current world's Senjutsu."
He lowered his gaze.
"Let this Sage Mode be known as—Sage Mode: Apex."
Meanwhile…
In Konoha, Kushina Uzumaki stood on her balcony, hanging laundry beneath the winter dusk. She rubbed her hands and breathed warmth into them.
"So cold today…"
Even with a strong body and rarely suffering illness, she wasn't immune to temperature unless she circulating chakra.
"I wonder when my husband will come home…"
Two weeks had passed since Ryoma departed for Mount Myōboku to meet the Great Toad Sage. Kushina had been worried at first… but then reminded herself:
Her husband was the man who unified the entire ninja world.
Who could possibly threaten him now?
"Honestly… If I'd known he'd be gone this long, I should've just gone with him…" she grumbled.
"Well, how about now? We can go together."
A familiar voice sounded behind her.
She spun around.
Black hair, dark eyes, a confident yet gentle smile—
"Husband!"
She leapt into his arms like a startled bird seeking its nest.
Ryoma chuckled and stroked her hair.
"I brought something good back this time."
He tapped a finger lightly to her forehead.
Soft natural energy flowed into her body—warm, harmonious, comforting.
Ryoma controlled the flow perfectly—balancing her physical, spiritual, and natural energies simultaneously, guiding them to coexist in equilibrium.
Kushina's body shivered lightly—an instinctive reaction to power awakening inside her.
Without ever facing danger…
Without even knowing what was happening…
She was brought directly to the threshold of Sage Mode by the man she loved.
Ryoma watched as faint sage markings appeared at the corners of Kushina's eyes, enhancing her already striking features.
"Huh…? This is—"
Kushina blinked, stunned by the sudden change. Her entire body felt lighter, stronger—every sense sharpened. Moments ago, the winter air had chilled her skin; now, the breeze brushed past like a gentle spring wind.
"What an incredible power… Is this the Sage Art from the three Great Holy Lands you told me about?!"
The natural energy Ryoma infused into her came from Shikkotsu Forest. Its Sage Mode specialized in regeneration and vitality—perfectly complementing Kushina's natural talent in sealing and healing ninjutsu. With Sage Chakra, her already formidable abilities would become overwhelmingly stronger.
But Ryoma had another intention as well—Sage Mode would allow her body to better harmonize with his power… and accept the deeper connection that would come from their future together.
Kushina, realizing this, felt her cheeks warm as she glanced shyly up at him.
Ryoma chuckled softly at her flustered look. He slipped an arm behind her waist.
"Ah—!"
Her surprised gasp was cut short as he swept her up, holding her securely in his arms.
Without another word, Ryoma carried Kushina back into the house—and closed the door behind them.
...
TN:
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