"Don't look so shocked…"
Chinatsu scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"Who says Sage Arts can't be stacked?"
"Maybe it wasn't possible before…"
"But that doesn't mean it isn't possible now~"
"…You're… right."
Fukasaku and Shima exchanged glances before giving up on their conventional way of thinking.
After all…
The person standing before them was anything but ordinary.
Although the Sage Arts of the Three Great Sage Regions differed greatly, their foundation was exactly the same.
They all began by sensing natural energy.
That natural energy was then balanced with one's own chakra to create Sage Chakra, which served as the basis for each region's unique Sage Mode.
Since Chinatsu had already mastered Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Arts, learning Mount Myōboku's version became surprisingly smooth.
It was more like expanding an existing foundation than starting over from scratch.
Of course…
Even the easiest learning process still required time.
During that period, Naruto and Sasuke completely entered vacation mode.
Naruto had already mastered the Sage Arts of Shikkotsu Forest as well, so there was no need for him to learn Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode alongside Chinatsu.
Sasuke, on the other hand…
Simply wasn't suited for Sage training.
His personality wasn't calm enough.
Instead of sitting still absorbing natural energy, he'd rather spend the day polishing his Gundam piloting skills.
Just imagining the future…
Naruto acting as Sasuke's giant chakra battery while the two piloted a Nine-Tails wearing Perfect Susanoo armor…
Even Chinatsu had to admit it sounded ridiculously cool.
Meanwhile…
Naruto and Sasuke wandered around Mount Myōboku, enjoying themselves.
Unlike Chinatsu, they weren't particularly afraid of toads.
Nor did they possess Kaguya's overwhelming aura.
As a result, they quickly became friends with the local toads.
"Ribbit! Ribbit! Ribbit!"
"Hahaha!"
Naruto laughed happily.
"You guys are hilarious!"
Sasuke looked at him strangely.
"…You understand what they're saying?"
Naruto blinked.
"Not at all."
"But that doesn't stop me from thinking they're interesting."
"…"
Sasuke silently slapped his forehead.
Why had he even asked?
After playing for quite some time, both brothers finally began rubbing their stomachs.
Seeing this, the toads immediately understood.
"Ribbit! Ribbit!"
Several of them hurried away to prepare food.
Naruto and Sasuke waited expectantly.
Neither of them had the slightest idea…
What exactly qualified as "food" in Mount Myōboku.
…
Elsewhere…
Inside the Kamui dimension…
Kakashi finally finished rereading Make-Out Paradise.
He gently closed the book before letting out a satisfied sigh.
"Jiraiya-sama's novels really are timeless…"
"No matter how many times I reread them…"
"They always feel fresh."
"I heard the newest volume is coming out soon."
"I'll definitely buy the first copy."
His visible eye curved into a smile.
Ever since reconciling with Obito several years ago, the burden weighing on his heart had finally disappeared.
More importantly…
He had discovered that he could freely activate and deactivate his Sharingan.
Kakashi believed that was Obito's final gift.
Without constantly maintaining the Sharingan, his chakra reserves increased dramatically.
The genius who had become a Jonin at twelve years old finally returned.
Rather than copying other people's ninjutsu, he began creating his own.
Within only a few years, he developed dozens of original techniques.
Among them…
The strongest was undoubtedly—
Purple Lightning.
Unlike Chidori, Purple Lightning no longer required the Sharingan to eliminate its weaknesses.
Its power rivaled Chidori while being far easier to control.
Thanks to his countless original jutsu, Kakashi had become one of Konoha's strongest candidates for the position of Sixth Hokage.
Throughout the ninja world…
Many younger shinobi respectfully referred to him as—
"The Masked Big Brother."
And right now…
That legendary Masked Big Brother was hiding inside his best friend's Kamui dimension…
Reading a dirty novel.
…
Inside Mount Myōboku's training chamber…
Chinatsu sat cross-legged with her eyes closed.
Her hands formed a seal as natural energy continuously poured into her body.
Within her spiritual world…
Kaguya leisurely cracked sunflower seeds while watching Chinatsu train.
"She's surprisingly hardworking…"
"Just a few years ago she was so lazy."
"I really can't tell whether she's diligent…"
"Or simply lazy."
Chinatsu ignored the teasing.
Her breathing gradually became slower and steadier.
As time passed…
Her understanding of Mount Myōboku's Sage Arts deepened further and further.
Jiraiya had needed half a year to master Sage Mode.
Naruto had reduced that time to one month.
So…
Given Chinatsu's existing foundation…
Learning Mount Myōboku's Sage Arts in a single day wasn't unreasonable at all.
Finally…
She slowly opened her eyes.
The previously unstable Sage Chakra circulating throughout her body suddenly settled into perfect balance.
Orange pigmentation appeared around her eyes.
The unmistakable markings of Mount Myōboku Sage Mode emerged.
The eye markings weren't the problem.
The real problem…
Was the pupils.
"Um…"
"Fukasaku-sama… Shima-sama…"
"Could I borrow a mirror?"
"Of course."
The two elder toads hopped over to a nearby cabinet.
One opened the drawer while the other retrieved a mirror before handing it to Chinatsu.
Mount Myōboku Sage Mode transformed the pupils into horizontal slits.
Normally…
That wasn't ugly at all.
Anime featured horizontal pupils all the time.
In fact, during Naruto's later battles, Kurama's vertical fox pupils combined with Sage Mode's horizontal pupils to form the iconic cross-shaped eyes.
It looked amazing.
But…
There was one tiny problem.
"I have the Sharingan…"
Turning her back to everyone else, Chinatsu silently activated her Sharingan while looking into the mirror.
"…"
"…"
"…"
Her mouth twitched.
It was an absolute disaster.
Three tomoe.
Horizontal pupils.
Rinnegan ripples.
Everything layered together into a visual mess.
Without hesitation, she deactivated the Sharingan.
At that very moment…
The Slug Sage, far away inside Shikkotsu Forest, suddenly sneezed several times for no apparent reason.
…
Fukasaku and Shima believed their task had finally ended.
"Then we'll be taking our leave."
"If you need anything else, just call for us."
The two elder toads turned around.
Before they could leave—
"Wait."
Chinatsu's voice stopped them.
The two sages instinctively stiffened.
Had another unbelievable request arrived?
Slowly turning around…
They saw Chinatsu sitting cross-legged once again.
Natural energy flowed toward her body once more.
But this time…
The amount she absorbed was more than twice what it had been before.
Both elder toads' expressions changed instantly.
Then…
They heard Chinatsu ask with complete seriousness—
"Do you think…"
"…Sage Arts can truly be stacked?"