"Jiraiya-boy, it's been a long time since someone managed to master the Sage Arts of Mount Myōboku. Sage techniques are extremely difficult to learn, so you'd better prepare yourself mentally. They're nothing like other ninjutsu that can be learned with relative ease—they demand a great deal of time and effort," Fukasaku, the Toad Sage, said to Jiraiya.
This was his way of giving Jiraiya a heads-up.
Jiraiya had always been able to master the techniques of Mount Myōboku with ease, hardly wasting any time in the process. But Sage Arts were a completely different matter.
First, one needed to spend an enormous amount of time sensing the natural energy of the world. Then, they had to absorb it into their body and perfectly merge it with their chakra, transforming it into Sage Chakra. Each step of the process required immense time and effort.
Fukasaku was worried that Jiraiya's previous ease in learning other techniques might set him up for frustration or even a loss of confidence when faced with the challenges of Sage training.
To learn Sage Arts, one must first calm their mind. Without tranquility, it's impossible to sense the natural energy of the world, let alone absorb it.
"Don't worry. My resolve is strong," Jiraiya said with a confident smile.
He understood the subtext of Fukasaku's warning. Having awakened his Sage Body, he already found it easy to sense the natural energy present in the environment. Thus, the first step of Sage training was no obstacle to him.
All he needed to do was follow the method taught by Fukasaku and Shima, absorbing natural energy into his body and perfectly merging it with his chakra to create Sage Chakra.
Even the Jiraiya of the original story had managed to master Sage Mode, albeit imperfectly. There was no reason why he couldn't do it better this time. His goal was to emulate Senju Hashirama, entering Sage Mode in an instant with just a simple hand sign.
"This scroll contains instructions on how to sense and absorb natural energy," Fukasaku said, tossing a scroll to Jiraiya.
Jiraiya opened the scroll and began reading it intently.
"Hey, bring us the special Toad Oil," Fukasaku said to Shima.
Mount Myōboku had a unique Toad Oil that, when applied to the body, helped individuals quickly sense natural energy and provided some assistance in absorbing it.
"Is there anything you don't understand?" Fukasaku asked Jiraiya.
"Could you explain this part in more detail?" Jiraiya asked, pointing to a section of the scroll.
The methods described in the scroll were mostly straightforward, but a few parts were written in the unique logic of the toads, making them hard to comprehend.
Fukasaku patiently clarified each of Jiraiya's doubts, and soon, Jiraiya had a firm grasp of the material.
"According to this scroll, natural energy is the source of chakra?" Jiraiya asked.
"That's correct," Fukasaku confirmed with a nod.
In the original story, it was said that Kaguya Ōtsutsuki gained chakra by consuming the fruit of the divine tree, becoming the progenitor of chakra. Strictly speaking, chakra was born from natural energy. When Kaguya first arrived on Earth, she had no control over chakra.
"If chakra and natural energy both originate from the same source, shouldn't it be relatively easy to merge the two?" Jiraiya asked again.
"Although they share the same origin, they've become two entirely different energies over time. Merging them is far from simple—it's a difficult and dangerous process. Any mistake can harm your internal organs, or worse, your life. If you feel any abnormalities in your body, you must stop immediately. Forcing the fusion is absolutely forbidden," Fukasaku said sternly.
Jiraiya nodded in understanding.
"Old man, the Toad Oil is ready. Little Jiraiya can take off his clothes and apply it now," Shima said, using a Wind Release technique to carry over a jar.
Jiraiya complied, removing his clothing before opening the jar and scooping out a handful of Toad Oil to rub onto his body.
The oil felt cool and soothing on his skin, helping him focus more easily as he climbed onto a stone platform, sat cross-legged, and began sensing natural energy according to the scroll's instructions.
Though he could already sense natural energy faintly, following the scroll's methods allowed him to perceive it even more clearly. The clearer his perception of natural energy, the easier it would be to absorb it into his body.
"This really is an incredible aid," Jiraiya muttered to himself.
The cooling sensation of the Toad Oil helped him concentrate fully, and its properties enhanced his ability to sense natural energy.
Previously, he could only vaguely feel a presence in the environment, but now he clearly sensed the omnipresent energy saturating every corner of the world. It seemed as though the very existence of this world depended on natural energy to function.
No wonder the Toad Sages had assisted Hagoromo in sealing Kaguya. If Kaguya had been allowed to absorb all the natural energy of this world, it would have led to its collapse.
As Jiraiya's perception sharpened, he began following the scroll's instructions to guide natural energy into his body.
"Old man, how long do you think it'll take for Little Jiraiya to sense natural energy?" Shima asked.
"Jiraiya has great talent and is a chosen genius. At most, I'd say it'll take him a month to feel natural energy," Fukasaku replied after some thought.
"Old man, look! The natural energy around Little Jiraiya is already gathering near him. It seems he's already sensed it and can even attract it to himself. That's way too fast!" Shima exclaimed in astonishment, cutting off Fukasaku mid-sentence.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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