Plak.
"Ugh, wrong again!"
The Clan Head of Divine Bird Clan raised his cane and gave Logan a solid whack on the head, his tone dripping with exasperation.
"Ow, ow…"
In the picturesque grove of paulownia trees, atop the highest central platform, a harmonious teaching session between man and bird was underway.
Rubbing his sore head, Logan lowered his hands from the hand seals and shot the old clan head a deadpan look. "Hey, wasn't the rule no hitting the head? That really hurt, you know."
The old clan head adjusted his reading glasses and glared, his expression clearly saying, 'You dare complain?'
"What do you mean, rules? Can't hit the face, can't hit the head… do you have any idea how stiff my joints are at my age?"
He flapped his wings demonstratively, twisting his cane in a stiff motion before it got stuck mid-movement. Sighing, he shook his head, "Did you see that?"
"…"
"Besides, you're in Sage Mode right now. Your skin's thick as leather… a couple of whacks won't kill you."
"Sure, sure…" Logan grumbled internally, 'Why couldn't Kotonami be the one teaching me Senjutsu?'
The difference was like listening to a dry, old homeroom teacher drone on in class versus having a gentle, beautiful tutor give him private lessons. Who'd pick the former?
"Alas, your progress is much slower compared to the genius contractors in our records. The only slightly redeeming thing…" The old clan head trailed off, glancing at Logan's perfectly normal limbs before focusing on his brilliantly glowing eyes. His tone softened, "...is that your Sage Mode mastery is actually decent."
Hearing this, Logan smiled. basin of water sat at his feet, and he leaned over to see his reflection.
His face hadn't changed much.
The real highlight was his eyes. Like the most inspired stroke of an ink painting, they blazed with vivid color and life, his pupils transformed into dazzling flames, flickering with occasional golden light.
Inside him, an inexhaustible well of power lay dormant. The texture of his Senjutsu Chakra was entirely different from his usual reserves, circulating smoothly through his body.
During his time hiding in the Paulownia Forest, Logan had finally overcome the hurdles, piecing together his accumulated insights and completing his training… mastering the Divine Bird Clan's Sage Mode.
"No excessive mutations, Natural Energy absorption and circulation are remarkably fluid. Not bad." The old clan head nodded approvingly. "I'd rate this as high-tier. Even a block of rotten wood can be carved into something… though, there is one slight imperfection."
The old clan head's eyes lingered on Logan's hair, and he clicked his tongue, "Tsk. Not perfect."
Logan's hair remained black. He hadn't turned into some flame-haired, blazing-eyed warrior of legend. His eye twitched. His lips twitched and he said, "Well, I think it's pretty good."
For most Holy Lands, changes limited to the eyes already signified a perfect Sage Mode. Logan could feel his power flowing smoothly in this state, with no discomfort.
Once his form stabilized, he'd actually been relieved. The idea of his hair changing color gave him flashbacks to cheesy transformation anime.
Whoosh…
A gust of wind swept in as Akiyama circled back from his flight, just in time to hear Logan's remark. Tucking in his fiery feathers, he snorted. "No ambition."
Logan ignored him. He had tried pushing further, but his Natural Energy fusion had already reached its limit.
Not one to obsess over the impossible, Logan had moved on, though he still didn't get the Divine Bird Clan's aesthetic preferences.
'Unless… it was because I was male?'
The old clan head was still lamenting the 'flaw', but Logan shook his head, letting his pupils revert to black as he dispersed the intricate Senjutsu Chakra.
A few days ago, after successfully mastering Sage Mode, Logan hadn't left immediately. Instead, he'd taken advantage of his peak condition to continue learning advanced techniques.
The Phoenix Clan possessed a wealth of high-level techniques, ones only usable with Sage Mode-level endurance. Akiyama had demonstrated this during his fight with Gamabunta, unleashing 'Sage Art: True Fire and incinerating half the Valley of the End.
The power was immense, and the same applied to Logan.
He'd assumed it'd come naturally, but mastering Senjutsu proved far harder than expected… hence the old clan head's disciplinary cane.
Talent-wise, Logan just… wasn't exceptional.
"Logan, let Akiyama supervise your progress from now on." The old clan head declared, already settling into his daily sunbathing spot, ready to tune out the world.
Akiyama looked down at Logan with a haughty gaze.
"…Forget it." Logan deadpanned, rubbing his temple before giving up and taking a break.
"Hmph."
Life in this peaceful, isolated world was simple yet fulfilling. Time flowed steadily, like a calm river, and Logan sat quietly as night fell.
"It feels like a long time has passed..." Logan sighed.
Kotonami returned as well, and the three birds and one human gazed at the night sky… a routine that had become their shared ritual.
"Are you going back soon?"
Bathed in faint crimson light, amidst the rustling leaves of towering paulownia trees, the old clan head's words struck true.
Akiyama glanced down.
"Wasn't Hattori's original goal just to master Sage Mode? Honestly, it's already overdue." Kotonami remarked, her gentle voice carrying through the branches into the vast sky, "Hattori, you have things to do in the Ninja World, don't you?"
Beneath the three majestic Divine Birds, Logan, the only human among them, had shared his story with them over countless quiet nights like this. The sky had borne witness to their conversations, their growing understanding.
"Yeah. I remembered I had some time left, so I wasn't in a rush." Logan admitted, the dazzling stars of the Paulownia Forest flickering in his eyes, "But..."
Lately, an inexplicable unease had settled over him, growing stronger today. Even during breaks, when he tried resuming his training, his Senjutsu Chakra refused to cooperate. His focus was scattered, as if something was gnawing at his peace.
"If your heart is troubled, then go." The old clan head's voice was steady and powerful. "What's there to hesitate over? This place will always be here, safe and sound. You can return whenever you wish."
Logan looked up. The three Divine Birds' magnificent wings stretched like a canopy across the sky, their golden-red feathers shimmering with undying embers. Sitting beneath them, he felt warmth.
"I understand."
The sun rose and set, making this farewell feel somewhat abrupt. But once Logan resolved to return, he acted swiftly.
Before performing the Reverse Summoning Technique, each of the Divine Birds offered their parting words.
"Hattori, be careful with that move… you're not proficient yet." The old clan head warned sternly, his gaze fixed on Logan's eyes.
Hearing this, Logan nodded obediently.
Kotonami flapped her wings excitedly from her perch, "Don't forget to take me out to play soon!"
"Yeah, yeah…"
At the edge of the platform, Akiyama was far more casual, "Well, see ya."
"Yeah, see you next time."
With that, he slammed his palm to the ground. Black sealing formulas spread outward in a circle from his palm!
…
He returned to the vibrant, chaotic world outside… a world teeming with noise and desire.
Well, initially, the scenery was still monochrome. Logan had to exit Kamui Dimension first.
Prepared, he activated Sage Mode immediately. His Senjutsu Chakra was stable as ever, and just as he was about to use Flying Thunder God Technique to warp away, an idea struck him.
Digging into his pouch, he pulled out a three-pronged kunai and tossed it aside like trash.
"Obito wouldn't come to this place to clean up, would he?"
With that thought, the technique activated, and Logan vanished.