After finally merging the three great sage arts and achieving the perfect Sage Mode, having also discovered the method to cultivate the Sage Body, Kaede didn't rush to leave the Shikkotsu Forest. Instead, he began training there.
His plan was to first cultivate the Sage Body to at least an initial stage before departing. Also on his schedule was advancing the Sixth Gate of the Eight Gates technique.
His current strength was somewhat lacking.
The enemies he would soon face were approaching the level of the Six Paths. Without reaching that higher tier himself, Kaede couldn't feel secure.
Especially knowing the Six Paths Sage was watching over the world, and closely monitoring his every move, he felt an urgent pressure from deep within.
He had to…
Step into the Six Paths level as soon as possible!
The reason he hadn't seriously pursued the Rinnegan until now was because he didn't want to draw excessive attention from the Six Paths Sage. That would be extremely dangerous.
Although Kaede's time manipulation abilities and mastery of the Eight Gates granted him strength at the level of a Super Kage, he had never crossed into the Six Paths Sage's domain. It was like how Might Guy could open the Eight Gate and fight on par with Six Paths-level opponents without drawing too much attention.
But things were about to change.
Sasuke and Naruto would be born soon, their births accompanied by the reincarnation of Indra and Ashura chakra. This was sure to attract the Six Paths Sage's intense scrutiny.
Furthermore, Nagato and Uchiha Obito were bound to make moves as well. Kaede would inevitably confront the power of the Rinnegan. Whether the Six Paths Sage would intervene if he reached for that power was unknown even to him.
So…
He had to keep growing stronger.
Kaede settled into the Shikkotsu Forest for his training, choosing this place because its natural energy was far more abundant than the outside world, ideal for cultivating the Sage Body.
…
Somewhere in Shikkotsu, Rin sat alone by a stream. Her fair little feet dipped into the water, occasionally splashing, her gaze fixed absently on the small stones beneath the surface.
"Isobu… do you think I should take this chance to confess to Kaede? We've finally had some time alone together…"
"…"
Isobu was silent for a few seconds before answering, "I'm just a turtle."
Rin blushed at that, kicking the water playfully. "Have you never liked anything? Any other creature?"
"Hm, I do like a certain kind of white fish, they taste pretty good," Isobu replied honestly.
Rin sighed.
After finally getting some alone time with Kaede, she had hoped something might happen. But Kaede was always focused on training, and she herself hesitated, lacking the courage to confess.
Still, before leaving, she had to try. She didn't want to be beaten to it by Yūhi Kurenai. This rare chance alone with Kaede was precious.
Mainly because…
Kaede was just too amazing.
And too many people liked him.
That gave her a strong sense of urgency, and also some hesitation. She wasn't sure if she dared to reveal her feelings and confirm their relationship.
As she gazed into the water lost in thought,
She suddenly noticed the slugs crawling on the nearby stalactites freeze in place, all raising their heads toward the same direction.
"What's that…"
Rin sensed something was wrong.
It was a powerful chakra fluctuation rising up from that direction, familiar yet strange, with traces of Kaede's chakra mixed in.
Splash!
Rin leapt from the stream, quickly climbing a stalactite and weaving through the stone forest until she arrived at Kaede's training spot.
There she saw him, normally simple clothing now covered by a pale golden sage robe. He seemed one with nature itself, his aura warm and radiant.
Rin stood there, mesmerized by this form of Kaede.
Almost all the slugs in Shikkotsu shared the same thought, Kaede had developed a new sage art!
It wasn't the aura of Shikkotsu's sage art, nor of the other two sacred lands, but contained the essence of all three combined.
In other words:
Kaede had fused the three great sage arts into one!
"He fused the three great sage arts to create a new one? Even something like that is possible… Lady Tsunade's student truly is a genius," some of the small slugs whispered.
All the slugs were the same individual, the smaller ones acting like extensions, addressing Tsunade as 'Lady,' while the largest, original slug called her 'Little Tsunade.'
Both the slug's true form and its smaller selves were amazed by the shift in Kaede's chakra at this moment. As an ancient being surviving for over a thousand years, it understood better than anyone what this state meant.
This was…
The embryo of Six Paths Sage Art!
Sage Mode could harm the Six Paths form. The Ten-Tails itself was essentially a near-infinite fusion of natural energy. So what was the difference between Sage Mode and Six Paths Mode?
Two points:
First, perfection.
Second, scale.
Whether the sage arts of Mt. Myoboku, Shikkotsu, or Ryūchi Cave were flawed and imperfect. No matter how much one trained, they couldn't cause a qualitative leap.
But Kaede's current state was nearly equal in perfection to Six Paths Mode. He was nearly a perfect fusion with natural power, the natural energy having already permeated his cells and fused with his very body.
This process was called Senninka, Sage Transformation.
If Kaede could now control a larger volume of sage chakra and integrate it fully, he could keep advancing, reaching a qualitative leap from quantitative growth.
So calling this state a perfect Sage Mode was slightly inaccurate. A more fitting name would be, the most basic form of Six Paths Mode.
Just the shell.
Lacking a powerful enough core.
…
About two months later.
Kaede had completed the initial refinement of the Sage Body. His Sage Body was now taking shape.
And…
Simultaneously, he opened the Sixth Gate of the Eight Gates while refining his body.
The Sage Body was a transformation of the body itself, while the Eight Gates unlocked hidden power within. The two worked without conflict.
"It's about time to head back," Kaede said softly, clenching his fist.
If before he relied on the unique nature of the Kusanagi Sword to barely unleash a Heaven Flash strike comparable to the complete Susanoo's power, now…
He had truly reached that level on his own!
The step to the Six Paths…
Was now just one step away!
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