Chapter 291: An Invitation from Mount Myōboku!
Jiraiya was grinding his teeth in frustration.
But as he was dead-set on acquiring the Camouflage Hiding Technique, he had no way to refuse Nara Keisuke's demands.
'The next spar... I must win. Failure is not an option!'
Jiraiya felt his ribs. By maintaining Sage Mode, his injuries had already completely healed.
'But I really need to set some ground rules in advance... A fight like today's was a bit too damaging to our relationship.'
'Besides, setting more detailed rules will make it easier to gather intelligence on Nara Keisuke's abilities…'
Jiraiya was willing to spar with Nara Keisuke for two main reasons.
On one hand, he was truly and desperately craving the Camouflage Hiding Technique.
On the other hand, it was a special request from the Konoha High Council.
For any shinobi, there was a traceable path to their growth in strength.
The only exception was the Uchiha Clan, with their special Kekkei Genkai. At the drop of a hat, they could awaken the Mangekyo, and their power level would skyrocket.
There was no shortage of geniuses who rose to prominence during wartime.
Take, for example, Konoha's Yellow Flash, who built his illustrious reputation during the Third Great Shinobi War.
But what made Nara Keisuke different from other geniuses… was that his growth rate was simply too fast!
The more critical point, however, was that Nara Keisuke was not a shinobi from the "Hokage's Faction."
Faced with such a powerful, super-genius shinobi from their own village, the Konoha High Council wouldn't necessarily ostracize or antagonize him, but if there was an opportunity to collect information on his abilities, all the better.
After two sparring matches, Jiraiya had indeed gathered a significant amount of new intelligence on Nara Keisuke.
For instance, his opponent's speed was astonishing, and his strength was frightening.
And for another, his opponent possessed the means to control the natural energy in the atmosphere.
This was intelligence that could not be gleaned from paper reports.
However, what Jiraiya didn't know was that while he thought Nara Keisuke had revealed a lot of special intelligence during the fight, in reality, Nara Keisuke had hidden far more!
The techniques he had used in the battle were merely the tip of the iceberg of his true capabilities.
Just as Jiraiya was silently pondering how to "subtly" probe Nara Keisuke for information, the two Sage Toads on his shoulders were observing Nara Keisuke with great interest.
"Human child."
Sage Shima looked at Nara Keisuke with curiosity.
"This old lady's words might be a bit rude, but may I ask, how did you learn to control the lightning in the atmosphere?"
Fun fact: Sages Fukasaku and Shima were both over eight hundred years old.
The Great Toad Sage, who was senior to both of them, was even more terrifyingly ancient.
Given Sage Shima's age and seniority, calling Nara Keisuke a "human child" was truly quite fitting.
Nara Keisuke knew exactly what Sage Shima was asking.
"Controlling the lightning in the atmosphere" was just another way of saying "controlling natural energy"!
Many of the toads at Mount Myōboku could use Senjutsu, and the source of the Sage Chakra they synthesized was precisely the natural energy from the atmosphere and the earth.
Sage Shima being able to see that Kirin was fundamentally a natural energy attack, not a simple Lightning Release, did not surprise Nara Keisuke.
What gave him pause was... should he take this opportunity to ask Sages Shima and Fukasaku about the knowledge related to Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode?
After a moment's hesitation, Nara Keisuke made up his mind. Let's do this!
He didn't have a great impression of this group of mystical, muttering toads from Mount Myōboku.
But that didn't stop him from learning and borrowing from Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode!
"My understanding of natural energy comes from the Fire Temple."
Nara Keisuke calmly revealed his intelligence.
"My clan has a relatively close relationship with the Fire Temple, so I asked my family to obtain some methods for controlling natural energy from the ninja monks there."
"The Fire Temple?"
A trace of confusion flashed in Sage Shima's small eyes.
"That name sounds familiar..."
"Old lady, have you gone senile?"
Sage Fukasaku, at her side, retorted bluntly.
"The Fire Temple is one of the ninja temples of the human world, a successor that inherited the Ninshū philosophy of the Sage of Six Paths."
"The Sage of Six Paths…"
Sage Shima came to a realization.
"No wonder!"
"I was just saying I saw faint traces of natural energy flowing on your body."
Sage Fukasaku stroked his goatee.
"So it's the inheritance of the Fire Temple…
"Human child, are you the current 'Talent of the Sage Clan' from the Fire Temple?"
The Mount Myōboku toads also know about the 'Talent of the Sage Clan'?
Nara Keisuke was slightly surprised but shook his head.
"No, I have only learned some crude methods for controlling natural energy. I am not this 'Talent of the Sage Clan'."
"Crude methods…"
Sage Fukasaku's beard-stroking motion suddenly stiffened.
A jutsu on the level of Kirin was just a "crude method"?
In that case, wasn't ninety-nine percent of the Senjutsu inheritance passed down by Mount Myōboku worse than garbage?
"Honorable Sages."
Nara Keisuke pretended not to notice Sage Fukasaku's awkwardness and continued with his own questions.
"I also have a question I'd like to ask you two.
"As my research into natural energy has deepened, I've discovered that it has an extremely powerful augmenting effect on the activity of human cells…"
Speaking of this, Nara Keisuke couldn't help but glance at the spaced-out Jiraiya.
Even now, the Sage Daoist's Sage Mode had not been dispelled. The scarlet markings on his face now covered most of his visage, and the aura he exuded was still terrifying.
"However, I always encounter trouble in the process of drawing natural energy into the body.
"If the amount of natural energy is small, it's fine, but as soon as the amount becomes excessive, it triggers the danger of petrification."
Nara Keisuke retracted his gaze and continued to explain his confusion to the two Sage Toads.
"I can also get a sense of Jiraiya-sama's state. Although his appearance is ugly right now, natural energy is continuously pouring into his body.
"Honorable Sages, does Mount Myōboku have any special techniques for absorbing natural energy?"
Facing the two Sage Toads, Nara Keisuke decided to be completely direct.
Sages Fukasaku and Shima had lived for hundreds of years; their "toad-life" experience was simply too vast.
Nara Keisuke saw no point in trying to obscure his intentions.
"Special techniques for absorbing natural energy, you say…"
Sage Fukasaku stroked his goatee faster, considering how to answer Nara Keisuke's question.
"Mount Myōboku does indeed possess…"
The toads of Mount Myōboku were not born with the ability to absorb natural energy.
To absorb natural energy and condense Sage Chakra, the toads of Mount Myōboku also had to undergo training.
Even toads in training would face the risk of petrification.
There was a special area in Mount Myōboku filled with toad statues of all sizes.
Those stone toads were all cases of failed Senjutsu training from over the centuries.
However, compared to Senjutsu inheritances from other places, Mount Myōboku's inheritance was indeed more refined and safer.
The neighboring Ryūchi Cave also had a Senjutsu inheritance.
But the inheritance of Ryūchi Cave was to let the White Snake Sage bite you and inject her venom into your body.
If you survived the Sage's poison, you were considered to have successfully mastered Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode.
If you couldn't withstand it…
The practitioner would become food for the White Snake Sage.
Its cruelty and risk level far exceeded Mount Myōboku's Senjutsu inheritance.
"I was wondering if I could learn some of Mount Myōboku's natural methods?"
Nara Keisuke's eyes lit up when he saw that Sage Fukasaku had not immediately refused.
"If you are willing to teach me, I am willing to trade Kirin for it."
Kirin was great, but its prerequisite conditions were too cumbersome, and its use was very limited.
If he could use this pseudo-Sage Art to smoothly exchange for Mount Myōboku's Senjutsu inheritance…
Mount Myōboku might make a small profit, but Nara Keisuke definitely wouldn't lose out!
"No… apologies, child."
Sage Fukasaku hesitated for a long time, but still shook his head.
"Mount Myōboku has no need for additional methods of controlling natural energy.
"Furthermore, Mount Myōboku's Senjutsu inheritance is not suitable for every shinobi."
The Sage's underlying meaning was a refusal.
But, he was a fellow shinobi from the same village as Jiraiya-kun.
After a moment's hesitation, Sage Fukasaku added, "If you truly wish to learn Senjutsu, child, you can take a trip to Mount Myōboku with me and my wife."
You have now received two Secret Ninja Scrolls.
An S-Rank scroll for submitting the Swift Release mission.
An S-Rank scroll for defeating Sage Jiraiya.
Which scroll's contents would you like me to reveal first?
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