Chapter 295: All-Weather Sage Mode, GET!
For the longest time, Nara Keisuke's understanding of [Sage Mode]'s "leap-like augmentation" to Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu had been purely theoretical.
That is, until he had a "little" spar with the [Shadow Clone] that had entered [Sage Mode: Mount Myōboku].
If not for strictly adhering to the "intelligence confidentiality" bottom line, the aftershocks from the battle between Nara Keisuke and the [Shadow Clone] would have been enough to completely destroy the underground research institute and, while at it, flatten Kikyo Castle on the surface into an uninhabited zone.
After the [Shadow Clone] exhausted its last wisp of Sage Chakra and dispersed into a puff of smoke, a sweat-drenched Nara Keisuke finally dispelled the [Aegis Release: Rashōmon] he had maintained in front of himself.
"After entering [Sage Mode], the [Shadow Clone], which was created from my template, had its base strength almost touching the S-Rank floor, not to mention its various secret techniques and Kekkei Genkai..."
"Although it's ugly, Mount Myōboku's Sage Chakra can indeed amplify the power of any form of chakra—whether it's conventional, Yin Release, or Kekkei Genkai chakra."
"If the power level of a normal technique is 1, then after mixing in Sage Chakra, its power level rises to 2. The effect is a complete doubling!"
"Additionally, the strategy I came up with to compensate for [Sage Mode]'s weakness has been proven viable..."
[Sage Mode] is strong, but not strong without flaws. It has weaknesses.
This wasn't just about Nara Keisuke's low compatibility with [Sage Mode: Mount Myōboku] and the high degree of 'toadification' it caused (resulting in a devastating "face-value collapse").
Mainly, [Sage Mode] is short and lacks endurance.
Jiraiya could use Mount Myōboku's [Sage Art: Amalgamation Technique] to extend his [Sage Mode]'s duration.
Nara Keisuke couldn't find two small Sage Toads to help him maintain [Sage Mode].
But he wasn't without other means to compensate for this "short duration" weakness.
The most core point—[Sage Mode] can be "artificially recharged."
In the spar just now, the (enraged) [Shadow Clone], in order to fully test the power of [Sage Mode], had used the A-Rank [Senjutsu Mask] Nara Keisuke had created earlier as a "mana potion."
After entering [Sage Mode], the [Shadow Clone] had converted all its chakra into Sage Chakra, so it naturally possessed the ability to absorb and use the Sage Chakra within the [Senjutsu Mask].
"In essence, recharging with the [Senjutsu Mask] is the same principle as Naruto's Shadow Clone charging method."
Nara Keisuke stroked his chin, sitting cross-legged on the cratered floor of the training room, sorting through his thoughts.
"Both are methods of refining Sage Chakra in advance and then transferring it to resupply one's own consumption, thereby extending [Sage Mode].
"The essence of this solution is to create a container for Sage Chakra in advance—be it a mask or a clone—and then draw the Sage Chakra out when needed, just like a 'backup battery.'
"However, if I'm making a 'chakra battery,' what better 'battery case' is there than a sealing jutsu?"
Nara Keisuke's gaze shifted to the blood-red mask on the floor. After its internal chakra was completely depleted, the A-Rank [Senjutsu Mask] had shattered into pieces.
The [Nature Mask], forged according to Old Man Kakuzu's [Nature Mask Forging Method], was never an "eco-friendly ninja tool" that could be used repeatedly.
On the contrary, the [Nature Mask] degrades extremely quickly.
Once the chakra inside is drained, the [Nature Mask] is destroyed.
This destruction was a process that not even Kakuzu, its "developer," could reverse.
Otherwise, Kakuzu wouldn't have spent all year hunting for the hearts of shinobi who had mastered nature transformations.
The [Senjutsu Mask] was an advanced mask made from Nara Keisuke's own blood cells, making it far more precious than an ordinary mask.
"I used the A-Rank mask to test [Sage Mode: Mount Myōboku] because I was concerned about the risks of Sage Chakra synthesis. The A-Rank mask, made of my blood cells, would show an immediate and obvious petrification reaction to any natural energy imbalance."
Shadow tentacles extended from Nara Keisuke's shadow, collecting the mask fragments.
"Now that I've confirmed I can stably synthesize Sage Chakra, there's no need to keep using this precious A-Rank mask. I'll just use regular wooden masks as 'disposable batteries' from now on."
"Also, the [Yin Seal] could be used as a container for Sage Chakra, but… it seems difficult to manage. I'll stick with the [Nature Masks] for now and research a 'sealing jutsu battery' later."
Nara Keisuke didn't plan to invest too much research effort into this "Sage Chakra battery" plan.
In his view, this method was just a "stopgap," not a true solution.
A "Sage Chakra battery" could extend his [Sage Mode] duration in the short term.
But after testing, Nara Keisuke still felt that Mount Myōboku's [Sage Art: Amalgamation Technique] was the more suitable method.
Although Nara Keisuke had never seen the scroll for the [Sage Art: Amalgamation Technique], after fighting Jiraiya and "personally" experiencing the power of [Sage Mode], he had managed to figure a lot of things out.
Naruto's case also gave him a lot of inspiration.
To be precise, the "Sage Fox" (仙狐) mode.
Kurama absorbed external natural energy, converted it, and injected the Sage Chakra into Naruto's body, allowing him to enter the so-called "Kurama Mode" and gain the ability to manipulate "Kurama Sage Chakra."
The "Sage Fox" and the "Trinity Jiraiya" were on different power levels, but the principle for solving the Sage Mode time limit was the same.
A Senjutsu-using Kurama was a special case.
The two Senjutsu-using Sage Toads were also a special case.
Nara Keisuke could not replicate either of those methods.
But he possessed a [Chakra Crystal]!
Nara Keisuke lightly rubbed the ring on his finger.
"The [Chakra Crystal] contains a massive amount of chakra, and it automatically absorbs natural energy and converts it. As long as my chakra consumption doesn't exceed its recovery, its chakra amount can be equated to natural energy!"
"By resonating with and drawing chakra from the [Chakra Crystal] while simultaneously absorbing external natural energy to fuse with it, I can also form Sage Chakra."
"This [Chakra Crystal] is my 'Sage Toad,' it is my 'Kurama'!"
"The two Sages get tired, and Kurama gets tired, but the [Chakra Crystal] is tireless."
"As long as the speed at which I draw chakra from the [Chakra Crystal] doesn't exceed its recovery rate, it means I can continuously fuse Sage Chakra!"
"This is a Permanent Sage Mode!"
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