"What a hardworking child..."
Shima spoke highly of Naruto, but Fukasaku looked a little worried.
"Perhaps what the Great Frog Sage said awakened a deep sense of crisis in little Naruto. He's pushing himself even harder than before..."
Shima sighed.
"No matter what, he shouldn't push himself too hard. After all, he's still a child!"
"That's easy to say, but I can't convince him."
"Even if you can't convince him, you must protect him! Despite little Naruto's extraordinary talent, practicing Sage Mode alone is extremely dangerous. His father specifically told you to go there after dinner!"
"Alright."
...
"Calm down! Focus! No distractions!"
Naruto took a deep breath and sat cross-legged.
He closed his eyes and completely cleared his mind.
Before long, even without the aid of frog oil, he immediately sensed the rich natural energy surrounding him.
At that moment, while Naruto was training, he seemed almost completely united with nature itself.
In fact, even the small birds nearby couldn't distinguish whether Naruto was a living being or part of the natural world. They casually perched on his head and began pecking at him with their beaks.
Naruto paid them no attention.
His mind was completely focused on Sage Mode.
"Grandpa Sage said the biggest flaw of Sage Mode is that it can't allow movement and stillness at the same time."
"Absorbing natural energy requires complete stillness, but remaining still during combat is impossible. That's what limits the duration of Sage Mode. That's why the Two Sages Technique is necessary—to divide the tasks of movement and stillness."
"However, I've already undergone this type of training before..."
Back when he was at the Ninja Academy, Naruto had been forced by the system to undergo special training for Dual Minds.
Through countless trials and challenges, he had learned to absorb and refine Chakra while simultaneously processing information.
He had even acquired the power of the [Dual Mind] ability.
Now, he could try applying that ability to Sage Mode.
In other words...
Maintain movement and stillness at the same time!
It sounded almost impossible.
But Naruto didn't believe anything was impossible for him.
"There seem to be three methods of maintaining movement and stillness simultaneously."
"First is the Two Sages Technique, which involves merging with two Sage-level beings. But that's too troublesome for others, and I don't particularly like that method."
"Second is using Shadow Clones. That's relatively simple for me. However, even if I have Shadow Clones practice movement and stillness simultaneously, I doubt I could maintain many of them, and their power would eventually be limited."
"Then there's the third method..."
Naruto's eyes remained closed.
"Relying on my Dual Mind ability, I can keep part of my body completely still even while fighting, while simultaneously clearing my mind and continuously absorbing natural energy."
The thought was truly astonishing.
Moreover, this was something that practically no one except Naruto could accomplish.
Even for Naruto, this level of Dual Mind control was far more difficult than simply acquiring knowledge, absorbing Chakra, or refining Chakra.
After all, this was Sage Mode, one of the highest levels of cultivation in the entire Ninja World.
The Dual Mind training he had undergone at the Ninja Academy was like drawing a circle with one hand while drawing a square with the other.
But what he was attempting now was more like solving complex mathematics with one hand while simultaneously painting a masterpiece with the other.
The difficulty was on an entirely different level.
To be honest, Naruto wasn't even certain that his idea would work.
But...
If anyone could accomplish it, it was definitely him.
And under the current circumstances, he absolutely had to succeed.
In fact, if he gave up on the idea of continuously absorbing natural energy during battle, Naruto had already essentially mastered Sage Mode.
But what he wanted was far more than that.
He wanted to completely overcome the fundamental limitation of Sage Mode.
High above the training ground, Fukasaku watched Naruto continue training alone in the darkness of the night.
He couldn't help but sigh.
"He's still just a child..."
Shima's expression softened.
"Yes. He's still a child."
"Little Naruto... just how much hardship and suffering did you endure to become this strong and determined?"
Fukasaku shook his head.
"No..."
"Rather, wasn't it precisely because of that determination and powerful will that little Naruto managed to achieve everything he has today?"
Fukasaku understood what Naruto was attempting.
Yet even with his confidence in Naruto's talent and determination, he still felt that accomplishing this was almost impossible.
But that didn't stop Naruto.
"Perhaps..."
"It's a miracle."
Shima smiled faintly.
"Maybe little Naruto really can create a miracle!"
---
In the days that followed, Naruto continued his difficult [Dual Mind] training while simultaneously undergoing Senjutsu training with Fukasaku.
He could already enter Sage Mode.
But what came afterward was even more important.
The Sage Body Technique of Mount Myōboku—the Frog Kumite!
In Sage Mode, various Ninjutsu techniques could be greatly enhanced and improved.
However, mastering all of these abilities required Naruto to continuously practice and refine his skills.
His days had seemingly returned to the way they were in the past.
Back when he didn't need to go on missions, he spent nearly every hour of the day training.
Day and night.
Without rest.
Without stopping.
It was painful, exhausting, and at times almost hopeless...
But at the same time, it was fulfilling, rewarding, and pure.
---
At the same time...
Sasuke had begun genuine Senjutsu training under the White Snake Sage in Ryūchi Cave.
Sasuke's talent for Senjutsu naturally couldn't compare with Naruto's.
First, his Chakra reserves weren't nearly as enormous as Naruto's.
Second, the Senjutsu of Ryūchi Cave focused on a strange and dangerous path.
Although its power was tremendous, mastering it was even more difficult.
Just think about it.
Even Orochimaru had failed to master this power.
That alone demonstrated how difficult it was.
Yakushi Kabuto's ability to master Ryūchi Cave's Senjutsu wasn't simply because of his extraordinary talent.
Rather, he had integrated Orochimaru's power—and even the abilities of Orochimaru's various subordinates—into his own body, eventually transforming himself into something closer to a true monster.
The current Sasuke was still far from reaching the level of Yakushi Kabuto.
However, Sasuke possessed an advantage of his own.
That advantage was his exceptional mastery of the Cursed Seal of Heaven.
Because of this, he had managed to cross that critical threshold and enter the White Snake Sage's field of vision.
However, completely mastering the Senjutsu of Ryūchi Cave was certainly not something that could be accomplished overnight.
The pain and torture Sasuke endured here far exceeded anything he had experienced during his previous training.
---
Meanwhile, in the Shikkotsu Forest...
Hinata was also training with everything she had.
Her talent could certainly be described as extraordinary.
However, compared to Naruto—and even compared to Sasuke—she still had certain disadvantages.
In terms of Chakra reserves, she was naturally far below Naruto and even Sasuke.
When it came to Senjutsu talent, Naruto was the Child of Prophecy, while Sasuke at least possessed the Cursed Seal of Heaven.
Hinata had almost none of those advantages.
However, Hinata possessed something that neither Naruto nor Sasuke had.
She was the only person who had the natural qualifications to enter the Sage Region of the Shikkotsu Forest.
This was what Tsunade and Hiruzen Sarutobi had been referring to.
The two different properties of Chakra—soft and hard—could merge within the Light of Life, making Hinata the most suitable person to practice the Senjutsu of the Shikkotsu Forest.
But this was only the qualification to cross the threshold.
For Hinata, truly mastering and controlling this unprecedented power remained an extremely difficult task.
The difficulty was also related to the fact that the Shikkotsu Forest had never possessed a proper Senjutsu inheritance within the Ninja World.
What the Slug Sage was teaching Hinata was something that had never been practiced by a human before.
There was no precedent.
No reference.
They could only explore the path step by step.
This applied to Hinata.
And it applied to the Slug Sage as well.
In terms of progress...
Naruto had already surpassed 90%.
Technically speaking, this meant he had mastered Sage Mode and had even surpassed his teacher, Jiraiya.
But Naruto wasn't satisfied.
He was aiming for an impossible 200%... 500%... even 1,000%!
Sasuke's progress had also exceeded 60%, meaning he had already entered the inner regions of the sacred territory.
As for Hinata, her current mastery was probably only around 30%.
Yet the Slug Sage wasn't discouraged.
"Hinata, your progress may be slow, but you are the first pioneer of Shikkotsu Forest Senjutsu in history."
"Every step we take is unprecedented."
"Every small step you take will help you write a new chapter in history."
"So don't lose heart, and don't become discouraged."
"You're accomplishing something truly amazing!"
Hinata was breathing heavily.
Her long hair was disheveled, making her look quite messy.
Yet her eyes remained as clear and determined as ever.
"Slug Sage, I will never give up!"
"Because..."
"Naruto-kun will never give up either!"
The Slug Sage rarely showed emotion, but a faint smile appeared on its face.
"Excellent."
"Is this what humans call motivation?"
"Then let's continue!"
"Yes!"
Under the Slug Sage's guidance, Hinata gradually circulated the unique Light of Life Chakra throughout her body.
It was a power that only she could successfully develop.
She slowly began integrating it with the rich natural energy surrounding her.
As a result, her vitality continued to increase, while the light and power she could unleash grew stronger day by day.
It seemed almost limitless.
The Slug Sage couldn't help but praise her and nod approvingly.
"Although it is extremely difficult, Hinata possesses both unique natural talent and unwavering determination."
"Perhaps she really can make history..."
---
Just like the three members of Team 7, who were receiving Senjutsu training in the territories of the Three Great Sages...
The Ninja World was still in turmoil.
And it was facing an unprecedented crisis.
At this moment...
Deep beneath the ground, inside an underground base belonging to the Akatsuki Organization...
A colossal and magnificent yet withered monster lay in deathly silence.
Behind its enormous body were ten severed tails, their remains already dried and lifeless.
Its withered head was equally terrifying.
Ten enormous eyes were tightly shut, as though they had been deprived of life forever.
The monstrous creature remained completely motionless.
Yet the terrible presence surrounding it seemed to foreshadow that something far more dangerous was about to begin.
________________________________________
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