The Sun Disc was currently behaving like a tactical nuke, automatically gathering solar energy and converting it into a laser sweep that was erasing the enemy forces from existence.
It was this situation that made Makoto realize a point he had previously overlooked: Sunlight—or rather stellar radiation—is also a form of natural energy.
However, compared to the relatively "gentle" natural energy found in the earth or atmosphere, sunlight is violent.
It's not on the same scale at all.
Normally, basking in the sun is fine. But if anyone dared to absorb raw solar radiation as "natural energy" directly into their chakra network? They would end up looking exactly like the ninjas currently being turned into glass statues by the Sun disc.
Besides the unknown method Hashirama used, even the Sage of Six Paths had to learn Sage Art from the three sacred lands.
So there were no predecessors to follow.
Now everything had to be explored by Makoto himself.
Fortunately, with Crazy Diamond capable of healing himself, even if he suffered some radiation damage, he could just heal himself instantly.
No need to worry about anything.
"How does it feel?" Makoto asked, looking at Gaara.
"This power... is this the legendary Sage Art?"
Gaara's body remained motionless, frozen in awe.
He could feel that this power was not only destructive but creative.
If he could master this, even just a fraction, he could turn the entire Wind Country desert into a lush jungle.
"More or less."
Makoto used Gaara's body as a proxy to feel the control over natural elements, while Gaara used Makoto's power to experience high-level natural energy.
For Gaara, his previous state was like an uncontrollable, beta version of Jiraiya's Sage Mode.
'The ugly version with the two toads on his shoulders.'
"Alright, show's over." Makoto withdrew his hand.
Zap.
After disconnecting the link, Gaara regained control of his own body, staggering and almost face-planting into the sand like a drunk.
"These people were just numerous. If you could reconcile with Shukaku, one Tailed Beast Bomb would have easily cleared them." Makoto said, walking toward the edge of the crater.
The ruins below had been scrubbed clean.
Makoto recalled that while amplifying Gaara, he heard Shukaku shouting in his ear a couple of times.
When Naruto was learning Sage Mode, Fukasaku tried to fuse with him, but the Nine-Tails kicked him out because Kurama was a tsundere who didn't like sharing.
This time, Makoto encountered a similar situation.
Except Shukaku was like an incompetent husband—he shouted a few angry words but couldn't actually stop Makoto from hijacking the house.
"Shukaku?" Gaara nodded thoughtfully.
"Let's go. We'll head down first."
Makoto walked ahead, leading the way to the now-exposed ruins of Loulan.
"According to the testimony of witness White Snake Sage, the reason your Wind Country has vast deserts is actually because of the Sage of Six Paths and his family."
Makoto crouched down, placing his hand on the sand to sense the underground ley lines.
"Sage of Six Paths?"
For Gaara and Temari, this was their first time hearing about such ancient legends outside of fairy tales.
"Back then, the Sage of Six Paths' mother planted a tree here. After she pulled it out, the land became... this." Makoto gestured vaguely at the endless sand.
"'His mother'—is that his real mom? or like 'Mommy'?" Temari poked Makoto's shoulder and whispered.
"...No. His actual biological mother."
"Oh."
"Anyway, the main problem with Wind Country is the deforestation caused by tree planting. The secondary problem is that the mother and son also had a massive fight here."
Based on this information, Makoto had already deduced that the Earth in the Shinobi World was special.
When the Otsutsuki plant trees in other worlds, the God tree usually drains the entire planet dry, leaving a dead rock.
But here?
Kaguya planted the tree, but it only drained the Wind Country region before bearing fruit.
If the Sage of Six Paths hadn't come back to fight her later, the land might have even healed itself.
Moreover, the quality of Kaguya's fruit was... weird.
The Ten-Tails usually needs to eat an entire Otsutsuki to ripen.
Here, it barely ate half of Isshiki.
The God Tree usually needs a whole planet's energy.
Here, it took a sip.
But the result?
Kaguya ate that low-quality fruit and became a literal goddess. Naruto and Sasuke at their peak needed to touch her simultaneously just to seal her away.
Meanwhile, Momoshiki? He ate fruits from whole planets, yet he got killed by a 12-year-old's giant Rasengan.
No sealing required, dude just die.
"According to rumors, the Dragon Vein is the 'lifeblood of the earth,' containing chakra far exceeding other places. Slight misuse could destroy the land."
Makoto's tone shifted. "This rumor is clearly wrong. It's fake news passed down through generations."
"Chakra was brought by the Sage of Six Paths' mother."
"This world originally didn't have chakra, so how could the 'lifeblood of the earth' be made of chakra?" Makoto continued his lecture.
What the White Snake Sage had told Makoto was that the Dragon Vein was a wound left on the earth where the Ten-Tails had taken root.
If that were true, it shouldn't be a fountain of chakra.
"So what exactly is the Dragon Vein?" Temari asked, frowning.
"Don't rush. We're about to unveil the mystery now, aren't we?"
Makoto found a specific spot and beckoned to Temari.
"What?" Temari walked over, crossing her arms.
"Earlier, I infused compressed natural energy into Gaara's body, letting him experience my unique version of Sage Mode. As long as he recalls this sensation, he'll gradually master it..."
"Would you like to try it?"
"Hmph. You actually just want my help, don't you?"
Of course, Temari wanted to get stronger, but she still lifted her chin proudly.
"That Dragon Vein is buried deep beneath the sand—you need my Wind Style to dig it out, right?"
"Go ahead. I'll allow you to enter my body."
"...You really shouldn't say things like that carelessly."
Makoto stared at her, speechless.
"Tch. Are you getting shy now?"
Temari had blurted it out without thinking, but seeing Makoto's reaction made her want to tease him!
"I just told you I used it on Gaara. If you say 'allow you to enter my body' now... then what does that imply about what I just did with your brother?"
Makoto gave her a look that said 'Are you hearing yourself?'
"...Fair point." Temari's mouth twitched.
Uchiha Hikari watched this scene and nodded her little head in satisfaction.
'Good, this man is real straight!'