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Seven... Seven years old.
Fukasaku looked at Kazekaze's confident face and couldn't help but feel speechless. It really wanted to retort. What do you mean by seven years old is not young anymore? Clearly still a kid. Learning Sage Techniques, huh?
However, just as Fukasaku was about to shout this out, it suddenly fell into deep thought. The distance from Konoha to Mount Myoboku is not close. Kazekaze and his group took at least a month to get here. Moreover, Kazekaze is the grandson of the First Hokage. If they just sent him back like this, it would make Mount Myoboku seem impolite.
"Alright." Thinking of this, Fukasaku's tone softened. In its view, rather than ordering Kazekaze to leave Mount Myoboku, it was better to let him give up on his own. "In that case, follow me." Fukasaku rolled its eyes, thought of a plan, and then hopped away, regardless of Kazekaze and the others' reactions.
Kazekaze saw this and immediately followed with large strides. Hiruzen and the others exchanged glances. Before coming to Mount Myoboku, they had imagined countless possibilities. But they never expected Fukasaku to agree so readily. It was unexpected for them.
"It must be because of Lord Hashirama," Hiruzen took a deep breath, attributing Fukasaku's attitude to the absent Hashirama, and then followed. The others did the same. Gamabunta hesitated a bit but decided to follow as well. Although it didn't quite support Kazekaze learning Sage Techniques at such a young age, since Lord Fukasaku agreed, it had nothing more to say.
However, the news that Kazekaze wanted to learn Sage Techniques quickly spread throughout Mount Myoboku. Countless toads began moving towards the Toad Oil Waterfall. By the time Kazekaze followed Fukasaku there, a considerable number of toads had already gathered. Plus, Kazekaze had defeated Gamabunta in one move, making this seven-year-old human child a hot topic among the toads.
Fukasaku stopped, turned to Kazekaze and the others, and began explaining. "To refine Sage Chakra, merging with nature is a compulsory lesson. This requires a long time. However, I can let you experience what it feels like to absorb natural energy." As Fukasaku spoke, it pulled out a black rod from its body.
Seeing the black rod, Kazekaze immediately felt reassured. "Here at the Toad Oil Waterfall, as long as you apply the oil to your skin, you can sense natural energy and absorb it into your body." However, Fukasaku didn't directly explain the purpose of the black rod. Because in its view, learning Sage Techniques at seven years old is basically a pipe dream, a fantasy. Even if Kazekaze is a prodigy, he couldn't possibly master powerful Sage Techniques at this age. It would be better to use the toad oil to let Kazekaze experience the fear of turning into a statue, thus making him completely abandon the idea.
As for the black rod, it was to expel the natural energy from his body in a critical moment. No matter what, Kazekaze is the grandson of Senju Hashirama, the God of Shinobi. Even Fukasaku had to give some face.
"If you're ready, take off your clothes." Fukasaku paused slightly and continued, "Of course, if you're scared, you can completely give up. Come back to Mount Myoboku when you're older." Even now, Fukasaku hoped Kazekaze would give up. Because a seven-year-old learning Sage Techniques is too outrageous.
'These ninjas have it tough,' Fukasaku glanced at Hiruzen and the others, thinking to itself. The reason these people followed Kazekaze here is mostly because he is the Hokage's grandson. So they were forced to become Kazekaze's babysitters. For a moment, it couldn't help but feel sorry for them. But Fukasaku could understand. As Hashirama's grandson, Kazekaze must have been spoiled from a young age. Now having ninjas as his bodyguards is naturally reasonable.
Kazekaze saw this and naturally wouldn't refuse. His purpose in coming to Mount Myoboku was to learn Sage Techniques. At this point, how could he back down?
But what Kazekaze didn't expect was... Just as he was about to take off his haori, a long-lost voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
[Check-in System cooldown time ended!]
[Do you want to check-in now?]
"Uh..." Kazekaze blinked, not expecting the voice of the Check-in System to ring at this moment. It's worth mentioning... Kazekaze's Check-in System is not a daily check-in. Instead, after each check-in, the cooldown time extends a bit. For example, the first check-in had a cooldown of only twenty-four hours, the second was forty-eight hours. By now, it's been almost two months since the last check-in. Because the cooldown time in between was too long, Kazekaze had almost forgotten about the check-in. And now of all times.
Kazekaze thought for a moment and decided to check-in first. After all, he already mastered the process. It wouldn't take long. So... Kazekaze slowed down the motion of taking off his haori while confirming in his mind.
[Congratulations to the host for successfully checking in!]
[Received a check-in gift package!]
[Do you want to open it now?]
"Yes." As Kazekaze confirmed again, a variety of rewards flashed through his mind. And during this process, he slowly took off his haori. Exposing his skin. Snap! The scene finally froze. The voice echoed in Kazekaze's mind once again.
[Congratulations to the host for opening the check-in gift package!]
[Received reward: Sage Mode (Naruto Version) lv5!]
Kazekaze: "???"
'What the heck? What the heck?' Kazekaze was completely stunned, internally wanting to curse Uchiha Madara's entire family. This can't be real! He spent nearly two months finding Mount Myoboku. Finally about to start learning Sage Techniques. And then... He drew it from the check-in gift package! This lottery chance must be fake! It's too outrageous. It's really too outrageous!
For a moment, Kazekaze didn't know if he was lucky or unlucky. Wasn't the chance of drawing Sage Mode supposed to be less than one in a thousand? How could it be this coincidental? Do you know how much time and effort it took to find Mount Myoboku? This...
'Phew.' Kazekaze took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Forcing down his impulsive emotions. 'I can't say... I'm unlucky. Thinking about it calmly, even if I found Mount Myoboku, learning Sage Techniques isn't guaranteed to succeed. And I'm not really a genius, maybe learning Sage Techniques would take years. Now I've drawn Sage Mode, and it's Naruto's version. Saved a lot of time. Let's just say I'm lucky...'