Because of his Sage Body, Shigure could feel his Sage Chakra growing steadily.
From the moment he activated Sage Mode, it still took three minutes — even without fighting — to reach the theoretical maximum of his Sage Chakra. In short: after turning on Sage Mode he needed at least three minutes before he could claim his strongest Sage state.
That meant he couldn't be at full strength instantly. But unlike Naruto, who had his own difficulties, Shigure could activate Sage Mode at any time.
Great Sage: "Tailed Beasts can assist the Host in refining Sage Chakra, shortening the time required."
The idea of Tailed Beasts refining Chakra sent a jolt through him.
If Kurama could refine Sage Chakra, then surely Three-Tails and the Six-Tails could too.
And there was another thought: Tailed Beast Chakra Mode.
Shigure had been puzzled before — was Naruto's Kurama Mode a phenomenon unique to the Nine-Tails? Did the other Tailed Beasts lack that power?
Great Sage: "Analysis: Kurama Mode is a special Chakra form produced by combining Tailed Beast Chakra with Natural Energy and undergoing a secondary refinement."
A special Chakra form.
Great Sage: "Originally, Tailed Beasts could absorb Natural Energy to restore their own Chakra. Nine-Tails seems to have mastered a technique allowing its Chakra to bind with Natural Energy and undergo a secondary refinement, producing Kurama Mode."
If that was true, then, Shigure thought, Three-Tails and the Six-Tails, if taught the same method, should be able to enter their own Chakra Modes — Isobu Mode and Saiken Mode.
Great Sage: "Theoretically, yes."
This made things interesting. Mastering Natural Energy was also the necessary step for the Tailed Beasts to help refine Sage Chakra. In effect, it meant teaching the Tailed Beasts to use Sage Mode.
If he could give the two beasts a unique Sage Mode of their own, they could quickly learn to draw Natural Energy and perform the secondary refinement.
Shigure asked the Great Sage in his mind.
Great Sage: "Estimated time to develop an exclusive Tailed Beast Sage Mode: three days."
Great Sage: "If the Host assists, estimated time: half a day."
There was no avoiding it — Shigure would have to help.
Before beginning, he adjusted his passive skill slots. He equipped Sage Mode into every passive slot he could, so the passive slots would boost his mastery and increase Sage Mode's strength.
With a unique Sage Mode on top of the Great Sage's guidance, once he handled the Tailed Beasts he could move on to developing Wood Release — and many powerful Ninjutsu techniques could move from concept to reality. With the Great Sage assisting, none of it seemed impossible.
Shigure set passive slots one through seven to Sage Mode. The combined effect of those seven slots made his perception of Natural Energy intensify. He had already been sensitive to Natural Energy thanks to his Sage Body; now that sensitivity sharpened further. More importantly, the potency of Sage Chakra when in Sage Mode began to climb.
"Let's begin, Great Sage," he thought.
The next instant the Tailed Beast cloak activated. Nine chakra tails — a wild, living corona of power — erupted around him, and crimson Tailed Beast Chakra surged outward. At the same moment, Isobu and Saiken linked their minds to his through the Great Sage's connection.
Great Sage: "Calculation initiated."
Natural Energy flowed toward him from every direction and combined with the Tailed Beast Chakra on his body. The effect was a secondary refinement.
Shigure watched the Tailed Beast Chakra change. The infusion of Natural Energy felt like pouring water into milk — at first it seemed to dilute it. But the new, blended form did not mean weakness. Because Natural Energy had been added and refined into the Chakra, the end result grew stronger.
This secondary refinement gave the Tailed Beast Chakra something like a Sage Body of its own. Kurama's golden Chakra form in the original tale had likely resulted from Nine-Tails' ability to draw Natural Energy and refine its Chakra naturally.
Great Sage: "Nine-Tails' uniqueness may stem from its massive Chakra, allowing it to naturally draw in and bind Natural Energy."
With the Great Sage present, however, Three-Tails and the Six-Tails could be taught the same method. Shigure could see the Tailed Beast Chakra on his body slowly shifting; faint golden light began to bloom across the crimson.
Through the mental link, Shigure's feelings transmitted to the Tailed Beasts. They began to sense Natural Energy the way he did, and under his guidance they learned what it felt like to form a Sage Mode.
Time slipped by. The water around Shigure churned violently. Waves rose and smashed in a growing, rhythmic roar. From outside the training ground, Kirigakure guards noticed the increasingly violent Chakra fluctuations. Two of them drifted toward the gate and peered through a crack.
Inside, Tailed Beast Chakra raged unchecked, tearing at the training ground's walls. Red light seared and shredded the surroundings.
"This is bad — the Tailed Beast is rampaging! Go tell the Mizukage!" one guard shouted, turning to run.
Shigure remained absorbed in the experience of watching Tailed Beast Chakra transform. He didn't notice the alarm until the sealing squad arrived — or until Mei Terumī did.
News of the disturbance reached Mei quickly. As the jinchūriki of two Tailed Beasts herself, she knew the devastation a losing-its-mind Jinchūriki could cause. She rushed to the training ground and found the main gate already cracked and Chakra flooding the area.
Mei swallowed hard. Shigure… if he really loses control, the Hidden Mist will pay a heavy price to stop him.
She ordered the sealing squad without hesitation. "Seal this place. Under no circumstances are you to unseal it without my command!"
Saying that, Mei Terumī kicked open the training ground doors and rushed inside.
At that moment—
In the center of the pool, Shigure stood bathed in radiant golden light. His body pulsed with overwhelming energy as the combined power of the Three-Tails Mode and Six-Tails Mode surged through him.
The secondary refinement of Tailed Beast Chakra had finally reached completion.
Isobu Mode and Saiken Mode—successfully developed!
Great Sage: "Congratulations, Host. You have successfully mastered Three-Tails Mode and Six-Tails Mode."
...
TN:
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