With Gamabunta dealt with, Senju Haruto casually shifted the conversation back to the real reason they were here.
Seeing that nothing dangerous had broken out, Shima returned to cheerfully preparing lunch.
Many of the toads that had gathered to watch were also dispersed.
"Alright, let's begin your Sage Arts training."
Fukasaku took a deep breath and began to explain what Sage Arts were — and how to use them.
Sage Arts, he said, meant drawing on the energy of nature itself and making it your own.
But before one could absorb natural energy, the most important step was to become one with nature.
"However… before that, there's something you both need to see — the true power of natural energy."
Without another word, Fukasaku began drawing in the natural energy around him. Then, in one smooth motion, he lifted a massive stone statue from beside the Oil Falls.
In size alone, the statue was easily hundreds of times larger than Fukasaku's small body — and that was without considering the sheer density of solid stone.
Naturally, Haruto didn't bat an eye.
After all, once Sage Arts were activated, every aspect of the body — strength, speed, stamina — was amplified enormously.
Naruto, on the other hand, was struck dumb by the display.
Even after Fukasaku gently set the statue back down, Naruto jogged over and tried to lift it himself — only to fail miserably.
Even the smallest statue here probably weighed several tons.
"But for most people," Fukasaku continued, "absorbing natural energy is far beyond reach — they can't even sense it."
As he spoke, Fukasaku hopped toward the Toad Oil Falls.
Haruto and Naruto followed.
Jiraiya, however, simply sat cross-legged on the ground, leafing through a notebook of collected material and starting to sketch out new ideas.
If it weren't for his respect for Fukasaku, he might have wandered off entirely.
After all, when it came to teaching Sage Arts, Fukasaku's experience far outstripped his own.
As for keeping the Nine-Tails in check, Haruto's Wood Release was far more effective than his own sealing jutsu.
In other words, his presence here wasn't essential.
"To sense natural energy for the first time," Fukasaku said, "you'll need to use Myōboku's toad oil. It helps you perceive natural energy and begin absorbing it."
"But…"
His voice suddenly dropped, his expression becoming deadly serious.
He glanced at the stone statues surrounding them.
"If you absorb too much natural energy, you'll turn into stone — permanently."
"The statues you see here… every one of them is a toad who failed while learning Sage Arts."
The moment those words left his mouth, Naruto jumped in alarm.
He desperately wanted to master Sage Arts — but not at the cost of becoming a stone ornament.
"Of course," Fukasaku added with a sudden grin, "I won't let that happen."
From behind his back, he pulled out a long, black, hardened staff. He gave it a few swings as he explained:
"If you start taking in too much natural energy, I'll whack you with this and force it out of your body before the transformation completes."
Naruto stared at the black staff, lips pulling back in unease.
"That's gonna hurt, isn't it…?"
"Oh, it'll hurt," Fukasaku said without hesitation. "So if you want to back out now, Little Naruto, you can."
Even though the Great Toad Sage had already approved Naruto's training, Fukasaku had no intention of forcing the boy.
He was still a child — there was no harm in waiting until he was older.
Haruto reached out and ruffled Naruto's hair gently. "If you want to quit, there's nothing wrong with that," he said warmly.
After all, he'd already completed his main objective here.
But—
"No."
Naruto shook his head firmly, eyes blazing with resolve.
If he wanted to meet his parents, he had to face the Nine-Tails within his own mind.
And that meant gaining enough power to do so.
Every day wasted was one more day he'd be kept from them.
"Let's do it, Lord Fukasaku!" Naruto stepped forward, fists clenched tight. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried the weight of his determination.
Fukasaku looked at him with growing affection. This little human really was something special.
"Alright then… let's begin."
He dipped his fingers into a container and smeared toad oil onto Naruto's arms.
Since there was only one black staff, Fukasaku decided not to have Haruto and Naruto attempt the exercise at the same time.
Naruto took a deep breath and began following Fukasaku's instructions, attempting to draw in the natural energy around him.
It didn't take long for his body to swell slightly — patches of frog-like features began appearing on his skin.
Whack!
In an instant, Fukasaku sprang from the ground and smacked Naruto clean across the head with the staff.
"Ahhh!"
Naruto yelped in pain, collapsing to the ground and clutching the spot where the blow had landed.
"That hurt!"
"Of course it did," Fukasaku said matter-of-factly. "Sage Arts aren't something you master in a day. Even Little Jiraiya took years to get it right."
He didn't bother mentioning that even now, Jiraiya's Sage Mode wasn't perfect — whenever he absorbed natural energy, traces of frog transformation still appeared on his body.
"So the two of you should prepare yourselves — it may take years."
He turned his gaze toward Haruto.
Since Naruto had already had his first attempt, it was Haruto's turn to experience the feel of natural energy.
"But… there's something I need to explain to you first."
Fukasaku's expression grew even more serious than it had with Naruto.
"Oh?"
Haruto raised an eyebrow. He knew Sage Arts well, and Fukasaku's earlier explanation to Naruto had covered the key points.
What more could there be to say?
"Sage chakra," Fukasaku began, "is the perfect blend of three energies — your body's physical energy, your spiritual energy, and natural energy — in equal proportions."
"Normally… that means one-third each."
At that, Jiraiya froze in the middle of his writing. He stood abruptly, as if realizing something critical.
"Haruto…" he said in a low voice, striding toward him.
Naruto just looked on in confusion, unable to follow what was going on.
"To enter Sage Mode, you have to absorb a lot of natural energy," Fukasaku continued.
He glanced down at the staff in his hands — and frowned.
Remembering the sheer scale of chakra Haruto had unleashed earlier, Fukasaku wasn't entirely sure this little staff could drive excess natural energy out of him in time.
In other words…
The risk of Haruto turning into stone wasn't just higher than Naruto's — it was far higher.
"Little Haruto," Fukasaku said gravely, his throat tightening as he spoke. "If you want to back out now, it's still not too late."
"Back out?" Haruto murmured, then shook his head. "Now that would be boring."