Chapter 66 – The Road to Myōboku
Jiraiya didn't waste a breath after leaving the Academy. With a casual grin and a flick of his wrist, he summoned the swirling smoke of a reverse-summoning technique.
Akira barely had time to blink before the ground vanished from under his feet.
When the haze cleared, he found himself standing in a place that radiated mystery. Towering trees reached endlessly into the sky, giant lily pads dotted shimmering waters, and the air hummed with energy so dense it made his body feel heavier. Strange croaks and chants echoed in the distance.
Akira's golden Byakugan flickered, scanning the new world — yet his face twisted slightly. "It feels… strange. Heavy. But I can't see it. Just weight."
Jiraiya smirked knowingly. "Welcome to Mount Myōboku. The land of the toads."
Before Akira could question further, two smaller but commanding figures appeared before them. One was an elderly toad with a staff, eyes sharp despite his wrinkles — Fukasaku. Beside him stood Shima, his equally wise and stern partner.
"So this is the one, Jiraiya-chan?" Shima asked, eyeing Akira carefully. "The boy you've been rambling about?"
"Yup," Jiraiya said, scratching the back of his head. "Thought I'd let him dip his feet in Sage Arts. He's got talent, but…" he looked at Akira, "he doesn't feel natural energy yet, does he?"
Akira frowned. "I don't. My Byakugan sees chakra everywhere — people, plants, even animals — but this energy you keep talking about? It's like it's invisible to me."
Fukasaku hopped forward, stroking his chin. "Aye, that's natural. Not everyone feels it straight away. Even Jiraiya-boy here nearly got himself turned into a stone statue the first time."
"Hey!" Jiraiya protested, but Fukasaku ignored him.
Shima produced a small jar and opened it, the pungent scent of herbs wafting out. "That's why we use this — toad oil. It forces your body to absorb the energy around you. Dangerous, but effective. If you lose balance, you'll start sproutin' warts."
Akira raised a brow. "…That's encouraging."
But he didn't hesitate. Kneeling, he dipped his fingers into the oil and spread it across his skin. Immediately, a shiver ran through him. The world grew louder, brighter, heavier.
His Byakugan snapped open to gold. This time, faint streams appeared at the edge of his vision — wisps of something vast, threading through the air, the earth, even within his own body.
"I… see it." His voice was low, awed. "It's everywhere. Like veins in the world itself."
But the streams pressed against him, pushing him toward stillness. His muscles locked slightly, his breath slowing. A ripple of stone began to creep up his arm.
"Oi, oi! Control it, brat!" Jiraiya barked, shaking him by the shoulder.
Akira gritted his teeth, fighting the creeping stone with sheer focus. He steadied his breathing, his Byakugan narrowing onto the flow of natural energy. Slowly… the stone receded. His body steadied.
Fukasaku's eyes gleamed. "Well now. That's faster than most. Took Jiraiya days to balance even a drop."
Shima nodded, though her expression stayed stern. "Still dangerous. He'll need to practice under supervision."
Akira exhaled, sweat beading his brow, but there was a small smile on his lips. "So this is what you wanted to show me… the first step toward Sage Mode."
Jiraiya grinned. "Heh. Not bad for a first dip, kid. But don't get cocky. You're still a long way from mastering it."
Akira's golden eyes flickered, still glowing faintly. "…I'll master it. One way or another."
The croaks of Mount Myōboku echoed like a chorus of approval, marking the beginning of Akira's training under the watchful eyes of Fukasaku, Shima, and Jiraiya.
The world of Mount Myōboku hummed with strange life. Towering mushrooms cast shadows like mountains, giant toads leapt in the distance, and the very air pressed down with an unseen weight.
Akira sat cross-legged, his skin slick with the pungent sheen of toad oil. His Byakugan glowed faint gold, straining to perceive what Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima had described as natural energy.
At first—nothing. Just a heavy silence. But as the oil seeped into his pores, the world seemed to bloom around him. Wisps of energy threaded through trees, rocks, even the air itself. His breath hitched as a ripple of stone began crawling up his arm.
"Balance it, brat!" Jiraiya shouted, shaking him.
Akira gritted his teeth, forcing his chakra to flow in harmony. Slowly… painfully… the creeping stone receded, leaving his skin intact.
When he opened his eyes again, the gold of his Byakugan shimmered more brilliantly than before. He smiled faintly. "I see it. The veins of the world itself…"
Fukasaku and Shima exchanged a glance.
"Not bad for a first try," Fukasaku croaked, impressed.
"But still reckless," Shima scolded. "He'll need careful training."
Jiraiya smirked, arms crossed. "Heh, told you he had the knack."
Akira was about to continue when a sudden thought stabbed through him. His golden eyes widened, his body jolting upright.
"…No." His voice was tight. "Tomorrow—Mikoto. She's due to give birth tomorrow."
The tension in his chest surged. He clenched his fists, the golden Byakugan dimming as focus shifted. "I can't stay here. Not now. I need to be there."
Fukasaku blinked. "Birth?"
Shima frowned. "So soon?"
Jiraiya sighed, scratching his head. He understood immediately. "Tch. You're right, kid. This training will always be here. But a day like that? You only get one chance to be present."
Akira gave a sharp nod, determination burning stronger than his brief glimpse of Sage power. "Then take me back. Now."
Fukasaku and Shima didn't protest further. With a few croaks of farewell, they vanished into the mist of Myōboku. Jiraiya placed a hand on Akira's shoulder, and in a swirl of chakra, the world of toads dissolved.
When Akira's feet hit the soil of Konoha again, he exhaled with relief. His eyes turned toward the village lights in the distance.
"Tomorrow… Itachi will be born," he whispered.
And so, training in Sage Arts would have to wait.
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