Kaelen's eyes scanned the forest. The faint hum of nature was interrupted by a low, guttural croak.
A massive frog emerged from the shadows. Its skin was dark, cracked, and pulsed with a sickly purple chakra. Its red eyes burned with anger. Every movement radiated raw power, warped by corruption.
Kaelen tightened his grip on his wooden sword. So this is the first real test…
"Who dares disturb Mount Myoboku?" the frog growled, its voice like rolling thunder.
"I'm Kaelen," he replied firmly. "I've come to learn Sage Mode, and I won't let anyone stop me."
The frog leapt forward, sending a shockwave across the ground. Kaelen rolled instinctively, feeling the force of the corrupted chakra vibrate through his bones.
"Focus!" Fukasaku's voice echoed in his mind. "You have power now, but raw strength alone won't win. Sense the flow!"
Kaelen closed his eyes for a moment, letting the mountain's energy guide him. Every leaf, every stone, every gust of wind became part of him. His sword hummed as natural energy poured into it, glowing faintly blue.
When he opened his eyes, he moved. Faster than the frog expected. Every strike, every step, synced with the flow of Sage Mode.
"Sage Slash: Crescent Flow!" His wooden blade cut through the air in an elegant arc, infused with the mountain's energy.
The frog staggered but recovered quickly, lashing out with a corrupted tail strike. Kaelen barely rolled away, dirt and leaves exploding around him.
This is more than just a fight… it's learning control, he thought, jumping back to face his opponent.
He moved like water around a rock, each strike precise, each dodge calculated. His blade met the frog's corrupted energy in a clash of sparks and swirling wind.
Finally, Kaelen leapt high, channeling all his focus into one perfect strike.
"Mountain Edge: Sage Strike!"
Energy radiated from his sword in a sharp, brilliant wave. The frog let out a final croak of rage before collapsing, its corrupted chakra dissipating into the forest.
Kaelen landed, breathing heavily. His sword lowered, glowing faintly. "I… did it," he whispered.
Fukasaku appeared beside him, a proud gleam in his ancient eyes. "You've passed your first real trial. You understand now — Sage Mode is not about raw power. It's about balance, control, and awareness. You've shown all three."
Kaelen wiped sweat from his brow. "This… is just the beginning."
The wind rustled the leaves, carrying a faint sense of warning. Kaelen's heart raced. If this was just the first challenge, what comes next…?