Chapter 377: Mount Myoboku
To reach one of the legendary Three Great Sage Regions—Mount Myoboku—conventional travel required walking for a month. But Jiraiya could take a shortcut.
The most direct and effective method was using Reverse Summoning Technique.
Jiraiya skillfully formed hand seals, summoning a messenger toad. He gave a few instructions, asking this small toad to first return to Mount Myoboku to report, informing Fukasaku Sage that he would bring his student Uzumaki Naruto, along with Uchiha Satsuki who Naruto specifically inquired whether she could also attempt learning—three people total would come together.
Having Satsuki accompany wasn't a sudden whim. Long before, Naruto had privately seriously asked Jiraiya whether Satsuki also had opportunity to attempt learning Sage Techniques.
He considered many things. Satsuki's future growth path, especially Sharingan evolution... Naruto wasn't certain whether Satsuki could definitely awaken Mangekyo Sharingan in the future.
Within Naruto's heart existed regret toward that "Massacre Night."
Every time he recalled that night's events, the moment Satsuki awakened Three-Tomoe Sharingan, he'd feel a wave of self-blame, thinking himself a bastard.
He didn't want Satsuki's future to require experiencing some bone-deep "loss" or "pain" to trigger power, like awakening Mangekyo Sharingan. That method of exchanging harm for strength—
He couldn't accept it, and was determined to avoid it. If the Sage Technique path could provide Satsuki a powerful, stable power enhancement route requiring no sacrifice, that would undoubtedly be the best choice.
After Jiraiya heard this, he solemnly contacted Mount Myoboku. After communicating with Fukasaku Sage, the reply given was that bringing one extra person to attempt training, in principle, had no problems.
But Sage Technique training was extremely demanding. Whether one could successfully sense and absorb natural energy, furthermore mastering Sage Mode, completely depended on individual talent, constitution, and temperament—it couldn't be forced.
The implication was, opportunity could be given, but success depended entirely on Satsuki herself.
Receiving this reply, Naruto felt relieved, leading to this accompaniment arrangement.
Preparations complete. After waiting a while, the technique on that side finished. The three people's figures were instantly enveloped by suddenly appearing dense white smoke. With a soft "poof," they vanished from the spot.
When the feeling of solid ground returned, surrounding scenery had already turned upside-down. First flooding the senses was continuous, background-music-like frog croaking filling the air.
The air was unbelievably fresh. Appearing before their eyes was a world seemingly from picture books. Massive plants grew wildly, leaves broad as small boats.
In the distance, a waterfall cascaded down from mountain rocks, its roar softened by distance. On some unusually large, wide leaves, varicolored frogs could be seen leisurely lying and resting.
The ground was dotted with abnormally bright-colored large mushrooms... probably poisonous.
This place's "boss" had already been waiting here long ago.
It was a green frog about the size of an adult human head, possessing striking white long eyebrows and beard, even white hair growing atop its head.
"You're here, young Jiraiya." An aged yet vigorous voice rang out. "Finally brought him over... This is the brat who accidentally summoned Great Toad Sage over there?"
"Boss, please don't bring up that matter anymore..." Jiraiya's face showed some helpless yet somewhat embarrassed smile. "Naruto truly didn't mean it then, had no intention of offense."
The green old toad before them was Mount Myoboku's second-in-command, Fukasaku Sage.
"I have no intention of blaming." Fukasaku Sage's gaze moved past Jiraiya, landing on Naruto and Satsuki behind, especially pausing on Naruto's face momentarily. "Just understand that summoning the Grand Elder in that manner... this is unprecedented in Mount Myoboku's long historical records."
"Naruto, this is Fukasaku Sage." Jiraiya stepped aside, introducing Naruto. "He's not only Mount Myoboku's administrator, but also the teacher who taught me Sage Techniques—essentially my teacher."
Hearing this, Naruto stepped forward, respectfully bowing slightly toward Fukasaku Sage. "Hello, Fukasaku Sage."
Fukasaku Sage hopped forward a few steps, drawing closer, carefully examining Naruto's face carrying a sun-like gentle smile, unable to help sighing quietly.
"Naruto, huh... really similar..."
"Yes," Jiraiya also chimed in from the side, tone full of nostalgia. "With how Minato looked when he was young—practically carved from the same mold."
Back then, he'd also brought Namikaze Minato here, beginning Sage Technique training.
"Hehe... seems like a child with good character." Fukasaku Sage nodded, appearing quite satisfied, then turning toward Jiraiya. "Young Jiraiya, although Shima keeps nagging you haven't visited her in so long, however... you should still have a pile of matters waiting for handling, right?"
"Yeah."
Jiraiya sighed, rubbing his brow, that lingering exhaustion surfacing again. "Never imagined the old man lived this kind of life before, and for most of his life at that..."
"Boss, then I'll leave them with you first. I need to hurry back, otherwise those two old folks will start endless nagging again."
Fukasaku Sage understandingly nodded, not speaking to detain him. Regarding Jiraiya finally settling down to shoulder Konoha Hokage's heavy burden, it felt quite gratified inside.
"Then, young Naruto, and this... young Satsuki, right?" After Jiraiya canceled Reverse Summoning Technique, his figure vanishing with a "poof," Fukasaku Sage placed full attention back on the two. "Have you eaten breakfast?"
"We've already eaten, thank you for your concern." Naruto instinctively replied politely.
"Already eaten, huh." Fukasaku Sage also didn't drag things out, getting straight to the point. "In that case, let's hurry and begin training. However, if you get hungry during training, you can say so anytime, no need for courtesy. Shima is very happy to prepare some rice balls—they taste quite good."
Satsuki had been quietly standing at Naruto's side. In this unfamiliar environment before the "Sage," she recovered her consistent cold reticence, only slightly nodding toward Fukasaku Sage as greeting.
Fukasaku Sage didn't mind this. After all, this was an Uchiha—what this clan was usually like, it understood quite well.
---
Subsequently, the two followed Fukasaku Sage toward the training location.
Along the way, Naruto forcibly held back from voicing his internal complaints—regarding Fukasaku Sage's travel method. Given Fukasaku Sage's petite size, relying solely on hopping would make leading two humans difficult. Therefore, it chose riding a moderately-sized toad that also seemed quite intelligent as a mount.
Using an enlightened member of the same species as a mount... Though that toad serving as mount apparently also viewed this as proper work, Naruto still felt this scene somewhat exceeded common sense.
Finally, they arrived before a small waterfall surrounded by numerous stone toad statues. However, the waterfall itself—what poured down wasn't clear water flow, but a viscous brownish liquid.
Fukasaku nimbly jumped down from its mount's back, beginning formal explanation.
"Well then, I'll cut straight to the main point. What you'll attempt contacting and training in next is Sage Techniques."
It paused, ensuring both were listening seriously.
"Sage Techniques are a kind of ancient power that existed on this land, this planet, before the world saw the energy system called 'chakra.'"
"What it relies upon is the force filling heaven and earth—called 'natural energy.'"
"The core of Sage Technique training lies in fusing external natural energy with one's internal spiritual energy and physical energy."
"The entirely new chakra born from successful fusion is 'Senjutsu Chakra.' Techniques activated using this chakra are 'Sage Techniques.' Their power absolutely cannot compare to ordinary jutsu."
"That's roughly it. Try it out. Natural energy exists in air and earth. The first step of Sage Technique training is integrating into nature, comprehending natural energy."