Konoha, Year 40, April (three years later, don't ask again).
Mount Myoboku.
Towering trees and unbelievably large statues and mushrooms are the distinctive scenery here.
The continuous croaking of frogs and chirping of insects give a strong sense of vitality and liveliness.
"Young Minato, next, I'm going to tell you about some aspects of Immortal Techniques."
Fukasaku Sage, one of the two Sages of Mount Myoboku, said seriously to the blond boy sitting in front of him.
The blond boy is Namikaze Minato, a Konoha Ninja.
As a disciple of Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin, he naturally signed the Summoning Contract with Mount Myoboku and had the option to train in Immortal Techniques, which are more powerful than Ninja Techniques.
Minato had long admired Immortal Techniques, so when he heard Fukasaku Sage say this, his expression became very solemn.
"Yes."
"The so-called Immortal Techniques involve fusing the originally cultivated chakra with the Natural Energy absorbed from the outside to form a unique Sage Art Chakra System. Once successfully cultivated, Immortal Techniques can increase the power of Illusion Techniques, Ninja Techniques, and Taijutsu by several to over ten times. You should know something about Natural Energy, right?"
"Yes, Teacher Jiraiya has already told me about Natural Energy."
Minato replied.
"That's good. To cultivate Immortal Techniques, you must learn to perceive Natural Energy. But don't underestimate perceiving Natural Energy; some people spend decades, yet can't reach even the first stage of perceiving it. For humans, sensing Natural Energy is very difficult."
Fukasaku Sage knew Minato was very talented, but historically, over ninety-five percent of humans who came to Mount Myoboku to train in Immortal Techniques ended up failing.
"So, Fukasaku Sage, knowing the method of Immortal Techniques, is still very difficult to master, right?"
"Correct. That's why humans use some auxiliary means to train in Immortal Techniques at Mount Myoboku. This is Toad Oil; by applying it to the body, your ability to sense Natural Energy will be strengthened."
Fukasaku Sage pointed to an oil pond nearby.
"I understand."
Minato was eager to enter the stage of training in Immortal Techniques.
"By the way, Fukasaku Sage, where did Teacher Jiraiya go? I haven't seen him since we arrived here."
Before learning Immortal Techniques, Minato suddenly thought of something and asked.
"Little Jiraiya? He went to see the Great Lord."
Fukasaku Sage answered Minato's question.
Compared to Minato, Jiraiya had been training in Immortal Techniques for many years, but due to his lack of diligence and limited talent, he was still only at the initial stage of perceiving Natural Energy.
Even at this stage, Jiraiya's ability to sense Natural Energy wasn't reliable every time.
Frankly, Fukasaku Sage had somewhat wanted to give up on this foolish student of his.
Fortunately, he took on a more gifted disciple, and he believed that with Minato's talent, the success rate of mastering Immortal Techniques would be much higher than that of his teacher, Jiraiya.
The most important thing is that Minato is a dedicated person who wouldn't be forgetful in critical training.
"The Great Toad Sage?"
Minato looked at the imposing building in the distance.
His teacher Jiraiya was there, conversing with Mount Myoboku's ruler, the Great Toad Sage.
"A few years ago, the Great Lord made a prophecy about the future of the Ninja Realm. Little Jiraiya seemed full of confidence, but inside, he had become very anxious."
After all, it was a huge event involving the entire Ninja Realm, and naturally, Konoha couldn't avoid such a bleak future. For Jiraiya, Konoha was a village more important than his own life and needed protection.
He would definitely not allow such things to happen.
Fukasaku Sage had lived for almost a thousand years and had long come to terms with worldly affairs.
Minato tactfully didn't ask about the prophecy. For him, it was still too early to know such things.
Even if he did ask, Fukasaku Sage might not answer him.
His purpose at Mount Myoboku this time was solely to enter the first stage of contact with Immortal Techniques, to prepare for perfecting them in the future.
◎
Land of Rain.
The rain fell continuously, masking the clamor of the world.
A group of people walked through the rain, hearing only the torrential downpour and feeling the cold brought by the rainwater.
They passed through a long-deserted village and saw many dead bodies by the roadside.
Men and women, the elderly and infants still suckling, they either starved to death or froze to death alive.
A pack of emaciated wild dogs gathered, tearing at the corpses, and after a few whimpers, collapsed as well.
Why was this village destroyed, and by whom?
The truth of this matter had long been forgotten.
Because such cruelty played out every moment within the borders of the Land of Rain.
It could be passing ninja from a major country, wandering rogue ninja, or bandits.
All in all, there were just too many possibilities.
If one truly wanted to investigate the truth, it could only result in one of these few answers.
"No matter how you look at it, it's like a scene from Hell on Earth..."
One of them said.
Along the way, they passed many places, and their impression of this country was one of economic decline, internal chaos, rampant banditry, and citizens living in displacement.
Despair. Weeping.
Pain. Sorrow.
Like an unstoppable virus, it wantonly rampaged within this country, mercilessly harvesting lives one by one.