Neji's mouth twitched when he heard Hansen's words.
"That old geezer is really bad, I don't believe a word of it!"
"Would the Third Hokage lend something of such strategic importance to an outsider of unknown origin?"
"That's a million times more absurd than Choji Akimichi publicly announcing he hates grilled meat the most!"
Choji:???
However, despite his shock, Neji's awe of Hansen deepened by countless levels.
Hansen ignored Neji's internal thoughts and slowly unrolled the massive scroll.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu," "Flying Thunder God Jutsu," "Eight Gates Released Formation," "Impure World Reincarnation," "Mutual Exploding Tag Dance"... one after another, advanced forbidden jutsu capable of causing huge waves in the ninja world were laid bare before his eyes.
Hansen's gaze quickly swept across the scroll; his Eye of Oracle had already, the moment he touched the scroll,
analyzed all the jutsu, principles, and Chakra circulation methods recorded within, imprinting them clearly in his mind.
"Hmm... 'Flying Thunder God' is somewhat interesting, but relying on jutsu coordinates is still a bit too rigid."
"The 'Eight Gates Released Formation'... sacrificing life force for a temporary burst of power, the idea is good, but the cost-effectiveness is too low."
"'Impure World Reincarnation,' forcibly binding the souls of the dead to sacrifices to obtain a controllable, infinite Chakra combat force, tsk tsk, the inventor of this is truly a genius, so environmentally friendly... no, I mean inhumane."
Hansen commented as he read, his tone filled with undisguised disdain.
Neji: "..."
Neji, standing beside him, felt his eyelids twitch.
These powerful forbidden jutsu, which were coveted by any ninja, sounded like worthless street vendor goods coming from his mouth?
Just then, Hansen's gaze fell on the end of the scroll, on the brief description of Sage Mode.
"Absorbing natural energy and combining it with one's own Chakra to form Sage Mode Chakra, thereby greatly enhancing physical abilities and the power of jutsu... now this is somewhat interesting."
He stood up and clapped his hands.
"Let me think, what were the key points for Chakra refinement that Kurenai mentioned yesterday...?"
Under Neji's puzzled gaze, Hansen muttered to himself and closed his eyes.
The next moment, an indescribable, terrifying aura erupted from him!
Neji:!!!
From Hansen's recent muttering, he could roughly guess what this man had just done.
But, how was that possible!?
Neji was not mistaken; Hansen had just completed a normal Chakra refinement.
But the Chakra produced already surpassed the limits of this world!
"Alright, I have Chakra, next up is natural energy," Hansen reined in the Chakra within him, which was far more immense than even a Tailed Beast's, then clapped his hands with a "Pa!", "Neji, watch closely, and learn well, this move is called—"
"Sage Mode!"
As his voice fell, the natural energy in the surrounding space seemed to receive some supreme command, rushing madly into Hansen's body like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea!
Centered around Hansen, a visible energy vortex formed!
Grass blades on the ground were swirled up, the air hummed under the strain, and the vitality of the entire forest seemed to converge on him alone!
"This... what is this?!"
In Neji's Byakugan vision, that scene was nothing short of a miracle!
He saw endless energy particles being assimilated and fused by Hansen, making him appear as dazzling as the sun!
Although it was his first time performing it, Hansen didn't need to undergo arduous training to find that delicate balance point, unlike some low-level local Leaf Village Sages.
(A certain famous erotic novelist currently embracing women for inspiration: A-choo—!!)
For Hansen, the so-called "Sage Mode Chakra" was like the relationship between water and sand.
Natural energy was merely a handful of sand passively merging into the ocean of his own power, unable to even stir a ripple.
After a mere few seconds, Hansen opened his eyes.
A faint golden eyeshadow appeared at the corners of his eyes, yet it was distinctly different from Jiraiya's or Naruto's Frog Sage Mode.
It was a more ancient and sacred pattern, as if it were the materialized embodiment of the planet's will.
The aura around him also underwent a drastic change.
If the previous Hansen was a bottomless ocean, then at this moment, he was an entire vibrant planet!
"The feeling... isn't bad."
Saying this, he casually raised his hand, and terrifying Sage Mode Chakra materialized and spun madly in his palm.
It was the basic, hand-seal-less jutsu that almost every time traveler (transmigrator) in the Naruto world possessed—
Rasengan!
"Sage Art—"
"Super Great Ball Rasengan."
A rapidly spinning, large blue Chakra sphere quickly expanded to about ten meters in diameter, the destructive energy contained within making Neji's scalp tingle.
Boom—!!!
The colossal Rasengan, with an unstoppable momentum, instantly slammed into a distant hill.
After a moment of silence, Neji stared blankly as the hill, hundreds of meters tall, vanished as if a pencil drawing had been erased, replaced by a slightly curved deep pit!
Neji's mouth hung open, feeling his worldview collapse.
Was this something a ninjutsu could achieve?!
Is this... the strong person I want to follow!?
Hansen turned his head, looked at the petrified Neji, and smiled, "How about it, want to learn?"
Neji nodded mechanically.
"I'll teach you."
"Really?!" Neji instantly snapped back to reality, his eyes blazing with unprecedented light.
"However, before learning this, you must first complete basic training." Hansen pointed to his feet.
"Please instruct me!"
"It's simple, your physique is still too weak." Hansen held up a finger, "Run a hundred laps around the Leaf Village's sphere of influence."
"If you don't finish, no food."
Neji: "..."
What was the difference between this training... and his own hot-blooded Jonin sensei?
...In the distance, at the foot of the hill that had vanished into thin air.
A young ninja wearing a mask, with white hair, and only one lazy, dead-fish eye showing, wiped cold sweat from his forehead.
Looking at the flattened hilltop, his eye twitched uncontrollably.
Just moments ago, the disciplined Leaf Village's top technician, Kakashi Hatake, was on the hilltop practicing Chakra-less, one-handed free climbing.
Then, the next moment, a terrifying attack comparable to a Tailed Beast Ball descended from the sky!
If Kakashi hadn't reacted with divine speed, the future Sixth Hokage might have met his end right there.
"What exactly happened?"
Kakashi took a deep breath, and thinking of a certain possibility, his expression under the mask changed, "Could it be the Nine-Tails rampaging?"
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"