"A Child of Prophecy who can change the shinobi world has already appeared?"
Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima looked towards the masked Anbu member across from them.
Was that person the Child of Prophecy Jiraiya spoke of?
Jiraiya said, "I've wandered the shinobi world for several years. Apart from Nagato from back then, I haven't seen anyone who could change the world.
Other villages have many strong individuals and geniuses. However, those individuals are confined to their villages, lacking the intention or drive to change the world.
After returning to Konoha, I feel Konoha is the place that has changed the most in the entire world.
It's not just the village's construction, but the feeling the village gives.
Four Great Shinobi Villages are about to ally against Konoha—something utterly impossible in the past.
The reason the four villages are allying is because Anbu Department Head Fox killed the Cloud's Tailed Beast, the Two-Tails.
Kumogakure and Iwagakure had been hiding their intentions. It was only after the Two-Tails was revived and sealed into a new Jinchūriki that they began forming the anti-Konoha alliance.
Honored Sages, I ask you to help me confirm the true extent of Anbu Department Head Fox's strength.
Will the shinobi world change according to his will, just as it was changed by the First Hokage long ago?"
Sage Shima glanced at Tsunade, whose gaze was fixed on Fox, not even looking at Jiraiya. "Are you sure you're not just picking the strongest person in Konoha to challenge to show off your Sage Mode in front of Tsunade?"
Jiraiya's heart ached.
This was no longer about showing off in front of Tsunade. It was now purely about salvaging his last shred of dignity before her, proving he wasn't just a wandering good-for-nothing.
Jiraiya lifted his foot, kicking off his geta sandals.
Webbing, like a toad's, appeared on his feet and hands.
"I'm going in, Honored Sages!"
A black shadow shot forth.
The spectators—Sarutobi Hiruzen, Orochimaru, and the others—looked on with surprise.
They knew Jiraiya's strength. It had been years, but they hadn't expected Jiraiya's improvement to be this significant.
Just the change in his Taijutsu alone was eye-opening.
Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, "Orochimaru, have you come into contact with Sage arts?"
Orochimaru nodded. "I learned about them from Ryūchi Cave and attempted to study them. However, my talent for Sage arts is poor. Forcing the study only produced some half-baked results."
Sarutobi Hiruzen thought it was a pity. If only all three of my disciples could learn Sage arts.
Learning the legendary Sage arts requires extremely high talent.
Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "The Sage Mode Jiraiya uses also seems like a half-finished product.
The preparation phase requires half an hour. In a real battle, the two of you would need to buy time for him.
Once Jiraiya enters Sage Mode, his strength increases by... roughly one-third to double.
Adding the two great sages of Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya's strength more than triples."
Orochimaru nodded repeatedly, agreeing with his teacher's assessment.
Sage chakra was a mixture of physical energy, spiritual energy, and natural energy.
Adding natural energy brought a very noticeable boost.
Jiraiya unleashed a full-powered roundhouse kick, his leg sweeping towards Fox's head, aiming straight for the mask.
However, Fox raised his arm, blocking in front of his head.
Immense force collided, and Fox was pushed backward.
His feet dug into the ground, his entire body slid back, leaving two deep grooves in the earth.
"Impressive Taijutsu strength. Is this Sage Mode?"
Seeing Fox block Jiraiya's powerful strike with his right forearm and now use his left hand to massage his right forearm, Sages Fukasaku and Shima finally understood Jiraiya's concern.
Konoha's Fox was too strong.
The two sages became serious. This wasn't a spar; it was a verification—to verify whether Fox truly possessed the power to change the world.
Jiraiya charged in again, unleashing a barrage of Taijutsu strikes against Fox.
Yet, Fox blocked every single one. It seemed Fox's Taijutsu was even superior to Jiraiya's Sage Mode.
After a minute of intense Taijutsu exchange, Jiraiya said, "This won't do. Sage chakra consumption is too high. My Sage Mode won't last much longer."
Sage Fukasaku said, "Use the combined ninjutsu."
The human and the two toad sages—one using oil, one using fire, one using wind—unleashed Sage Art: Goemon!
Burning toad oil surges forth like a tsunami dozens of meters high, its heat oppressive, its waves raging.
Yōkō acknowledged the strength of Jiraiya's Sage Mode. Sage arts were worthy of being added to his collection. He dropped his defenses, allowing Goemon to engulf him.
The Selection of Yōkō, Journeying with the Night, was about to open for business again.
Boiling oil at thousands of degrees rapidly corroded Yōkō's skin and flesh.
Just before dying, Yōkō suddenly remembered something: Whose hands did this count as dying by? Jiraiya's or the two Great Sages'?
[Detecting host death. Mochizuki's Arc system activating...]
Yōkō returned to over twenty days earlier.
In the Kage-level suite created by Wood Release, he was teaching Pakura the Lozenge Seal while admiring her beautiful back.
After so many days lost in that beautiful back, with Pakura constantly facing away from him, he was starting to forget what she looked like from the front.
After Pakura tired and rested, Yōkō went to the window.
**[Mochizuki's Arc Activated!
The host has only one resurrection opportunity per month, reviving on the previous full moon night after death.
Reward: One draw opportunity:
1- Toad Oil Flame Bullet;
2- Mount Myōboku Sage Mode;
3- Sage Art: Hair Needle Senbon.]**
Why toil through hard training when it's so much easier to take it from others?
He chose the second option, Mount Myōboku Sage Mode.
The system named it "Mount Myōboku Sage Mode," meaning there were other types of Sage arts, like those of Shikkotsu Forest or Ryūchi Cave.
Besides the three Great Sage lands, there might be other methods of practicing Sage arts.
In an instant, Yōkō's perception changed.
He discovered his surroundings were filled with a special kind of energy. In the air, the hot wind, the desert, the sand grains—energy was everywhere.
This energy gave the entire world its vitality; this was natural energy.
Standing by the window, Yōkō began absorbing natural energy.
Physical energy, spiritual energy, and natural energy, mixed in a stable 1:1:1 ratio, produce Sage chakra.
Sage chakra could greatly increase the power of Taijutsu and ninjutsu. At the same time, attacks would carry the characteristics of Sage arts.
If something went wrong during cultivation, chaotic Sage chakra could turn a ninja to stone. What Yōkō mastered was the mature Mount Myōboku system, with no risk of error.
After a dozen minutes, red markings appeared around Yōkō's eyes.
He raised his hand, clenching it slightly.
His strength had increased significantly.
Sage chakra incorporated natural energy, making its power system fundamentally different from the Ōtsutsuki's chakra system. Ordinary ninjutsu had no effect on Ōtsutsuki lineage powers, but natural energy could produce surprising results.
At the very least, the Ōtsutsuki lineage's ability to absorb chakra was ineffective against Sage chakra.
Yōkō thought to himself, I need to cultivate Sage Mode as quickly as possible. When Jiraiya challenges me again, I'll put on a truly spectacular show.
During this period, Pakura needed to train, and so did he.
As long as your chakra reserves are large enough and your control is sufficiently precise, Sage Mode... isn't it just a snap of the fingers away?
***
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(End of Chapter)