To be honest, Hanzo wasn't particularly interested in the S-rank Wind Release technique.
What truly caught his attention was the second item.
From that Ōtsutsuki on the moon, Amegakure had already obtained quite a few inheritances and secret techniques—among them, some related to puppetry. They were the same kind of constructs that had fired those yellow energy spheres during their first encounter.
Amegakure had done some research in this field, but not deeply enough to form a complete combat system.
The materials provided by Sunagakure would serve as a perfect reference.
I'll just throw it to the research division and let them figure it out.
"Hanzo-sama, everyone has gathered," Hattori Murakami reported as he approached.
Hanzo stood up and walked forward. "Good. You come along as well."
...
Soon, the two arrived at a spacious classroom within the academy.
It was already filled with people.
There were jōnin, chūnin, genin, and even children who had only just enrolled.
Kan, Rikuto, and Yakushi Nono were all present.
In total—around thirty individuals.
For the jōnin, Hanzo was someone they saw frequently—someone they admired.
For the genin and the children, however—
"Hanzo of the Salamander" was nothing short of legend.
He was the one who had given them their current lives.
A symbol of faith.
"You are all individuals I have personally selected for your exceptional talent."
"For the next two years, I will personally instruct you every morning."
"There is only one thing I will teach—"
Hanzo paused.
"Sage Art."
"This is my most closely guarded secret. A large portion of my strength comes from it."
At those words—
Everyone except Nono was visibly shocked.
They didn't know what Sage Art was.
But phrases like "closely guarded secret" and "foundation of my strength" made its importance unmistakable.
And it would be taught personally by Hanzo.
Hanzo began explaining.
"Sage Art is the process of absorbing natural energy into your body, then combining it with your own chakra."
"It must be balanced in a ratio of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu—one to one to one."
"This process is extremely dangerous."
"If you absorb too little, nothing happens."
"But if you absorb too much and fail to regulate it in time—"
"Natural energy will erode your body… and turn you into stone."
"Depending on how natural energy flows through your body, different traits will appear."
Learning Sage Art from Mount Myōboku results in toad-like facial markings and pupils
Learning from Ryūchi Cave results in snake-like eyes and features
"As for me…"
Hanzo spoke calmly:
"I have achieved a perfect human Sage Mode—aside from being unable to deactivate it."
"You don't need to worry about all that for now."
"I have a simpler method that avoids most of the risks."
Hanzo formed hand seals—
Dozens of Shadow Clones appeared.
"The most difficult part of learning Sage Art is sensing natural energy."
"Humans currently have no innate method to perceive it."
"Compared to balancing chakra later, this step is even more fatal."
"My clones will assist you one-on-one."
"I will extract purified natural energy from my own body and inject it into yours."
"At the same time, I will monitor the erosion process within your body."
"If there is any danger, I will immediately reclaim the excess energy and restore balance."
"So you don't need to worry about safety."
Hanzo looked at them all.
"Your task is simple—"
"Feel the natural energy I inject into your body."
"Continue until you can perceive and absorb it on your own."
"This stage will take the longest."
"As for balancing natural energy—"
"That is the most dangerous phase."
"A single mistake… and you will turn to stone."
"Remember this."
"Training in Sage Art is extremely dangerous."
"Unless I am present, your safety cannot be guaranteed."
"Do not train on your own."
"I don't want to see any of you carried out as statues."
The clones moved behind each trainee, placing their hands on their backs.
Streams of natural energy flowed into their bodies.
Each person's face showed different reactions—strain, shock, confusion.
"Sage Art, in essence, is similar to cellular activation," Hanzo continued.
"Natural energy stimulates and replenishes your cells."
"Your chakra reserves and control will improve significantly."
"And because of Sage power—"
"Your ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu will all undergo a qualitative transformation."
"Remember—"
"This path requires perception and control."
"Do not rush."
The trainees sat cross-legged, eyes closed.
Behind them, Hanzo's clones maintained the flow of natural energy while carefully preventing any petrification.
Once everything stabilized—
Hanzo quietly left the room.
The Sage Art training of Amegakure had officially begun.
From here on, his clones could handle the rest.
...
Just a few steps outside—
A graceful figure approached from behind.
"Uzumaki Mito… what is it?"
Hanzo turned to look at her.
"Your Sage Art…" Mito said slowly.
"I don't know where you obtained it, but it clearly does not belong to the Three Great Sage Regions."
"Aren't you worried about their reaction?"
"The Three Great Sage Regions?"
Hanzo shrugged.
"As long as those old monsters don't act personally, Amegakure has nothing to fear."
"And even if they do—"
A cold smile appeared on his face.
"We're not pushovers."
"If I don't tear a layer off them, I wouldn't be Hanzo of the Salamander."
"As long as I'm alive—"
"They won't sleep peacefully. Ever."
Confidence. Arrogance.
Mito shook her head with a faint smile.
As expected of Hanzo…
"You underestimate them," Mito warned.
"Each Sage Region is no weaker than the Five Great Nations."
"They simply remain hidden and detached from the shinobi world."
"If they chose to intervene, the balance of power would be completely different."
"You're overthinking it," Hanzo replied calmly.
"They're nothing more than creatures hiding in fear of the Ōtsutsuki."
"They stay in the shadows just to survive."
"The very origin of ninjutsu is tied to them."
"Perhaps all they want… is for us to act as shields against future invaders."
Seeing the confusion in Mito's eyes, Hanzo shook his head.
"You've lived long enough—but you still don't understand the deeper secrets of the shinobi world."
"Knowing this won't help you."
Mito paused, then spoke again:
"Can I ask you for a favor?"
"I want Kushina… and also Orika… to learn Sage Art."
Uzumaki Orika…
The girl Mito had recently brought back from Kusagakure.
Likely Karin's mother.
A healing-type Uzumaki enhanced by Sage Art… interesting.
Hanzo nodded.
"That's fine. Bring them tomorrow."
"But—"
"I want your help with something."
He pointed at the diamond-shaped seal on Mito's forehead.
"You've maintained your youth and combat strength."
"That seal plays a major role, doesn't it?"
"I can sense chakra inside it—on par with a Tailed Beast."
Mito nodded.
"You want this technique?"
"No."
Hanzo shook his head.
"My Sage Art has a critical flaw."
"A human body can only store natural energy for about five minutes."
"My case is special."
"But for others—this is a major weakness."
"And gathering natural energy takes time."
"In battle, that's fatal."
Mito immediately understood.
"I plan to use sealing techniques to create a storage space within the body."
"Like sealing a Tailed Beast—"
"Storing accumulated natural energy for instant use."
Hanzo continued:
"Your technique is too complex. I don't need it."
"I only need to confirm whether this idea is feasible."
"Basic sealing techniques will suffice."
"I want to test whether natural energy can be stored."
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