Chapter 377: Teaching Sage Arts
Masahiko carefully studied his Perfect Sage Mode.
In this mode, his control over Sage Chakra was as natural as moving his own limbs. Previously, when he activated Sage Mode, the Sage Chakra would slowly drain away even if he didn't use any ninjutsu. But now, he could keep Sage Mode active until the end of time. However, he didn't plan on doing so, because...
"With a cloak, I am so handsome that I feel completely out of place in this world."
Of course, that wasn't the only reason; it was mostly because of the 'Soccer-Truth-Seeking Orb' he was juggling with his feet.
When Sage Mode was not active, this Soccer-Truth-Seeking Orb's only method of attack was 'smashing'. It was very powerful, but not overly exaggerated.
Its maximum attack range was about 70 meters, and its maximum power was equivalent to a Tailed Beast Bomb spat out by Masahiko in his normal state. Its advantage was that it required almost no chakra to use, and it could freely change direction, making it flexible and versatile.
But once Sage Mode was activated, it became completely different. Besides its attack power multiplying by dozens of times, it also acquired the property of 'untouchability'. Ninjas without the power of Six Paths who touched it would slowly disintegrate, just like touching the All-Killing Ash Bones. The danger level was simply too high.
"The power of various jutsu has increased significantly. In this state, if I face the Eight Gates Itomi from before, I should be able to handle him with ease. I won't have to end up injured and unconscious; I might even be able to defeat him head-on..."
Masahiko bent down, picked up the Soccer-Truth-Seeking Orb, and stroked it back and forth. "Such a silky-smooth texture, it feels even better than the Fat Cat's fur. Who would have thought that once I activate Sage Mode, this thing becomes an ultimate killing weapon that kills anyone who touches it?"
Sighing slightly with emotion, Masahiko flickered out of his dimension and appeared at the doorstep of Kushina's house.
He had added points and obtained the orb on the evening of March 1st. It was now the evening of May 1st. This increase in strength had cost him a full two months.
"Right now, my strength improvements all rely on the system to forcibly break my body's limits, so it takes a lot of time every time," Masahiko murmured softly, then turned around.
Under the setting sun, Kushina and Minato were walking closer slowly, each holding one of Naruto's hands. This scene made Masahiko momentarily dazed.
Seeing Masahiko, the three of them were also startled.
Kushina reacted first. After carefully sizing Masahiko up, her gaze fixed on the Soccer-Truth-Seeking Orb he held in his arms, her face full of sympathy.
Naruto, the brat, also quickly recovered, grinning from ear to ear, silently thinking to himself: That's what you get for making me paint the Hokage Monument!
Minato paused and asked, "Great Elder, are you able to control this black orb now?"
Masahiko nodded. He tossed the Soccer-Truth-Seeking Orb up with backspin and began juggling it, alternating between his left and right foot. The various fancy juggling moves of soccer stars from his past life were now easily executed by him. Around the world, cross-over juggling, heel juggling... Naruto gradually became mesmerized.
"Naruto, want to learn?"
Naruto's shining eyes showed his affirmation. Masahiko smiled, stepped on the Soccer-Truth-Seeking Orb, and lightly kicked it over. "Let me see you take a kick?"
Naruto nodded, his eyes locked onto the Soccer-Truth-Seeking Orb. He pulled his right leg back forcefully to aim, while Minato smiled bitterly and turned his head away.
Bang!
"Ah!" Naruto hugged his foot and screamed miserably, tears squeezed out from the pain.
Masahiko raised an eyebrow and controlled the undiminished Soccer-Truth-Seeking Orb to fly back. "It seems your talent is limited; you can't learn to juggle."
"Great Ancestor... damn it... it's so hard." Naruto sat on the ground, rubbing his right foot.
Kushina completely ignored that Naruto had suffered a 'heavy blow'. She took a few steps forward, reaching out to gently touch the Soccer-Truth-Seeking Orb.
"It actually got this big? The texture is still as good as ever..."
Masahiko smiled and shook his head, controlling the Soccer-Truth-Seeking Orb to merge into his body. "Stop studying it, I have serious business with you guys."
Minato picked up Naruto, quickly walked forward, and opened the door. "Great Elder, please come inside to talk."
After the group entered the house, Masahiko's expression gradually became serious.
"Everyone step back a little."
Seeing his serious expression, Minato and Kushina didn't ask much and immediately stepped back a few paces.
In the next second, a semi-transparent, pale white cloak of Sage Chakra draped over Masahiko's body.
"Isn't it handsome?" Masahiko raised an eyebrow.
Kushina and Minato looked at each other in dismay.
"So handsome, Great Ancestor!" Only Naruto responded.
Masahiko fell silent for a moment and blinked. "Alright, let's talk about serious business. Can you tell what this cloak is made of?"
Minato, having trained in the Toad Sage Arts of Mount Myoboku, quickly recognized it. "Is this... Sage Chakra?"
Masahiko nodded in satisfaction. "This is a cloak that one can only possess after perfectly mastering Sage Mode. From now on, you can call me 'Sage Masahiko'."
Minato and Kushina exchanged another glance.
"So what? Great-grandfather."
Masahiko frowned slightly. Why couldn't he ever see the 'unbelievable' expression he wanted? This made him feel a bit uncomfortable.
"In this mode, I can teach you Sage Mode. In the future, whoever wants to train in Sage Arts won't need to go to any of the Three Great Sage Regions; they can just come straight to me!"
Kushina finally showed a surprised expression, because she hadn't trained in Sage Arts yet.
"Hehe," Masahiko chuckled. "Kushina, after entering this mode, you were the very first person I thought of."
Actually, among the people close to Masahiko who had the strength to train in Sage Arts and hadn't trained in them yet, only Kushina and Konan were left.
Kushina paused, then revealed a smile. "Great-grandfather, how should I learn?"
"Hold out your right hand..."
"Wait," Minato interrupted. "Great Elder, there are risks to training in Sage Arts, right?"
Masahiko waved his hand. "With me watching from the side, it's fine."
Kushina also felt relieved and held out her right hand, but then heard Minato continue to add from the side, "If training in the Sage Arts of Mount Myoboku fails, you turn into a toad stone statue."
Kushina paused and violently yanked her hand back...
Masahiko's expression became slightly strange. He cast a sideways glance at Minato, then smiled at Kushina.
Kushina hesitated for a long time, finally gathering the courage to extend her right hand again. "Great-grandfather, I believe in you!"
Minato hesitated to speak...
Masahiko nodded in satisfaction. He gently stroked the back of Kushina's hand. When he lifted his hand, a pale white circular mark was imprinted on the back of Kushina's hand.
"Don't worry. This is Sage Chakra that I have perfectly mastered. Unlike those half-baked toads at Mount Myoboku, there's no possibility of losing control. Kushina, you only need to absorb natural energy and merge your mental and physical energy into it using this pattern."
"As for how to absorb natural energy, let Minato teach you." Masahiko could already enter Perfect Sage Mode, but awkwardly, he still didn't know how to absorb natural energy himself...
Kushina breathed a sigh of relief, closed her eyes, and began to sense the Sage Chakra mark Masahiko had left on the back of her right hand. Minato also relaxed. It seemed there truly was no 'danger'.
"I wonder if Kushina's appearance will change after she activates this Sage Mode of mine..." Masahiko deactivated his Sage Mode.
A long while later, Kushina opened her eyes and nodded slightly to Masahiko, indicating there was no problem.
"Oh right, Great-grandfather, I almost forgot. There are two things you need to pay attention to recently."
"The Akatsuki organization in the Land of Rain will hold its first assembly in half a month. Konoha is still observing and plans to send two people to investigate the situation. Nagato is asking you what our Land of Whirlpools should do."
Masahiko nodded. "And the other thing?"
Kushina revealed a smile. "Big Sister Tsunade's casino is about to go bankrupt. Grandma Mito can no longer control the situation..."
The corner of Masahiko's mouth twitched, and he instantly disappeared from his spot.
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