Chapter 168: Natural Talent
Disclaimer:
Naruto and all of its characters belong to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.
I own nothing but the original characters I create.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 168: Natural Talent
Fukasaku glanced at Naruto with a satisfied smile. "It's a good sign that you can feel the natural energy before even beginning your training. It means you must have some affinity for it."
"Affinity for natural energy? I've never heard of any human with an ability like that. Only a few of the animal clans…" Jiraiya said, his tone skeptical.
He was aware of the Snake Clan's natural talent for Senjutsu.
"Oh, but you have heard of another human like that," Fukasaku replied. "He was the first person taught by the Great Elder Gamamaru… a man known as Hagoromo."
"The Sage of the Six Paths?" Naruto's eyes widened. He recalled reading several legends about Hagoromo. The figure was a cornerstone of shinobi history, said to be the originator of modern ninja techniques.
"The very same," Fukasaku confirmed. "From what I've heard, he also had a strong affinity for the natural energies of the world and could sense their presence even before he met the Great Elder."
"Mmm… Hagoromo…" Jiraiya muttered, his expression contemplative.
"But enough about that," Fukasaku said, shaking off the nostalgia. "I can tell Naruto is eager to begin this training." He tapped his wooden staff against the edge of the fountain. "Take a seat and get comfortable. This training will require a great deal of patience and focus."
Jiraiya groaned dramatically. "Ugh, I remember that part. Maybe I should go take a nap in the meantime."
Fukasaku shot him a harsh glare. "Yes, and I believe that attitude is precisely why you never mastered this discipline. Always running off somewhere or ogling females!"
"You never mastered it?" Naruto asked, tilting his head.
Jiraiya shrugged casually. "Mostly mastered… and I still became a legendary ninja anyway. Can't complain." He stretched his arms. "You won't find Naruto lacking in the patience and focus department, though. The kid's always meditating."
After tossing that offhanded remark, Jiraiya strolled toward a shady spot to relax. He had already decided to leave Mount Myoboku the next day... after all, this training was going to take months, and the idea of spending that long surrounded by nothing but toads made him itch with boredom.
"Well then…" Fukasaku chose to ignore Jiraiya's antics. He was already more than used to that man's personality so he wasn't surprised that he was so eager to walk off.
"Well then, what do I have to do?" Naruto asked, already sitting cross-legged in his usual lotus position in front of the Toad Elder.
"Allow me to explain," Fukasaku began. "To become a Sage, you must bring natural energy into your body and, using your chakra core, create a perfect balance with your already present Yin and Yang energies. Only when this balance is achieved can you fully harness the true benefits of Sage Mode."
"A perfect balance… but circulating three different energies inside my body…" Naruto furrowed his brows. That sounded tricky. He already had experience balancing the Kyubi's demonic chakra with his own, but this was on a whole new level as this was a different type of energy altogether. While the Kyubi's chakra, as different and dangerous as it was, was still of the Yang Type.
"Indeed, it's no easy feat. But the main reason this training is so challenging isn't just the balance, but caused by the inherent dangers of natural energy itself," Fukasaku warned.
"Dangers?"
The toad elder nodded solemnly. "Although natural energy surrounds us and can be extremely beneficial, it becomes hazardous when concentrated in excess. I want you to look around, Naruto."
Naruto did as told and glanced around the pond, his eyes landing on the countless stone toad statues surrounding the fountain.
It suddenly dawned on him what these statues actually were.
"Are they…"
Fukasaku's face fell. "These were once living beings who failed to achieve the perfect balance. An excess of natural energy turns one to stone. They become one with nature...forever trapped in that state, neither alive nor dead."
Naruto felt a shiver as he detected the faint traces of energy emanating from the statues. As the Elder said, these statues weren't exactly dead but not alive either.
"It's a terrible fate," Fukasaku continued. "We keep these statues here as a reminder for future generations...to caution them against carelessness."
"But if that's the case… there's still hope for them," Naruto said quietly.
"Hope?" Fukasaku blinked, caught off guard by the remark.
"Even if only a fragment of their consciousness remains, given enough time, some of them could achieve enlightenment and break free from their stone prisons," Naruto explained.
"That's…" Fukasaku paused, his thoughts interrupted by a memory of something the Great Elder Gamamaru had once said: 'There is always hope for the future. Who knows what will happen?'.
Naruto noticed Fukasaku's contemplative expression, he decided to add something else. "Given enough time, even a mountain has the chance to become a god. Who knows what might happen?"
Fukasaku flinched. 'This boy…'
He wanted to press Naruto further but stopped himself. The Great Elder had warned them not to discuss Naruto's past or origins and to focus solely on his training.
"Apologies if my words were confusing," Naruto said. "Achieving ascension through pure enlightenment is… complicated. Even I don't know enough to explain it properly."
After all, this wasn't a path available to mortals with their short lifespans. Not even cultivators could achieve it easily... it could take countless millions of years, or even longer than that.
But there had always been legends about such stories in the past.
"I think I understand now. I'm ready to begin, Elder," Naruto said, straightening his posture.
"Right…" Fukasaku took a deep breath, regaining his focus. "Since you can already sense the energy around you, I'll explain how to begin mixing it inside your body."
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