Chapter 634

"After learning to sense natural energy, I suddenly discovered that a breathing secret technique I mastered could draw in natural energy, but the breathing technique and the Mount Myoboku secret method cannot be used at the same time, or else they conflict." Mu Yue replied after thinking for a moment.

Fukasaku, a sage who had lived for over eight hundred years, possessed a profound understanding of sage techniques. He felt there was no need to hide this matter; perhaps Fukasaku could even help him to some extent.

"Is that so? Then little Mu Yue, try using only the breathing secret technique to absorb natural energy." Fukasaku said with a surprised expression.

With that, Fukasaku focused his mind and gathered his energy, opening his perception fully to concentrate all his attention on Mu Yue.

After hearing Fukasaku's words, Mu Yue immediately concentrated his breathing and entered the Transparent World state, drawing the natural energy attracted by the breathing techniques into his body.

Mu Yue discovered that as long as he maintained the breathing technique normally, it would automatically incorporate the inhaled natural energy into its circulation, thereby enhancing the breathing technique's amplification of the body.

Moreover, aside from increasing the strain on the body, there were no negative effects—at least, that was the case so far.

Mu Yue's mind stirred, and he focused his breathing further, entering the Lightning Breathing Chakra Mode.

After entering the Lightning Breathing Chakra Mode, the breathing technique's pull on natural energy instantly increased significantly. However, to Mu Yue's regret, it still could not absorb large amounts of natural energy and synthesize Sage Chakra as quickly as the Mount Myoboku secret method; it only enhanced the breathing technique's reinforcement of physical abilities.

"I see. Little Mu Yue, your breathing secret technique feels a bit like the prototype of sage techniques." Fukasaku said with a look of sudden realization.

"There's no way you can use them together. Using two different styles of Sage Mode at the same time is like using one hand to perform a monkey-imitating taijutsu and the other to perform a tiger-imitating taijutsu—that would be extremely dangerous."

"Little Mu Yue, it's best not to use that breathing secret technique while training in Sage Mode. If I'm here, I can help you disperse the runaway natural energy, but if I'm not around, the natural energy going berserk could kill you."

As he spoke, Fukasaku put on a serious expression.

"Mm, could you please explain the principle behind it, Fukasaku-sama?" Mu Yue nodded and asked.

Being as cautious as ever, he would never rashly take risks. It was precisely because he sensed danger that Mu Yue had only trained for ten seconds before immediately stopping.

"The reason Sage Mode is called Sage Mode is that it's a technique that temporarily turns a human into a sage." Fukasaku-sama revealed the essence of Sage Mode.

Fukasaku-sama did not need to enter Sage Mode to use sage techniques, because he himself was already a sage.

"Different styles of Sage Mode allow people to become different kinds of sages. Don't you ninjas also have taijutsu that imitate various animals?

Using two different styles of Sage Mode simultaneously is like using one hand to perform a monkey-imitating taijutsu and the other to perform a tiger-imitating taijutsu—how could there be no conflict?" Fukasaku-sama continued.

Mu Yue nodded thoughtfully.

Training in Mount Myoboku's Sage Mode could lead to frogification, while Ryuchi Cave's Sage Mode might cause snake transformation; indeed, they didn't seem like abilities that could be used together.

This was somewhat similar to the concept of cultivation in his previous life, where one couldn't simultaneously practice two different techniques.

Next, Mu Yue forcibly suppressed his urge to use the breathing technique and devoted himself entirely to training in Sage Mode.

He needed to master one Sage Mode first before he could develop the Sage Mode most suitable for himself.

The next morning, Fukasaku-sama brought Mu Yue to a place filled with sharp, towering stone pillars.

"The most important thing in Sage Chakra is maintaining balance. If the proportion of natural energy is too low, it becomes ordinary chakra. If it's too high, you'll turn into a frog. Little Mu Yue, if you can smoothly gather Sage Chakra and enter Sage Mode in this environment, then there won't be any problem with your Sage Chakra condensation."

Fukasaku-sama pointed at the tall, sharp stone pillars that reached into the sky.

Saying this, Fukasaku-sama picked up a wooden board and handed it to Mu Yue.

Mu Yue nodded, took the board, and with a few leaps reached the top of a stone spike. He placed the board securely and sat steadily on it.

Fukasaku-sama followed closely, took a board, and sat on a nearby spike, quietly watching Mu Yue.

"Little Mu Yue's talent for sage techniques is truly terrifying. Not a single problem has arisen." Fukasaku-sama thought to himself as he watched Mu Yue, who remained perfectly still.

The only ninja in recent times to successfully train in Sage Mode at Mount Myoboku was Jiraiya.

But Jiraiya fell off countless times during this stage before he succeeded. Could Mu Yue succeed on his first try?

If only Fukasaku-sama could see through Mu Yue's body or personally spar with him, he would discover that Mu Yue's control over his body was frighteningly high, and at times he could even perfectly control it.

Under Fukasaku's watch, natural energy continuously entered Mu Yue's body, where it was synthesized into Sage Chakra.

When the Sage Chakra inside Mu Yue reached a certain level, he opened his eyes. Orange-yellow eye shadow appeared around his eyes, and his pupils turned into yellow horizontal bars.

"Sage markings, and not a trace of frogification! Little Mu Yue, you have become a sage surpassing Jiraiya!" Fukasaku-sama exclaimed in surprise.

Although Mount Myoboku's Sage Mode is a technique that temporarily turns a ninja into a sage, this does not mean that the closer one's appearance is to a sage, the better one's Sage Mode training is. On the contrary, the closer the appearance to a sage, the worse the Sage Mode training.

Mu Yue looked at his skill panel, and the skill named Sage Mode had already reached the Proficient level.

"Little Muyue, do you want to study the Myoboku Mountain's Sage Art again or go back directly? You are already considered a sage now." After returning to the ground, Fukasaku Sage asked.

Ordinary ninjutsu that uses Sage Chakra to activate can also be called sage jutsu. Here, the term "sage jutsu" specifically refers to the unique techniques of Myoboku Mountain, such as Frog Kata and so on.

"I want to learn more about the specific theory of Sage Mode from you." Muyue shook his head and replied.

He already had enough abilities; not learning Myoboku Mountain's sage jutsu wouldn't make much difference.

When he came to Myoboku Mountain, he had used Enlightenment on himself. Now there were still more than twenty hours left; going back so early would be a waste.

"Theory, huh. Let me think about how to explain it to you." Fukasaku sat on the ground, looking thoughtful.

It was the first time someone had made such a request to him.

Ordinary people would be overjoyed just to learn Sage Mode; they wouldn't care about the principles as long as they could use it.

"As I told you before, Sage Mode, at its core, is a technique that temporarily turns a ninja into a sage. And when it comes to sages, we must talk about natural energy and Sage Chakra."

"Natural energy is the most powerful form of energy in the ninja world; it is a fundamental component of the world..."

It had to be said that Fukasaku was truly knowledgeable in sage arts; much of the knowledge about Sage Mode and natural energy was something Muyue had never heard before.

Although knowing these things wouldn't make Muyue's Sage Mode stronger, it would help him develop a new Sage Mode.

Muyue stayed until the morning of the third day, when he exited the Enlightenment state, and only then did he prepare to leave Myoboku Mountain and return to Konoha.

"Why go back so soon? Is it to carry out a mission?" Shima Sage said somewhat reluctantly. Over these two days, she felt she had learned something and her cooking had improved.

"No, it's because Little Muyue has already completed his Sage Mode training." Fukasaku Sage explained.

"Huh? Didn't he just train for two days?" Shima Sage looked dumbfounded.

"Forgot to tell you, Little Muyue is a super sage art genius. The first time he trained, he could sense natural energy without using oil." Fukasaku Sage said somewhat proudly.

In the future, no one should be able to break this record—teaching Sage Mode in two days without using toad oil.

"Oh dear, child's father, you really are something. If I had known Little Muyue was leaving, I would have taken a plate of food to the Great Lord last night." Shima Sage complained.

"Uh..."

It was only then that Fukasaku Sage realized he had forgotten to present this magical cuisine to the Great Toad Sage.

Yesterday, Muyue, in order not to waste the Enlightenment effect, kept asking him all kinds of questions, tiring him out quite a bit.

"If you two sages don't mind the trouble, I'll come again to learn in five days." Muyue said with a smile.

The Enlightenment skill would cool down in five days, allowing him to continue learning Sage Mode knowledge quickly.

"No trouble at all. Little Muyue, do come visit often." Shima Sage said with a delighted expression.

"Just notify us when you're coming; we're very free." Fukasaku Sage stroked his white beard and smiled.

In Myoboku Mountain, aside from the Great Toad Sage, they were the highest-ranking; usually, they really had nothing to do.

"By the way, Little Muyue, when you use Sage Mode, never use a breathing technique to absorb natural energy. If you have the idea to try it, come to Myoboku Mountain and find me." Fukasaku Sage recalled something and cautioned.

Muyue seemed reliable, but Fukasaku Sage had lived too long and seen too many people—humans really liked to court death sometimes.

"Mm, thank you." Muyue thanked him sincerely.

Until he had achieved some research results, Muyue would not rashly attempt it.

After saying goodbye, Fukasaku Sage began to send Muyue back.

Going back was a bit more troublesome than coming to Myoboku Mountain.

First, they had to communicate with Minato Namikaze's side, summon a sage over there, and then that sage would use the Reverse Summoning Technique to transport Muyue there.

"How strange. For a ninja as excellent as Little Muyue, the Great Lord doesn't have any related prophecy?" Shima Sage asked in confusion.

"The Great Lord doesn't know everything." Fukasaku Sage shook his head.

The Great Toad Sage can only have prophetic dreams; he can't see all futures clearly. It depends on fate and fortune, not strength.

PS:

The Reverse Summoning Technique actually doesn't allow the contractor to directly go to the summon beast by simply reversing the summoning technique. The summon beast needs to summon them, with prior communication and such—it's quite troublesome.

For example, when Naruto went to Myoboku Mountain for training, Gamakichi's first words were, "It was I who summoned you here, Naruto."

Also, the Great Toad Sage relies on his vast chakra to predict the future according to the setting book. Chakra really is all-purpose, but I wonder just how vast it is.