In truth, controlling natural energy wasn't easy for Kyohiko.
His chakra control was undoubtedly top-tier, likely on par with Tsunade and Haruno Sakura, with only minor differences in certain aspects.
However.
Even with such control, he could only maintain bodily equilibrium by generating as much chakra as possible to buffer against the backlash and mutations caused by natural energy absorption.
It's incredibly difficult!
Kyohiko sighed inwardly.
Sage Mode truly wasn't something achievable through chakra control alone—it also required innate talent for natural energy manipulation.
And this was just the first hurdle.
The second stage of "tranquility" might prove even more challenging.
Judging from current progress, Minato no longer needed Fukasaku and Shima's supervision, indicating he was between the second and third stages.
Kyohiko opened his eyes, fatigue evident.
"How do you feel?"
Fukasaku inquired curiously.
"It's hard to control. I can only use as much chakra as possible to counterbalance the influx of natural energy, forcibly creating equilibrium. But my chakra reserves are limited, and the natural energy influx is overwhelming…"
Kyohiko shared his experience.
Fortunately, his stamina and energy recovery had improved significantly, and he could seal two of his Yin Seal reservoirs, focusing on filling just one.
Otherwise, attempting this training would have been impossible.
Fukasaku immediately understood.
No wonder Kyohiko maintained only mild mutations—he'd grasped the technique to avoid danger within just a few attempts.
What an extraordinary child!
Fukasaku nodded approvingly.
"Your method of countering mutations is correct, but achieving Sage Chakra requires far more than this."
It dawned on him.
This child's success stemmed not from natural talent, but from his exceptional intelligence in quickly identifying optimal solutions.
Using chakra to counterbalance…
With sufficient control, this was feasible, but the flaw lay in—
Natural energy was infinite.
Unless one mastered natural energy completely, bodily mutations would inevitably occur as absorption continued.
However, understanding the method greatly reduced petrification risks.
Moreover.
Kyohiko was gradually adapting, mastering techniques to avoid severe mutations.
"I understand. My chakra reserves allow for several more attempts. Also, I have an idea—could you oversee this?"
After applying more toad oil, Kyohiko resumed his meditation.
Fukasaku, holding the restraining staff, suddenly felt somewhat useless.
Teaching fools infuriated him.
Take Jiraiya for example.
But.
Teaching geniuses offered little satisfaction either.
Because geniuses could figure things out themselves, rendering instruction unnecessary…
Watching Kyohiko's body alternate between toad-like and normal states, Fukasaku pondered—
Perhaps overly cautious and rational individuals might struggle with Sage Mode?
After all.
Sage Mode demanded not talent, but perseverance.
Unbreakable, never-say-die determination.
Only thus could one master Sage Mode.
"How's it going, old man?"
"Quite talented, but still needs—"
Before Fukasaku finished, Kyohiko's body underwent transformation.
Amphibian traits appeared briefly before vanishing, leaving only faint eye markings.
This was—
Perfect Sage Mode?
Impossible!
Fukasaku gaped in astonishment.
Shima arrived just then, ready to scold her husband for negligence, only to sense powerful Sage Chakra emanating from Kyohiko.
"This is!"
"So quickly?"
Shima was equally shocked.
Jiraiya's initial delight turned to stunned disbelief.
What just happened?
He'd hoped to offer sage advice as the experienced mentor.
Instead, Kyohiko mastered it instantly?
Kyohiko opened his eyes, his pupils now bearing subtle changes.
He'd truly succeeded!
Jiraiya remained silent.
Today really wasn't his day.
The shocks just kept coming!
At least…
Kakashi's chakra reserves remained insufficient for such training, sparing him further emotional turmoil.
Jiraiya consoled himself.
"How did you do it?"
Fukasaku voiced the question on everyone's mind.
How indeed?
Kyohiko considered before explaining: "I used balanced Sage Chakra to create a protective outer layer. Once stabilized, controlling it became relatively easier."
Chaotic natural energy proved extremely difficult to manage, but once balanced and ordered, the challenge diminished significantly.
"So you're using a chakra cloak-like technique to isolate internal and external energies, reducing the natural energy influx?"
More step-by-step analysis.
Jiraiya grasped the concept—this methodical approach had indeed enabled Kyohiko to master Sage Mode's first stage.
By minimizing natural energy absorption, one could systematically process and digest it, achieving perfect Sage Mode.
"Correct."
Kyohiko nodded.
This method had proven partially effective against the Sage Clan Talent.
However.
Advantages came with drawbacks.
Such shortcuts required exceptional control and substantial chakra reserves—qualities someone like Kuroda clearly lacked.
"Wouldn't this slow absorption rates?"
Fukasaku voiced concerns.
Kyohiko acknowledged: "True. Hence, I'm using it primarily for adaptation and experimentation."
Step by step.
Master usage first, then work backward to achieve direct control.
Having the answer made deducing the process easier.
Meanwhile, atop stone peaks.
Namikaze Minato sat meditating when a bird's flight disrupted his focus, sending him tumbling down.
Mid-air, he teleported using Flying Thunder God, landing safely.
"Phew!"
"Quite challenging."
Minato watched the departing bird ruefully.
Rising, he sensed—
"Huh? Kyohiko's at Mount Myōboku too?"
Delight crossed his features before he teleported toward the main peak.
Soon, he arrived amidst the gathered crowd.
Jiraiya, Fukasaku, Shima.
Quite the gathering!
"Sensei, elders."
"Minato."
Fukasaku smiled.
As they exchanged quiet words, Kyohiko opened his eyes again, his condition further improved.
He no longer needed the chakra cloak!
Perfect Sage Mode.
"Kyohiko, you've mastered it already?"
Minato looked astonished.
Kyohiko explained: "It helps that I've encountered similar techniques before, so I had some ideas. This attempt succeeded."
Actually training in Sage Mode made Hashirama's achievements even more incredible.
Even with toad oil assistance, Kyohiko needed time for energy regulation—and instant Sage Mode activation remained impossible.
Moreover.
True Sage Mode required shedding toad oil dependency, achieving perfect stillness to sense natural energy.
This process took considerable time.
During combat, natural energy absorption became impossible.
The two were fundamentally incompatible.
Only Hashirama and Kuroda's unique Sage Bodies could absorb and fight simultaneously.
Sadly, Kyohiko lacked such constitution.
He sighed regretfully before asking Minato: "How about you?"
"Still lacking."
Minato scratched his head. "Achieving unity with nature proves difficult—external stimuli keep triggering instinctive reactions, prolonging the process and destabilizing the state."
"Instinctive reactions…"
Kyohiko considered Minato's keen senses, rapid reflexes, and teleportation prowess before nodding in shared frustration. "In that case, I might face similar issues."
Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima exchanged thoughtful looks.
Indeed…
Kyohiko and Minato were quite similar.
While Minato took longer for the first stage compared to Jiraiya, his second stage progress lagged.
Kyohiko might follow suit.
"What's the second stage? I'd like to attempt it directly."
Southern border between Fire Country and River Country.
A group of shinobi emerged from the sea, quickly dispersing inland.
Further out, a ship sailed toward the horizon.
Days later.
Two vessels met at sea.
The Third Kazekage stepped out from the Suna ship, impeccably dressed.
From the other ship emerged the young Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, equally formal.
Their ships drew together.
"Kazekage, I've come as invited."
Yagura's tone was cool.
Third Kazekage: "Mizukage, our villages have clashed over maritime and southern missions unnecessarily. We should cease this."
"Glad you share this perspective."
Yagura finally smiled.
"Indeed, our true adversary is Konoha! Dividing Fire Country's territories and pressuring Konoha to relinquish smaller nation contracts would benefit us greatly."
"Then let's formalize this alliance."
The Kazekage extended a hand.
Yagura signaled for the documents, adding: "I have another interested party. Perhaps we could all meet soon."
"Certainly."
The Kazekage wasn't surprised.
Reconciling with Kiri also ensured temporary peace with Iwa.
Suna, situated in impoverished Wind Country, remained weak.
Having barely recovered from the last war, facing Konoha while worrying about Kiri and Iwa would prove disastrous.
"However, Kumo's alliance with Konoha might complicate matters. You and Onoki should remain vigilant."
The Kazekage cautioned.
Yagura smiled: "Raikage won't remain content with current holdings—they're too warlike. Rumor has it they're solving tailed beast issues. Whether their alliance holds remains uncertain."
"Good."
The Kazekage nodded.
Having exchanged intelligence, he felt more confident about the impending war.
After formalizing their pact, both ships departed.
Yagura stood on deck, gazing at distant mountains and rivers, a faint smile playing on his lips.
War, Konoha, Suna.
Heh!
"Mizukage-sama, shall we proceed to Sea Country?"
"No need."
"What about our operatives?"
"Maintain current positions. We mustn't alert the fish before the net closes."
Konoha Academy.
"Yay!"
Obito stared excitedly at the acceptance list.
He'd made it!
The Ninjutsu specialization—he was in!
"Great, I'll tell—"
Obito's smile faltered.
He fell silent, sighed, then turned toward the school gates.
Better focus on training.
After a few steps, a familiar scent caught his attention.
Hospital smells?
He looked up, surprised.
"Rin? Aren't you supposed to be at the hospital today? Why are you here?"
"Today's your specialization results. Did you make it?"
Rin's smile was radiant.
Obito's vision blurred as he raised his thumb proudly.
"Who do you think I am? Genius Obito, of course I got in!"
"You should've seen my Great Fireball during the exam…"
Obito launched into exaggerated recounting as they walked, Rin listening with a warm smile.
Days later, Mount Myōboku.
Kyohiko sat meditating atop a stone peak when sudden imbalance sent him tumbling.
Quickly, he lashed out with a rope, anchoring it to the peak before scaling down to safety.
Looking up, he felt conflicted.
Like Minato, his acute senses hindered progress.
Perhaps even more so, given his superior hearing—even without chakra enhancement, he processed more complex information.
This strength became a weakness during required stillness.
As he landed, Minato teleported nearby.
Sighing, Minato rose: "I can achieve the state, but it takes too long—hardly practical in combat."
"Actually, there's the Two-Worlds Technique. Minato could consider it, but you…"
Fukasaku shook his head.
Without self-initiated Sage Mode, even that technique wouldn't work.
Kyohiko rubbed his temples.
"I plan to suspend training and return to devise solutions."
"You can devise solutions?"
Fukasaku looked surprised.
Kyohiko nodded: "My issue lies in overly acute hearing. Even earplugs don't help, so I intend to research sound-based genjutsu to temporarily deafen myself."
"What purpose would that serve?"
Fukasaku looked puzzled.
Kyohiko smiled: "If I can disable hearing, I can have shadow clones maintain perfect stillness. Dispelling them would transfer Sage Chakra to me."
"…"
Fukasaku and Minato exchanged silent looks.
An entirely novel approach.
Yet.
It held merit.
For Minato too—
Standard Sage Mode proved impractical. If shadow clones could gather Sage Chakra for transfer…
This had potential!
"Such training needn't be confined to Mount Myōboku, right?"
Kyohiko inquired.
Staying here indefinitely offered diminishing returns.
"The mountain's natural energy density facilitates sensing."
"So the tranquility training isn't essential?"
Kyohiko understood. "Then it's settled."
Fukasaku pondered before agreeing. He then turned to Minato.
"And you?"
"I'll return too. Current issues can't be resolved through prolonged training alone."