Naruto needed to practice extra every night to keep up.
At this moment, under the Toad Oil Waterfall on Mount Myōboku, Morkel, Naruto, Jiraiya, and Fukasaku gathered together.
The Great Toad Sage had personally instructed them, though Jiraiya was often considered unreliable. Fukasaku, worried about the training, had come in person to guide them.
Fukasaku began, "Learning Sage Mode is actually quite simple. In general, you need to..."
"Die," Jiraiya added expressionlessly.
Morkel and Naruto shuddered. Was it really that serious? Maybe learning Sage Mode wasn't such a good idea after all!
"What kind of nonsense is that!" Fukasaku snapped, leaping onto Jiraiya's head and delivering a sharp slap.
He continued, "The key to Sage Mode is sensing natural energy, absorbing it, and blending it with your own chakra. The core of training is to remain completely still. Only when your body stops moving as a human and attunes to the flow of natural energy can you perceive it."
Naruto scratched his head. "That sounds difficult."
"Then let me show you its wonders."
Fukasaku jumped onto a massive stone toad, made a simple hand seal, and placed his clawed hands against the stone.
A rumbling sound filled the air.
Then—
The stone toad, over ten meters tall and weighing hundreds of tons, was effortlessly lifted by the small frog!
"Whoa!!" Naruto exclaimed in awe.
Morkel, however, remained silent, focusing intently on observing the chakra flow within Fukasaku's Sage Body. Though he couldn't sense the natural energy yet, he was determined to learn Sage Mode.
As Fukasaku put the stone toad down, he gestured to the numerous stone figures behind them.
"Sensing natural energy is difficult. Absorbing too much leads to transformation into a toad. In extreme cases, one assimilates with nature and turns to stone."
Morkel swallowed hard. There were at least twenty-four giant stone toads behind Fukasaku. Hundreds, if not thousands, of past failures had become part of the landscape.
"Alright, enough talk. You two start practicing."
Fukasaku moved toward the Toad Oil Waterfall.
"This is Mount Myōboku's special toad oil. Applying it to your body makes it easier to sense natural energy."
He applied a thin layer of the oil to Morkel and Naruto's arms.
"Don't worry. Jiraiya and I will make sure you don't turn into toads."
---
Meanwhile, in the Hidden Leaf Village...
In a secret chamber, Sand and Sound Shinobi were deep in conversation.
"The plan is proceeding as scheduled," a Sound Ninja reported. "Everything is under control, Lord Orochimaru."
"I hope Gaara doesn't mess up," Baki, the Sand Shinobi leader, muttered. "This mission determines the future of the Sand Village."
Suddenly, a Sound Ninja sensed a presence and threw two kunai toward the shadows.
"Someone is eavesdropping! We can't let anyone leak this!"
---
Back on Mount Myōboku, Morkel and Naruto sat cross-legged in meditation, forming hand seals. Their first task: sensing natural energy.
Soon, Naruto absorbed too much. His body swelled, lumps formed on his face, and he began transforming into a toad!
Jiraiya reacted instantly, whacking Naruto's head with a black staff.
"Bang!"
Naruto reverted back to normal, groaning in pain.
Meanwhile, Morkel's expression changed. Orange-red markings appeared around his eyes and between his brows.
Jiraiya and Fukasaku were surprised. These markings were the signs of Sage Mode!
But moments later, Morkel's face swelled, showing signs of toad transformation.
Fukasaku struck him without hesitation.
"Bang!"
Morkel returned to normal.
"Don't worry," Fukasaku assured. "Even Jiraiya hasn't mastered Sage Mode perfectly. Some toad features always appear."
However, he was secretly shocked. In just two hours, Morkel had already begun sensing natural energy. That was faster than both Minato and Jiraiya!
Two hours later, Morkel could clearly sense natural energy through the toad oil. Though faint toad features appeared, the markings around his eyes and forehead deepened.
Jiraiya gaped in disbelief.
"Try lifting the stone toad," Fukasaku instructed.
Morkel stepped forward, placed his hands on the massive toad's foot, and applied gentle force.
Natural energy surged within him.
"Boom!"
The enormous stone toad trembled as Morkel slowly lifted it!
Jiraiya was stunned.
"How is this possible?! I took weeks just to sense natural energy, and months to lift that toad!"
Fukasaku smiled. "The Great Toad Sage was right. This kid's talent is terrifying."
---
At night, Morkel and Naruto continued training.
By dawn, Morkel had mastered the first stage and advanced to the next.
"Now you must balance on wooden planks atop sharp stone spires," Fukasaku explained. "Without toad oil, you'll learn to control natural energy naturally."
Morkel gulped. The towering stone spires looked deadly. One wrong step could be fatal!
"Don't worry," Fukasaku reassured him. "I'll catch you if anything happens."
Morkel nodded. There was no turning back now. He stepped onto the plank and began the grueling practice.
By noon, he had learned to balance perfectly and sense natural energy without toad oil.
---
Naruto arrived, rubbing his swollen head. "Pervy Sage, you hit me too hard!"
"If I don't, you'll turn into a toad," Jiraiya retorted.
Naruto grinned. "Hey, how's Morkel doing? I'm catching up!"
Fukasaku glanced at Naruto. "At his current speed, Morkel will finish training in a week."
Jiraiya jolted. "A WEEK?! Even Minato took over a month!"
Naruto was shocked. "So my friend Morkel is stronger than the Hokage?!"
Fukasaku sighed. "Actually, a week is a conservative estimate."
Morkel blinked, realizing just how fast he was progressing.
Just then, Naruto's stomach growled.
"Time for lunch!" he cheered.
Fukasaku chuckled. "Don't get your hopes up."
Morkel paled. If it was like last night, they'd have to eat insects again!
Shima, the food-delivering hermit, arrived cheerfully. "I prepared something special today! Steamed leeches!"
Morkel and Naruto forced a smile.
"Thank you, Granny Shima!"
But inside, they were screaming.
When Shima refused to leave, they had no choice but to eat. Naruto took the first bite.
"Crunch, crunch."
The sound alone made Morkel queasy.
Surprisingly, Naruto lit up. "Morkel! Try it! It's actually delicious!"
Morkel was suspicious but reluctantly took a bite.
...It wasn't bad.
"Maybe my body's becoming toad-like, so now it tastes good?" Naruto mused.
Shima beamed. "Eat slowly, boys!"
---
In the afternoon, training resumed. Morkel progressed even further, mastering balance and energy absorption.
By nightfall, he had stabilized Sage Mode. The toad features were gone!
Fukasaku was speechless.
"Did he really master Sage Mode in one day?!"
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