Hidden Snow Village, inside the village chief's office.
Naruto sat across from his female avatar.
"Have Zetsu or that Tobi guy contacted you recently?" Naruto asked.
"No. I did sense someone observing the Hidden Snow Village once, but I concealed my chakra and rarely appeared in public."
The female avatar answered calmly.
"That's good. Even if they discover this place, there's no need to worry too much."
Naruto smiled.
"Akatsuki intends to remain hidden and gather strength for the next three years, but we'll be doing the same thing. Besides, I recently discovered a hidden function of the system. It'll be a tremendous help to us."
Naruto raised his right hand and pressed his index finger against the female avatar's forehead.
Golden light emerged from his fingertip and flowed into her body.
"What is this?"
The female avatar's expression changed.
A strange power was suddenly born within her, spreading through every part of her body before gradually settling down.
Naruto withdrew his hand with a triumphant smile.
"You now possess the [Senju Clan Sage Body]."
This was the system's hidden ability.
The skills and bloodlines within the system could be exchanged for other people, not only Naruto himself.
As long as he possessed enough points, Naruto could forcibly transform an ordinary shinobi into a powerful expert.
It was a power comparable to that of a god.
That was the true wonder of his system.
"Unfortunately, we're running low on points, and I still need to obtain the [Senjutsu Body] for myself."
Naruto sounded slightly regretful.
"Otherwise, I could have given you the Wood Release kekkei genkai as well."
He soon smiled again.
"We still have nearly three years to prepare. During that time, we need to kill as many enemy shinobi as possible and accumulate system points."
"Understood."
The female avatar nodded.
"With the [Senju Clan Sage Body], my overall strength will increase considerably. Its perception abilities will also make it easier to detect enemies and avoid surveillance."
"Exactly. You now possess Explosion Release, the [Uzumaki Clan Sage Body], the [Senju Clan Sage Body], the Sword of Kusanagi, the Immortal-Binding Rope, and the snake techniques of Ryūchi Cave."
Naruto examined his female avatar with satisfaction.
"Your strength has already reached the Kage level. At the very least, you're much stronger than Deidara."
She was a being Naruto had personally created, and she had become one of his strongest hidden trump cards.
"Once we accumulate enough points, I'll give you Wood Release. I'll also strengthen everyone else, including Hinata."
Naruto's expression gradually became serious.
"If I can continue granting them powerful bloodlines and abilities, then we'll have enough strength to fight the monsters in Akatsuki."
—
After handling the basic affairs of the Hidden Snow Village, Naruto returned to his home in Konoha and went to sleep.
The following morning, Tsunade and Kurenai discovered that Yakumo Kurama had vanished.
Konoha immediately launched a large-scale search.
None of that had anything to do with Naruto.
He continued training as though nothing had happened.
Ten days later, his efforts finally produced the result he had been waiting for.
With the help of [Ninjutsu Talent], an ability granted by the [Senju Clan Sage Body], Naruto had raised every Fire Release, Lightning Release, Water Release, and Earth Release technique contained within his elemental scrolls to the [Proficient] level.
The [Senju Clan Sage Body] had served its purpose.
Naruto could finally obtain the physique he had been anticipating for so long.
The system had previously told him that his God-tier [Uzumaki Clan Sage Body] and [Senju Clan Sage Body] could be fused into one of two physiques.
The first option was the [Complete Sage Body].
When combined with his Asura chakra, it would awaken the Wood Release kekkei genkai.
The second option was the [Senjutsu Body].
It would automatically absorb natural energy and gradually transform all the chakra within his body into senjutsu chakra. Once the transformation was complete, he would be able to use senjutsu continuously without suffering any side effects.
(For details, see Chapter 67.)
Naruto had already chosen the [Senjutsu Body].
He intended to walk a different path toward power.
Now, the moment had finally arrived.
"System, fuse my bloodlines into the [Senjutsu Body] and raise it directly to Level 4—the God-tier bloodline level!"
"Ding-dong! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the God-tier bloodline [Senjutsu Body]!"
"You have also acquired [Unique Senjutsu]. Please explore its abilities on your own."
The moment the system notification ended, Naruto felt his body undergo a complete transformation.
Warmth spread through every muscle, bone, and organ.
His entire existence felt different.
A strange energy from the surrounding world began entering his body. It slowly merged with his physical and spiritual energies, producing a purer and more powerful form of chakra.
Small portions of his ordinary chakra began transforming.
The energy entering my body must be natural energy.
Naruto could barely contain his excitement.
And the power being created from it is senjutsu chakra!
Although he had already read the description of the [Senjutsu Body], he couldn't resist examining it again.
The [Senjutsu Body] possessed five inherent abilities.
[Senjutsu Amplification]: Ninjutsu infused with senjutsu chakra becomes senjutsu, increasing its power several times over.
[Physical Enhancement]: Physical strength, speed, mental power, and reaction speed will continuously improve. These enhancements will grow stronger over time.
[Natural Perception]: At long range, the user can sense danger and living beings within a radius of several kilometers. At close range, the user can perceive even the smallest movements of an opponent.
[Natural Healing]: Senjutsu chakra possesses an extremely powerful healing effect.
[Unique Senjutsu]: A personal senjutsu ability that must be discovered independently, similar to the unique Sage Arts possessed by each of the Three Great Sage Regions.
These abilities were far more powerful than those granted by his original Sage Bodies.
More importantly, they could continue growing.
Ordinary chakra was produced by consuming the user's physical and spiritual energies. The more chakra a shinobi used, the more exhausted they became.
Naruto's [Senjutsu Body], however, continuously absorbed natural energy from the outside world. That power would replenish him while gradually strengthening his body.
This was an evolution in the very nature of his energy.
Once all the ordinary chakra in my body has been converted into senjutsu chakra, could I become something resembling a true immortal?
Naruto's thoughts began to wander.
Even if I ignore the increase in strength, I should at least live much longer—perhaps as long as the Great Toad Sage or the White Snake Sage.
The possibility made him eager to complete the transformation immediately.
Naruto sat down and focused entirely on absorbing natural energy, hoping to convert all his chakra into senjutsu chakra in one attempt.
Ten minutes later, he opened his eyes and frowned.
It was impossible.
The amount of natural energy entering his body was far too small.
Naruto could think of two possible explanations.
First, he had not yet learned the correct method for drawing in natural energy efficiently.
Second, the concentration of natural energy in the ordinary world was simply too low.
The Three Great Sage Regions probably contain much denser natural energy.
Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest were all renowned for their Sage Arts. Their environments were likely far more suitable for absorbing natural energy.
Whether they also possessed special methods for increasing the absorption rate remained unknown.
Either way, Naruto needed to accompany Jiraiya to Mount Myōboku.
The toads would almost certainly welcome him and willingly teach him how to use senjutsu.
Ryūchi Cave was different. The White Snake Sage was dangerous and would force him to undergo a series of tests.
As for Shikkotsu Forest, Naruto had no idea what conditions awaited him there.
Mount Myōboku was the safest choice.
Besides, Naruto wasn't interested in learning the exact same Sage Mode he had used in the original story. His true goal was to absorb the abundant natural energy of Mount Myōboku and accelerate the transformation of his body.
With that thought, Naruto became even more eager for Jiraiya's return.
Another ten days passed.
Naruto was training alone when he suddenly stopped.
He turned toward the wooden posts behind him, and the corners of his mouth rose uncontrollably.
The person he had been waiting for had finally returned.
"All right, Naruto!"
Jiraiya crouched atop one of the wooden posts and grinned down at him.
"Starting today, your real training under me begins!"