At this time, it's been several days since Naruto completed the Dragon Vein mission.
To obtain the power needed to defeat the Akatsuki leader, under Fukasaku Sage's suggestion, Naruto followed him to Mount Myoboku to train in Sage Mode.
Since Naruto had not learned how to perceive Natural Ability, his first phase of training was to use Toad Oil to feel the absorption of natural energy.
This was the initial training, but what neither Fukasaku nor Naruto expected was that Naruto encountered tremendous difficulty at this stage.
Bang bang!!
He continually dispersed three Shadow Clones that were about to turn into frogs, and then effortlessly dispersed the natural energy from Naruto's body, Fukasaku Sage showed a puzzled expression.
"It shouldn't be like this. Although this training is hard to perfect, little Naruto, you've divided three Shadow Clones. In fact, the effect of training should be multiplied several times. Why is the progress so slow?" Fukasaku Sage was somewhat puzzled.
After thinking for a moment, he said to Naruto:
"Little Naruto, don't create Shadow Clones, train again as you just did, I'll carefully perceive what's going on."
After speaking, Fukasaku Sage splashed the Toad Oil from the waterfall onto Naruto.
Naruto then closed his eyes to perceive and absorb the natural energy as he did before.
Fukasaku Sage fully opened his perception, keeping a close watch on Naruto.
In the perception of Fukasaku Sage, a lot of natural energy entered Naruto's body, while a small portion entered under some sort of strange rhythmic breathing from Naruto.
"I see." Fukasaku Sage showed a look of sudden realization.
Naruto unintentionally used two different methods of attracting natural energy, causing a conflict among the natural energy within his body, making it even more difficult to control.
"So what's going on, could it be that I don't have the talent to train Immortal Techniques?" Naruto couldn't help but ask.
This was something Jiraiya had once completed, and Naruto didn't want to lose to the pervy sage.
What's most important is the urgent need for power right now; without enough strength, Naruto can't avenge Jiraiya.
"No, it's just that your breathing technique has a problem, don't you think your breathing is a bit odd?" Fukasaku Sage explained.
"Breathing? My breathing is very normal and healthy." Naruto scratched his head and replied.
He learned Mokgetsu's Breath of Yang, and with the effort combined with the Shadow Clone training method, he had reached the Constant State before heading to Mount Myoboku for Immortal Technique cultivation.
If Kakashi and the others knew Naruto's training speed, they'd probably be shocked to death, as Naruto's time to reach Constant State was even less than the time they spent on breathing technique entry-level.
"It's not a matter of health, but your breathing is automatically guiding the natural energy into some kind of operation, causing a conflict with other natural energies." Fukasaku Sage explained.
"There's such a thing, but I haven't sensed any natural energy usually." Naruto was puzzled.
When Mokgetsu taught him the Breath of Yang, he didn't mention the natural energy Sage Mode thing.
"Are you sure, Grandpa Sage? My breathing changed due to training Breath of Yang, which strengthens my body, and later there's an even stronger Breath of Yang Chakra Mode."
If possible, Naruto didn't want to give up the Breath of Yang; on one hand, it was a skill taught by Mokgetsu, on the other hand, it was indeed a practical Secret Technique.
After mastering Constant State, Naruto could clearly feel his body becoming much stronger, and the effect of daily exercises also improved.
Fukasaku Sage observed Naruto for a while and said:
"It should be due to the Toad Oil, it allows you to perceive and absorb natural energy.
Your Breath of Yang couldn't absorb enough natural energy to affect the body without perceiving it, and the Toad Oil changed this outcome."
"Little Naruto, you should revert to normal breathing, otherwise your chance of successfully training Sage Mode will become extremely low."
Naruto looked conflicted, continuously pondering.
"The power of Sage Mode exceeds your imagination. Using ordinary ninjutsu that only consumes internal chakra will quickly lead to fatigue, whereas Sage Art Chakra is different; it allows the absorption of energy from outside, not only preventing fatigue but also recovering quickly." Fukasaku Sage explained.
"Little Naruto, you inherently possess a strong chakra, plus the Nine-tails' portion, your recovery ability will be stronger than ordinary immortals, successfully training Sage Mode will provide you with an enhancement much greater than Breath of Yang."
From Fukasaku Sage's perspective, Naruto should unreservedly abandon Breath of Yang, after all, no Secret Technique can match the power of Immortal Techniques.
"Grandpa Sage, please wait a moment, I'm about to make an adjustment." Naruto took a deep breath and made a decision.
He didn't have much time to hesitate, and Naruto didn't intend to completely give up breathing techniques.
Since Breath of Yang increases the difficulty of controlling natural energy, then he'll wait until his control ability is stronger to use them simultaneously.
When the control ability is weak, he'll stagger the training, not maintaining the Constant State of Breath of Yang.
Fukasaku Sage chuckled, nodding his head, Naruto was a good and obedient child.
Just as Fukasaku Sage expected, once Naruto stopped maintaining Breath of Yang, his progress quickly accelerated.
Training continued until the evening, Fukasaku Sage took Naruto home for dinner, thus ending the first day of training.