After spending all the gold coins, Mokgetsu didn't leave immediately but instead had dinner with Yamato before returning to the training team to prepare for the evening classes.
After finishing the training team's work, Mokgetsu used the Flying Thunder God to teleport outside Konoha, then employed the Breath of Thunder to travel to the southwest of the Land of Fire.
That place is remote, economically undeveloped, and distant from every battlefield, making it an ideal location for experimenting with ninjutsu.
Mokgetsu quickly walked to a deserted mountain and then used the Byakugan, Transparent World, Observation, and other abilities to carefully probe the surroundings.
After confirming that there was no one around, he began his practice.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Accompanied by Mokgetsu's rapid hand seals, a massive amount of chakra within his body quickly transformed into Wood Release chakra, stimulating the growth of trees on the ground.
Rumble!!
A large number of trees burst out from the earth and quickly grew, increasing the density of the already lush mountain forest to a bizarre level.
Looking at the vast thick trees, Mokgetsu nodded slightly.
Although he hadn't seen Senju Hashirama's Deep Forest Emergence, he had seen Shimura Danzo's panel and watched Shimura Danzo perform Deep Forest Emergence.
His casually executed Deep Forest Emergence surpassed Shimura Danzo's significantly in both range and the thickness of the trees, which shouldn't be categorized as a real estate-level Wood Release.
"Wood Release: Flower Forest Emergence!"
Mokgetsu again concentrated a large amount of Wood Release chakra.
Bang bang!!
Gigantic vines drilled out from the land, rapidly growing and eventually blossoming buds.
Flower Forest Emergence is considered an enhanced version of Deep Forest Emergence; the vines produced are not only longer and thicker than the trees from Deep Forest Emergence but also capable of releasing pollen that causes unconsciousness.
To prevent Shimura Danzo from mastering this jutsu, Mokgetsu had even prepared corresponding medicines and breathing masks.
However, Shimura Danzo never learned it, so Mokgetsu's preparation went unused.
Without any enemies around, Mokgetsu directly canceled the jutsu and did not release the pollen.
"Wood Release: Woodman Jutsu!"
Boom boom!!
As Mokgetsu invested a massive amount of chakra, the trees under his feet further expanded, merging and transforming to ultimately form a gigantic wooden man approximately forty meters tall.
Mokgetsu stood high on the wooden man, looking down at the surroundings, experiencing a unique sense of exhilaration.
Whether he was impressive or not was beside the point, operating a Gundam certainly seemed cooler.
Mokgetsu controlled the wooden man to throw a punch at a small mountain peak.
Boom!!!
As soon as the fist touched, the mountain peak shattered, with rocks of different sizes flying in all directions.
The wood of the Wood Release differs from ordinary trees; its hardness varies according to the strength of the chakra.
For instance, Senju Hashirama's wooden man could even catch a Tailed Beast Ball and throw it back.
After one strike, Mokgetsu canceled the wooden man and cleared some traces.
"A Sage Mode is still missing," Mokgetsu thought while extracting chakra on the spot.
Speaking of Senju Hashirama's most impressive Wood Release, naturally, it would be the True Thousand Hands in Sage Mode.
The gigantic wooden man sitting atop True Thousand Hands appeared tiny like a toy, and catching the Nine-tails with one hand seemed as effortless as clutching a chick.
When all the arms of True Thousand Hands attack together, they can directly shatter Uchiha Madara's Armoured Susanoo.
Even in the later overpowering versions, this was an exceedingly powerful jutsu.
"Should I contact Jiraiya or Tsunade?" Mokgetsu pondered as he traveled.
Actually, it wouldn't be difficult for him to acquire Sage Mode, as all the Three Great Holy Lands have their own Sage Arts, and Mokgetsu has good relationships with both Tsunade and Jiraiya, allowing him to seek training in immortal techniques at Mount Myoboku or the Shikkotsu Forest.
However, Mokgetsu has always been concerned about the mysterious Holy Land Ancestors.
In the original works, apart from the Great Toad Sage at Mount Myoboku, the ancestors of Ryuchi Cave and Shikkotsu Forest received little to no screen time.
The beings summoned by Tsunade were just Katsuyu Sage's independently conscious replicas.
Although they hadn't appeared much in the plot, these Holy Land Ancestors shouldn't be underestimated.
Take the Great Toad Sage as an example—it possesses the ability to foresee the future and has lived from the time of the Six Paths Sage to the present, with its prophecies running throughout the entire Naruto series.
Being a long-lived being wielding the power of immortal techniques, Mokgetsu doesn't believe the Great Toad Sage's ability would be lacking.
If it were to anticipate Mokgetsu's future and be dissatisfied with it, interfering would be like stepping into a trap.
As for Katsuyu Sage, Mokgetsu has limited understanding of it; the unknown itself poses a risk.
With these concerns and considering Mokgetsu was in his golden period for strength growth with other research providing substantial benefits, investing time in cultivating a risky Sage Mode offered moderate appeal, leading him not to seek contact with the Holy Lands for training in immortal techniques.
Back in Konoha, Mokgetsu placed his Pokemon Egg beside him and continued researching the Breathing Technique.
He always carried the Pokemon Egg—in his travels, it would be stored in the System Space.
Clearing his mind, Mokgetsu quickly entered a state of focus.
He needed Sage Mode, but it wasn't urgent because even with Sage Mode currently, mastering True Thousand Hands wouldn't be possible.
True Thousand Hands was a Sage Art that even Senju Hashirama found slightly straining to use, with its consumption understandably massive; Mokgetsu, presently, couldn't afford such a significant chakra expenditure.
An hour later, Mokgetsu stopped his research, preparing to go to bed.
Just as Mokgetsu turned off the lights, the Pokemon Egg suddenly emitted a faint green glow, which soon vanished.
Simultaneously, Mokgetsu inexplicably felt his body lighten a bit.
Curious, Mokgetsu activated the Byakugan to look at the Pokemon Egg, but unfortunately, he still couldn't see through the layer of light to view the creature inside.
"It seems to be close to hatching; if it's a mythical beast, training it for a while, combined with my strength, maybe visiting those Holy Lands could be possible," Mokgetsu speculated.
According to the System's localized Pokemon skills, a localized mythical beast's power would undoubtedly be exceptional. Having a mythical beast as a summoning beast, coupled with his strength, fleeing would definitely be achievable.
...
"Jonin Chen, if there are any abnormalities discovered, please immediately fire a signal bullet, and I'll dispatch troops for support," Mitokado Homura instructed Teacher Chen.
Teacher Chen's strength is considerable, and his experience is sufficient; Mitokado Homura decided to have him lead another team to eliminate the Hidden Mist.
"I understand, Advisor Yan, the same goes for your side," Teacher Chen nodded.
His strength and experience meant he didn't need to address Mitokado Homura as lord.
"Move out!"
Mitokado Homura and Teacher Chen each organized their troops, heading toward two different directions.
Mitokado Homura knew the Hidden Mist's assassination capabilities were strong, so he brought two Jonin from the Hyuga Clan and instructed them to take turns activating the Byakugan to scout while traveling.
"Honoo-sama, ahead is a large mist created by Hidden Mist ninjas; predicting enemy numbers is not possible!" the Jonin Hyuga reported upon nearing the destination.
The Byakugan can see chakra through ordinary smoke and thus assess the enemy's numbers and strength.
But Hidden Mist Jutsu is different; the mist itself is created from chakra, so the Byakugan sees nothing but chakra.
"Wind Release ninja, step forward, use Wind Release to disperse the mist, slow down the pace, and continue advancing!" Mitokado Homura thought for a moment before commanding.
He had prepared for so long; retreating due to mist alone wasn't an option.
Otherwise, there's no need for battles since Hidden Mist ninjas skilled in Hidden Mist Jutsu are numerous.
Thus, Mitokado Homura led his troops forward steadily.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bomb Jutsu!"
Suddenly, a huge water dragon emerged from the mist.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Mitokado Homura reacted swiftly, quickly forming hand seals to create a large earth wall, blocking the water dragon.
"Even you dare launch an attack," Mitokado Homura's eyes stayed focused on the short figure emerging from the increasingly thinning mist.
"Heh, why wouldn't I dare," Karatachi Yagura sneered.
"Approximately five hundred enemies!" The Hidden Mist Jutsu was gradually losing effectiveness as the Jonin Hyuga rapidly assessed.
Mitokado Homura remained calm; it was as he imagined—seems the battle will be quite relieved.
He had brought a total of eight hundred ninjas.
"No, a large number of Hidden Mist ninjas are coming from a distance!" Another Hyuga ninja discovered a substantial fact.
Mitokado Homura's expression changed abruptly.