"After learning to perceive natural energy, I suddenly realized that a breathing secret technique I had mastered could guide natural energy, but the breathing secret technique and Mount Myoboku Secret Technique seem to conflict if used at the same time," Mokgetsu thought for a moment and replied.
Fukasaku, an Immortal who has lived for over eight hundred years with an extremely deep understanding of Immortal Techniques, felt that there was no need to conceal this information. Perhaps Fukasaku could even help him to some extent.
"Is there such a thing? Mokgetsu, you should try using only the Breathing Secret Technique to absorb natural energy," Fukasaku said with a surprised expression.
After speaking, Fukasaku focused his concentration and perception, concentrating all his attention on Mokgetsu.
Upon hearing Fukasaku's words, Mokgetsu immediately focused his breathing and entered the Transparent World state, absorbing the natural energy attracted by the Breathing Technique within his body.
Mokgetsu discovered that simply maintaining the Breathing Technique as usual would automatically incorporate the absorbed natural energy into the operation of the Breathing Technique, thereby enhancing its augmentation of the body.
Moreover, aside from increasing bodily pressure, there were no other negative effects, at least for now.
Mokgetsu focused his mind further, entering the Breath of Thunder Chakra Mode.
Upon entering the Breath of Thunder Chakra Mode, the Breathing Technique's attraction to natural energy significantly increased, but to Mokgetsu's disappointment, it still couldn't absorb a large amount of natural energy quickly and synthesize it into Sage Art Chakra like Mount Myoboku Secret Technique, only enhancing the body's abilities.
"I see, Mokgetsu, your Breathing Secret Technique has a bit of an Immortal Technique prototype feel," Fukasaku said with an enlightened expression.
"Of course, they cannot be used simultaneously, as that would be equivalent to using two different styles of Sage Mode at the same time, which is extremely dangerous."
"When cultivating Sage Mode, Mokgetsu, it's best not to use that Breathing Secret Technique. While I'm here, I can help disperse the out-of-control natural energy, but if I'm not present, a natural energy rampage could be fatal."
Fukasaku showed a serious expression as he spoke.
"Hmm, could you please explain the principle behind this, Fukasaku Sage?" Mokgetsu nodded and asked.
Being prudent, he would never recklessly take risks. Feeling the danger, Mokgetsu stopped cultivating after just ten seconds.
"The essence of Sage Mode is actually a technique that temporarily transforms a human into an Immortal," Fukasaku revealed the nature of Sage Mode.
Fukasaku doesn't need to enter Sage Mode to use Immortal Techniques because he is an Immortal himself.
"Different styles of Sage Mode can turn a person into different types of Immortals, similar to how you ninjas mimic various animal Taijutsu techniques."
"Using two different styles of Sage Mode simultaneously is like using a Taijutsu mimicking a monkey with one hand and mimicking a tiger with the other. How could there be no conflict?" Fukasaku continued.
Mokgetsu nodded thoughtfully.
The Sage Mode training on Mount Myoboku may lead to frog transformation, while Ryuchi Cave's Sage Mode might cause snake transformation. Indeed, they don't seem like abilities that can be used together.
This is somewhat reminiscent of settings in some cultivation novels from his previous life, where you cannot cultivate two techniques simultaneously.
Next, Mokgetsu restrained himself from using the Breathing Technique, focusing entirely on training Sage Mode.
He must first master a Sage Mode to develop one that suits him best.
...
Early the next morning, Fukasaku Sage led Mokgetsu to a place full of sharp Nagaishi.
"The key to Sage Art Chakra is maintaining balance. If the proportion of natural energy is too small, it's just ordinary Chakra, and if the proportion is too high, it will turn into a frog. If you can successfully condense Sage Art Chakra and enter Sage Mode in this environment, the condensation of Sage Art Chakra won't have issues," Fukasaku Sage pointed to the towering sharp Nagaishi.
With that, Fukasaku Sage handed Mokgetsu a wooden board.
Mokgetsu nodded, and with a few leaps, reached the top of the spikes, placed the board, and sat down steadily.
Fukasaku Sage followed closely behind, sitting on another spike next to Mokgetsu, quietly watching him.
"Mokgetsu's talent in Immortal Techniques is truly terrifying, not showing any problems," Fukasaku sighed in his heart, watching Mokgetsu remain perfectly still.
Recently, the only ninja on Mount Myoboku to successfully master Sage Mode was Jiraiya.
But Jiraiya fell countless times before succeeding in this part, whereas Mokgetsu seems to have hope for immediate success?
Fukasaku Sage couldn't see through Mokgetsu's body with his perception nor personally fight him; otherwise, he would realize Mokgetsu's frightening level of control over his body, sometimes even achieving perfect control.
Under Fukasaku's gaze, natural energy continuously flowed into Mokgetsu's body, then synthesized into Sage Art Chakra.
As the Sage Art Chakra in Mokgetsu's body reached a certain level, he opened his eyes. Orange-yellow eye shadow appeared around Mokgetsu's eyes, and his pupils transformed into horizontal yellow bars.
"Sage face, and not a trace of frog transformation, Mokgetsu, you've already surpassed Jiraiya as an Immortal!" Fukasaku Sage exclaimed with surprise.
Although Mount Myoboku's Sage Mode helps ninjas temporarily become Immortals, it doesn't mean that the closer your appearance is to an Immortal, the better you've cultivated Sage Mode. In fact, the closer the appearance is to an Immortal, the poorer the Sage Mode cultivation.
Mokgetsu looked at his skill panel, and the skill named Sage Mode had reached proficiency level.
"Mokgetsu, do you want to learn more about Mount Myoboku's Immortal Techniques or go back directly? You're already considered an Immortal now," upon returning to the ground, Fukasaku Sage asked.
The ordinary Ninjutsu, when activated using Sage Art Chakra, can also be referred to as Immortal Technique. Here, it refers to the exclusive Sage Techniques of Mount Myoboku, like the Frog Kata.
"I would like to learn again the specific theory of Sage Mode," Mokgetsu shook his head and replied.
He had plenty of abilities, and not learning Sage Techniques from Mount Myoboku wouldn't affect him much.
When he came to Mount Myoboku, he used Enlightenment on himself. There were still more than twenty hours left, and going back so early would be a waste.
"Theory, huh? Let me think about how to explain it to you." Fukasaku sat on the ground, showing a thoughtful expression.
It's the first time someone made such a request.
Usually, people are overjoyed just to learn Sage Mode and don't care about the principles, as long as they can use it.
"I mentioned before that in essence, Sage Mode is a technique that temporarily turns a ninja into a sage. And speaking of sages, we must talk about natural energy and Sage Art Chakra."
"Natural energy is one of the most powerful energies in the Ninja World; it's part of the world's composition..."
It must be said, in the knowledge of Sage Techniques, Fukasaku is indeed knowledgeable. Much of the knowledge about Sage Mode and natural energy was something Mokgetsu had never heard before.
Although knowing this knowledge wouldn't strengthen Mokgetsu's Sage Mode, it would help him develop a new Sage Mode.
Mokgetsu remained until the morning of the third day before exiting the Enlightenment State, preparing to leave Mount Myoboku and return to Konoha.
"Why are you leaving so soon? Do you have a mission to execute?" Shima Sage asked reluctantly. Over the past two days, it felt like it learned something, and its cooking skills had improved.
"No, Mokgetsu has completed his Sage Mode cultivation," Fukasaku Sage explained.
"Huh? Hasn't it only been two days of training?" Shima Sage looked bewildered.
"I forgot to tell you, Mokgetsu is a super sage talent. The first time he cultivated, he could sense natural energy without using the toad oil," Fukasaku Sage said with some pride.
Nobody will likely break this record in the future—teaching Sage Mode without using toad oil in two days.
"Oh dear, if I'd known Mokgetsu was leaving, I would've taken a dish to the Great Toad Sage last night," Shima Sage complained.
"Uh..."
Only then did Fukasaku Sage realize he had forgotten to offer the marvelous dish to the Great Toad Sage.
Yesterday, Mokgetsu kept asking it various questions to make full use of the Enlightenment effect, which exhausted it.
"If you two Sages don't mind the trouble, I'll return in five days to continue learning," Mokgetsu said with a smile.
In five days, the Enlightenment Skill would cool down, allowing a continuation of the rapid learning of Sage Mode knowledge.
"Not at all, Mokgetsu, please visit often," Shima Sage said with a delighted expression.
"Just notify us when you're coming, we're quite free." Fukasaku Sage stroked his white beard and smiled.
In Mount Myoboku, apart from the Great Toad Sage, they were the largest and usually had nothing much to do.
"By the way, Mokgetsu, when using Sage Mode, don't try to absorb natural energy using the Breathing Secret Techniques. If you ever think of trying, come to Mount Myoboku to find me," Fukasaku Sage reminded.
Mokgetsu seemed reliable, but Fukasaku Sage had lived too long. It had seen too many people, and humans sometimes have a tendency to court death.
"Yes, thank you," Mokgetsu sincerely thanked.
Before achieving any research results, Mokgetsu would not recklessly attempt it.
After the farewell, Fukasaku Sage began sending Mokgetsu back.
Returning was a bit more troublesome than coming to Mount Myoboku.
He first had to communicate with Namikaze Minato, summoning an Immortal over, and then that Immortal would use the Reverse Summoning Jutsu to transport Mokgetsu over.
"It's strange, such an excellent ninja like Mokgetsu, does the Great Toad Sage not have any prophecy regarding him?" Shima Sage asked in confusion.
"The Great Toad Sage doesn't know everything," Fukasaku Sage shook his head.
The Great Toad Sage could only make prophetic dreams, not clearly see all futures. It depended on fate and fortune, not strength.
PS:
The Reverse Summoning Jutsu is not just the contractor using the Summoning Technique in reverse to go directly to the summons. It requires summoning from the summons' side, pre-communication, and is rather troublesome.
For example, when Naruto went to Mount Myoboku to train, Gamakichi's first words were "I was the one who summoned you, Naruto."
Also, in the setting book, the Great Toad Sage relies on massive Chakra to foresee the future. Chakra really is an all-powerful (). It's unknown just how massive that is.
Finally, this is the first update of the second day, asking for monthly tickets!