Chapter 473: Is Kiba About to Rise?
"Hmm?"
Naruto wiped the corner of his mouth and, still a bit weak, walked over to Kiba before glancing at Akamaru.
Akamaru was lying on the ground, letting out miserable "owoo owoo" howls, his four legs twitching uncontrollably.
Naruto looked closely and saw that Akamaru's face was swollen, his skin was red, and even his teeth had grown longer and sharper.
"I remember Jiraiya-sensei saying there's a disease called rabies…"
Naruto only got halfway through before he suddenly realized something.
What he had just eaten did indeed contain pure Sage Jutsu chakra, which was why he had been able to regain his consciousness.
Then Akamaru must have swallowed a large amount of Sage Jutsu chakra too?
Naruto's expression immediately changed.
He suddenly remembered that when he first went to Mount Myōboku to train in Sage Jutsu, he had been warned about what would happen if the training failed.
Those who failed in Mount Myōboku all turned into toad stone statues.
"Kiba, this is bad, Akamaru he… huh?"
Naruto was about to explain, but then he remembered something else.
Sage Shima had said that only humans would turn into stone if they failed.
Toads in Mount Myōboku bathed in toad oil every day without any problems.
Not just toads, even insects were fine. He had never seen any little stone insects or stone toads there.
And later, when Sage Shima told him stories about the Three Great Sage Lands, she also mentioned the other places where summoning beasts lived.
From Naruto's understanding, only humans were affected by the erosion of natural energy.
So as a dog, Akamaru might still not be able to withstand Sage Jutsu chakra, but the side effects would definitely be milder than for a human.
Naruto now knew what he needed to do.
"Naruto, what are you doing!!!"
Kiba was already anxious, but when he suddenly saw Naruto crouch down, grab Akamaru, and start helping him enter Sage Mode, he was completely stunned, and even took two steps back in shock.
On the other side, the unconscious Hinata had just woken up, only to see Naruto's actions. Her eyes widened, her Byakugan rolled back, and she fainted again.
But this time, it really wasn't Hinata's fault. The scene was simply too terrifying.
Even passersby nearby were scared and instinctively detoured far away.
Even Kiba, who cared about Akamaru the most, retreated a few steps and didn't dare to approach.
"Could it be that Naruto has also been affected?"
Kiba thought to himself.
Akamaru swallowing the talisman had caused him to convulse, and Naruto, on the surface, looked like he had recovered, but in reality, his brain must have been affected by the talisman too and he was starting to go crazy.
Otherwise, why would he be doing something like this?
"Naruto, you bastard, what are you doing!!!"
Sakura, who had previously beaten Naruto up, rushed over at that moment and happened to see this scene. Furious, she rolled up her sleeves and was about to punch Naruto again.
Tsunade and Ino followed behind her and were also shocked by Naruto's actions.
Originally, Tsunade had been suspicious that the ninja tools Naruto had sent to the three of them might have been arranged by someone behind the scenes—like Jiraiya.
But now it seems… maybe Naruto really had come up with it himself out of sheer craziness.
Otherwise, what was he doing right now?
"Sakura-chan, don't come over! I'm saving Akamaru!"
Facing the furious Sakura, Naruto actually shouted at her in a stern and serious voice.
This abnormal behavior instantly stunned Sakura, whose anger had been at maximum.
Is this really Naruto?
But she quickly reacted, was Naruto just putting on an act because he was afraid of getting hit?
"Naruto, what happened to Akamaru? If he's injured, I can treat him. Even if I can't, Tsunade-sama is here."
Sakura frowned deeply. Halfway through her sentence, she saw Naruto still helping Akamaru enter Sage Mode and immediately went pale with rage.
"Forget everything else, just stop it right now!!!"
"Gran…Tsunade-sama?"
Naruto, upon hearing Tsunade's name, suddenly remembered what Sage Shima had mentioned: Tsunade was the contractor of the Slug Sage Land, Shikkotsu Forest, so she should definitely know about this.
"That's right, Naruto, stop right now. I'll examine Akamaru."
Tsunade walked over and looked at Akamaru.
To be honest, just from looking at him, it didn't seem like Naruto was treating him, it looked more like Akamaru was being forcibly pushed into Sage Mode and suffering intensely.
"Akamaru ate the Myōboku Sage talisman that Jiraiya-sensei originally used to save me… uh…"
Naruto thought for a moment and decided not to say that he might have eaten the Great Toad Sage's toilet paper.
"What? Akamaru ate something like that? That's troublesome. That thing is far stronger than the Inuzuka clan's secret soldier pills."
Tsunade was shocked.
"Tsunade-sama, can he be saved?"
Kiba looked at her anxiously.
"Normal medical ninjutsu won't work. This isn't really an injury, nor is it a disease."
Tsunade shook her head slightly.
"No, Akamaru—!"
Kiba collapsed to the ground, howling toward the sky as if Akamaru was already doomed.
"Kiba, don't panic yet! I've got a way to save him!"
Naruto suddenly remembered the mission Jiraiya had given him. Seizing the opportunity, he quickly explained the shortcut method to train Sage Mode.
He also explained why he had given ninja tools to Sakura and the others, so he wouldn't get beaten up afterward.
"There's such a shortcut? Naruto, what nonsense are you spouting!"
Sakura's face turned red with anger as she clenched her fists, but she didn't dare get closer.
It wasn't that Naruto had actually stopped her.
It was because Naruto's attempt to force Sage Mode on Akamaru hadn't stopped at all, and Sakura was afraid that if she moved in to hit him, Akamaru might complete Sage Mode in that instant, and that would be disastrous.
"No, Sakura, Naruto actually has a bit of logic to what he's saying."
Tsunade said seriously, her expression turning solemn as she stroked her chin.
Although Tsunade didn't know Sage Jutsu, as a successor of Shikkotsu Forest, she did understand it.
And after gaining partial insight into natural energy through White Ink in another way, she had also done her own research in this area.
"It seems Naruto really is trying to save Akamaru… I've got it!"
Tsunade suddenly thought of a solution and looked at Kiba.
"Kiba, do you want to become a legendary ninja like Jiraiya? How far are you willing to go to save Akamaru?"
"Huh?"
Kiba was completely dumbfounded by these two unrelated questions.
But he still gave the most important answer:
"Tsunade-sama, I'm willing to sacrifice everything for Akamaru. Please, save him!!"
Kiba and Akamaru really did have a bond like man and dog… no, a deep bond between man and dog.
"Alright then, Kiba. I remember your Inuzuka clan's secret technique allows you to merge with your ninken, right? Now you must share Akamaru's burden. With Naruto's shortcut, there's a chance to neutralize the massive natural energy inside him."
"If you can neutralize it, not only will you both be safe, you might even be able to master Sage Mode because of this!"
Tsunade explained the situation.
"I understand, Tsunade-sama."
"Without further ado, Akamaru, I'm coming! Inuzuka-Style: Human Beast Combination Transformation: Double-Headed Wolf!"
Kiba dropped onto all fours and formed a hand seal toward Akamaru.
(End of this chapter)