The First Step Toward Sage Mode!

Looking at the gleaming [Sage Clan Guiding Technique] on the panel.

Nara Kaikei admitted that what he had said in his heart just now had probably, perhaps, maybe been a little too loud.

Right now, all he wanted was to crouch down at light speed, grab Diroku by the shoulders, and cry out with heartfelt urgency.

"Little Master Diroku, are you all right?"

Taking advantage of the chance to keep shaking Diroku by the shoulders.

Nara Kaikei swiftly reviewed the [D-Rank Jutsu: Sage Clan Guiding Technique] recorded on the panel.

So it wasn't the senjutsu I imagined, nor was it Sage Mode.

No wonder! How could a secret technique on Sage Mode's level possibly come out of a D-Rank scroll?

Nara Kaikei ran through all the information recorded in the Jutsu Scroll in his mind.

The panel's description of the [Sage Clan Guiding Technique] is rather mysterious, but in reality, it's just a method of meditation and breathing.

Its ultimate effect is allowing someone to clearly sense the existence of Natural Energy!

After reading through the specifics of the [Sage Clan Guiding Technique], Nara Kaikei felt both joy and concern.

After all, it was only a D-Rank [Ninja Scroll]. Getting a jutsu of this quality from it was already an incredibly lucky result.

That was why Nara Kaikei had been so pleasantly surprised.

But correspondingly.

As a D-Rank jutsu, who knew how long the [Sage Clan Guiding Technique] would take to cultivate before one could sense the existence of Natural Energy.

If it took decades or even centuries to sense Natural Energy, he might as well research some other method of sensing it!

But no matter what, the [Sage Clan Guiding Technique] was still a cultivation technique capable of perceiving Natural Energy.

Being able to sense the existence of Natural Energy was the crucial first step toward researching "Sage Mode"!

Nara Kaikei temporarily set aside his needless worries.

"Diroku is the 'Sage Clan Talent' of our generation at the Temple of Fire. Not only is he exceptionally gifted, but he is also diligent and hardworking."

Master Chūkaku approached without a sound and gently pressed a palm against Diroku's forehead.

"I had thought he would be a worthy opponent for Young Benefactor Nara. I did not expect his combat experience to still be so lacking."

Diroku slowly woke up. Looking at the abbot and his opponent standing so close by, the scene of his defeat flashed through his mind.

He sprang nimbly off the ground like a carp and bowed to Abbot Chūkaku at a ninety-degree angle.

"I'm sorry, Abbot. I lost!"

"There is no need to dwell on it, Diroku."

Master Chūkaku helped Diroku up with a smile, then tapped his forehead three times.

"You are simple and honest by nature, upright in conduct, and not skilled in the devious ways of ninja combat. That is only natural."

Listening from the side, Nara Kaikei inexplicably felt that something about those words was off.

Diroku was upright and honest, so that meant he was cunning and deceitful?

Was the Abbot of the Temple of Fire a little petty?

"This is what real combat between ninja is like, Chūkaku."

Nara Shikano interjected from the side with a smile.

"The essence of ninja combat is deception."

Master Chūkaku shook his head without saying anything further.

The ninja monks of the Temple of Fire and the ninja of Konoha.

Though both were "superhumans" capable of using Chakra.

At their core, the two sides understood Chakra in completely different ways.

"Young Benefactor Nara."

Master Chūkaku looked toward Nara Kaikei, the smile on his bald head unchanged.

"The finest Apprentice Ninja Monk in the Temple of Fire is no match for you.

"Do you still wish to challenge a full-fledged ninja monk?"

A full-fledged ninja monk?

Nara Kaikei glanced at the group of burly bald men in the distance and instinctively wanted to nod.

Originally, he had not taken the D-Rank Ninja Battle Mission triggered by Diroku too seriously.

But unexpectedly, the D-Rank scroll he obtained after the battle had actually yielded such an extraordinary jutsu as the [Sage Clan Guiding Technique]!

Even Apprentice Ninja Monks were like this. Wouldn't full-fledged ninja monks be even stronger?

If Nara Kaikei could defeat a full-fledged ninja monk, he would surely receive a higher-rank reward.

Maybe he could even directly draw the Temple of Fire's "Little Gundam" ability...

Master Chūkaku was not surprised by Nara Kaikei's decision and called out the name of another ninja monk.

A muscular bald man stepped out from among the burly crowd.

A C-Rank Ninja Battle Mission immediately appeared on Nara Kaikei's panel.

The muscular bald man's taijutsu strength completely surpassed Diroku's, and his combat judgment was also far superior to that of an Apprentice Ninja Monk.

After exchanging blows for a while, Nara Kaikei confirmed that his basic ninjutsu and taijutsu posed no threat whatsoever to his opponent. In the end, he chose to use the [Shadow Secret Technique] to end the battle.

The instant the [Shadow Binding Technique] restrained the muscular bald man, the latter basically lost all ability to resist and could only surrender with his hands behind his back.

Filled with anticipation, Nara Kaikei opened the newly obtained C-Rank [Ninja Scroll].

[Opening...]

[Contents recorded in this C-Rank Ninja Scroll: Jutsu]

[C-Rank Jutsu: Arhat Fist]

[Jutsu Description: A Steel Fist Style Taijutsu passed down by the ninja temple]

[Jutsu Effect: An overwhelmingly violent iron fist unleashed with astonishing arm strength]

[Jutsu Evaluation: The key lies in coordinating the waist and stance]

"..."

Looking at the [Arhat Fist] displayed on the panel, Nara Kaikei was momentarily speechless.

Getting a taijutsu ability from a C-Rank [Ninja Scroll] was somewhat unusual, but not strange.

But did it have to come out now?

I was expecting "Raikō: Senju Satsu," but I got "Arhat Fist" instead.

Nara Kaikei was beginning to suspect that the [Sage Clan Guiding Technique] had completely used up all of his luck for the day...

The Old Clan Head spoke at this moment. "It seems there is no need to continue the sparring matches."

The moment Nara Kaikei used the [Shadow Secret Technique], this contest had already lost its meaning—at least, in Nara Shikano's eyes, it had.

The Old Clan Head had hoped that Nara Kaikei could become proficient with the advanced ninja tool [Chakra Crystal] through sparring with the ninja monks of the Temple of Fire.

But the Old Clan Head could also see clearly.

When facing Diroku, who was at the genin level, Nara Kaikei could still win through Chakra and tactical planning.

But against full-fledged ninja monks at the chunin level, Nara Kaikei, who could only use "Physical Prowess" and "basic ninjutsu," was clearly struggling and could only rely on his clan's secret technique to win.

Hearing the clan head's words, Nara Kaikei was somewhat unwilling, but he still nodded.

Although he wanted to keep challenging stronger ninja monks and try to obtain higher-rank [Ninja Scrolls].

He had to admit that in a relatively fair head-on fight, pure-taijutsu Steel Fist Style jonin were Nara Kaikei's current "Natural Enemy"—provided he did not expose the [Shadow Clone Technique].

Looks like today's only gain will be one [Sage Clan Guiding Technique].

Nara Kaikei took a deep breath and calmed the restless emotions in his heart.

Still, it's an excellent reward!

"Since Shikano has said so, let this sparring contest end here."

Master Chūkaku still wore that smiling, half-lidded Maitreya expression.

"However, Young Benefactor Nara, I see that you are still young and have plenty of room to improve in terms of Physical Prowess.

"Would you like to study at the Temple of Fire for a few years and train your body?"

Master Chūkaku's invitation was truly unexpected.

Nara Shikano also looked toward Nara Kaikei, waiting for his answer.

"Thank you for your generous invitation, Master Chūkaku."

Nara Kaikei shook his head and directly declined the abbot's kindness.

"But I know myself well enough.

"My physical talent is lacking, and my aptitude for taijutsu is insufficient. Investing too much energy into it would only bring twice the effort for half the result."

Nara Kaikei did not resist learning taijutsu, but he would never make it his primary focus.

Besides... the Temple of Fire's Steel Fist Style was really not a good place to go.

Nara Kaikei had no desire to turn himself into "Nara Bro."

Master Chūkaku looked deeply regretful. "Very well..."

Just as Nara Kaikei and the clan head were preparing to tidy themselves up and leave the training ground.

A piercingly familiar voice entered the ears of everyone present.

"Old monk Chūkaku, where are those two ninja from Konoha? Hand them over to me!"

Everyone in the training ground looked toward the source of the voice.

Nara Kaikei instantly recognized the man's identity—the Guardian Ninja who had blocked their path at the Daimyo's Mansion earlier.

"Kazuma, this is the Temple of Fire, not the Daimyo's Mansion."

For once, Master Chūkaku had lost his smile.

"This is not a place for you to throw your weight around."

"Old monk, I didn't come here today to cause trouble for you."

Kazuma cast a slightly fearful glance at Master Chūkaku, but the sash bearing the character for fire around his waist seemed to give him enough confidence.

"The Konoha ninja—I'm not talking about you!"

Nara Shikano, who had just been about to step forward, was shouted back by Kazuma.

"Yes, you! You little brat, get out here!"

[Detected: B-Rank Ninja Battle Mission triggered!]

[B-Rank Mission: Twelve Guardian Shinobi]

[Mission Content: Defeat/Kill Kazuma, one of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi]

[Mission Reward: B-Rank Ninja Scroll]

Nara Kaikei looked strangely at Kazuma across from him.

After Master Chūkaku's introduction earlier, he had already recognized the man.

Wasn't this the idiot Guardian Ninja who later planned to attack Konoha, only to be killed outside the village by Asuma Sarutobi?

Forget it. It's a B-Rank Mission, at least...

Nara Kaikei was just about to step forward.

But Master Chūkaku drifted in front of him and raised a hand to shield him.

"Kazuma, I will remind you once more. You are no longer a ninja monk of the Temple of Fire! You are not welcome here either."

Seeing Master Chūkaku's stance, Nara Kaikei weighed the situation and ultimately chose to speedrun the mission.

[You have speedrun the [B-Rank Mission: Twelve Guardian Shinobi]!]

[You have obtained one C-Rank [Ninja Scroll]!]

Kazuma was about to say something else.

But Master Chūkaku no longer wished to speak with him.

"Ninja monks of the Temple of Fire!"

"Here!"

"Even Buddha has the aspect of the Wrathful Vajra. Drive out the traitor and restore peace to the temple."

"Yes!"

A sky-covering wave of red Chakra fists.

That was the last sight Kazuma saw before losing consciousness.

Many thanks to "Sakura1314" for the donation!!

[Arhat Fist] is not an original addition. A character in the original manga also used this taijutsu.

Jirobo.

He was the opponent Choji Akimichi fought during the Sasuke Retrieval Mission.

And [Arhat Fist] really is a C-Rank taijutsu...