Iwagakure's Future Lies in Sage Techniques

While Ōnoki may not have a strong talent for Senjutsu, Chakra possesses more Chakra than Yichen and has better control over Yichen. In terms of fusing the three energies, Ōnoki is still the most powerful in the entire Ninja World.

So although he didn't succeed on the first try, according to Ōnoki's description, his process of absorbing Natural Energy went quite smoothly, and achieving a small amount of Natural Energy fusion is just around the corner.

Seeing how smoothly Ōnoki doing, Yichen couldn't help but wonder whether it was because it was difficult to cultivate Senjutsu, or because there were too few ninjas who could access Senjutsu.

Perhaps the cultivation of Senjutsu is not as difficult as one imagines.

Not only Yichen had this idea, but Ōnoki, after trying it once, also had this feeling.

Because he followed Yichen's instructions for cultivation, Ōnoki felt that cultivating Senjutsu wasn't that difficult, and reaching Yichen's current level wouldn't be hard. All he lacked was time.

In the end, it was Ikura, who had participated in Yichen's entire cultivation process, who came up with a possibility.

The Three Great Sage Locations are essentially a vast area Natural Energy Seal, containing far more Natural Energy than the outside world and even more than the Natural Energy Seal area created by Iwagakure itself.

This results in any ninja who practices Senjutsu in the three great sacred lands being immediately overwhelmed by the unimaginably vast amount of Natural Energy upon contact with liquid Natural Energy, leaving them utterly defenseless.

As a result, ninjas whose Chakra reserves don't reach a certain level are simply unable to train.

Furthermore, Yichen's current shortcut is based on the premise that he can leave the Natural Energy Seal area at any time. Yichen's first successful entry into Sage Mode was precisely because he left the sealing area at the right time, interrupting the absorption of Natural Energy.

This is something that cannot be done in the Three Great Sage Locations. Entering the Three Great Sage Locations is not easy, and leaving is also difficult. It is simply impossible to sever the connection with Natural Energy at a critical moment in cultivation.

Therefore, Naruto and the others did not have the same transitional phase as Yichen when they were learning Senjutsu.

If Yichen hadn't maintained Sage Mode Tenten during the transition period, he wouldn't have been able to complete his cultivation so quickly.

As I said before, Yichen believes that the magical Chakra possesses memory capabilities.

Yichen is currently unable to enter Sage Mode outside of the Natural Energy Seal. Even inside the seal, without the aid of liquid Natural Energy, Yichen is unable to enter Sage Mode.

However, Yichen believed that as long as he persisted in maintaining the Sage Mode every day, his body's adaptability to Senjutsu would definitely increase.

While rubbing his back, which had been pounded by Ikura with Black Rod, Ōnoki said, "Ikura, my training progress shouldn't be too much slower than Yichen's. I estimate it won't be long before I enter Sage Mode."

"You're next. You should start preparing for balance training."

Ikura nodded and said, "I've been trying for a while now, but my progress in Balance Training isn't fast. Perhaps I'm not suited to cultivating immortal Senjutsu."

Yichen said, "No rush, take your time, you have plenty of time. Anyway, after a while, once Dango has recovered from childbirth, she can try cultivating immortal Senjutsu, and you can go after Dango in line."

Ikura nodded, feeling helpless as well. Unlike Yichen and Ōnoki Yichen, who had experience developing or cultivating bloodlines, Chakra fusion was not unfamiliar to Yichen.

Even if Ikura completes the Balance Training, the time it will take him to master immortal Senjutsu will definitely be far longer than that of Yichen.

Not to mention, Yichen's familiarity with and research on Natural Energy is far beyond what Ikura can match.

Whether it's the various developments and researches into the Natural Energy Seal, or the derivations and attempts at cultivation steps, Yichen, the chief designer, possessed an understanding of the process of cultivating Senjutsu that later generations could never match.

How much time did Yichen spend cultivating Senjutsu? No matter how you calculate it, it's measured in years. Ikura, who is Yichen to Yi Chen in every aspect, thinks that even if he were to master Senjutsu, it would probably take him more than ten years.

This made Ikura not very confident about cultivating immortal Senjutsu.

Ikura didn't have this mindset before; it only developed after she started training in S-rank Ninjutsu.

Originally, Ikura's ability to learn Ninjutsu was no less than that of Yichen, and he had already developed a fighting style that suited him.

But everything changed after he learned S-rank Ninjutsu. Even though he started learning S-rank Ninjutsu first, Yichen mastered it first.

Yichen not only learned it, but he learned more than one. He learned three, one of which he learned outside, which made Ikura feel that Yichen's talent in cultivating such strange things far surpassed his own.

In recent years, Ikura has devoted himself to learning S-rank Ninjutsu -S-rank Ninjutsu, with the aim of using it in actual combat. To this end, he has slowed down or even given up many other learning activities.

But Yichen, during his training, also developed a bloodline limit and contributed at least five A-rank Ninjutsu to the village. He also taught three disciples who have become Jonin.

He couldn't understand where Yichen got so much time.

Yichen was unaware that Ikura was marveling at his exceptional learning ability; he was currently pondering how to explain the precautions for practicing Senjutsu to Dango in detail.

Dango is very intelligent, with an IQ no less than that of a normal human, but communication between Yichen and it is not so smooth, so it will probably not be easy to guide it in cultivating immortal Senjutsu.

At this moment, Ōnoki ended his body-sensing and said with a serious expression, "Alright, that's enough about Senjutsu Mode. You all come with me to my office; I have something to discuss."

Yichen and Ikura exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes. They couldn't understand what had happened in the Ninja World that had just settled down.

After arriving at the Tsuchikage's Office with Ōnoki called over Saka and Mei, and then handed over the two intelligence reports to Yichen and his three companions.

After reading it, Yichen understood why Ōnoki was so serious.

Two intelligence reports, the first concerning Konoha. After a period of political maneuvering following the war, the Uchiha Clan moved away from the core area of Konoha.

This occurred several years earlier than in the original story, when they were banished due to the Nine-Tails' Rampage.

Soon after relocating, the Uchiha Clan announced a change of leadership, with Fugaku Uchiha replacing Uchiha No as the head of the most powerful clan in the Ninja World.

Yichen was very interested in this information because being far from the core of Konoha meant that communication between the outside world and the Uchiha Clan would no longer be so difficult.

Yichen wasn't the only one with this idea; Saka quickly proposed increasing contact with the Uchiha Clan, and this suggestion was swiftly approved.

Yichen believed that other ninja villages would make the same choice.

Because of Yichen's influence, the conflict within Konoha is much clearer among the Four Great Nations in this timeline. In the original story, the Uchiha Clan was wiped out without any other ninja villages appearing, but Yichen felt that such a thing was probably impossible in this timeline.

Yichen himself really wanted to run to Konoha immediately and have a good talk with the Radical Faction of the Uchiha Clan.

This intelligence is good news for the Iwa ninja, but another piece of intelligence might not be.

Ming frowned slightly and said, "The Cloud ninja and the Mist ninja also want to form an alliance?"

Indeed, the second intelligence report mentioned the close communication between the Cloud ninja and the Mist ninja. The two sides communicated frequently and at a high level; the intelligence personnel even mentioned that Yotsuki A and Karatachi Yagura were also involved in the communication.

Yichen guessed, "They're probably spurred on by our alliance with the Sunagakure."

In reality, the alliance between Iwa ninja and Sunagakure was more politically significant than practically significant.

The two countries did not reach any agreement on mutual support; the main content was the trade activities that were already in place.

The only organization that truly values this alliance is probably the Akatsuki from the Land of Rivers.

However, this matter was only known to high-ranking officials like Yichen; those below him were unaware, and naturally, the Konoha, Cloud ninja, and Mist ninja would be even less aware of it.

Therefore, while Konoha, the original dominant force, certainly found this troublesome, Cloud ninja, a village that considered itself the second strongest in the Ninja World, also felt uncomfortable. After all, the Land of Lightning was still separated from the Land of Earth by the sea.

Ikura asked, "Should we destroy it?"

This is a difficult question to answer, because while an alliance between Cloud ninja and Mist ninja would certainly be detrimental to Iwa ninja, Konoha would be in even greater distress. If we consider the principle that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, Iwa ninja should not only refrain from sabotaging it, but should actively promote it.

However, considering the great effort they had put into organizing the Joint Chunin Exams and the scheming they had employed to incite a sense of crisis among the Sunagakure, they barely managed to reach an alliance with the Sunagakure that was as hollow as it could possibly be.

So just because they succeeded, the Cloud ninja and Mist ninja are going to easily replicate it?

Everyone felt very resentful.

Finally, Ōnoki said, "Let them do what they want, even if it means causing trouble. If they manage to form an alliance, we shouldn't interfere. Let Konoha worry about it."

Ikura asked, "Why is the contact between the Cloud ninja and the Mist ninja so high-profile?"

Yichen was also puzzled, as the alliance negotiations between Iwa ninja and Sunagakure were kept secret. The important figures involved in the negotiations only managed to gather together under the cover of the Joint Chunin Exams.

"There is indeed something strange about this alliance between the Cloud ninja and the Mist ninja. It seems unusual. Even if we don't actively sabotage it, we still need to gather intelligence. Lord Tsuchikage, how about I make a trip to the Land of Water?" Yichen tentatively suggested.

Originally, Yichen was quite well-behaved, busy with his cultivation of Senjutsu and teaching his disciples, and he didn't find the village boring. But when he heard about all the excitement outside, Yichen couldn't settle down.

Ōnoki, Saka, Mei, and even Ikura all glared at Yichen.

Ming said, "Are you thinking of going out to have fun again? Every time you go out, you never come back to the village until you've had your fill of fun. This time, don't even think about going out. Focus on practicing your Senjutsu, and don't leave the village until you've mastered them enough for actual combat."

Yichen felt guilty and dared not utter a sound. His daily cultivation of Senjutsu was consuming a large amount of the village's funds.

After thinking for a moment, Ōnoki said, "You can go if you want, but the alliance Cloud ninja and Mist ninja this time is too unusual. Ordinary intelligence personnel may not be able to analyze any useful information or come up with any effective countermeasures."

"I agree to let you go to the Land of Water, but we have to wait until the actions in Konoha are confirmed before you set off and formulate a targeted action plan."

"But remember, under no circumstances should you venture deep into the Land of Water."

Yichen's eyes lit up, and he nodded frantically, saying, "Understood, please rest assured, Lord Tsuchikage."

Everyone was speechless; it would be a miracle if they trusted you.

I work in education, and with the college entrance exam approaching, I've been very busy, so I haven't been updating much lately. I apologize for that.