Sage Technique Training; Kurama Takes Action

Morning in Shikkotsu Forest was shrouded in milky white fog.

The roots of enormous ancient trees twisted like dragons, while vines hung down like curtains. The air was thick with Nature Energy, so dense it seemed almost liquefied.

Dewdrops on every leaf glimmered with a strange radiance, the essence of pure life force condensed within them.

Kushina Uzumaki stood in a relatively open clearing among the trees, rolling her shoulders uneasily.

"The air here... feels so heavy."

She took a deep breath and could clearly feel an energy different from Chakra flowing into her body with each breath.

The feeling was both comforting and dangerous, like warm water wrapping around her body while concealing a faint pressure within.

Chiyo stood three meters in front of her, dressed in simple dark training clothes, his hair casually tied behind his head.

"Nature Energy is different from Chakra."

He spoke slowly, his voice exceptionally clear in the silent forest.

"What you need to do is not 'control' it, but 'accept' and 'guide' it."

Kushina nodded, doing her best to relax.

She closed her eyes and began trying to sense the flow of Chakra within her according to the method Chiyo had taught her beforehand.

At the same time, she paid attention to the invisible "presence" in the surrounding environment.

Time passed second by second.

Ten minutes, twenty minutes, half an hour...

Fine beads of sweat formed on Kushina's forehead.

She could feel the existence of Nature Energy.

She could even "see" it flowing through the air like streams.

But whenever she tried to guide that energy into her body, it slipped away from the edge of her awareness like a slick loach.

"This won't work..."

She opened her eyes, looking discouraged.

"I can sense it, but I can't guide it at all. It