The Terrifying Frog Kumite

"Okay, Kakashi-sensei, go for it! Thick-browed-sensei, go for it!"

Naruto stood by, waving flags and cheering expectantly.

Amidst Naruto's shouts, the two clashed again.

Despite the noisy environment, Konohamaru continued his meditation.

"Kai, aren't you going to use the Eight Gates? Then I'll go first—Open!"

After exchanging an elbow strike with Guy, Kakashi took a step back, and suddenly his aura surged.

"Huh?"

Kai suddenly paused for a moment.

Guy knew that Kakashi knew the Eight Gates Formation.

However, Kakashi could only open the first gate.

only...

Kakashi's current situation clearly doesn't involve the Eight Gates Formation.

Kakashi shouted "Open!" and opened... what the heck?

As is widely known, Senjutsu Chakra is formed from a stable ratio of spiritual energy, Chakra, and Natural Energy.

Jiraiya's Sage Mode with the assistance of Summoning Beast involved using Summoning Beast, which are easier to control in terms of Natural Energy, to help stabilize the balance.

A stable triangle is formed.

But Kakashi is different; he has eight dogs on him.

He is the vertex of the triangle, and around him, draw a new triangle for every two dogs.

Two dogs represent the initial Sage Mode, four dogs with two triangles represent the intermediate Sage Mode, six dogs represent the advanced Sage Mode, and eight dogs represent the complete Sage Mode.

The more Summoning Beast that assist, the more Natural Energy they bring, and the more Chakra is needed.

Kakashi's Chakra already has a portion that needs to be continuously allocated to the Sharingan, and his Chakra limit is far from sufficient. This is why he seals it away and opens Sage Mode as if it were the Eight Gates.

"Alright, I'll try too! Eight Gates Formation, open!"

Might Guy said that if he opened the door, I would open the door too, and the speed increased dramatically.

Might Duy taught him that the Eight Gates Formation are for defense, not for fighting and brawling. Shirozumi also reminded him of this during the Chunin Ninja Exams, using Rock Lee's match as an example.

But that didn't stop Kai from scoring the first few goals.

Since Kai's top rankings don't even count as putting in his best effort, it's just a piece of cake for him, so it shouldn't be counted as self-discipline.

Just like when Rock Lee first opened the Eight Gates, no one stopped him.

It wasn't until he was willing to risk his life for a Chunin Ninja Exams that Shirozumi mentioned self-discipline.

Right now, it's clear that Kai doesn't need to fight Kakashi to the death.

It's just a bet, isn't it?

Not long...

"Naruto, I never imagined that the Senjutsu Techniques you taught us would subtly incorporate some Sage Arts from Mount Myōboku."

While fighting Guy, Kakashi suddenly noticed something unusual and couldn't help but adjust his tactics in his mind.

For Shirozumi, and for those who have accepted Shirozumi stones and use the Shirozumi Flow Sage Mode, Natural Energy is simply the energy of nature; there are no sects or schools of thought, and everything is about oneself.

Therefore, Shirozumi's Sage Mode can also be called "My Sage Mode".

However, the two Sage Mode currently in existence in the Shinobi World, Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave, are quite different.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the two Sage Mode are completely different systems.

Logically speaking, both are applications of Natural Energy, and there shouldn't be a distinction between them.

Take the Frog Kumite, for example. Its principle is based on the influence of Natural Energy in Sage Mode, causing it to form an extension that is integrated with nature.

Only those who have also mastered Senjutsu can perceive it.

It's like a sword that disappears without a trace.

Looking at the principles alone, there doesn't seem to be any explanation that it necessarily has to be related to the toads of Mount Myōboku.

That is indeed the case.

However, this technique is something that Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave are mortal enemies and cannot share.

If we were to draw an analogy with Shinobi World clans, this isn't Kekkei Genkai clan, but rather a clan specializing in secret techniques, like the Ino-Shika-Cho.

It's said that only the Nara Clan knows Shadow Possession Jutsu, but in reality, outsiders can also learn it if they obtain the corresponding secret technique manual.

Kakashi is like that now.

He clearly wasn't practicing the orthodox Senjutsu Mount Myōboku, but since Naruto had only learned Senjutsu from Mount Myōboku and couldn't apply what he learned to other situations, it was already quite remarkable that he could clearly explain the original version.

Therefore, Kakashi is now essentially an outsider who has obtained the secret techniques of his family.

He also mastered the Frog Kumite.

So, I'm sure you've all guessed what Kakashi is planning to do.

"Sage Art: Frog Kumite- Thousand Years of Death!!!"

Kakashi's eyes gleamed with excitement as he formed the Tiger Seal with his hands and thrust forward fiercely.

"Na, nai?"

Kai was terrified and quickly twisted his waist at the limit to barely dodge Kakashi's attack.

Just as Kai dodged the attack and was wondering why Kakashi's Thousand Years of Death was no different from the regular Thousand Years of Death, the attack arrived.

Kakashi's Thousand Years of Death seemed to miss, but the Frog Kumite, an invisible hand formed from Natural Energy, struck him hard without Guy being able to sense it.

Kai flew through the air, clutching the spot where he had been hit.

"The Frog Kumite can be used like this?! Kakashi-sensei is truly a genius!!!"

Upon seeing this, Naruto jumped up in delight, looking as if he had learned something new.

Sure enough, he knew that if he passed on Sage Mode to Kakashi-sensei, all the problems would be solved, and he could just copy it from there.

There's actually a pleasant surprise now.

Kai limped to his feet, his gaze towards Kakashi filled with wariness. "The Invisible Thousand Years of Death, Kakashi, you've developed another terrifying technique."

"It is not invisible."

Kakashi shook his head and pointed at Naruto, "If you don't believe me, ask Naruto. He can see it, or rather, anyone who has mastered Senjutsu Sage Mode can see it."

Kai fell silent.

He never expected Kakashi to go to such lengths to teach him Senjutsu Mode.

If he doesn't learn it, won't he be attacked by the invisible Thousand Years of Death every day from now on?

Does that mean he'll lose every match against Kakashi in the future?

"Alright, let's see if I can learn it. If I disappoint you, I hope you won't mind. After all, I'm not a genius like you; I'm only good at Taijutsu."

"But Kakashi, could you please stop touching me with your Frog Kumite Kyoku?"

Kai sighed and chose to compromise.

No matter what, Kakashi was doing it for his own good.

"Touched you? No, I didn't?"

Kakashi shook himself off, and all eight Ninja Dog fell to the ground, barked twice, and then disappeared with a bang.

Since the spirit connection has been broken, Sage Mode has naturally been broken as well.

Clearly, Kakashi's Sage Mode has ended, which means his Sage Mode has ended as well.

"What? Then what is this?"

Kai jumped in fright, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Despite being a sunny, hot-blooded, Taijutsu guy, Kai actually gets seasick and is terrified of ghosts.

Upon learning that it wasn't Kakashi who was touching him, Guy immediately thought of the ghost stories he had seen before.