Nature Energy

Jiraiya conceded, Kushina laughed triumphantly, while Namikaze Minato smiled wryly and shook his head.

After a moment, Jiraiya regained his carefree demeanor, having long forgotten his earlier promise.

"Brat! Did you just use the Yuki Clan's Ice Release?" Jiraiya, having recovered, immediately questioned Yamanaka Tohru about the Ice Release.

"Mm, it's Ice Release, but not from the Yuki Clan. It's mine."

"Yours?"

"That's right! Uncle Jiraiya, can the Yuki Clan's Ice Release create an ice dragon?"

Yamanaka Tohru hadn't mentioned it until now, but Jiraiya noticed the difference as soon as he brought it up.

"Brat, is your Ice Release also a Kekkei Genkai?"

Yamanaka Tohru nodded. He wasn't sure if his Ice Release qualified as a Kekkei Genkai, but given how the world of shinobi classified special ninjutsu, it was generally considered one, so admitting it wasn't wrong.

"Brat, show me a ninjutsu using Ice Release."

Yamanaka Tohru circulated his Chakra, his body transforming into ice molecules. Then, Yamanaka Tohru used [Water Release: Water Colliding Wave] and then sealed it with ice!

Jiraiya carefully observed Yamanaka Tohru using the ninjutsu. The moment the Water Colliding Wave was sealed with ice, Jiraiya sensed a fluctuation of Nature Energy.

It was the same as when the ice dragon appeared, not all of the Nature Energy, but a part of it.

"Brat, use another ninjutsu! Use the ice dragon."

Yamanaka Tohru didn't know what Jiraiya was up to, but Jiraiya's expression suggested he had discovered something. Yamanaka Tohru was also quite curious about his own Ice Release, and Jiraiya's discovery might be helpful in his research.

To that end, Yamanaka Tohru consumed a large amount of Chakra to seal the Water Dragon Bullet Technique with ice. As Yamanaka Tohru used his Ice Release, Jiraiya finally confirmed it: the wind and water elements within Nature Energy had fused with Yamanaka Tohru's Chakra to form ice.

This meant that the formation of this ice dragon had utilized a significant amount of Nature Energy.

Jiraiya's gaze towards Yamanaka Tohru changed. This was Nature Energy! As someone currently training Sage Mode, he was well aware of its properties.

Nature Energy was the power that circulated within the world itself, separate from Chakra. Nature Energy possessed a powerful devouring nature; a slight misstep during training could lead to being consumed by it, becoming one with nature.

Jiraiya had endured countless beatings from Sage Fukasaku to adapt to Nature Energy, yet Yamanaka Tohru could apparently wield it.

"Brat, your Ice Release is indeed different from the Yuki Clan's," Jiraiya stated.

"Lord Jiraiya, have you discovered something?"

"The Yuki Clan's Ice Release is formed by the fusion of Wind Release and Water Release, a ninjutsu released from the inside out. Yours, however, absorbs the Nature Energy that already exists in the world, absorbing the water and wind attributes from it, and releasing it from the outside in."

"Nature Energy?" Jiraiya assumed Yamanaka Tohru didn't know what Nature Energy was and deliberately explained it.

Yamanaka Tohru, meanwhile, was surprised that he could use Nature Energy.

In the original story, Nature Energy represented one of the most powerful forces in the shinobi world. Mastering Nature Energy allowed one to enter Sage Mode.

Sage Mode could enhance the user's agility and defense by utilizing Nature Energy, and also grant them a wide-range sensory ability.

Most importantly, Sage Mode could greatly amplify the power of ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu. Achieving Sage Mode was essentially a ticket to Kage-level power.

"Teacher, if Nature Energy combined with a person's own Chakra is Sage Mode, then Tohru's ninjutsu is..."

Namikaze Minato, as a contractor of Mount Myōboku, was aware of Sage Mode's existence, though he hadn't begun training yet.

"Mm, highly likely! This brat's technique indeed contains Nature Energy. Kushina, try using the Nine-Tails' Chakra for [Fire Release: Flame Bullet]!"

Kushina's C-rank Fire Release, with the continuous input of the Nine-Tails' Chakra, began to scorch the ice dragon.

"That's enough, Kushina! As expected, this ice dragon contains Nature Energy; ordinary Fire Release would have a hard time melting it." It took nearly a minute of Kushina's [Fire Release: Flame Bullet] for the ice dragon to begin melting.

The toads of Mount Myōboku's attacks contained a portion of Nature Energy. Jiraiya had been able to melt the ice dragon quickly earlier thanks to the toads of Mount Myōboku.

"Wait a minute, Uncle Jiraiya! You just said my Ice Release absorbs the wind and water attributes from Nature Energy. But I don't have wind nature Chakra, so how could I absorb the wind attribute?"

"No wind attribute? That's impossible. Even with Nature Energy, Ice Release wouldn't succeed without the wind attribute."

Saying that, Jiraiya fumbled around his body, as if searching for something. He searched all his pockets without finding anything and looked up at Namikaze Minato. "Uh, Minato, do you have any Chakra Paper?"

Namikaze Minato handed Jiraiya the Chakra Paper.

"Brat, channel your Chakra into this."

As Yamanaka Tohru channeled his Chakra, the paper first became wet, then wrinkled, and finally split in the middle.

Water, lightning, wind! Yamanaka Tohru clearly remembered when he refined his Chakra at the age of four, his Chakra natures were lightning and water.

Yamanaka Tohru knew that Chakra natures in the shinobi world could be acquired through training, but he had never specifically trained for wind release. This left only one explanation: developing his Ice Release had granted him the wind attribute.

"Judging from this brat's Ice Release, his aptitude for wind release should be very strong. Minato, show him [Wind Release: Great Breakthrough]!" Jiraiya said.

"Watch carefully, Tohru. The hand seals for [Wind Release: Great Breakthrough] are..."

After Namikaze Minato demonstrated, Yamanaka Tohru followed suit. [Wind Release: Great Breakthrough] was released with ease.

"This brat is very suitable to be a contractor for the Mount Myōboku clan. What do you think, Minato?"

"Teacher, I think it's a good idea." Namikaze Minato would be pleased if Yamanaka Tohru became a contractor for the Toad Clan.

The toads of Mount Myōboku were powerful, excelling in both offense and defense, and their information relay capabilities were top-notch. This would be a significant boost to Yamanaka Tohru's strength.

Seeing Namikaze Minato agree, Jiraiya no longer hesitated and summoned the contract scroll for the Toad Clan.

"Brat, this is the Summoning Contract of the Mount Myōboku clan. Sign your name in blood, and you can summon the toads of Mount Myōboku to help you fight!" Jiraiya said to Yamanaka Tohru.

Signing a contract with the Mount Myōboku clan meant there was a chance to learn Sage Mode. Yamanaka Tohru had already decided he wanted to find a way to learn Sage Mode the moment he discovered he could use Nature Energy. Now, it was like a pillow arriving just when he was sleepy.

Yamanaka Tohru deactivated his Ice Release, then bit his finger and wrote his name on the contract scroll.

"Brat, you know the hand seals for Summoning Technique, right? Your Ninja Academy teacher should have taught you. Try summoning a toad from Mount Myōboku!"

Yamanaka Tohru nodded and entered his Ice Release state. He wanted to see what he could summon while using Ice Release with the Summoning Technique. [Clash-Serpent-Rooster-Monkey-Sheep] Summoning Technique!

This chapter is very late, apologies. It's mainly because this chapter relates to the protagonist's Ice Release, and it's been revised several times.