Nature Energy

Jiraiya admitted defeat, Kushina laughed triumphantly, and Namikaze Minato shook his head with a wry smile.

Before long, Jiraiya returned to his carefree, cynical self. He had already tossed his promise from earlier far out of his mind.

"Kid! Was what you used just now the Yuki Clan's Ice Release?" The moment he recovered, Jiraiya asked Yamanaka Tohru about his Ice Release.

"Yeah, it's Ice Release, but it doesn't belong to the Yuki Clan. It's mine."

"Yours?"

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

Tohru's words made Jiraiya realize that the two were different.

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

Tohru nodded. He wasn't sure whether his Ice Release counted as a Kekkei Genkai, but in the Naruto world, special transformations were basically all classified as Kekkei Genkai, so there was nothing wrong with admitting it.

"Kid, use an Ice Release technique for me."

Tohru circulated his Chakra, and his body began transforming into ice molecules. Then he used Water Release: Water Ripple, followed by Ice Seal!

Jiraiya carefully observed Tohru using the technique. The instant the Water Ripple was frozen, Jiraiya once again sensed a fluctuation of Nature Energy.

Just like when the ice dragon appeared, it wasn't all of the Nature Energy, but only part of it.

"Kid, use another technique! The ice dragon."

Tohru had no idea what Jiraiya was up to, but judging by his expression, he seemed to have discovered something. Tohru was also rather curious about his Ice Release. Whatever Jiraiya had discovered might help him study it.

For that reason, Tohru expended a large amount of Chakra to freeze the Water Dragon Bullet Technique. When he used Ice Release, Jiraiya finally confirmed that the wind and water elements within the Nature Energy had fused into ice through Tohru's Chakra.

In other words, creating this ice dragon had consumed a large amount of Nature Energy.

Jiraiya's gaze toward Tohru changed. This was Nature Energy! As someone training in Sage Mode, he understood its properties very well.

Nature Energy was the power inherent in the world itself, and it did not fall within the category of Chakra. Nature Energy possessed powerful devouring properties. The slightest carelessness during cultivation would result in it devouring the cultivator, and once someone was devoured by Nature Energy, they would become part of nature.

Jiraiya had endured who knew how many strikes from Sage Fukasaku while adapting to Nature Energy, yet Tohru could actually use it.

"Kid, your Ice Release really is different from the Yuki Clan's," Jiraiya said.

"Lord Jiraiya, did you discover something?"

"The Yuki Clan's Ice Release is formed by fusing Wind Release and Water Release. It's a technique released from within outward. Your Ice Release, however, absorbs the Nature Energy that already exists in the world, takes in the water and wind attributes within that Nature Energy, and releases the technique from outside inward."

"Nature Energy?" Jiraiya thought Tohru didn't know what Nature Energy was, so he specifically explained it to him.

Tohru, meanwhile, was puzzled that he could actually use Nature Energy.

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

Sage Mode could use Nature Energy to enhance the body's agility and defensive abilities, while also granting a wide-ranging sensory ability.

Most importantly, Sage Mode could greatly amplify the power of ninjutsu, genjutsu, and Taijutsu. Once someone mastered Sage Mode, they possessed a ticket to Kage Level.

"Teacher, if Nature Energy combines with the Chakra in the human body to form Sage Mode, then Tohru's technique wouldn't—"

As a contracted partner of Mount Myōboku, Namikaze Minato also knew that Sage Mode existed, though he had yet to begin training in it.

"Mm, it's very possible! This kid's technique really does contain Nature Energy. Kushina, try using the Nine-Tails Chakra to cast Fire Release: Flame Bullet."

Under the constant infusion of Nine-Tails Chakra, Kushina's C-rank Fire Release began burning the ice dragon.

"That's enough, Kushina! Sure enough, this ice dragon contains Nature Energy. Ordinary Fire Release has a hard time melting it." Kushina had burned the ice dragon with Fire Release: Flame Bullet for nearly a minute before it began to melt.

The toads of Mount Myōboku possessed attacks containing a portion of Nature Energy. Jiraiya had been able to melt the ice dragon so quickly earlier largely thanks to the toads of Mount Myōboku.

"Wait, Uncle Jiraiya! You said just now that my Ice Release absorbed the wind and water attributes within Nature Energy. But I don't have wind-nature Chakra, so how could I absorb the wind attribute?"

"You don't have a wind attribute? That can't be. Even when using Nature Energy, Ice Release can't succeed without a wind attribute."

As he spoke, Jiraiya searched himself for a while, as if looking for something. After rummaging through all his pockets without finding it, Jiraiya raised his head and said to Namikaze Minato, "Um, Minato, do you have a Chakra Paper?"

Namikaze Minato handed the Chakra Paper to Jiraiya.

"Kid, put your Chakra into it."

As Tohru infused it with Chakra, the paper was first moistened, then became crumpled, and finally split down the middle.

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

Tohru knew that Chakra natures in Naruto could be acquired through training later in life, but he had never deliberately trained his wind nature. That left only one explanation: developing Ice Release had given Tohru a wind nature.

"Judging from this kid's Ice Release, his talent for the wind nature should be very strong. Minato, demonstrate Wind Release: Great Breakthrough for him!" Jiraiya said.

"Watch closely, Tohru. The hand seals for Wind Release: Great Breakthrough are..."

After Namikaze Minato demonstrated it once, Tohru copied him, and Wind Release: Great Breakthrough was released with ease.

"This kid is very suitable to become a contracted partner of the Toad Clan. Minato, what do you think?"

"Teacher, I think it's fine." Namikaze Minato was happy to see Tohru become a contracted partner of the Toad Clan.

The toads of Mount Myōboku were powerful and capable in both offense and defense. Their ability to transmit information was also first-rate, making them a considerable boost to Tohru's strength.

Seeing that Namikaze Minato agreed, Jiraiya no longer hesitated and summoned the Toad Clan's contract scroll.

"Kid, this is the Toad Clan's Summoning Contract. Sign your name in blood, and you'll be able to summon the toads of Mount Myōboku to help you fight!" Jiraiya said to Tohru.

Signing a contract with the Toad Clan meant having a chance to learn Senjutsu. The moment Tohru learned that he could use Nature Energy, he had already decided to find a way to learn Senjutsu. Now, this was practically someone delivering a pillow just when he was ready to sleep.

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

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

Tohru nodded and entered his Ice Release state. He wanted to see what he could summon by using the Summoning Technique while in this state. Boar—Dog—Bird—Monkey—Ram, Summoning Technique!

This chapter was delayed for a long time. Sorry. The main reason was that it involved the protagonist's Ice Release, so I revised and rewrote it many times.