Sage Fukasaku

Yamanaka Tohru used the Summoning Technique, summoning a small, not-too-big, not-too-small white mist. Logically, the larger the mist's coverage, the larger the summoned toad. Yamanaka Tohru guessed that he had most likely summoned an Iron Arm Toad, or perhaps Gama-Tada.

"Jiraiya-chan! You can summon me now, your Sage Mode has improved greatly!" Before the smoke had even dissipated, an aged voice called out from within.

"Boss!" Jiraiya was startled by the voice coming from the smoke.

"Eh? Jiraiya-chan, you haven't entered Sage Mode?"

As the smoke cleared, a green toad no bigger than a palm appeared before everyone.

"Sage Fukasaku! Why are you here?" Namikaze Minato had also been to Mount Myōboku, and he was quite familiar with its two elders.

"Minato, this toad doesn't look as big as Bunta! Why are you all acting so respectfully?" Kushina asked.

"Mount Myōboku is one of the three great sacred lands for summoning beasts in the ninja world. The Great Toad Sage is the clan leader, followed by the two elders, and then Bunta and the others. This is Sage Fukasaku, one of the two elders. He is also the father of Bunta's three brothers," Namikaze Minato explained softly to Kushina.

"Minato-chan! You don't need to whisper," Sage Fukasaku had cultivated Sage Mode for many years, and his sensory abilities were greatly enhanced. He could hear Minato's voice even when it was very quiet.

Namikaze Minato scratched his head sheepishly.

"Then Minato, who is the other elder?" Seeing that Sage Fukasaku wasn't angry, Kushina continued to ask.

"It's Sage Fukasaku's wife, Sage Shima."

In terms of temper, Sage Fukasaku's was much better than Sage Shima's. It was fortunate that Yamanaka Tohru had summoned Sage Fukasaku. If it had been Sage Shima, she would have surely gotten angry if she heard Kushina commenting on her.

"So, Jiraiya-chan! From what you're saying, it wasn't you who summoned me?" Sage Fukasaku had naturally heard all their conversation.

"Yes, Boss! It was this kid who summoned you!" Jiraiya pointed at Yamanaka Tohru behind Sage Fukasaku!

"What!" Sage Fukasaku was extremely confident in his sensory abilities, yet he hadn't sensed anyone behind him just now.

Sage Fukasaku turned around to look at Yamanaka Tohru, then closed his eyes and released his spiritual power towards where Yamanaka Tohru was standing. The result of his sensing shocked Sage Fukasaku greatly.

He sensed that the place where Yamanaka Tohru was standing was actually a block of ice!

"What's going on? Jiraiya-chan? Who is this kid?"

This was the first time Jiraiya had seen Sage Fukasaku so surprised. "Boss, this kid's name is Yamanaka Tohru, a new contractor."

"Yamanaka Tohru?" Sage Fukasaku gave Yamanaka Tohru a meaningful glance.

"Yes, Boss! I actually wanted to come to Mount Myōboku to talk to you about Yamanaka Tohru."

"Oh? What is it, Jiraiya-chan?" Sage Fukasaku asked.

"It's like this: I discovered that when this kid uses Water Release ninjutsu, he can freeze it, and he's using Nature Energy!"

"How can that be? Tohru-chan, can you cast a jutsu for me to see?" Sage Fukasaku said to Yamanaka Tohru after hearing Jiraiya's words.

Yamanaka Tohru nodded and used the Ice Sealed Water Wave.

When Yamanaka Tohru froze the Water Wave, Sage Fukasaku sensed that Yamanaka Tohru wasn't using ninjutsu, but had become a part of nature.

Even Sage Mode only absorbed Nature Energy and merged it with physical energy and spiritual power at a one-third ratio. However, when Yamanaka Tohru froze the ninjutsu, it was purely a fluctuation of Nature Energy, with no trace of Chakra.

"Jiraiya-chan, where did you find this contractor who can perfectly use Nature Energy!"

"Boss, are you saying this kid didn't use any Chakra when freezing the Water Release ninjutsu?"

"Exactly," Sage Fukasaku stated with absolute certainty.

"Um, Sage Fukasaku, every time I use Ice Release, my Chakra gets heavily depleted," Yamanaka Tohru said.

"Tohru-chan, does your Ice Release have any conditions for use?" Sage Fukasaku asked after thinking for a moment.

"Yes! I need to enter a special mode, like this one."

Sage Fukasaku nodded and continued, "Tohru-chan, do you need Chakra to maintain this mode?"

"No. Just maintaining Elementalization doesn't consume Chakra. It's only when freezing Water Release ninjutsu that Chakra consumption is immense."

"So that's how it is! Tohru-chan, your state is perfect, but you are not."

"Sage Fukasaku, is there a problem with how I use it?"

Ice Release was Yamanaka Tohru's greatest trump card. If he could solve the problem of Ice Release consuming a massive amount of Chakra, Yamanaka Tohru would have the confidence to fight even against Kushina in her Tailed Beast Cloak form, instead of being completely dominated.

"It's not about how you use it, but rather your insufficient understanding of the properties of Nature Energy. Nature Energy is energy that circulates within the world. Your state is a part of Nature Energy, and you are participating in the circulation of Nature Energy, which is why you can maintain this state without consumption."

"Then Sage Fukasaku, why does my Chakra get so heavily depleted when I use Ice Release ninjutsu?"

"It's very simple, Tohru-chan! When you use Ice Release ninjutsu, the Nature Energy within you draws external Nature Energy to help you complete the jutsu. The Nature Energy within you is consumed and cannot be replenished. To maintain your state, Chakra is constantly drawn to replenish your internal Nature Energy."

As Sage Fukasaku explained, Yamanaka Tohru felt a sense of sudden enlightenment.

Using Ice Elementalization, he was like a water pool filled to the brim with four inlets and outlets. When Yamanaka Tohru wasn't using Ice Release ninjutsu, the flow rate of water into inlet #1 and out of outlet #2 was the same, allowing the pool to remain full. This was what Sage Fukasaku had just called the circulation of Nature Energy, maintaining Nature Energy.

However, once he used Ice Release, it was as if the valve of inlet #3 was closed, and the valve of outlet #4 was wide open. Water poured out of the pool frantically. The natural circulation from inlets and outlets #1 and #2 couldn't maintain the water level, forcing the opening of valve #3. The water flowing from valve #3 was the reserve source, which was his own Chakra.

Using his Chakra to replenish the consumption of Nature Energy, even with the Nine-Tails within him, would be too much to bear.

"Then Sage Fukasaku, is there a solution to this problem?" Yamanaka Tohru asked.

"Yes, learning how to replenish the consumption from the circulation is the best method."

"Boss, do you mean learning Sage Mode?" Jiraiya asked.

"Uncle Jiraiya, don't interrupt!" Yamanaka Tohru glared at Jiraiya.

"Jiraiya-chan is right, it is indeed learning Sage Mode, but it's different from how we learn Sage Mode. You don't need to worry about being consumed by Nature Energy, because ice is also a form of Nature Energy. It's just..."

Sage Fukasaku looked at Yamanaka Tohru, hesitated, and continued, "You will never be able to enter Sage Mode!"