Mastering Nature Energy

Sage Chakra.

It was a power Jiraiya had spent decades mastering; he required about five minutes of ritual time to enter Sage Mode, but he could manifest a trace of Sage Chakra at any moment.

Jiraiya extended his hand, knowing that if Lin Qing touched his palm, he would be able to perceive the unique nature of Sage Chakra.

"However, do you dare?"

Jiraiya looked at Lin Qing.

The next second.

Slap.

Lin Qing grasped Jiraiya's hand, and golden ripples shimmered, standing in equal opposition to the Sage Chakra in Jiraiya's palm.

Subtle changes flickered across both their expressions.

Jiraiya was astonished by the power pattern Lin Qing possessed, which was completely different from the cultivation of a ninja.

And Lin Qing was shocked to find that the Ripple... was actually resonating slightly with the Sage Chakra in Jiraiya's palm.

"Why is this happening?"

The Ripple acted like a scalpel, piercing into the Sage Chakra.

"A new power born from the fusion of chakra and another unknown energy." Lin Qing looked at Jiraiya. "Is this why you call yourself a 'Sage'?"

Jiraiya coughed lightly and withdrew his hand.

He had only intended to prove his identity and show off his strength, but he hadn't expected that, upon their first contact, Lin Qing would deduce the logic behind Sage Mode cultivation.

"When chakra and natural energy are fused in a specific ratio, Sage Chakra is produced. Of course, it is an extremely arduous practice; one wrong step, and there is a risk of turning into stone. Even a genius like me spent over ten years to master it."

Natural energy.

Turning into stone.

These two concepts reminded Lin Qing of the Pillar Men from JoJo Part 2: Battle Tendency—a group of immortal, perfect beings who feared only sunlight, turning to stone under its rays.

And sunlight was a form of natural energy.

The Ripple that Lin Qing practiced was a power that mimicked sunlight.

"If I master the technique to absorb natural energy, could I further enhance the Ripple?"

Jiraiya had spent years traveling, and his ability to read people was top-tier. Seeing Lin Qing deep in thought, he knew he was interested in Sage Arts—who wouldn't be?—so he leaned in.

"Want to learn? I'll teach you."

"What's the tuition?" Lin Qing asked.

"No tuition needed."

Jiraiya waved his hand grandly. "As long as you are willing to return to Konoha with me, I guarantee that once we go back, no one will be able to touch you. I, Jiraiya, still have that much face. Once we return, I'll take you to Mount Myoboku to sign a summoning contract with the elder Gamamaru."

Lin Qing chuckled softly.

After all the beating around the bush, it turned out he had been digging a pit for him all along.

"No need," Lin Qing said.

Jiraiya patted his chest. "You don't trust me? Let me tell you, in Konoha, I, Jiraiya, am—"

Lin Qing waved his hand to interrupt him.

"It's not that I don't trust you, it's just..."

Lin Qing asked calmly, "If Konoha is so great, why don't you go back? Why do you wander around outside all the time?"

Jiraiya was momentarily speechless. "I... you... this..."

A thousand words eventually condensed into a single sigh.

Indeed, even he, who hadn't suffered persecution, didn't want to go back, let alone Lin Qing and Sasuke, the survivors whose entire clans had been slaughtered.

Jiraiya could help Lin Qing and the others return.

But could he help them take revenge?

If he couldn't...

Then what?

Advise them to let go of their hatred?

To act as if nothing had happened?

By what right?

Do not preach kindness to those who have not suffered the same hardships.

Jiraiya pondered for a moment, slapped his own mouth, pressed his palms together in apology, and said, "Forget what I just said. This drink is my apology to you both. Don't go..."

He grabbed Lin Qing and shouted toward the outside of the private room, "Landlady! Bring out all your signature dishes! My treat tonight!"

Lin Qing could not resist Jiraiya's enthusiasm, and since he did indeed want to learn more intelligence regarding Orochimaru and Itachi Uchiha, the group sat back down.

Dish after dish was brought out, and before long, the table was completely full.

Jiraiya patted his purse and swallowed hard, "Landlady, your signature dishes... aren't there a bit too many?"

"Oh my, guest, look at you, so robust and mighty; one look and I can tell you're a man among men. I served these based on your physique. If you think it's too much, I'll take them back right now."

Upon hearing "robust and mighty" and "a man among men," Jiraiya laughed so hard his tongue lolled out.

The dishes were soon served in full. Lin Qing and Jiraiya chatted while they ate, pulling out one piece of intelligence after another. After three rounds of drinks, everyone at the table had round, stuffed bellies.

Jiraiya's face was flushed red from the alcohol as he raised his final cup, "Brother Lin, don't go back. Konoha has too many problems right now, and that idiot Danzo—"

He glanced at the three children staring straight at him and swallowed the rest of his sentence.

"I'll screw his... Danzo is nothing but a..."

Unable to vent his full range of emotions, Jiraiya's old face turned even redder, and he finally concluded with:

"It's all in the wine."

He downed it in one gulp.

Lin Qing wanted to find the culprit who destroyed Hope Village.

Jiraiya wanted to use the leads on the artificial humans to track Orochimaru's movements.

With Lin Qing's Hermit Purple combined with Jiraiya's ninja tracking techniques, they would surely achieve twice the result with half the effort. The two hit it off immediately, agreed to act together tomorrow, and parted ways.

After saying goodbye to Jiraiya, Lin Qing bought food and medicine for thirty people and rented a cart.

Amber pushed the food and medicine in front. Despite being exhausted from the day and nursing injuries, he walked with a vigorous stride, eager to get everyone fed and treated as soon as possible.

Sasuke followed by Lin Qing's side.

"Brother Qing, the Sage Mode that Jiraiya mentioned—it must be a huge boost for you, right?"

Lin Qing glanced at him, "What, do you want to go back for the sake of power? Based on the intelligence we've gathered, Danzo is likely inseparable from the Uchiha clan massacre. Don't you want revenge anymore?"

"Of course I do, but."

Sasuke opened his hands and stared at his palms, "These past few days, the people I've met and the things I've seen... I feel like there are many things more important than hatred. To do those things..."

"Requires power."

Lin Qing asked, "What are these 'things' you speak of?"

"To let ordinary people live without worrying about being killed, driven to death, or sold off like livestock. I want to be like you, Brother Qing—to possess the power to save others."

Sasuke clenched his fists.

"If it's for that purpose, I am willing to set aside my hatred for now."

"By any means necessary?"

"By any means necessary."

After saying this, Sasuke scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Brother Qing, is that... right?"

Lin Qing shook his head slightly, "In the future, perhaps. But right now, it is not."

"Why?"

"Because as long as I am here, you don't need to make such desperate choices.

I don't want you to become another Danzo. Wrong is wrong, and right is right. Just because your goal is noble, it doesn't mean you can justify the means."

Sasuke nodded, seemingly understanding yet still confused, and asked, "Why might it be right in the future?"

"Because one day in the future, I might die. I might not be able to protect you anymore, and you may have to face one cruel choice after another.

But until that day comes—"

Lin Qing smiled and ruffled Sasuke's little head:

"Be a person with a clear conscience."

"Besides."

Lin Qing extended his index finger, and a wisp of cyan-green energy slowly condensed at the tip.

Sasuke's mouth fell open.

"I have already mastered natural energy."