Land of Grass, Akatsuki base.
Pain, Konan, and Obito stared fixedly at Black Zetsu, waiting for him to continue.
"Konoha... has developed Senjutsu that ordinary people can learn, and they're now introducing it on a wider scale."
"Impossible!"
Obito's startled cry drew Pain and Konan's attention.
They didn't understand why this news had shocked "Madara Uchiha" so much.
Nagato and Konan had only trained under Jiraiya for three years, after all. What they had learned was limited to practical skills, and they knew little more than ordinary shinobi about such rumors and secrets.
They naturally knew about Sage Mode and Senjutsu. Taichi Matsushita made no effort to hide them when he used them.
But they had assumed it was merely a way to gain a burst of power, something that increased combat strength but couldn't last very long.
And since Taichi Matsushita was already immensely powerful, they had even less of a concrete understanding of Sage Mode.
Obito was different. He had inherited most of what Madara Uchiha had left behind, including explanations of such things.
Sage Mode had been Senju Hashirama's specialty. Madara, who had spent a lifetime as Hashirama's friend and mortal enemy, understood it far better than most people.
"Sage Mode is a unique state that uses senjutsu chakra. With senjutsu chakra enhancing them, the user's physical capabilities and the power of their ninjutsu increase severalfold across the board.
"Most importantly, it isn't some secret technique that burns through your reserves for a temporary burst. It does no harm to the user."
After Obito's explanation, Nagato and Konan finally understood what made Sage Mode so terrifying.
They were elite shinobi themselves and knew perfectly well what a severalfold increase in physical capabilities and ninjutsu power meant.
To put it bluntly, even the gaps between chunin, jonin, and