Cultivation, Disguise, and Escape

Just as Uchiha Itachi and Izumi Uchiha were filled with anticipation, Uchiha Fugaku poured a bucket of cold water over them.

"However, what I am about to teach you is not that version of Sage Mode."

????

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Uchiha Itachi and Izumi Uchiha were left feeling bewildered.

Izumi Uchiha could not help but ask, "Father, are there really different versions of Sage Mode?"

Hearing Izumi Uchiha's inquiry, Uchiha Fugaku replied, "Of course. Otherwise, how could I lead the Uchiha Clan to become a Sage family?"

"The ninja world originally had three versions of Sage Mode: the Shikkotsu Forest version, the Ryūchi Cave version, and the Mount Myoboku version."

"These are essentially the exclusive abilities of the Three Great Sage Regions, and only those who have signed contracts with them can learn them."

"Moreover, the difficulty and danger of training are extremely high; the slightest carelessness will result in petrification."

"However, I have created three other versions of Sage Mode that carry no such risks: the Uchiha Fugaku Exclusive Version, the Genius Version, and the Common Version."

"As the name suggests, the first is custom-made for myself and surpasses all other versions, though its drawback is that no one else can cultivate it."

"The second, the Genius Version, was created for the geniuses of the Uchiha Clan. It corresponds to the Sage Mode of the Three Great Sage Regions, and not only is it free of danger, but its power and effects are also equivalent."

"This is also the version I intend to teach you."

"The third is the Common Version. Although its power is only one-tenth that of the Genius Version, it has no cultivation threshold, and once mastered, one can continue to train in the Genius Version. However, success still depends on one's talent."

Upon hearing Uchiha Fugaku's explanation, Izumi Uchiha's admiration for him climbed to a new level.

Uchiha Itachi also looked at his father in disbelief. Uchiha Fugaku's words had completely shattered his previous perception of him. Could it be that his father had been hiding his true capabilities all these years? Enduring for the sake of the clan while diligently researching ways to make it stronger?

The expressions on their faces left Uchiha Fugaku very satisfied; after all, he had laid a lot of groundwork just to pull off this display.

Feeling that the moment was right, Uchiha Fugaku cleared his throat and said, "Next, I will begin teaching you the Genius Sage Mode."

"The Genius Sage Mode, through..."

"Natural energy is the air..."

"..."

"Let's stop here for today. I will continue teaching you Sage Mode at this same time tomorrow."

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Uchiha Itachi and Izumi Uchiha replied in a rush, as if they had just been granted a reprieve.

"Yes, Father."

Neither Uchiha Itachi nor Izumi Uchiha had expected that Sage Mode would involve so much theory.

It was completely different from the ninjutsu they usually studied.

As the two were leaving, Uchiha Fugaku gave them a few final warnings.

"Sage Mode training is dangerous. You must keep it absolutely secret; any attempt to pass it on must be approved by me."

"Furthermore, the Sage Mode I created is exclusive to the Uchiha Clan, utilizing our bloodline power to avoid the risks."

"In other words, anyone without the Uchiha bloodline will inevitably turn to stone."

"I hope you will keep this in mind."

Uchiha Itachi and Izumi Uchiha then spoke in unison, their tones solemn.

"Understood, Father."

On the roof of the Konoha Hot Spring House.

Jiraiya, hearing the report from the Anbu, said with an expression of disbelief, "What? The old man is injured?"

"How is that possible?"

"This is Konoha, for heaven's sake!"

"..."

Upon hearing the reason, Jiraiya became even more confused.

"Watching Sage Mode? Can watching Sage Mode cause such a problem?"

"But... why have I never had this issue?"

"Could it be that I learned a pirated version of Sage Mode?"

"That shouldn't be right, should it?"

However, urged on by the Anbu, Jiraiya still made his way quickly to Konoha Hospital.

Konoha Hospital

No sooner had Jiraiya arrived at the hospital than he saw Sarutobi Hiruzen resting in a hospital bed.

"Old man, what on earth happened?"

Given the vague description provided by the Anbu, Jiraiya was still unable to grasp the situation, so he naturally had to ask the person involved, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Upon seeing Jiraiya, Sarutobi Hiruzen scanned his surroundings before quickly recounting the entire process of what he had witnessed.

After listening, Jiraiya was left completely stunned.

It had also refreshed his perception of Uchiha Fugaku's level of genius.

Following this, Jiraiya could not help but exclaim.

"I never expected that after Madara Uchiha, the Uchiha Clan would produce a genius who far surpasses him."

"This is practically a composite of the First and Second Hokage..."

"Cough, cough, cough."

Knowing what Jiraiya was about to say, Sarutobi Hiruzen hurriedly coughed a few times to cut him off.

After being interrupted, Jiraiya could only scratch his head under Sarutobi Hiruzen's intense gaze, abandon his subsequent remarks, and return to the main topic.

"You should be familiar with the Sage Arts I know, but you also know that what you saw is completely different."

"Furthermore, in my opinion, the strength of people within the village is also..."

Hearing Jiraiya's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted him directly.

"I called you here to find a solution, not to act as a lobbyist."

"And you must understand that the village is greater than everything; a clan cannot transcend the village."

"I will not allow them to transcend the village just as the Three Great Sage Regions transcend the ninja world."

"If that were to happen, the village would completely become an appendage of the clan."

Hearing this, Jiraiya fell silent.

Although Jiraiya did not entirely agree with Sarutobi Hiruzen's philosophy, he had no way to refute it.

Because Jiraiya understood that a person's beliefs and thoughts are not easily changed; otherwise, the current situation would not have arisen.

Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed helplessly and said.

"The village is no longer very safe; take Naruto and go find Tsunade."

"Depart as soon as possible; you must bring her back."

Hearing this, Jiraiya could only rise helplessly and take his leave.

However, Jiraiya also understood that it was time to hurry and find Tsunade. The village truly needed a new leader; with the old man's current attitude toward the Uchiha, if things did not change, an internal war in Konoha would be unavoidable.

Moreover, the best-case scenario would be mutual destruction, and based on the current situation, the probability of the village failing was even higher. After all, although his teacher was known as the strongest Hokage, Jiraiya knew there was quite a bit of exaggeration in that, not to mention that his teacher was already old.