Naruto: Starting with Asura Chakra

Between heaven and earth were places shaped by their unique environments and the plants growing around them. The positions of the various objects within these places could create special effects.

For example, they could disorient people, gather spiritual energy, unleash invisible attacks, or prevent people from entering. Such places were known as sites of natural advantage.

Formations were created through special arrangements that altered a location's natural advantage to achieve a desired effect.

The Eight Trigrams Formation on the blueprint Kushina had drawn was not merely a basic defensive formation. It was also the foundation for setting up other formations later.

The Spirit Gathering Formation required no special materials. All they had to do was infuse it with spiritual energy the moment it was completed to activate it.

Once all the Spirit Gathering Formations were activated, they would continuously draw in spiritual energy. The energy would circulate throughout the area covered by the formations, and if an attack came, it would quickly condense into a barrier of spiritual energy that enveloped the entire area.

Of course, they could also keep the formations running when there was no attack, but that required someone to maintain them. That person had to understand the rules governing the formations and the natural advantages they created.

Among them, only Kushina understood all this. So once the formations were completed, if they wanted to keep them running during the day, Kushina would have to maintain them herself.

That made Naruto think of something. When Kimimaro and the others returned, he could check whether any of the orphans they brought back had special talents.

If they did, he could have them each take on some as disciples. Jiraiya's weapon crafting, Kushina's formations, Orochimaru's research—these were the kinds of specialists they needed right now.

After looking over the blueprint, everyone praised Kushina without holding back. She lifted her chin, happily accepting their compliments.

Then Minato and Kushina carried the blueprint outside. They needed to show it to the foreman and explain the details carefully.

Once the foreman confirmed that everything was fine and that he could build according to the blueprint, they left it with him and returned to the Altar.

Naruto turned to them and said, "Dad, Mom, I'm sorry for the trouble, but could you supervise the construction each day for now?"

Minato and Kushina said it was no problem.

As for Shisui Uchiha, Naruto still hadn't taught him the cultivation method. He only told him to keep carrying out his patrols around the island.

Naruto then looked at Jiraiya. "Pervy Sage, let's go to Mount Myoboku."

Jiraiya nodded, then used the Summoning Technique to summon Gamatatsu. "Gamatatsu, go tell Boss Fukasaku and Big Sis Shima to reverse-summon us. I'll bring my two disciples with me this time."

Gamatatsu nodded, released the Summoning Technique, and vanished in a puff of smoke.

Minato had left a Flying Thunder God Mark at Mount Myoboku when he'd trained in Sage Mode. But Naruto didn't ask him to take them there directly.

It was their first time visiting Mount Myoboku, after all. They should do things properly.

After Gamatatsu disappeared, Jiraiya sat cross-legged and asked Hinata and Naruto to place their hands on his shoulders.

The three closed their eyes and waited. A moment later, with a bang, they vanished from the Altar.

When they opened their eyes again, they were at Mount Myoboku. A green-skinned toad was crouched in front of them.

Naruto could sense a strong flow of spiritual energy from the toad.

Jiraiya quickly stood and greeted him respectfully. "Boss Fukasaku, it's been a long time."

The toad Jiraiya called Boss Fukasaku was the one crouched in front of them. Most people called him Sage Fukasaku.

"Little Jiraiya, it's been a long time since you came to Mount Myoboku," Sage Fukasaku said.

Jiraiya gave an awkward laugh. "Sorry about that, Boss. I've been busy with other things."

Jiraiya stayed away from Mount Myoboku not only because he was usually busy, but also because of Sage Shima, Sage Fukasaku's wife.

Sage Shima was a toad too, and she was very powerful. But her cooking was practically inedible. Jiraiya had suffered through it as a boy, and the food she made still terrified him.

Sage Fukasaku merely shook his head to show that he didn't mind, then asked Jiraiya, "Are these your new disciples? They both look very promising."

After greeting Jiraiya, Sage Fukasaku had kept his eyes on Naruto and Hinata behind him. He could sense Natural Energy in both of them.

"Hehe, this is Uzumaki Naruto, and this is Hinata Hyuga," Jiraiya said with a smile.

When Naruto and Hinata heard Jiraiya introduce them, they hurried forward and bowed. "Sage Fukasaku, we hope you'll look after us."

Sage Fukasaku nodded. "You're both good kids."

Jiraiya laughed. "I'm glad you like them, Boss. They'll probably be spending a lot of time at Mount Myoboku from now on."

"That's no problem. They can stay as long as they like. Come with me first," Sage Fukasaku said with a nod.

The three followed Sage Fukasaku to a building that looked like a house.

"This is my home. My wife went out to gather ingredients, so let's go inside and talk," Sage Fukasaku said, turning to them.

Jiraiya's expression grew a little strained, but he didn't say anything. He followed Sage Fukasaku inside.

Once inside, Naruto saw that although the house looked different from one built by humans on the outside, the interior wasn't much different.

The house was furnished with all kinds of furniture and had a cozy feel to it.

Then the three humans and one toad sat down in the living room.

Sage Fukasaku looked at them. "Did you come so they could train in Sage Mode?"

Jiraiya shook his head. "We didn't come to train in Sage Mode. Naruto can explain."

At Jiraiya's gesture, Naruto spoke. "Sage Fukasaku, I asked Pervy Sage to bring me to Mount Myoboku because there's something I want to discuss with you."

The Great Toad Sage, the true master of Mount Myoboku, was usually asleep, so Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima handled the affairs of the mountain.

Sage Fukasaku asked, "Little Naruto, what is it?"

Naruto thought for a moment. "Mount Myoboku has passed down the art of Sage Mode for generations, so you must be very familiar with Natural Energy. I won't go into that."

Sage Fukasaku nodded to show that there was no need to explain. Naruto continued, "I call Natural Energy spiritual energy. I have a special cultivation method that can convert all the chakra in someone's body into spiritual energy. They can then cultivate spiritual energy to increase their strength."

"What method?" Sage Fukasaku asked quickly.

Although Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima had both mastered Sage Mode, it was because they had lived at Mount Myoboku since they were young.

They had no special method of cultivation. They simply followed the training passed down from one generation to the next and absorbed Natural Energy. This way of training was dangerous.

At Mount Myoboku's Sage Mode training grounds stood many stone statues of toads. They were all toads who had failed to master Sage Mode.

Because the risks of training in Sage Mode were so high, only three of the toads still living at Mount Myoboku were known as sages.

Naruto replied, "I call it a cultivation method. It describes how to cultivate spiritual energy. By absorbing it and circulating it through specific meridians and acupoints, you can strengthen your body and increase your power. There's no risk of turning to stone or anything like that."

"What are you proposing?" Sage Fukasaku asked.

Naruto answered solemnly, "I can give the cultivation method to Mount Myoboku, but I need Mount Myoboku's help."

Sage Fukasaku said, "As one of Little Jiraiya's disciples, you've already signed a contract with Mount Myoboku, so you could say you're one of our representatives. If you need help, just summon the residents of Mount Myoboku. Even I'll come help you if you need me."

Naruto shook his head and said seriously, "That's not the kind of help I mean. For certain reasons, we may have to fight a race from beyond the heavens. I hope that when the time comes, Mount Myoboku will send its entire clan to fight."

"Takamagahara?" Sage Fukasaku asked when he heard Naruto mention beings from beyond the heavens.

Naruto stared at Sage Fukasaku in surprise. "You know about Takamagahara?"

Sage Fukasaku sighed. "Wait here a moment. I need to visit the Great Toad Sage."

Without waiting for the three to reply, he hurried out of the house and hopped off into the distance.

Before long, Sage Fukasaku arrived in front of a huge palace.

Ignoring the guards, he pushed open the doors and went inside. A gigantic throne stood within, with the character for "sage" written on it.

A huge red toad lounged on the throne. He wore a scholar's cap and a string of prayer beads around his neck. A cat's-eye gem was set in the middle, with the character for "oil" written on it.

This was Gamamaru, the master of Mount Myoboku, known as the Great Toad Sage. He had lived since the era of Kaguya. Besides his formidable strength, he also possessed the power of prophecy.

The Great Toad Sage was asleep. Sage Fukasaku went over and called to him softly.

Before long, the Great Toad Sage yawned and slowly opened his eyes. Seeing that it was Sage Fukasaku, he said, "Little Fukasaku, what is it?"

When Sage Fukasaku saw that the Great Toad Sage was awake, he quickly said, "Great Toad Sage, Little Jiraiya has come to Mount Myoboku, and he's brought two disciples with him."

"Oh? Is there anything special about them?" the Great Toad Sage asked languidly.

Sage Fukasaku hurriedly replied, "One of his disciples is named Uzumaki Naruto. He knows about Takamagahara!"

At those words, the Great Toad Sage's languid eyes flew wide open. A cold glint flashed within them, and a powerful surge of energy rose around him.

A moment later, the Great Toad Sage withdrew his aura and asked, "Did he say how he learned about Takamagahara?"

Sage Fukasaku shook his head. "He only said that he'll fight a race from beyond the heavens in the future, and hopes Mount Myoboku will do everything it can to help him."

The Great Toad Sage fell into deep thought.

. This chapter was provided by Ti Ta.