Mount Myoboku

Between heaven and earth, there exist certain places where, due to their unique environment and the vegetation growing within them, the positioning of various objects creates a specific effect.

These places can cause one to lose their way, gather spiritual energy, form invisible attacks, or even prevent entry; such locations are known as "Geographic Advantages."

A formation is essentially a method of altering the geographic advantage of a specific area through specialized arrangement to achieve a desired result.

The Eight Trigrams Formation on the blueprint drawn by Kushina Uzumaki is not merely a basic defensive formation; it serves as the foundation for all subsequent formations to be laid.

The Spirit Gathering Formation does not require special materials; one simply needs to inject spiritual energy the moment the formation is completed to activate it.

Once these Spirit Gathering Formations are activated, they will continuously draw in spiritual energy, which will circulate within the area. When an attack occurs, the energy will rapidly condense into a barrier, enveloping the entire perimeter.

Of course, the formation can be activated even when not under attack, but this requires someone to maintain it—someone who understands the rules of the formation's rotation and the characteristics of the geographic advantage it creates.

Currently, only Kushina Uzumaki understands these principles, so if the formation needs to be active during normal times after construction, she must be the one to maintain it.

This led Uzumaki Naruto to think about checking the orphans Kimimaro and the others bring back to see if any possess special talents.

If there are, they could each choose some as disciples; for instance, Jiraiya's craftsmanship, Kushina Uzumaki's formations, and Orochimaru's research are all specialized talents they currently require.

After reviewing the blueprints, everyone showered Kushina Uzumaki with praise, and she lifted her head, accepting the compliments with pride.

Afterward, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki took the blueprints and headed out; they needed to hand them to the foreman and provide detailed instructions.

Once the foreman confirmed there were no issues and that he would proceed according to the drawings, the two handed them over and returned to the Altar.

Then, Uzumaki Naruto said to the pair, "Dad, Mom, I'll have to trouble you to supervise the construction every day."

Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki both indicated it was no problem.

As for Shisui Uchiha, the cultivation techniques were still not being taught to him; he was simply told to continue his island patrol duties.

Uzumaki Naruto then looked at Jiraiya and said, "Pervy Sage, we are going to Mount Myoboku."

Jiraiya nodded, performed a summoning jutsu to call forth Gamatatsu, and said, "Tatsu, go back and tell Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima to reverse-summon me. I'll be bringing my two disciples this time."

Gamatatsu nodded, dispelled the summoning, and vanished into a puff of smoke.

Although Minato Namikaze had left a Flying Thunder God mark at Mount Myoboku when he practiced Sage Mode, Uzumaki Naruto did not have him take them there directly.

After all, since this was their first visit to Mount Myoboku, it was better to be formal.

After Gamatatsu disappeared, Jiraiya sat cross-legged and had Hinata Hyuga and Uzumaki Naruto 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 had arrived at Mount Myoboku, where a green-skinned frog was squatting before them.

Uzumaki Naruto sensed a powerful fluctuation of spiritual energy coming from this frog.

At this moment, Jiraiya quickly stood up and said respectfully, "Sage Fukasaku, it has been a long time."

The frog Jiraiya addressed as Sage Fukasaku was the one squatting before them, though most people referred to him as Sage Fukasaku.

"Little Jiraiya, you haven't been to Mount Myoboku in a long time," Sage Fukasaku said.

Jiraiya gave an awkward smile and replied, "Sorry about that, Sage, I've been busy with other things outside."

Jiraiya's reluctance to visit Mount Myoboku wasn't just due to being busy; it was also because of Sage Fukasaku's wife, Sage Shima.

Sage Shima was also a frog of great power, but the food she prepared was truly impossible to swallow. Having been traumatized by it in his youth, Jiraiya harbored a deep fear of her cooking.

Sage Fukasaku shook his head, indicating he didn't mind, and then asked Jiraiya, "Are these your two new disciples? They look quite promising."

After greeting Jiraiya, Sage Fukasaku had been observing Uzumaki Naruto and Hinata Hyuga behind him, sensing the fluctuations of natural energy within both of them.

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

Hearing Jiraiya's introduction, Uzumaki Naruto and Hinata Hyuga stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Sage Fukasaku, please look after us."

Sage Fukasaku nodded and said, "They are good children."

Jiraiya laughed heartily and said, "I'm glad you like them, Sage. They should be spending quite a bit of time at Mount Myoboku from now on."

"That is fine, 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 resembled a house.

"This is my home. The old woman is out preparing ingredients, so let's go inside and talk," Sage Fukasaku said, turning to the three.

Jiraiya's expression turned unnatural upon hearing this, but he said nothing and followed Sage Fukasaku inside.

Once inside, Uzumaki Naruto noticed that although the exterior looked different from human architecture, the interior was quite similar.

The room was furnished with various pieces of furniture and felt quite cozy.

The three of them and the frog sat down in the living room.

Sage Fukasaku looked at the three and asked, "Are you here this time to have them practice Sage Mode?"

Jiraiya shook his head and said, "It is not for Sage Mode. I will let Uzumaki Naruto answer that for you."

At Jiraiya's signal, Uzumaki Naruto spoke up: "Sage Fukasaku, the reason I asked Pervy Sage to bring me to Mount Myoboku is that I have something I would like to discuss with you."

Normally, the Great Toad Sage, the master of Mount Myoboku, remained in a state of slumber, so Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima were the ones in charge of Mount Myoboku's affairs.

Sage Fukasaku asked, "Little Naruto, tell me what is on your mind."

Uzumaki Naruto pondered for a moment and said, "Mount Myoboku has long passed down the practice of Sage Mode, so you must be very familiar with natural energy; I need not explain that part."

Sage Fukasaku nodded, acknowledging that this went without saying. Uzumaki Naruto continued, "I call natural energy 'spiritual energy.' I possess a special cultivation method that can convert all the chakra within the body into spiritual energy, and one can increase their strength by specializing in its cultivation."

"What kind of method is it?" Sage Fukasaku asked hurriedly.

Although Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima had both successfully mastered Sage Mode, it was only because they had lived on Mount Myoboku since they were small.

They lacked a specialized cultivation method, merely absorbing natural energy according to the practices passed down through generations—a process fraught with great danger.

In the areas of Mount Myoboku where Sage Mode is practiced, there are many stone toad statues; these are the remains of those who failed in their attempt to master Sage Mode.

It is precisely because the risks of practicing Sage Mode are so high that among all the toads currently residing on Mount Myoboku, only three are recognized as Sages.

Hearing this, Uzumaki Naruto replied, "I call it a 'technique.' It records the method for cultivating spiritual energy: by absorbing it and circulating it through specific meridians and acupoints, one can strengthen the body and enhance power without any risk of petrification or similar dangers."

"And what do you mean by this?" Sage Fukasaku asked.

Uzumaki Naruto spoke earnestly, "I can gift this technique to Mount Myoboku, but I require Mount Myoboku's assistance in return."

Sage Fukasaku replied, "As Jiraiya's disciple, you have already signed a contract with Mount Myoboku, so you could say you are a representative of this place. If you need help, feel free to summon the residents of Mount Myoboku; even I will come to your aid if you require it."

Uzumaki Naruto shook his head and said solemnly, "The help I speak of is more than that. For certain reasons, we may end up fighting against a race from beyond the heavens. I hope that when the time comes, Mount Myoboku will commit its entire clan to the battle."

"Takamagahara?" Sage Fukasaku asked upon hearing Uzumaki Naruto mention a race from beyond the heavens.

Uzumaki Naruto looked at Sage Fukasaku in surprise and asked, "You know of Takamagahara?"

Sage Fukasaku sighed and said, "Wait here for a moment; I must pay a visit to Gamamaru."

Without waiting for a reply from the three, he immediately left the room and leaped off into the distance.

Before long, Sage Fukasaku arrived before a massive palace.

Ignoring the guards, he pushed open the great doors and walked inside to find a colossal throne, upon which the character for 'Sage' was inscribed.

Lying back on this throne was a giant red toad wearing a mortarboard cap on his head and a string of prayer beads around his neck, with a cat's-eye stone embedded in the center bearing the character for 'Oil.'

This was the master of Mount Myoboku—Gamamaru, known as the Great Toad Sage. He was a being who had survived since the era of Kaguya; beyond his immense personal strength, he also possessed the power of prophecy.

At that moment, the Great Toad Sage was in a deep slumber, so Sage Fukasaku stepped forward and called out to him softly.

A moment later, the Great Toad Sage yawned and slowly lifted his eyelids. Seeing that it was Sage Fukasaku, he spoke, "Little Fukasaku, is something the matter?"

Seeing that the Great Toad Sage had awakened, Sage Fukasaku hurriedly said, "Great Toad Sage, Jiraiya has come to Mount Myoboku, and he has brought back two disciples."

"Oh? Is there anything special about them?" the Great Toad Sage asked with a hint of lethargy.

Sage Fukasaku replied quickly, "One of his disciples is named Uzumaki Naruto, and he knows of the existence of Takamagahara!"

Upon hearing those words, the Great Toad Sage's previously lazy eyes widened instantly, a cold glint flashing within them as a powerful surge of energy erupted from his body.

A moment later, the Great Toad Sage withdrew his aura and asked, "Did he say how he came to know of Takamagahara?"

Sage Fukasaku shook his head and said, "He only said that in the future, we will be at war with a race from beyond the heavens, and he hopes that Mount Myoboku will assist him with all its might."

The Great Toad Sage fell into deep contemplation after hearing this.