Surprised?
Kurama gave a bitter smile.
You actually found a way, kid.
"Once I break through into Katsuyu Sage Mode tonight, I'll set out first thing tomorrow."
Naruto resumed training, casually siphoning off a large amount of Kurama's chakra to store away.
"Foolish Minato Namikaze. Did you really think sealing away my evil side would make me selflessly help humanity? All these years, humans have kept generating all kinds of emotions and desires."
The Sealing Technique on Kurama and Rashomon were removed once more.
Kurama looked helplessly at Naruto as he trained.
"What exactly is this kid trying to do? He already possesses an utterly unbelievable level of power. Even in the Warring States period, he'd have been able to claim a place among the strongest."
Kurama thought that Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha already represented the peak an ordinary person could reach.
But Naruto was different.
It was as if he wanted to become—and surpass—the God of Shinobi.
A Sage?
Kurama often heard Naruto say he wanted to become an immortal Sage.
That reminded Kurama of the Sage of Six Paths.
"In the end, that old man also scattered chakra throughout the Ninja World."
"There's no such thing as eternal life. If you really found a way to achieve it, the whole world would go mad over it."
Kurama grew increasingly curious.
Night fell.
Sasuke left Konoha in the middle of the night.
His stronger obsession meant he couldn't stay in Konoha another day.
At dawn.
The Cursed Seal on Naruto's forehead disappeared.
Katsuyu Sage Mode really was different.
But it required an extraordinarily strong body.
To enter Toad Sage Mode, you first accumulated Senjutsu Chakra and mixed Natural Energy into it in the correct proportions.
Once you entered battle, the longer you stayed in that state, the more likely you were to turn into a toad. It gradually corroded your body.
Katsuyu Sage Mode, on the other hand, was completely different. You activated it in an instant, absorbing Natural Energy on the spot and converting it into Senjutsu Chakra.
You didn't have to worry about turning into a slug if you stayed in the mode too long.
That was because, without Hashirama Cells and an enormous amount of chakra of your own,
you would die the instant you activated Katsuyu Sage Mode, for one of two reasons.
First, you might absorb too much Natural Energy, lose your balance, and die on the spot.
Second, the conversion might happen too quickly. If your body wasn't strong enough, you would explode and turn into a tiny slug.
Fortunately, Naruto had Hashirama Cells implanted, the Uzumaki Clan's massive chakra reserves, and a huge amount stored in his Yin Seal.
Otherwise, he really wouldn't have been able to master it.
If the training method at Ryūchi Cave was to endure inhuman torment to succeed—or become food for the snakes if you couldn't take it—
then training at Shikkotsu Forest was a one-shot deal: succeed on the first try or die on the spot.
Naturally, Naruto succeeded.
From then on, he could not only build up Senjutsu Chakra over a long period, but also activate it instantly.
"I can stay in Sage Mode Double for a long time now."
All Naruto needed was Senjutsu Chakra to manage it. It didn't matter how he got it.
Katsuyu was like a direct charge of Senjutsu Chakra, while the toads were like a power bank you had to prepare in advance.
Better to have both.
So,
while remaining in Sage Mode Double for an extended period,
his golden hair turned white.
His skin grew a ghastly pale.
The upside was that Naruto's healing speed and all his other physical attributes would improve dramatically.
"If I keep tempering my body like this for a month—or a year—what kind of changes will I see?"
Naruto stood up and tried to use Nine-Tails Chakra, but, as expected, it was rejected.
"Kurama, you actually hate Senjutsu Chakra? That's not what you said about the Sage of Six Paths back then."
Naruto's words made Kurama bristle.
"Don't start! I just hate the stench of toads and slugs! What right do they have to compare themselves to my power?"
Kurama really did think he was the greatest.
"Oh, so you're jealous. You're feeling left out."
What could Naruto do? It was his own fox. He'd deal with him once he'd gathered a pair.
"Hmph! What nonsense!"
Kurama couldn't be bothered to answer Naruto. What did he mean, jealous?
He just hated those stinking toads!
Naruto felt refreshed. He put on the Hokage Hat and welcomed a beautiful day in Konoha.
Every department was running normally. All the advisors, assistants, Medical Ninjas, and Genin, Chunin, Special Jōnin, Jonin, and Elite Jonin were working themselves to the bone.
Only Naruto had left everything to everyone else.
"Lord Hokage!"
Shikaku Nara came to report to Naruto at the first opportunity.
"Orochimaru, Kabuto, and Sasuke of the Uchiha Clan, who were detained last night, have all left the village. We've lost track of them."
What should they do?
Was the village doomed?
Shikaku was deeply worried.
For days, everyone had been taking missions as fast as they could.
On top of that, the Konoha Academy of Sciences and the Medical Ninja Department had been established, and the new Hokage Guard Platoon had been formed.
As a result, the village was seriously short-staffed. They still had to maintain the appearance that Konoha had more than enough people to handle everything.
Everyone was nearly worked to death.
"Oh, I sent them."
"Special missions. Keep the details sealed for now."
Naruto stretched.
The white hair beneath his hat made Shikaku Nara uneasy.
Had he gone white overnight?
But Naruto hadn't handled a single piece of Hokage paperwork.
What could have worried him enough to turn his hair white?
"Lord Hokage!"
"The village is short-staffed right now, but many ninjas recovered yesterday. They might be able to make up some of the shortfall."
"If we could reduce the number of people assigned to the Ninja Academy of Sciences, that might ease the pressure considerably."
Shikaku Nara shared the view held by most of the village.
Konoha absolutely couldn't show weakness.
They should do whatever it took to maintain Konoha's appearance of overwhelming strength.
"If we don't have enough people, we should take on fewer missions."
"I'm sick of this. Ninjas don't even have insurance, and you're still putting on a show at a time like this."
Shikaku couldn't accept Naruto's words.
"Lord Hokage, if Konoha doesn't complete all its missions, the other Ninja Villages will think we've fallen into decline. Many people will come to investigate and infiltrate us, and every time Konoha weakens, it could spark a war!"
Shikaku Nara voiced what the others were thinking.
The Nakasone Clan and the Akimichi Clan had also come to offer their advice.
Even Hyuga Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga Clan, begged to send more ninjas out on missions.
"Lord Hokage! I, Hyuga Hiashi, am willing to send even more people from the Branch Family out on missions!"
"Once this period is over, we can naturally arrange the work to build up Konoha!"
Hyuga Hiashi spoke as steadily as he could.
A group of adults always felt awkward in front of Naruto.
"Oh?"
Naruto felt that something was off.
Since when had these people become so opinionated?
After all, the Hokage was there to take the blame. And if it came to it, there was always Danzo, the big, pitch-black scapegoat.
What were they in such a hurry for?
With Jiraiya and Tsunade around, was Konoha really going to fall apart?
"Sai, how are Neji and the others doing?"
Naruto beckoned.
Sai and Neji quickly came forward from behind the building.
"I forgot to tell everyone: Tsunade and Shizune are in charge of Konoha's Medical Ninja Department, while Danzo and Yamato are building the Academy of Sciences."
"So I've changed my guards to these two outstanding young ninjas, Sai and Neji."
Naruto clapped his hands.
"For security, I specifically had them keep an eye on our two old advisors."
"Go on. What have those two old geezers, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, been up to?"
At Naruto's words,
the heads of the various clans all turned ashen.
The two Hokage Advisors were being watched?
Hyuga Hiashi stared straight at Neji. Had the boy really become one of Naruto's pawns?
"Lord Hokage! Advisor Utatane Koharu thinks Konoha is short-staffed and that we should cut back on construction and send people out on missions as soon as possible. So she persuaded the clan heads to come here and discuss it."
The Ink Eagle on Sai's arm dissolved after relaying its message.
"Acting Hokage! Advisor Mitokado Homura has been discussing things with Danzo. He thinks the Konoha Academy of Sciences absolutely shouldn't be set up openly, and that ninja and jutsu research should be banned in public. In reality, he's stalling Danzo so he can step in and help you."
Neji's fully activated Byakugan made the veins bulge around his eyes. Without his Forehead Protector on, he looked even more like a menacing green snake.
"Good."
"Send the two of them out on missions. They have clan forces under their command, so why have they never deployed them?"
"And you clans, too. You all have guards from your Main Families. Then you can all go out on missions together!"
"How many people does Yamato need to build a house? He isn't doing it all by himself! What's it to you?"
A cloak of Nine-Tails Chakra covered Naruto's body.
"Konoha survived the Uchiha Clan's destruction without fearing threats from other villages. How many people have really been delayed this time?"
"You keep trying to cross the river with your shoes off. Aren't you worried you'll cut your feet? What are you keeping those broken shoes around for?"
That was what it meant to follow through on your words.
Naruto immediately used the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.
"I've got three hundred Shadow Clones here. Everyone, including those two old geezers, is coming with me to take missions. Whether you want to threaten me or get things done, you're all coming! I'll supervise you myself!"
You could do that?
"Keep those two old geezers in line. Until I dispel my Shadow Clones, the missions don't stop. Same goes for the rest of you!"
"Move!"
Naruto forced everyone who had come to lecture him to go out and take missions.
Before long,
Utatane Koharu started grumbling resentfully.
"I'm already this old, and I still have to go on missions? Isn't that a bit much?"
Mitokado Homura hadn't expected Naruto to rope him into it, too.
"Oh, man, an S-rank mission! I haven't done one in almost thirty years!"
No one could get out of it.
With the Hokage personally accompanying them on missions, what right did an advisor or clan head have to sit them out?
"We actually have enough people, don't we?"
Hyuga Hiashi left the village and looked helplessly at the other clan heads.
"The Hokage ordered everyone to complete at least ten missions. No one can return to the village before then."
Shikaku Nara really felt that he'd brought this on himself.
Dozens of Naruto's Shadow Clones beside him nodded in unison. "That's right, I said it! Come on! Let's all build bonds together!"
If they wanted to go crazy, then everyone could go crazy together!
Naruto let off some steam, then left Tsunade and his Shadow Clones to watch over the village.
He slipped out of Konoha unnoticed.
He headed for the ruins of Uzu Hidden Village.
"Naruto, you're more evil than the Uchiha!"
Kurama had seen quite a lot today.
"I just believe in treating others as I'd like to be treated," Naruto said honestly.