The Test That Shocked the Toads!

Jiraiya wasn't the only one who felt that way.

Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima thought the same.

Even the Toad Sage, who always kept his eyes closed, opened them now.

"Little Jiraiya, this boy is fine."

"If he'd come here with ulterior motives and lies, he wouldn't have been able to climb the steps."

"As for the answer, I can't give it to you."

"I can't see his future."

The Toad Sage spoke up.

He wasn't just placating Jiraiya. He truly couldn't see it.

The little fellow's future was shrouded in dense fog.

"All right, I understand."

"Can he... train here?"

Jiraiya asked slowly.

Originally, he'd only wanted to test Sasuke. He hadn't had anything else in mind.

But now, Jiraiya genuinely wanted to take Sasuke on as a student.

"He can train here, but he can't sign a contract with Mount Myoboku."

After saying this, the Toad Sage closed his eyes again.

Jiraiya still had questions, but he didn't continue.

The Toad Sage was already very old.

Every time he opened his eyes, it used up a great deal of his life force.

Jiraiya then turned his attention to Sasuke.

The boy's gaze was still resolute.

Though his legs were trembling, he hadn't wavered at all.

"Little Jiraiya, take him to rest."

"If he keeps going, he'll damage his life force."

Sage Shima spoke softly.

"Okay."

Jiraiya nodded, then walked out of the Palace.

"Lord Jiraiya, were you waiting for me?"

In the short time it had taken, Sasuke had already made it to the Palace entrance.

A hint of defiance showed on his face.

But it didn't last long.

Sasuke fainted.

By the last two steps, his body had already reached its limit.

In that state, he'd chosen without hesitation to use Thunder God Mode.

The lightning stimulated the cells in his body, instantly pushing them past their limits.

He'd made it up the final two steps.

And that... was his limit!

"He really is a monster!"

"I'm starting to regret bringing the kid here."

Jiraiya spoke with a bitter smile.

Even so, he carried Sasuke away from the Palace.

He took him to the wooden cabin he'd built when he'd come here to train.

Sage Shima and Sage Fukasaku followed him there.

Half an hour later.

Two toads and one man stood beside a bed, all looking utterly stunned.

"Little Jiraiya, did you really only bring the kid here to test whether he was lying?"

Sage Fukasaku's mouth hung open.

"I... I'm pretty sure that was the reason..."

Jiraiya scratched his head and answered awkwardly.

"Enough. In that case, let him rest."

"Little Jiraiya, go prepare some food."

"He'll probably need something to eat when he wakes up."

"We'll stay here and watch over him."

Sage Shima spoke up.

"Got it."

Jiraiya didn't argue. He turned and left.

Meanwhile, Sasuke's body continued to slowly absorb the energy around him.

It was the Natural Energy unique to Mount Myoboku.

Generally speaking, Natural Energy existed throughout the Ninja World.

But it was so thinly spread that it could practically be ignored.

The Natural Energy in the sacred lands, however, was potent enough to absorb and convert into Senjutsu Chakra.

Without the special training methods of a sacred land, absorbing Natural Energy was no different from poisoning yourself.

But...

Sasuke showed no sign of rejecting it.

What Sage Shima meant by watching over him was that she would help correct anything that went wrong with Sasuke's body.

Several hours later.

"Old man, can you tell what's going on?"

Sage Shima's eyes filled with disbelief.

"His body is balancing the Natural Energy on its own."

"And it's already begun to form Senjutsu Chakra."

"It seems there's nothing we can do to help."

Sage Fukasaku explained what he'd observed.

Beyond his surprise, he was also pondering the deeper reasons behind it.

He'd never seen Natural Energy turn into Senjutsu Chakra on its own... He'd never even heard of it happening.

"Gurgle..."

"Hehe..."

"Sorry, you two, could I have something to eat?"

Just as the two toads were reeling in shock, an incongruous "gurgle" interrupted their thoughts.

At the same time, Sasuke, who'd been unconscious, woke up.

"You're awake!?"

"You're awake?!"

The two toads jumped to their feet in excitement.

It would've been one thing if his body hadn't suffered any harm from the Natural Energy.

But after being in such terrible shape, he'd recovered in such a short time.

He was even showing signs of hunger.

Normally, when the body was exhausted to its limit, people didn't feel hungry at all.

"Uh... Should I go back to sleep?"

Sasuke felt awkward.

In truth, he hadn't been unconscious just now.

His body had temporarily slipped into a deep sleep after reaching its limit.

But Sasuke's mind had remained clear.

He could even feel the changes in his body and hear the sounds around him.

He'd heard everything the two of them had just said.

"Uh..."

The two toads were instantly speechless.

They had no idea how to respond to Sasuke.

"I'm back."

"Kid... you're awake!?"

Just then, Jiraiya walked in carrying a large bowl.

Outside, Sasuke could still feel a rumbling vibration.

It seemed there was some enormous creature out there.

"Yeah, I'm awake. I..."

"Gurgle..."

Before Sasuke could finish, his stomach growled again.

"Hungry!?"

"Here, have something to eat."

"This is Gamabunta's food. I couldn't find anything else."

"It took me forever to convince Gamabunta..."

As he spoke, Jiraiya handed Sasuke a bowl of wriggling "ramen."

"Uh..."

"I don't think I'm that hungry anymore."

"Besides, I brought Military Ration Pills. I can just..."

"Mmph, I don't want to eat... mmph..."

A few minutes later, Sasuke lay face-down on the bed, his expression dark.

He wanted to throw up... but couldn't.

As soon as the "ramen" entered his body, it was quickly digested.

But just thinking about the wriggling sensation in his mouth made Sasuke's stomach churn.

"Kid, take this."

"If you ever need Mount Myoboku's help, you can come to us anytime."

Sage Fukasaku walked over to Sasuke and handed him a black scroll.

"What is this..."

As he looked at the scroll in his hand, Sasuke felt a strange energy coming from it.