In the blink of an eye, a year had passed.
Uchiha Chiba stood beneath a waterfall in Shikkotsu Forest, allowing the torrent to batter his body.
The surging water seemed to carry the force of a thousand pounds as it crashed fiercely against his shoulders, as though it intended to sweep his entire body into the deep pool below.
Icy streams wound down his spine, yet he seemed oblivious to them. He merely stood there quietly, as if he had become one with the natural surroundings of Shikkotsu Forest.
He slowly opened his eyes, and markings gradually appeared on his face. Sage Mode activated!
In an instant, his perception spread like a spiderweb. Every blade of grass, every tree, and every droplet of water around him became vividly clear.
He could feel the vigorous life force contained within the waterfall's flow. It was the natural energy unique to Shikkotsu Forest, threading its way into his body and blending with his chakra.
In Sage Mode, Uchiha Chiba's strength, speed, and reflexes underwent a qualitative leap. He slightly raised a hand and gently clenched it, as though he could grasp everything between heaven and earth.
His gaze grew deeper, piercing through layers of mist behind the waterfall to see the wondrous sight hidden within—lively natural energy darted and danced through the vapor. They were the natural guardians of Shikkotsu Forest, and at this moment, they fluttered curiously around Uchiha Chiba.
However, maintaining complete Sage Mode for an extended period was no easy task. Uchiha Chiba could feel the violent fluctuations in his chakra. That foreign natural energy was like an untamable beast, ready to break free of his control at any moment.
Fine beads of sweat gradually formed on his forehead, and his breathing became rapid.
Chiba returned beneath the waterfall once