Sage Mode

Tsunade attacked first in a fit of rage.

And then it was over.

Uchiha Genmei's strength now

made taking down the green Sannin as easy as a leisurely stroll.

Then he brought the three of them, still dazed and struggling to process what had happened,

to a busy yakiniku restaurant.

"You don't have to be so discouraged. I've already shown you my abilities. We should focus on discussing this mission."

Hearing Uchiha Genmei's comforting words,

Orochimaru said mildly,

"Spoken like a true strongman, Genmei."

"But as for the mission, we'll leave tomorrow."

Tsunade sat beside them without a word, clutching the spot on her head that hurt.

She turned her sorrow into appetite and attacked the barbecue with gusto.

When Jiraiya heard they were going to discuss the mission, his expression sobered.

He said seriously,

"The people from the Land of Demons were already in a hurry just now. It seems the situation is grim."

Uchiha Genmei nodded.

He smiled.

"Then let's meet at Konoha Gate at six tomorrow morning."

"We're fast on foot, and this is urgent, so let's get going."

After eating and drinking their fill, they all went their separate ways.

As he walked home, Uchiha Genmei couldn't settle his thoughts.

He was certainly interested in the Shrine Maiden's ability to foresee the future.

But he clearly remembered that after Moryo had caused trouble once in ancient times, it didn't make another move until Naruto's era.

This time, he'd made Amaterasu, a visual jutsu, undergo an incredible transformation.

And now Moryo was causing trouble?

What a coincidence.

It had to be connected to him!

His strength was indeed the greatest in the Shinobi World right now.

Still,

it was best to be safe.

"I should work on my weak points. Seeing the green Sannin reminded me of Senjutsu."

Back home,

he looked at the lazy cat sleeping on the sofa,

walked over, and patted her on the head.

He called out,

"Matatabi, wake up. I need your help with something."

Matatabi opened her bleary eyes and saw who had come.

She stretched leisurely,

then said irritably,

"Genmei, what do you need my help with?"

Uchiha Genmei didn't mind Matatabi's irritated tone.

They'd gotten quite familiar over the past two years, and he hadn't treated her badly.

Her chakra was still stored in the Spirit Wine Gourd, but she was free to roam around the Uchiha compound.

"You've been absorbing Natural Energy to recover your chakra these past two years, right?"

"I've seen it with my own eyes."

Matatabi shot him a sidelong glance and yawned.

She said lazily,

"And?"

"I want you to help me train, Matatabi. Absorb Natural Energy now. I want to watch and learn."

At those words, Matatabi stared at the boy before her, her expression serious.

"Natural Energy is no joke, Genmei!"

"Besides, Uchiha have never been particularly good at sensing Natural Energy."

Uchiha Genmei laughed proudly.

"You're the one who shouldn't underestimate me. Let's begin."

Matatabi didn't waste words. Over the past two years, he'd spoken to her as an equal.

He hadn't restricted her, and she had come to accept him.

She sat cross-legged and pressed her paws together.

A low hum rang out.

Natural Energy slowly gathered around her.

Watching Matatabi begin,

Uchiha Genmei furrowed his brow.

His heart sank.

As expected, he couldn't sense a thing.

But with the Divine Blade, he feared no challenge!

He looked at the amount of Aura on his panel. It had fallen from 314 wisps to 264 after he upgraded Amaterasu.

His resolve hardened.

Come on,

Divine Blade, grant me heaven-defying insight!

In an instant,

unparalleled wisdom filled his mind!

A wave of understanding surged through him.

So this was Natural Energy! He could sense it now.

To combine it with chakra and create Senjutsu Chakra unique to himself—

This was what he needed to do to enter Sage Mode as a human.

A moment later,

Matatabi stared in shock at the boy before her.

Senjutsu Chakra surged around him, yet his face showed no sign of change.

She cried out in astonishment,

"How is this possible?! Your Sage Mode is as perfect as the Old Man's, Genmei! Meow!"

The sight was so shocking that she couldn't help slipping back into her catlike way of speaking.

He slowly opened his eyes.

Uchiha Genmei let out a breath.

He clenched his fist, feeling Senjutsu Chakra fill his body.

He murmured,

"So this is Sage Mode?"

He considered how it compared.

It was powerful!

Every boost was at least threefold!

"And Sasuke already showed that Senjutsu Chakra can be applied to Susanoo, too."

"What a perfect technique."

He checked how much Aura he had left.

"Only 164 wisps? It cost a hundred? That's twice as much as upgrading the Eternal Eye."

He found it a little amusing.

Just how poor was his aptitude for Senjutsu?

Or was Matatabi right that all Uchiha were bad at it?

After checking Sage Mode and the extent of its enhancement,

Uchiha Genmei released the Senjutsu.

He looked at Matatabi, who was too stunned to speak,

and said smugly,

"See? I told you not to underestimate me."

Matatabi shut her hanging jaw and ran a paw over her face.

Then she said seriously,

"Genmei, take me with you on this mission."

"What made you change your mind all of a sudden?"

"I accepted you, and then you amazed me... I want to see just how far you can go!"

Besides, during this time,

you hadn't restricted me even though I was a Tailed Beast, and had even played around with me.

Let me see whether you really are the one the Old Man spoke of!

Land of Demons.

The Shrine Maiden stared at the magical artifact in the palace that showed the state of the sealing shrine.

The artifact was shaped like a bell. It had once been intact, but now cracks covered its surface.

Her expression darkened.

She asked with difficulty,

"Is it about to give way?"

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Moryo shouldn't have been able to break through the seal so soon. Something must have happened!

Her small hands clenched until her knuckles turned white, and her voice rang out in dismay.

"How can the future I see be less reliable than those monsters of Mount Myoboku?"

She turned and paced out of the hall.

Calling one of her ministers over, she said sternly,

"Go to the shrine in the city and bring me the Spirit Bow!"

The minister, who had been bowing, raised his head in surprise.

"My lady, you're going to bring out the Spirit Bow? Has the seal really reached its limit?"

Seeing the Shrine Maiden silently nod,

he said hoarsely,

"Then it seems we have no choice."

As she watched the minister leave to carry out her order, sorrow appeared on the Shrine Maiden's face.

"I hope the Spirit Bow can hold out until that person arrives, even if it means making a sacrifice."

"Ancestors of Onmyodo, please protect us."

At that moment,

at the site of Moryo's seal,

a filthy river of blood finally broke through the seal,

revealing the sealed dimension within.

It transformed into a streak of blood-red light and darted inside.

Looking at the black, many-headed demon,

it mocked,

"Well? Moryo, aren't you going to thank me for breaking your seal?"

Every one of Moryo's eyes fixed on the bloodstained intruder.

It demanded,

"Why are you here instead of throwing your weight around in the Land of Hot Water?"

"You're no longer..."

At that, it shifted its enormous body, its eyes gleaming with murderous intent.

A dark, ominous aura enveloped the place.

"the Lord of Ashihara no Nakatsukuni you once were."