I Should've Been More Gentle Back Then

The Senju Clan, like the Uzumaki Clan, are both Jinchūriki) practitioners.

This is not the way he wants.

Uchiha Shingen was always hypocritical, but he only applied the same standards to his enemies. If they weren't his enemies, he would have been more empathetic.

At least he felt that although life forms are different, since they all have similar thinking abilities, they cannot be regarded as animals.

The giant serpent in Ryūchi Cave is like this, the Toad of Mount Myoboku is like this, and the Tailed Beasts are like this too.

Even if it's Black Zetsu, at best it's an artificial human, but an artificial human is still a human. Although he's an enemy, he admires the other's willpower.

Ahead, the Sage Fukasaku stopped in his tracks.

They arrived at the edge of a pool.

This pool is nestled against a mountain wall, with a waterfall flowing from the wall into it. What's stored here isn't water, but oil.

"Where did you guys come from?" Uchiha Shingen glanced at it.

The oil pool wasn't large, and a stone Toad was squatting in it, also spitting oil from its mouth.

No matter how much is poured in, the oil pool will never overflow; who knows how deep it is?

"This is one of the secret treasures of Mount Myoboku, Toad Oil," said the Sage Fukasaku.

Shouldn't it be called Mount Myoboku Oil? Why is it called Toad Oil?

"Toad Oil has the power to attract the Natural Energy. Simply apply this oil to your body, and the Natural Energy in the air will enter your body. After you get used to this process, your skin will be able to directly feel the Natural Energy."

Skin modification, you mean?

"I won't turn into the same color as this oil, will I?" Uchiha Shingen asked.

He couldn't help but think it looked like something that had undergone biochemical modification.

And this oil...

Uchiha Shingen looked around and saw that the ground was covered with stones Toad.

Is this thing really not squeezed out of losers?

Isn't that just corpse oil?

That's absolutely disgusting.

"Of course not. It's just that Toad Oil has the ability to actively absorb Natural Energy, so it won't affect your body," Sage Fukasaku said with a smile. "Applying this is simply to let you sense the Natural Energy in the air..."

It suddenly froze.

It remembered something.

Uchiha Shingen had already mastered the Dragon Cave Sage Technique, so he could naturally sense Natural Energy.

He simply didn't know how to use air circulation as a medium to extract Natural Energy.

Although all are Natural Energy, the ways in which Natural Energy is extracted differ among the three circulating media: land, air, and water.

"Look at my memory..." Sage Fukasaku slapped his forehead. "I made a mistake. You don't actually need to apply it."

Uchiha Shingen secretly thought it was good that he had asked.

The main reason is that I really don't like applying this stuff of dubious origin.

"It's alright," he said. "Actually, I quite like the White Snake Sage's method; it's over in one bite."

The Sage Fukasaku chuckled dryly.

Taking a bite would be straightforward, but Toad don't have teeth or jaws, so they have to rely on external objects.

And...

It's supposed to be Senjutsu, so there should be some kind of ritual involved, right?

"That's because you're powerful enough; an ordinary person would be gone in one bite," said Sage Fukasaku. "Our Mount Myoboku is much safer and more suitable for people of average strength."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Shingen couldn't help but glance around.

It was covered completely, so tightly that there was no room for air.

"It does look quite safe." He nodded. "At least the body was preserved intact, unlike Ryūchi Cave, where they just disposed of it like takeout, not even bothering with the packaging."

Sage Fukasaku: "..."

Do we know too much about Mount Myoboku?

No, anyone with a modicum of common sense would feel more at ease at Mount Myoboku compared to Ryūchi Cave, wouldn't they?

They eat people! They eat people!

"Please don't mind me, Sage Fukasaku, I was just expressing my feelings." Uchiha Shingen sighed, also lamenting his own situation. "Power is hard to come by. The forms may differ, but the process is the same."

Without a full playthrough, he truly doesn't deserve to be looked up to by Mount Myoboku.

Know when to stop.

"Your thinking shows you've suffered a lot," Sage Fukasaku nodded. "And what about us? Survival is hard for everyone."

Sage Fukasaku of Uchiha Shingen has changed. Over the centuries, he has met many people, and now it seems that Uchiha Shingen is not the kind of power-obsessed individual that the Toad thought he was.

They are also people who strive in this world to protect something.

After all, he's an Uchiha Clan.

The Uchiha Clan seems to be like that; they're not particularly hard-hearted, but their words are definitely hard-edged.

"Then I'll teach you directly how to absorb Natural Energy. Unlike Ryūchi Cave, Natural Energy flows more violently in the air. When absorbing it, you have to remain still and let the Natural Energy flow into your body naturally. Don't be too proactive."

"Hmm, it's alright, I'm familiar with this. I also sat still when I was in Ryūchi Cave."

Sage Fukasaku: "???"

No, shouldn't absorption from the land be done by running?

Why do you always do things differently?

Chapter Twenty-Six: I Should Have Beened Gentler From the Beginning

When Uchiha Shingen ended his cross-legged position and stood up again, Sage Fukasaku beside him, had no expression on his face.

His tone of voice was also very flat, completely flat.

Congratulations, you succeeded!

Sage Fukasaku felt that he had no sense of accomplishment whatsoever this year.

One hour later, all done. Perfectly activated Sage Mode.

There wasn't a single hiccup; the whole process was incredibly smooth.

"Do you have a mirror?" Uchiha Shingen asked.

Before Sage Fukasaku answer, he added, "Never mind, there definitely isn't one."

Then he conjured an ice mirror and looked at himself.

Very well, it's still the same monster with the same pattern.

He decided to give his facial hairline a formal name – Volcanic Red.

It's so ridiculous! Everyone else calls it eyeshadow, but he insists on smearing it all over his face. It used to be charcoal black, with a hint of blue under the sun, but now it's completely red.

If he had the chance to learn Shikkotsu Forest's techniques, wouldn't he have to create a Shining Night version?

Sage Fukasaku looked at Uchiha Shingen, whom he had created a mirror for; now, his face wasn't just expressionless, it was completely devoid of expression.

It silently put down its cane.

"Sage Fukasaku, that's not difficult. Let's talk about the power of the Tailed Beasts instead."

"Okay." Sage Fukasaku managed a smile. "Wait a moment."

Then it jumped away.

After a while, he hopped back with a Toad and brought back a large scroll.

"Young Shingen, please sign your name first," said Sage Fukasaku.

Uchiha Shingen opened the scroll and examined it carefully. It was indeed a contract scroll from Mount Myoboku, and he saw Jiraiya's name on it.

The latest one is Namikaze Minato.

He wrote his name on it.

"Gourd, show Shingen your barrier space," said the Sage Fukasaku.

The new Toad obediently opened its mouth.

Uchiha Shingen looked at Sage Fukasaku, and his meaning was clear.

What's the meaning behind this new guy opening his mouth at me?

I didn't see the barrier, I only saw its throat.

"Shingen, you've misunderstood. This is so you can come out later," Sage Fukasaku said. "The gourd's barrier contains a strong acid that can corrode enemies. Only those who have contracts with Mount Myoboku will be unharmed, but they will have to come out through their mouths."

"... Isn't that the stomach?"

"Of course not, this is also a kind of technique. Now that you've learned Shingen Senjutsu, you can try copying this one."

"Didn't the previous contractors know that? I think it would be faster to explain it directly."

"This technique works internally, and it may not be easily understood just by explanation, since our bodies are structured differently from those of humans."

"I understand." Uchiha Shingen nodded.

Orochimaru also has a similar technique; it's disgusting, but it has to be said, he really can stuff things into his stomach.

Uchiha Shingen felt that he probably knew what kind of method Sage Fukasaku had mentioned.

Next, Sage Fukasaku began explaining the technique to Uchiha Shingen.

Summoning Technique: Toad Ladle Prison.

Jiraiya knew this technique.

Uchiha Shingen began using it by reading from the book verbatim.

The next moment, he found himself in a dark place.

It didn't feel sticky; the texture was exactly like it had fallen into water.

But light was shining down from above.

So he thought of going upstream towards the light.

After a while, he climbed out of the water and stood on it.

Looking around, it seemed to stretch endlessly, but at the very top there was a round opening through which one could see the scenery outside.

So this is the Gourd Toad's barrier space.

The Sharingan observed the technique used to create this barrier space. While the Toad's techniques differed significantly from those of humans, there were still commonalities.

This technique can be understood within the scope of Space-Time Ninjutsu.

But it needs to be studied carefully.

Orochimaru's Juinjutsu is also worth considering; I should find an opportunity to seek him out.

He simply didn't believe Orochimaru would do anything for the Akatsuki.

After taking a good look at the barrier space, Uchiha Shingen leaped into the air and rushed through the cave entrance.

Outside, from inside the Gourd Toad's mouth, first a hand extended, followed by Uchiha Shingen's entire body.

The whole process is like distorting space, enlarging a person's body from small to its original size.

With his feet firmly planted on the ground again, Uchiha Shingen turned around and looked at the Gourd Toad's tiny mouth.

The techniques of spacetime are truly amazing.

He seemed to understand somewhat how Orochimaru had devised the Snake Style Substitution Technique, and why Uchiha Sasuke was able to learn it.

It probably has nothing to do with Soft Body Modification.

He nodded in satisfaction. It seemed that Uchiha Sasuke was still cautious and knew that he couldn't just operate on his own body.