The Sage of Old

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's memories, it seemed that he had come to the Monkey Demon Clan's territory once when he was very young.

"This is Flower Fruit Mountain. There's actually another Flower Fruit Mountain in the Shinobi World, but Four-Tails seized it!"

Enma sounded somewhat indignant as he spoke.

The areas inhabited by summoning beasts were unknown worlds far removed from the Shinobi World. Here, Hiruzen Sarutobi sensed spiritual energy far surpassing that of the Shinobi World.

At this concentration of spiritual energy, this counted as quite a fine blessed land.

As the three great Holy Lands of the Summoning Beast Realm, Mount Myoboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest should have even denser spiritual energy, shouldn't they?

"Your question will probably have to be answered by our clan's ancestor. Come on."

Enma led the way, heading deeper into Flower Fruit Mountain with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Up ahead is Water-Curtain Cave. The Water-Curtain Cave on Flower Fruit Mountain in the Shinobi World was built by my father and his people. They even fought Four-Tails in a great battle back then."

The Monkey Demon Clan was physically closer to humans, and they could even learn ninjutsu. It was precisely because of their conflict with Four-Tails that their strength had been so severely damaged.

Along the way, the strange plants and minerals left Hiruzen Sarutobi somewhat dazzled.

With such abundant spiritual energy, it was only natural for many spiritual herbs and medicinal plants to grow here.

Hiruzen Sarutobi could also tell that the Monkey Demon Clan was truly declining, with too few young members to succeed the old.

They passed through a waterfall and followed Enma into Water-Curtain Cave.

Quite a few little monkeys were playing and running about inside. When they saw Hiruzen Sarutobi and Enma, they swarmed over at once.

"Who's this?"

"There's actually a guest!"

A group of little monkeys were especially mischievous. Three or four of them climbed onto Hiruzen Sarutobi, some tugging at his hair and others pulling at his beard.

"Alright, alright. Play later. We have business with the ancestor!"

Enma waved them away. Only upon hearing the word "ancestor" did the little troublemakers scatter in a rush.

"Come on. Little monkeys are just like that."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not mind. The little monkeys were rather adorable.

They soon reached the depths of Water-Curtain Cave, where a hunched old monkey was dozing off.

"Ancestor, I brought Hiruzen Sarutobi. He wants to ask you a few questions."

"Another little monkey has come?"

The old monkey opened his eyes and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, letting out a surprised sound.

"Huh? You're an interesting little monkey. Why aren't you a ninja anymore?"

"Chakra harms both oneself and others. I've already given it up."

"Not a bad choice."

The old monkey nodded, then shook his head again.

"No matter how you did it, since you've already come this far, don't cultivate chakra again."

"What do you want to ask me?"

It seemed that the old monkey truly knew some of the hidden details.

"I want to know what things were like before the Ōtsutsuki arrived. How did humans and summoning beasts cultivate back then?"

"The Ōtsutsuki, huh? That is an ancient name. Our Monkey Demon Clan does not live as long as the sages of Mount Myoboku. I only learned some things from my elders..."

"Before the Ōtsutsuki arrived, chakra did not exist in this world. Whether human or beast, everyone cultivated by absorbing natural energy. However, humans capable of cultivating natural energy were extremely rare, while beasts possessed an innate advantage."

"Thus, the entire world was basically ruled by beasts. The human race even struggled to survive, until one day, an unimaginably powerful human appeared. He slaughtered many powerful beast clans and used a powerful secret technique to create another world—the world where summoning beasts now live."

"A great number of beast clans were transferred to that world."

"For reasons unknown, he vanished without explanation. Only then did the summoning beasts gradually rise again, until the Ōtsutsuki arrived."

"The chakra brought by the Ōtsutsuki had an enormous impact on this world. We summoning beasts could no longer absorb natural energy as perfectly as before. We had to absorb both chakra and natural energy, and could never again become as powerful as we once were."

After finishing, the old monkey sighed. He had heard these matters from his elders as well.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. This world had once possessed a cultivation system, but it had been rather incomplete and had not produced any inheritance.

Even so, a genius had appeared. He had slain countless demonic beasts, secured living space for humanity, and had most likely ascended to another world in the end.

After that came the arrival of the Otsutsuki Clan, which completely destroyed this world's cultivation system and led the entire world down a crooked path.

The Ōtsutsuki's Divine Tree not only absorbed the energy of this world's living beings, but also absorbed natural energy, though its conversion efficiency was very low.

After talking for so long, the old monkey was somewhat tired as well.

He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"That is all I know. Have you found the cultivation method of the past? Can you absorb only natural energy without cultivating chakra?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. From a certain perspective, that was indeed the case.

"Little monkey, can you promise me something?"

"Please, tell me."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. As long as it was within his abilities, he would certainly help.

"Someday, can you take back Flower Fruit Mountain in the Shinobi World from Four-Tails?"

The Monkey Demon Clan and Four-Tails, Son Goku, were mortal enemies. Their current decline was caused by Four-Tails.

"Alright. I can promise to do that."

Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, the old monkey nodded in satisfaction.

The Shinobi World had developed for thousands of years, and they had long adapted to chakra's existence. They could not completely abandon chakra as Hiruzen Sarutobi had.

Hiruzen Sarutobi could sense that this world inhabited by summoning beasts was also restricting their cultivation. It was likely a safeguard left behind by that powerful figure from before.

"I want to search Flower Fruit Mountain and the surrounding area for some herbs and ores. Is that alright?"

"Of course. Those things are of no use to us. Just don't wander too far into the territories of other races."

There was not much need to worry, really. The three strongest powers in the Summoning World were the three great Holy Lands. Among the other summoning beasts, very few could even form clans.

Perhaps it was also because these three great Holy Lands had some connection to the Sage of Six Paths and had retained some inheritances.

Like the "Sage Talisman" that could revive people—perhaps it had been left behind by the person from this world who had once ascended.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Enma walked out of Water-Curtain Cave together.

"Hiruzen, I don't know what happened, but if you need me, summon me anytime. These old bones still have some strength left!"

Though Enma had grown old, he still dearly missed the days when he and Hiruzen Sarutobi had roamed the Shinobi World together.

"Don't worry. Before long, I'll take you to deal with Four-Tails!"

"That's all I needed to hear! When you want to go back, just come find me on the mountain ahead!"

With that, Enma vanished in a flash, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi alone to explore the Summoning World.