A Choice of Three in Konoha

Frog Kata was even simpler. It just meant drawing on the surrounding Natural Energy to attack.

He had already mastered Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode and could freely control the Natural Energy around him.

He could handle techniques far harder than Frog Kata.

Surrounded by dense, rainbow-colored Natural Energy, Liuyun closed his eyes and absorbed it with practiced ease.

Moments later, a Rainbow Energy Vortex quietly appeared.

Fukasaku watched from the side without surprise, timing him with a watch.

A little later, the vortex vanished, and Liuyun emerged with markings around his eyes.

"Sage Fukasaku, how long did it take this time?"

"One minute and forty seconds!"

"One minute and forty? Still not very fast." Liuyun sounded dissatisfied.

Beside him, Fukasaku turned away, his mouth twitching despite himself.

"How about this, Sage Fukasaku? I'll go to Ryūchi Cave first. Once I've learned their Sage Mode too, I'll come back and train in seclusion here."

"You want to learn the Senjutsu of all Three Great Sage Lands? What are you planning?"

Sage Fukasaku's frog eyes widened. His long-calm mind rippled with unease again.

"You'll find out when the time comes." Liuyun kept him guessing. "I'm off. I'll be back in exactly a month!"

He waved and vanished before Sage Fukasaku could answer.

"Wait! Wait, Liuyun!" Sage Fukasaku shouted, but Liuyun was already gone.

He had wanted to say that Ryūchi Cave's Senjutsu was nowhere near as safe as Mount Myōboku's. It was incredibly dangerous.

But Liuyun had left too quickly to hear him.

In Konoha, the sun was already sinking westward.

It was around three or four in the afternoon. Warm sunlight washed over Liuyun, leaving him pleasantly relaxed.

Kushina, I Brought You a Gift ### When Liuyun got home, only Kushina was there, working on her Sealing Jutsu.