Unconscious absorption

In the Kazemori Family home, Hashirama Senju and Kazemori Masaki sat facing each other. Hashirama folded his arms and hummed softly, seemingly considering where to begin. After a while, he let out a breath, looked Masaki in the eyes, and said, "I'll start with these markings. You must be curious about what they are."

"Satomi told me they're called Sage Markings, apparently," Kazemori Masaki said, feigning ignorance despite already knowing.

"That's right. That is what they're called," Hashirama Senju said. "There's a secret technique in this world called Sage Art, which can only be learned in the hidden sanctuaries of summoning animals. I know of three places where you can learn it. In the past, many, many people set out in search of Sage Art, but only a handful ever mastered it. However, anyone who does gains tremendous power and can be called a sage. Naturally, a sage has certain traits that set them apart."

"Meaning?"

"Mm." Hashirama Senju nodded. "Sage Markings are a phenomenon that only appears in those who have mastered Sage Art. Essentially, you can think of them as the mark of a sage."

Kazemori Masaki felt a slight jolt. Sure enough, these were the markings that appeared when entering Sage Mode. But why had they appeared on him?

"But I've never learned anything like Sage Art. Why would Sage Markings appear on my body?" Even with his knowledge of the manga, Kazemori Masaki still couldn't understand his condition.

"Uh..." Hashirama Senju scratched his head, looking puzzled. "Honestly, I don't know the underlying cause either, but I can tell why this is happening to you."

Then he continued, "Masaki, you know that chakra is the power produced by combining our physical and spiritual energies, right? The power of Sage Art is different. It requires another kind of energy from the outside world to be added to chakra. That energy is called natural energy."

The former Kazemori Masaki hadn't known, but the current one understood exactly what natural energy was: an indescribably wondrous power that flowed through the outside world. Ordinary people couldn't detect it at all. Only certain people could sense it, draw it into their bodies, and circulate it, thereby mastering the power of Sage Art.

"Although I don't know why, your body is indeed absorbing natural energy from the outside world, Masaki," Hashirama Senju said, pointing at him. "But you have no way of controlling it. Without your realizing it, more and more natural energy is being drawn into your body, and that isn't a good thing. Sages can establish a harmonious balance between natural energy and the chakra within their bodies. Only then can they use Sage Art. Once that balance is lost, even a sage will suffer severe consequences. If the natural energy is weaker, that's one thing, but once it exceeds your own chakra..."

Hashirama Senju's expression turned grave. "That person will become part of the matter in the outside world. For a human being, that's as good as death!"

Kazemori Masaki knew the consequences of losing balance in Sage Mode. Though horrified, he remained calm, but his voice still trembled slightly as he asked, "Lord Hashirama, why exactly am I absorbing natural energy from the outside world?"

Hashirama Senju shook his head. "I don't know either. Tobirama might have some ideas. I'll ask him when I get back, but before that, we need to deal with your condition."

He gave Kazemori Masaki a long look. "Zhenghui, you're absorbing natural energy faster and faster. Before, it took several days for the markings to spread to your neck. This time, I only went away for a meeting, and by the time I returned, the Sage Markings had nearly reached your neck. If we leave this alone, you'll definitely die—unless I stay by your side all the time."

Kazemori Masaki drew in a sharp breath, then asked, "Lord Hashirama, is there any way I can learn to control natural energy? Since you know about Sage Art, you must know a method, right?"

He had already died once and had no desire to truly die because of this later on. Besides, he knew that Hashirama himself could use Sage Art.

Hashirama Senju's eyes widened slightly. He hadn't expected Kazemori Masaki to remain so composed. The old Masaki had been quick to get worked up. He might have said the same thing back then, but he could never have been this calm. It seemed that hovering on the brink of death had helped Masaki mature.

Hashirama Senju approved of the change in Kazemori Masaki. Someone too impulsive could sometimes overlook things, which was hardly a good trait for a ninja. Just now, hadn't Masaki realized that Hashirama might know a way to save him?

"The reason I'm telling you all this is that I have a way to teach you to control natural energy," Hashirama Senju said with a smile. Then he lowered his voice. "Actually, I can use Sage Art myself, so I have some experience. Don't worry. I'll make sure you learn to control natural energy. Oh, and very few people know about this, so don't go telling others."

Information was extremely important to a ninja. Once an enemy knew everything about them, they could be countered at every turn in battle. Thus, no matter how close a relationship was, ninjas would keep some of their abilities hidden to prevent them from being exposed. This was also why ninja clans forbade outsiders from investigating their secret techniques.

Although Kazemori Masaki didn't have much experience fighting enemies, the manga contained plenty of examples of people being targeted after their information was exposed, such as Hidan and Kakuzu. The intelligence everyone had gathered had also helped Naruto Uzumaki defeat five of Pain's Paths one by one. Few ninjas could confidently say they wouldn't lose even if all their information were known. Hashirama Senju was one of them, but as a ninja, he still needed to learn to protect his secrets. There was no telling when they might prove unexpectedly effective.

Had natural energy not put Kazemori Masaki's life in danger, Hashirama Senju certainly wouldn't have revealed that he could use Sage Art. He had probably only said it to give Masaki more confidence.

Kazemori Masaki understood this and quickly nodded, assuring him that he wouldn't tell anyone else without Hashirama's permission.

Hashirama Senju nodded slightly. "There's one more thing I need to discuss with you as the head of the Kazemori Clan. You were supposed to attend today's meeting too, but because of your condition, we had to let you stay home."

"What is it?" Kazemori Masaki asked.

Despite asking, Kazemori Masaki wasn't especially concerned. They were merely informing him, after all. At present, only the powerful ninja clans in Konoha Ninja Village had any say in its decisions, such as the Senju, Uchiha, and Hyuga. Smaller ninja clans weren't qualified to participate at all. With only him remaining in the Kazemori Clan, he wasn't even entitled to stand on equal footing with the small clans, let alone participate in meetings about managing the village.

Still, he was somewhat curious about the meeting's topic. Since even he had to be notified, it clearly concerned all the Ninja Clans in the village.

"Well, I wanted to deepen the relationships between the Ninja Clans, so Tobirama proposed establishing an Academy. The heirs of the various Ninja Clans would gather there to study and grow together. That way, everyone could form strong bonds, which should help them get along better in the village in the future," Hashirama Senju said.

Upon hearing this, Kazemori Masaki immediately remembered. Wasn't this Konoha Academy the predecessor of the Ninja Academy? Many outstanding ninjas would emerge from it in the future. Among the first students of its predecessor, Konoha Academy, six would go on to form the leadership team centered around the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"So that means I'll become a student at Konoha Academy," Kazemori Masaki said. Since every clan had to choose an heir, the Kazemori Clan presumably had to choose someone too, and that someone could only be him.

"Yes. Once I've taught you how to control your intake of natural energy and your body is no longer having problems, you can go study at the academy. Don't underestimate it. From what Tobirama said, he wants to try establishing a new system of ninja combat. Another purpose of this academy is to serve as a testing ground," Hashirama Senju said with a smile.

(End of chapter)