The Great Toad Sage slowly opened his swollen eyes, the lids parting only slightly to expose narrow golden slits. His gaze first swept past Fukasaku and Shima, then finally settled on Ryoma.
After staring quietly for a long moment, he spoke in a hoarse voice:
"Are you Ryoma?"
"Yes, Great Toad Sage," Ryoma replied respectfully.
The Great Toad Sage continued staring, then let out a long sigh.
"As expected… You are the Transcendent."
"Transcendent?" Ryoma raised an eyebrow with interest.
"That's right."
The Great Toad Sage nodded slowly.
"Whether in the past, present, or future, your existence will bring earth-shaking change to the entire world. My prophecy from ten years ago has been completely overturned. You stand beyond the future I foresaw."
"Will this change destiny?" Ryoma asked.
The Great Toad Sage nodded, then shook his head.
"I do not know. Because of you, I can no longer see the flow of fate. Everything related to you has become blurred."
He then extended a finger, voice deepening:
"One thing is certain: in the near future, this continent will face a new threat. The enemy on the moon will finally arrive. When that happens, the world will depend on you for protection."
"The enemy from the moon… Kaguya Ōtsutsuki?"
Ryoma smiled.
His strength had already reached the level of the Sage of Six Paths—Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki—and in terms of combat experience, he was even beyond Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
In the original history, Kaguya's power was no weaker than Momoshiki or Isshiki, yet she lost badly. It wasn't due to a lack of strength—she simply lacked true combat skill.
And the threat from the moon was not limited to Kaguya.
The other Ōtsutsuki clan members would certainly arrive as well.
Whoever came, Ryoma believed only one principle applied:
If you don't want to die—kneel.
Sensing Ryoma's subtle change in expression, the Great Toad Sage let out a low chuckle.
"Long ago, I guided Jiraiya to train in Sage Arts here on Mount Myōboku. If you are willing, I can also teach you Sage Mode."
"Oh?" Ryoma's eyes lit up.
Although he could use the Sage Mode of the First Hokage—Hashirama Senju—each Sage Art had unique characteristics. As one of the Three Great Holy Lands, Mount Myōboku's Sage Arts were powerful and rare.
Not to mention, the Great Toad Sage had personally taught six generations of sages. In the original history, Naruto's strength spike was most obvious before and after mastering Sage Mode.
Before Sage Mode: elite jōnin level, below true Kage level.
After Sage Mode: advanced Kage level, fighting evenly with Pain's Six Paths controlled by Nagato.
Mount Myōboku Sage Arts were unquestionably extraordinary.
"Yes," the Great Toad Sage said, "but first, you must pass several trials. Sage Arts are dangerous. Only those who meet strict standards may refine them."
"This is not meant to belittle you—but some things must be confirmed."
Led by the Great Toad Sage, Ryoma arrived at the Oil Waterfall. Standing beside him, the Sage scooped some special toad oil, handing it to Ryoma.
"The first step is learning to draw in natural energy with the aid of toad oil—"
But his voice stopped abruptly.
Because he could already feel an enormous surge of Mount Myōboku natural energy circulating inside Ryoma.
"H-how is this possible?"
Fukasaku and Shima stared wide-eyed, stunned beyond measure. In all history, no one had mastered natural energy so quickly—without even using toad oil.
"Was I not simply supposed to absorb natural energy?"
Ryoma asked in confusion, finding the process surprisingly simple.
If past cultivators could hear his thoughts, they would break out of their graves purely to curse at him.
Because the hardest and most critical step in Sage Art cultivation—the foundation upon which all else depended—was precisely mastering natural energy absorption.
And yet, Ryoma had done it effortlessly.
As someone who possessed the power of the First Hokage, Ryoma was able to absorb natural energy with ease from the very beginning. Unlike others, he experienced none of the usual difficulties at the starting stage.
"You truly are an unpredictable one," the Great Toad Sage murmured, staring deeply at Ryoma.
"But Sage Mode training is not yet complete."
The four of them—Ryoma, Fukasaku, Shima, and the Great Toad Sage—moved to another training ground filled with countless sharp stone spikes. Fukasaku handed a wooden plank to Ryoma.
"For the next phase, you'll sit atop that spike field using this plank. You must absorb natural energy while maintaining complete stillness."
"Understood."
Ryoma took the plank and leapt lightly into the air. With perfect control, he placed the board beneath his feet and landed on the spike forest, settling at the precise balance point before lowering himself into a cross-legged seated position.
What would have been a lethal trial for most humans posed no difficulty for him.
Closing his eyes, Ryoma instantly cleared his mind of all distractions, entering a state of absolute stillness.
Moments later, his body merged in harmony with the natural energy of Mount Myōboku.
A unique Sage transformation soon appeared across his features—Sage Mode markings forming on his face.
"Incredible… truly, each generation surpasses the last."
The Great Toad Sage exhaled slowly, shaking his head in amazement.
Even Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths, despite his extraordinary talent, had taken an entire day to comprehend the essence of Sage Arts—becoming one with nature.
Fukasaku and Shima were equally shocked.
The Great Toad Sage was normally calm and inscrutable; seeing him show such open admiration was nearly unbelievable.
Floating forward, the Great Toad Sage gently patted Ryoma's shoulder.
"You have completed Sage Mode training."
Ryoma opened his eyes, revealing the distinctive horizontal toad pupils, and rose smoothly to his feet. His entire body felt lighter and sharper—his senses heightened beyond their previous limits.
This Sage Mode was noticeably different from the one derived from the First Hokage.
While Hashirama's Sage Mode focused more on regenerative power and vitality, Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode leaned heavily toward offensive enhancement and sensory expansion.
"I wonder what the Sage Modes of Ryūchi Cave and Shikkotsu Forest are like…"
Ryoma mused, thinking aloud.
"And if I were to unify all Sage Modes into one—what kind of power would emerge?"
The idea formed, and instantly took root.
At present, Ryoma already possessed three Sage Modes:
The Six Paths Sage Mode
Hashirama Senju's Sage Mode
Mount Myōboku Sage Mode
Next, he intended to obtain the Sage Arts of Ryūchi Cave and Shikkotsu Forest, merging the strengths of all schools to forge a perfect transcendent Sage Art.
With that thought, Ryoma looked at the Great Toad Sage and asked:
"Great Toad Sage, I will be returning to seek your guidance again."
The Great Toad Sage blinked in confusion.
"What will you be coming back to see me for?"
...
TN:
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