Konoha, Hokage Office.
Kurenai Yuhi stood outside, raising her hand several times to knock before slowly lowering it again.
With a creak, the door opened.
Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a forced smile and said, "What are you doing out there? Why don't you come in?"
"Yes."
Kurenai Yuhi entered, and after a moment's hesitation, she first reported the full details of the pursuit of Hidan at the border.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his chair, listening intently.
After Kurenai Yuhi finished her report, she stood to the side, waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi's response.
Previously, she and Kakashi had been responsible for leading a team to support Kyoto and investigate the case of the murdered Guardian Shinobi.
Now, that matter had finally reached a conclusion.
However, she hadn't expected so many things to happen in Konoha during her short absence, and—
Even Masahiko had met with an accident.
Her gaze grew somber.
At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't know how to explain or offer comfort, so he remained silent for a while.
"Hokage-sama."
"Kurenai."
Both spoke at the same time.
Kurenai Yuhi quickly said respectfully, "You go first, sir."
"Well, regarding the Jashin Cult, we have sufficient intelligence now, and the Anbu will continue to track them."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "As for the person who rescued him, we have some clues."
"Really?"
Kurenai was surprised. "Is this—something I'm allowed to know?"
In the Anbu's previous report, they had only mentioned Masahiko's disappearance and a general overview of what happened, with no details included.
"You are a Jonin; of course you are qualified to know,"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said. "The opponent used Wood Release to restrain Masahiko and prevent him from using Earth Release to escape—"
His tone was grave.
"Therefore, the person who rescued the Jashin Cult member and the one who prevented Masahiko from escaping safely that day should be the same person."
"I see."
Kurenai Yuhi's gaze darkened as she handed over a box.
"Hokage-sama, this is a birthday gift Masahiko prepared for Naruto in advance. I would like to ask you to give it to Naruto at the appropriate time."
"I've looked at it; it contains some training guidance and insights."
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the box in Kurenai's hand and didn't speak for a long time.
E s n E a
Somewhere in a deep valley in the Land of Grass within the Ninja World.
The ground cracked open, and the black-and-white Zetsu emerged from the soil, a pitcher plant still atop his head.
Behind him, Hidan and Imagawa were dragged out.
"Aaaah!"
He burst into a fit of cursing. "That hurts like hell! Those Konoha bastards really didn't hold back!"
"Lord Hidan, I will help treat your injuries."
Imagawa curled his body and cautiously approached.
This strangely shaped fellow looked very dangerous; the only one he could rely on right now was Hidan.
Fortunately, he still knew some basic Medical Ninjutsu.
Imagawa thought bitterly.
If it weren't for knowing a bit of Medical Ninjutsu, he might have been killed by Hidan long ago.
However...
If it weren't for that adult's methods, he could have hidden in the Land of Hot Springs and slowly researched the power of Jashin.
Zetsu smiled and said, "Hello, I am Zetsu. You might not know me, but it doesn't matter—you will definitely be very interested in the organization I come from."
"Not interested! My faith belongs only to Lord Jashin and the God's Envoy! My entire life will be dedicated to Lord Jashin!"
Hidan shouted fanatically.
Imagawa's face turned pale with fear as he quickly said, "My lord, what he means is—we are believers of Lord Jashin and subordinates of the cult leader!"
"It doesn't matter. As long as we have a common goal, faith is irrelevant."
Zetsu smiled. "Isn't that the purpose of an organization?"
Hidan didn't understand, and he didn't want to think, so he looked directly at Imagawa.
"What is he saying?"
"They don't care about faith. After we join, we can still believe in Lord Jashin and work for Lord Jashin and the cult leader."
Imagawa whispered.
Zetsu glanced at Imagawa and then nodded slightly. "Exactly."
"But I can work for Lord Jashin without joining, and the God's Envoy—"
Hidan was about to mention the "God's Envoy."
Imagawa immediately said, "God's will is for us to stir up war. If joining them helps fulfill God's mission and spread my God's blessings, I think it's quite good."
Hidan pondered and then looked at Zetsu.
"Is that so?"
You're asking me?
Zetsu was silent for a few seconds before nodding slightly. "Yes, we actually come from some small hidden villages, and our goal is to stir up war and overthrow the Five Great Nations."
"You should have said so earlier! What other benefits does our organization have?"
"Heh, no rush. Someone else will communicate those things with you."
After saying this, Zetsu used his travel technique and departed.
If they kept talking, he would be the one getting impatient.
Land of Rivers, underground base.
Danzo looked at the intelligence in his hand and didn't speak for a long while.
Fu Yamanaka, standing nearby, cautiously looked up. "Lord Danzo—"
Danzo set the intelligence aside and said coldly, "Continue to monitor. Additionally, establish a stronghold in the Land of Fire to facilitate our information transmission."
"Yes!"
Fu Yamanaka breathed a sigh of relief and turned to leave.
After he left, Danzo picked up the scroll. "What a pity."
But, this is my opportunity.
Danzo's inner ambitions stirred once again.
Inside the Training Space.
This place was different from the outside world, filled with easily perceptible Nature Energy.
Soon, Masahiko's entire body petrified.
The next second, his body crumbled and restored to its original state once more.
Masahiko fell into long thought.
The Panda Clan's method was actually to let the body adapt to Nature Energy in daily life, slowly becoming a part of nature.
In this way, they could quickly harmonize Nature Energy and enter Sage Mode.
This method was the most ancient and primitive, requiring a very long time.
However...
Dumb methods had their own advantages.
Once mastered, it meant he would have a perfect Sage Mode; it wasn't impossible to enter Sage Mode instantly by just clapping his hands.
Furthermore, Masahiko had his own advantages.
He had the Byakugan and had opened most of the Tenketsu in his body. As long as he could sense the existence of Nature Energy, he could absorb and expel it through his Tenketsu.
Moreover...
The Water Release Chakra Mode and Lightning Release Chakra Mode themselves gave him a certain foundation.
Cultivation was nothing more than the accumulation of time.
What he needed to do was find a balance point—one where he could keep his body from petrification or iron-ification while maintaining a relatively high state of Nature Energy flow.
Thinking of this, Masahiko closed his eyes and tried again.
With the Training Space, he had infinite opportunities for trial and error.
He slept when he was tired.
He ate hunger-filling soldier pills when he was hungry.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but finally...
Masahiko sat cross-legged in the Training Space, absorbing Nature Energy through the Tenketsu all over his body, refining and synthesizing Senjutsu Chakra strand by strand.
Afterward, it briefly participated in the internal circulation before decomposing and dissipating from other Tenketsu as Nature Energy.
"Found it!"
Masahiko opened his eyes.
His body had not undergone iron-ification or petrification.
In this state, he could absorb Nature Energy faster to strengthen and improve his body, allowing his physique to adapt to Senjutsu Chakra more quickly.
The next step was to sense Nature Energy in reality.
With the experience from the Training Space—
This step would not be difficult.
Masahiko closed his eyes, and after a while, he entered a state of absolute quiet and sensed the Nature Energy.
Inside the cave, Iron Palm opened his eyes, his panda face unable to hide his surprise.
Goodfellas!
He mastered the Sage Art cultivation method just by sleeping?
>