[NTU] [ARC-05-CHUNIN] Chapter : 63 (Patreon)

He has a beloved girl and always likes to help the elderly. The key is that he is not very smart. All these traits together make him a candidate Madara is quite satisfied with! However, he still wonders how much potential this child can truly unleash in the end.

Meanwhile, Toshiro had no idea that his one trip to the sea was causing an old man somewhere in the ninja world to experience a dilemma in choosing his successor. At that moment, Toshiro was diligently practicing Sage Mode, relying on a unique feature of the shadow clone jutsu.

When a shadow clone disperses, it not only brings back fatigue, memory, and experience but also any unused chakra. However, this only happens when the shadow clone is released normally. If the clone is broken by external hits, only some memories and fatigue return to the main body, while the remaining chakra dissipates into the air.

This is relatively reasonable. If the chakra could still return to the main body after a shadow clone is defeated, then, by the same logic, any chakra used in ninjutsu could also return to the main body. This is obviously impossible. Otherwise, Naruto would never run out of chakra. Given his Nine-Tails Jinchuriki status and the ability to reclaim consumed chakra, he could use an endless number of shadow clones and Rasengan without ever exhausting his reserves.

Upon discovering this feature, Toshiro had a breakthrough idea. Since the shadow clone naturally dissipates into the air when broken, taking its chakra with it, why not use shadow clones for practicing Sage Mode? If something goes wrong, he could immediately dispel the shadow clones. This way, he could avoid the risk of natural energy getting out of control and turning him into a stone.

"If the future Hokage can use shadow clones to practice Sage Mode, so can I!" he thought. The only concern was whether the natural energy entering the shadow clone's body would behave like chakra. Would it also dissipate into the air when the shadow clone was dispelled? Even if there was an accident, as long as the total amount of chakra in his original body was greater than that in the shadow clone, the natural energy in the clone would return to the original body and neutralize without risk of getting out of control.

The success of this experiment filled Toshiro with boundless motivation. Hope lay in the distance, and glory awaited on the other side...

Another week passed on this unremarkable hill.

Toshiro's face had grown rougher from the sea breeze, and his complexion had darkened. Despite this, his expression showed no regret. Instead, he appeared to be more energetic. He had indeed become darker, but also stronger.

He sat cross-legged by the pond, his face solemn and focused. Slowly, a deep red color like blood began to spread from his eyes. Fine lines, as sharp as the tip of a knife, grew and stretched towards his temples. Simultaneously, a blood-red mark resembling a rising sun formed in the center of his forehead.

His Sage Mode was finally successful. Since his arrival in this world, he has silently worked toward this day for six years. During this time, he remained undeterred by wind and rain, never slacking off. Six years of relentless effort finally bore fruit.

Unlike others who crossed over with Gamer systems, Toshiro had no such advantages. He had to accumulate his strength little by little, growing stronger through sheer hard work. The hardships and sweat he endured were beyond what others could understand.

As a member of the Uchiha clan, he couldn't afford to relax. Otherwise, he risked being killed by others like Danzo or Itachi in the future. But now, it all seemed worth it.

Opening his eyes slowly, he felt the immense power within him. A great sense of accomplishment rose in his heart. This sense of achievement, gained through his own efforts, was something he had never experienced before. Even without external advantages, he had mastered Sage Mode on his own.

Toshiro stood up, feeling the explosive power in his arms. He swung his fist and smashed it into the ground. A huge sound erupted, accompanied by a cloud of smoke and dust, scattering birds in the forest. When the smoke cleared, a deep pit nearly ten meters in diameter and over three meters deep remained. On this mountain of hard stone, this feat was incredible. If this punch hit a ninja, the consequences would be devastating.

In Sage Mode, his speed, strength, reaction time, and perception had all improved significantly. The Sage Chakra in his body was now vastly different, a world apart from his past self.

As he was lamenting the changes, a piercing eagle cry cut through the sky. A giant eagle, out foraging, had noticed the commotion and spotted Toshiro. Finally, his peaceful existence on the island was interrupted by his first challenge.

"Just in time!"

With no intention of retreating, Toshiro faced the swooping giant eagle with eagerness. Having just achieved Sage Mode, this was the perfect opportunity to test his new abilities. He had come to the island under the pretense of searching for a summoning beast, and now a giant eagle had conveniently presented itself.

As the bird approached, the wind pressure bent the small trees on the hill. Instead of fear, Toshiro felt excitement.

Boom!

With just one punch, similar to how Garp sent away Marco with just one punch during the Marinford war, Toshiro, too, hit the eagle's head. The eagle, because it was diving towards him, could not change direction fast enough.

As a result of the mistake, the giant eagle fell to the ground, soon succumbing to Toshiro's iron fist. After forcing the creature to sign a blood contract, Toshiro released it. He had come prepared with these contracts, but their actual use still felt satisfying.

He was not concerned about the eagle's obedience. As a wielder of the Sharingan, he could easily control a simple-minded summoned beast with just a glance.

Surveying the mess on the ground, he shook his head and decided to move his position. Unlike Hashirama Senju, he lacked the ability to instantly repair the damage caused by his battle. The affected areas would have to recover slowly through the power of nature.

Packing his belongings, Toshiro walked towards the beach, contemplating his next steps. Although he had successfully entered Sage Mode on this special island with its dense natural energy, he now needed to adapt to using it in the outside world.

Reflecting on his month-long stay, Toshiro knew it was time to leave. The deadline was approaching, and he had to return to Konoha. His trip had been highly successful, yielding both the success of Sage Mode and the acquisition of a formidable summoning beast.

However, both achievements had their limitations. While he could activate Sage Mode smoothly on the island, in the outside world, it required more preparation time due to the lower density of natural energy. In a real combat situation, where battles were short and intense, the extended preparation time rendered his Sage Mode impractical.

Toshiro had anticipated this and did not rely on Sage Mode for combat, at least not in the short term. His goal was to use Sage Mode to "improve his body composition" and enhance his physical and chakra growth during his peak years. Without this enhancement, he risked becoming just another powerful Uchiha, like the future Fourth Raikage or Fifth Hokage, even if slightly stronger due to his Mangekyo Sharingan.

To achieve unparalleled growth and avoid becoming a supporting character in the future, he needed the advantages provided by Sage Mode. Natural energy could offer comprehensive improvements and potentially lead to "immortality." The longevity of the Great Toad Sage from Mount Myoboku, who had lived for nearly a thousand years, suggested that similar benefits could be within reach for Toshiro.

In a sea area between the Land of Whirlpools, the Land of Hot Water, and the Land of Iron, a white-headed sea eagle with a wingspan of nearly 30 meters soared more than a thousand meters above the ground. This massive bald eagle, with its white head, yellow beak, and black body feathers, was a formidable predator. It typically preys on fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and mammals. As an opportunistic predator, it often stole food from others, especially after growing larger due to natural energy.

On Forgotten Island, the eagle was almost invincible until it met Toshiro. Its usual recklessness led it to dive at him without caution, only to be pulled down and subdued. As a creature bound to an Uchiha with the Sharingan, it had no choice but to obey.

Now, instead of riding his small boat, Toshiro stood on the eagle's back, feeling the wind rush past. The endless sea and the clouds within reach filled him with exhilaration.

"Woohooo..."

Toshiro couldn't contain himself and let out a long cry of exhilaration. The sound echoed over the sea, lingering in the air.