Chapter 551: This Is the Power of a Sage!

Chapter 551: Chapter 551: This Is the Power of a Sage!

"Did I make that huge hole?"

After a long while, Naruto finally came to his senses as he stared blankly at the enormous hole in the rock wall.

Ichikishimahime walked over with a smile and explained, "Under the effects of our Ryuchi Cave’s Sage Mode, your speed, strength, sensory abilities, and even your body’s regenerative capabilities have all undergone a qualitative leap. You’re no longer an ordinary person."

Naruto exclaimed, "Whoa! That’s awesome!"

Punching through a wall with a single fist was something Naruto experienced quite often, but only in his dreams.

Covering her mouth, Ichikishimahime chuckled before continuing, "The wonders of natural energy don’t end there. Naruto, try placing your hand against the rock wall."

Without the slightest hesitation, Naruto immediately pressed his hand against the wall.

Ichikishimahime leaned close to Naruto’s ear and whispered, "Try emptying your mind and focusing your thoughts. Recall what the rock wall looked like before you broke it..."

Following Ichikishimahime’s instructions, Naruto closed his eyes and tried his best to recall the wall’s original appearance.

Just then, without Naruto even realizing it, the rock wall he had shattered with a single punch seemed to come alive. It actually began to slowly writhe, and as it moved, the enormous hole was gradually repaired bit by bit.

A moment later, Naruto opened his eyes and discovered that the rock wall before him had already been restored to its original state. The enormous hole he had just punched through it had completely vanished without a trace.

"Huh...?!"

Naruto scratched his head, his face filled with confusion.

Ichikishimahime smiled and said, "This is the power of a Sage!"

Naruto looked at Ichikishimahime with an expectant expression and asked, "Big Sis, can I beat Sasuke now?"

"Who’s Sasuke?"

Ichikishimahime was completely puzzled.

Naruto explained, "Sasuke! He’s my good friend. He’s a little full of himself, but he’s a real genius, you know! He even awakened the Sharingan not long ago!"

"The Sharingan? Is this Sasuke a member of the Uchiha clan?" After a brief pause, Ichikishimahime smiled again. "Naruto, you can rest assured. Now that you’ve learned to absorb natural energy, under the effects of Sage Mode, there isn’t a single human your age who can match you. That Uchiha child is no exception!"

"B-But... he has the Sharingan!"

Naruto still lacked confidence. After all, back in the village, all he ever heard was how incredible the Sharingan was and how powerful the Uchiha clan was.

Ichikishimahime smiled. "Won’t you find out once you meet him and have a match?"

"That’s right! I’ll know once we fight!" Naruto’s furrowed brows finally relaxed, but as though he had suddenly remembered something, they immediately knitted together again. "But if I want to enter Sage Mode, I have to sit still for several hours to absorb natural energy first. That’s way too troublesome! Big Sis, isn’t there a faster way to enter Sage Mode?"

Ichikishimahime shook her head. "There are no shortcuts when it comes to absorbing natural energy. You can only rely on prolonged training to bring your body into harmony with nature and gradually increase the speed at which you absorb it."

Actually, there was one more thing that Ichikishimahime, who had spent all her time in Ryuchi Cave, had forgotten to tell Naruto.

The environment inside Ryuchi Cave was extremely unique. The natural energy permeating its air was extraordinarily dense, several times more concentrated than in the outside world.

The reason mutations had occurred in Jugo’s village was precisely because it was located too close to a fissure connected to Ryuchi Cave. As a result, the village had been exposed to excessive amounts of natural energy leaking out from the cave.

Therefore, while Naruto could successfully enter Sage Mode after absorbing natural energy for just a few hours inside Ryuchi Cave, if he were outside, he would need to spend two to three times as long absorbing natural energy just to barely enter Sage Mode.

And Ichikishimahime, who had only ever taught a bunch of stone statues, was completely oblivious to this...

...

Konohagakure.

Kagami released a messenger crow from his home before heading out.

After deciding to make Deidara his next target, Kagami had privately investigated Deidara’s current situation through Konoha’s ANBU intelligence network.

It was only after looking into him that Kagami discovered Deidara was truly a problem child through and through.

As the Third Tsuchikage Onoki’s most talented disciple, Deidara had joined Iwagakure’s elite Explosion Corps at the age of eight. Yet, shortly after turning nine, he had been forced to leave the village after carrying out several terrorist attacks that had caused a sensation throughout the Land of Earth.

Now only eleven years old, he wandered around the shinobi world, occasionally causing an explosion or two. If not for the Third Tsuchikage’s reputation, he would have long since been placed on the wanted lists of the Five Great Nations.

Kagami had neither the time nor the energy to search the entire shinobi world for such a problem child.

That was why he had just sent a message to the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, through his messenger crow, mobilizing Kirigakure’s ANBU to search the shinobi world and locate Deidara.

After leaving home, Kagami headed straight to the ANBU headquarters.

At this moment, the ANBU headquarters was bustling with people. Apart from those who were away on missions, practically every ANBU member currently in the village had gathered at the base.

After greeting his three subordinates, Kurenai, Hayate, and Yugao, Kagami folded his arms across his chest and stood quietly in a corner.

The reason the ANBU had gathered at their headquarters was that, earlier that very morning, Shimura Danzo, one of the village’s advisory elders, had formally submitted a motion of no confidence against the Third Hokage, seeking his removal from office.

Since the matter involved the Hokage, the ANBU, who answered directly to him, naturally had to assemble and stand ready to carry out the Third’s orders at any moment.

However, just as Kagami had anticipated, Danzo had no intention of resorting to force in this attempt to pressure the Hokage into stepping down. Likewise, the Third had no intention of using force, as he wished to maintain the village’s stability.

Thus, although the ANBU had assembled, the atmosphere inside their headquarters was not particularly tense. Some ANBU members were even whispering among themselves, discussing Danzo’s motion to remove the Hokage.

Before long, Kakashi, Guy, Shisui, and several other familiar faces arrived at the headquarters one after another.

After exchanging greetings, Kakashi, his eyes drooping with exhaustion, let out a long yawn.

Kagami casually asked, "Didn’t sleep well?"

Kakashi shook his head. "No. I think I’ve been pushing myself a little too hard with my training lately."

The destruction of their home had profoundly affected many Konoha shinobi. Meanwhile, the overwhelming strength displayed by Kamigami and Akatsuki had also instilled a powerful sense of crisis in their hearts.

From Jiraiya and Tsunade, two of the legendary Sannin, to the younger generation of Konoha shinobi such as Kakashi, Asuma, and Guy, everyone had thrown themselves into intensive training after the battle.

For a time, the training grounds surrounding Konoha were practically overflowing with people.

And unlike the dispirited, lackadaisical Kakashi of the original timeline, the Kakashi of the present still appeared as nonchalant as ever on the surface, but those who knew him understood that he had completely changed.

The almost desperate intensity with which he threw himself into training was proof enough of that...