"What, learn my ninjutsu?" Jiraiya exclaimed in shock.
With his hands on his hips, he glared at Satori Hyūga, clearly displeased. "You're far too greedy! Now you're even eyeing my techniques."
"Still, you've got good taste. Not just anyone can master the ninjutsu of a Toad Sage like me—even Orochimaru couldn't master it."
The more he talked, the more delighted he became. Just thinking about Orochimaru's apprentice wanting to learn from him made him burst into laughter.
Does this mean I'm actually more powerful than Orochimaru?
Snapping back to his senses, he felt torn once more.
Most of his techniques were fused with Sage Mode, which likely wouldn't work for Satori at all.
Should he teach Satori the summoning technique from Mount Myoboku? But mastering it wasn't easy—it involved serious risks.
Seeing Jiraiya's shifting expressions—half grinning, half frowning—Satori asked, "I heard you possess the legendary Sage Mode, something not even Professor Orochimaru could master. Would you consider teaching me?"
"I figure if even Professor Orochimaru hasn't mastered it, then surely only someone like you, a true Toad Sage of Konoha, could possibly pass it down."
Techniques naturally call for aiming at the best, and right away, Satori had gone for the most valuable prize—Sage Mode itself.
To achieve his goal, Satori lavished Jiraiya with flattery, compliment after compliment flowing smoothly, making Jiraiya feel absolutely elated.
Puffed up with pride, Jiraiya let out an awkward cough.
"Well, I wasn't born a prodigy—charming, refined, brilliant—so I'm just a little better than Orochimaru, that's all."
"But entering Sage Mode requires signing a contract with Mount Myoboku, followed by training there."
"And the training itself is full of dangers—it's not something you pick up easily."
"You're Orochimaru's apprentice. If anything goes wrong during my training, I'll have a lot of questions to answer."
Jiraiya wasn't being selfish—he simply explained the flaws and risks involved in learning Sage Mode.
He tried to talk Satori out of taking such a risky path.
But Satori was already well aware of these matters.
After all, in his past life, he'd seen countless times in the Naruto series how Jiraiya trained Naruto on Mount Myoboku.
Being struck by black rods, smeared with frog oil, absorbing natural energy until turning to stone...
None of this fazed Satori. He only wanted to study Mount Myoboku's Sage training methods, to gain insight and build upon them.
As for Ryuchi Cave or Shikkotsu Forest, Satori planned to explore their forms of Sage Mode as opportunities arose.
He believed Sage Modes tied to summoning beasts were fundamentally unfit for humans.
After all, those who trained often ended up riddled with warts or sprouting horns—hardly still human.
Satori wanted to try forging his own version of Sage Mode—entirely independent of any beast contract.
It sounded far-fetched, but once he sorted his ideas out, it didn't seem impossible.
First, let's talk about the natural energy used in Sage Mode.
According to records, long ago before the arrival of the Otsutsuki Clan, the world was brimming with Natural Energy.
At that time, Chakra had yet to be born.
It wasn't until the Otsutsuki Clan arrived and planted the seed of the God Tree that the original Chakra Fruit came into being.
In other words, Natural Energy could transform into Chakra, and Chakra was simply another form of Natural Energy.
[Sage Mode Chakra] involved blending one's own chakra with Natural Energy, greatly enhancing one's Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu.
Understanding this principle might even allow one to forge their own version of Sage Mode.
First, Satori Hyūga needed to locate natural energy sources and understand and observe how Natural Energy existed.
Then he could begin experimenting with methods of extracting Natural Energy and absorbing and converting it.
Satori stepped forward. "When you go to Mount Myoboku next time, please bring me along."
"I've only heard about the power of Sage Mode and want to see it for myself. If there's any danger involved, I won't insist on training."
Since Satori put it that way, Jiraiya could only agree.
He replied with a sigh, "Since you're so understanding, I'll keep my word. When I return to Mount Myoboku for training next time, I'll take you with me."
"Now you can tell me exactly how you completed those missions."
"Of course, it was very simple." Satori grinned, clearly pleased with himself. "I just found some cats and dogs that looked similar, did a quick makeover on them, and returned them to the rightful owners."
Jiraiya's jaw dropped in disbelief. "That's all?"
"Didn't the clients notice something was off?"
Satori shrugged. "Some of them figured it out. But so what? Just let them assume they picked up the wrong pet by mistake."
"There are so many missing pets and so many desperate owners— as long as some didn't recognize the animal, the mission counted as complete."
"And as for the ones who didn't recognize their pets? That just proves those owners didn't really love their pets to begin with."
"If they truly loved their pets, how could they not recognize them?"
"That actually makes sense…"
Jiraiya scratched his head, never having thought someone could complete missions this way. It was basically cheating.
But since the clients had already confirmed the tasks were done, he couldn't exactly say the mission failed.
This left Jiraiya speechless, and a thought came to mind: *Why didn't I think of such a great idea back then?*
Back when he had freshly graduated, he worked diligently on every mission, running around busily all day like a tired dog.
Had he known such tricks, he wouldn't have been so exhausted.
Yet on the surface, as a mentor, he couldn't show such thoughts.
He cleared his throat and feigned seriousness. "That kind of method is somewhat inappropriate. Don't do it again in the future."
"If everyone starts faking things like this, who would dare to give missions to Konoha anymore?"
Since the mission was already completed, Satori naturally nodded in agreement.
"You're absolutely right, Professor Jiraiya. From now on, we'll stick to proper missions."
"Let's pick up some regular missions tomorrow. We've built up enough experience by now, so we should be able to handle C-ranked missions, right?"
Kushina lit up as soon as she heard that and beamed, "Great! C-ranked missions are way better than D-ranked ones."
"If we get a protection mission, we might even get to leave the village and travel somewhere cool!"
Still so childish at heart, Kushina had been stuck in Konoha for ages and was itching to get out and explore.
Jiraiya took one look and immediately felt a migraine brewing.
Oh no. This is bad. The jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails wants to leave the village. Worse yet—it's Satori Hyūga, from the Hyūga Main House. These two kids have special status. Both are under constant surveillance and escorted by guards.
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