I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 291 The Invitation from Mount Myōboku!

Jiraiya was so angry he felt a little itchy.

However, he was determined to obtain the "Transparency Technique" and had no way of refusing Nara Rinka's request.

"In the next sparring match, only success is allowed; failure is not permitted!"

Jiraiya touched his ribs; thanks to maintaining Sage Mode for so long, his injuries had completely healed.

"However, it's indeed necessary to set some battle rules in advance... Fighting like today is too discordant."

"Furthermore, setting more detailed battle rules will make it easier to gather information on Nara Rin's abilities..."

Jiraiya was willing to have a friendly competition with Nara Rinka.

One reason is that he is indeed desperately craving the transparent secret technique of [Camouflage Concealment].

On the other hand, it was also due to the special needs of the Konoha leadership.

For all ninjas, the growth of their strength is traceable.

Unless one possesses a special bloodline limit like the Uchiha clan, who can unleash their Mangekyou Sharingan at the slightest provocation, resulting in a monstrous increase in strength in an instant.

There are quite a few genius ninjas who rose to prominence during wartime.

Leaving aside distant examples, the Yellow Flash of Konoha earned its formidable reputation during the Third Shinobi World War.

However, what sets Nara Ranke apart from other geniuses is... his growth rate is simply too fast!

More importantly, Nara Rinkei is not a ninja from the "Hokage lineage".

Facing such a powerful and talented ninja from the same village.

While the Konoha leadership wouldn't intentionally ostracize or be hostile, it would be beneficial to gather intelligence on each other if given the opportunity.

After two sparring battles, Jiraiya did indeed gather a lot of new information about Nara's Thousand Blossoms.

For example, the opponent is incredibly fast and has amazing strength.

For example, the other party may have mastered the means to manipulate the natural energy in the atmosphere.

This kind of intelligence cannot be directly reflected in written data.

However, what Jiraiya didn't know was that Nara Rinka revealed a lot of special information during the battle.

In reality, Nara Rangsei has even more hidden information!

The methods used in the battle were merely the tip of the iceberg of Nara Rinkei's many abilities.

Just as Jiraiya was silently pondering how to "discreetly" gather intelligence on Nara Rinka.

The two toad hermits standing on his shoulders were also observing Nara Rinka with great interest.

"Human children."

Shima Senjin looked at Nara Rinka with curiosity.

"What I'm about to say might be a bit offensive, but could you please tell me how you learned to manipulate lightning in the atmosphere?"

Trivia.

The two masters, Fukasaku and Shima, were over 800 years old.

The Great Toad Immortal, who is of a higher generation than the two of them, is even more terrifyingly old.

Given Shima Sento's age and seniority, addressing Nara Ranka as "a child of humanity" is indeed quite fitting.

Nara Rinkei knew exactly what Shima the Hermit was asking.

The so-called "manipulation of lightning in the atmosphere" is actually just "manipulation of natural energy"!

Many toads on Mount Myōboku can use Sage Mode, and the source of their synthesized Sage Chakra is the natural energy in the atmosphere and the earth.

Master Shima was able to see through the essence of the Kirin, which was a natural energy attack, not a lightning-based attack.

This was not unexpected for Nara Rinka.

What made him hesitate was... whether he should take this opportunity to ask Master Shima and Master Fukasaku about the Sage Mode of Mount Myōboku!

After hesitating for a moment, Nara Rinkei made up his mind—let's do it!

He didn't have a very good impression of the group of mystical toads on Mount Myōboku.

However, this does not prevent him from learning from and drawing upon the sage mode of Mount Myoboku!

"My understanding of natural energy comes from the Temple of Fire."

Nara Rinkachi calmly released his personal information.

"Because my family has a relatively close relationship with the Fire Temple, I asked my family to obtain some means of manipulating natural energy from the ninja monks of the Fire Temple."

"The Temple of Fire?"

A hint of doubt flashed in Shima-sensei's small eyes.

"This name sounds familiar..."

"Old woman, are you suffering from Alzheimer's disease?"

The sage Fukasaku, standing to the side, didn't hold back in his criticism.

"The Temple of Fire is one of the ninja temples in the human world, and it is also a successor to the ninjutsu philosophy of the Sage of Six Paths."

"The Sage of Six Paths..."

Shima the Immortal suddenly realized.

"No wonder!"

"I told you I saw traces of natural energy flowing through you before."

Fukasaku stroked his goatee.

"So it's the legacy of the Fire Temple..."

"Child of humans, are you the future prodigy of the immortal race at the Temple of Fire?"

Even the toads of Mount Myōboku know of the existence of "Talented Immortals"?

Nara Rinka was slightly surprised, but still shook his head.

"No, I have only learned some rudimentary techniques for manipulating natural energy; I am not some kind of 'talent of the immortal race'."

"A crude method..."

The movement of the immortal Fukasaku stroking his beard suddenly stiffened.

Ninjutsu of the level of the [Kirin] mentioned earlier are just "shallow techniques"?

So, aren't 99% of the immortal techniques passed down through generations on Mount Myōboku even worse than garbage?

"Two seniors."

Nara Rinka pretended not to notice Fukasaku Senjin's embarrassment and asked to himself.

"I also have a question I'd like to ask you both."

"As my research into natural energy deepens, I've discovered that natural energy has a very powerful amplifying effect on the activity of human cells..."

At this point, Nara Rinka couldn't help but glance at Jiraiya, who was completely out of his mind.

Even now, the immortal mode of this Daoist Xiansu has not been deactivated. The scarlet mask on his face has covered most of his face, and the aura emanating from him is terrifying.

"However, there are always some problems encountered in the process of introducing natural energy into the body."

"If there is little natural energy, it will not have much of an impact, but if there is an excess of natural energy, it will trigger a petrification crisis."

Nara Rinkashi withdrew his gaze and continued to explain his doubts to the two toad sages.

"I can also see a bit about Jiraiya's condition. Although he looks ugly at the moment, natural energy is continuously flowing into his body."

"Seniors, does Mount Myōboku have any special techniques for absorbing natural energy?"

Facing the two toad masters, Nara Rinkei delivered a straightforward, unfiltered shot.

Both Fukasaku and Shima have lived for hundreds of years, and their life experience as "toads" is incredibly rich.

Nara no longer wastes his efforts to conceal his true intentions.

"Special techniques for absorbing natural energy...?"

Fukasaku stroked his goat beard rapidly, pondering how to answer Nara Rinka's question.

"Mount Myoboku does indeed possess..."

The toads of Mount Myoboku weren't born knowing how to absorb natural energy.

To absorb natural energy and condense Sage Chakra, even the toads of Mount Myōboku must undergo a period of training.

Even toads that are cultivating themselves can face the risk of petrification.

There is a special area in Mount Myoboku where toad statues of all sizes are placed.

Those toad stone carvings are all examples of failed attempts to cultivate immortal arts over thousands of years.

However, compared to the inheritance of immortal arts in other places.

The traditions of Mount Myoboku are indeed more refined and safer.

The neighboring Ryūchi Cave also has a lineage of magical arts.

However, the tradition of Ryuchi Cave involves having the White Snake Immortal bite the practitioner and then injecting its venom into the practitioner's body.

If you survive the poison of the immortals, you have successfully cultivated the immortal mode of Ryuchi Cave.

I can't hold on...

Those who cultivate will become food for the White Snake Immortal.

Its cruelty and risk far exceed the magical arts passed down from Mount Myoboku.

"I wonder if I could learn some of the natural practices of Mount Myoboku?"

Nara Rinka saw that Fukasaku the Hermit had not directly refused, and his eyes lit up.

"If you are willing to teach me, I am willing to exchange my [Qilin] for it."

【Qilin】It's good in every way, but the prerequisites are too complicated, which greatly limits its use.

If we can successfully replace the immortal technique of Mount Myōboku with the pseudo-immortal technique [Kirin]...

You might make a small profit from Mount Myoboku, but you'll definitely make a worthwhile investment in Nara!

"No... I'm sorry, child."

After hesitating for a long time, the immortal Shenzuo shook his head.

"Mount Myoboku does not require any additional means of harnessing natural energy."

"Furthermore, the Sage Mode inherited from Mount Myōboku is not applicable to every ninja."

The implication of Shen Zuoxianren's words was that he refused.

But after all, the other party was a ninja from the same village as Jiraiya.

After hesitating for a moment, the immortal Fukasaku added another sentence.

"If you really want to learn magic, child, you can come with me and my wife to Mount Myōboku."

(End of this chapter)