Chương 136

Rei scratched the back of his head apologetically before giving the elderly pair a respectful bow.

"I'm truly grateful for the invitation, Fukasaku-sama, Shima-sama... but I just finished a very large lunch before coming here." Jiraiya laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck. They got saved in a major way by partaking that lunch before they arrived here, or else it would be quite the disaster when it came to food.

"Same here. We ate right before signing the contract." The two elder toads exchanged disappointed glances before sighing almost in perfect unison.

"What unfortunate timing..."

"Well, it can't be helped," Shima said with a smile.

"There will be plenty of opportunities to share a meal later. Come inside anyway. We've been looking forward to meeting you." Rei followed the two elder toads into their place, quietly observing the simple yet timeless architecture surrounding him. Every stone seemed weathered by countless generations, yet not a single structure felt neglected.

The atmosphere was peaceful beyond words, and even without consciously sensing it, natural energy flowed through every corner of Mount Myōboku as effortlessly as breathing itself. As they walked, Rei casually glanced toward Fukasaku before speaking in what sounded like simple curiosity.

"Fukasaku-sama... may I ask something?" The elder toad looked back with a warm smile.

"Of course, young one." Rei scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"When I signed the summoning contract just now... or perhaps when Jiraiya-sama's body changed recently... did either of you notice anything unusual? Any strange memories, information, instincts or... perhaps something being conveyed through the contract itself?" Both elder toads exchanged puzzled looks.

"... No." Fukasaku answered after thinking for several moments.

"The summoning contract behaved exactly as it always has." Shima added.

"Once your name was written, you simply became another contractor of Mount Myōboku. Nothing else reached us. Jiraiya's recent changes surprised us greatly, but no knowledge or foreign information accompanied them."

"I see..." Rei smiled politely before nodding.

"Thank you. I was simply curious." Outwardly he appeared satisfied with the answer. Internally, however, another theory quietly formed inside his mind. So the Contract really doesn't interfere with ordinary summoning agreements... That meant the transfer probably activates only after a summoned creature actually crosses into the other world. That would explain why Kakashi's summons changed... and why none of the elder toads sensed anything after I signed. Good... that makes the Contract even safer than he expected.

Naturally, Rei kept every one of those thoughts to himself. Instead, he spent the next several minutes simply enjoying the company of the elder toads. Shima enthusiastically explained how the giant mushrooms throughout the mountain had been growing for generations, while Fukasaku spoke of Mount Myōboku's history and the countless sages who had once trained there. Jiraiya occasionally interrupted with amusing stories from his own training, causing even Rei to laugh more than once.

Once the elders had finally finished their meal and the table had been cleared away, the warmth of casual conversation slowly gave way to quiet anticipation. Fukasaku's expression became noticeably more serious.

"Jiraiya-boy has told us something rather extraordinary." His ancient eyes settled upon Rei.

"He claims that the remarkable changes in his Sage Mode came from your guidance." Shima nodded beside him.

"Naturally, we found that difficult to believe." Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. A gentle smile appeared on Fukasaku's face.

"So, if you don't mind..." He slowly stepped aside, creating an open space within the temple courtyard.

"... would you show us exactly the Senjutsu that you taught Jiraiya?" Rei gave a small nod before walking toward the center of the courtyard. For several seconds he remained perfectly still, allowing the surrounding natural energy to flow around him instead of immediately drawing it into his body. Instead, the surrounding natural energy suddenly began rushing toward Rei on its own. Neither Fukasaku nor Shima had sensed him actively gathering it.

"... Interesting." Fukasaku murmured. The markings around Rei's body slowly spread as his physique subtly transformed. Dark patterns emerged across his skin while portions of his body. Unlike ordinary Sage Mode, however, the changes weren't forced by imbalance. They appeared as though his body had naturally evolved to accommodate the immense influx of nature chakra.

"This is the Senjutsu I taught Jiraya-sama," Rei explained calmly.

"It instinctively absorbs natural energy. I simply learned how to consciously regulate what was already happening naturally." Without another word, Rei raised one hand toward a distant boulder nearly fifty meters away, his hand now being transformed into a canon. Nature chakra rapidly condensed into his palm before exploding outward in an invisible wave. Boom! The rock shattered into countless fragments without a single hand seal being formed.

It had been nothing more than condensed senjutsu chakra released with overwhelming force. Shima blinked several times.

"... Directly weaponizing natural energy..."

"That's certainly unconventional." Fukasaku admitted, his eyebrows rising. Before either elder could ask another question, a small mountain bird landed atop a nearby mushroom, chirping curiously toward the unfamiliar human. Rei looked toward it and answered with a small whistle. The bird tilted its head excitedly before chirping several more times, earning a laugh from Rei before it happily flew away. Both elder toads stared.

"... You understood it?" Shima asked. Rei nodded.

"It isn't exactly language." He smiled.

"Natural energy makes communicating with living creatures... easier. Birds, animals... even insects become surprisingly expressive once you begin understanding the rhythm behind them." Jiraiya chuckled.

"I still can't get used to watching him and myself casually hold conversations with animals. It makes spying so easy." The two elders looked at Jiraya with a bit of disgust when he spoke about spying. Rei then held out his right arm. Before their eyes, muscles expanded, the skin darkened, and his forearm reshaped itself into a far larger, more monstrous limb covered in hardened natural armor. Moments later it returned completely to normal without leaving the slightest trace of injury.

"My body is capable of adapting itself in response to natural energy." He flexed his fingers once.

"Offense, defense, mobility... every transformation serves a different purpose." Silence lingered throughout the courtyard. Finally, Fukasaku slowly nodded.

"I understand now why Jiraiya-boy was so excited about you teaching him senjutsu. This in essence is much better than our senjutsu." Shima smiled warmly.

"Your understanding of natural energy is remarkable." Fukasaku's expression, however, remained thoughtful.

"But..." Rei and Jiraiya both looked toward him.

"The two of you still share the same flaw." He pointed toward the subtle physical changes still visible on both of them.

"The ideal Sage is one whose body changes as little as possible. Visible transformations are proof that natural energy is still influencing your physical form more than necessary." Shima nodded in agreement.

"Your power is extraordinary, both of you. But true perfection lies in complete balance," Fukasaku concluded.

"Retain every bit of that strength while allowing almost none of it to alter your outward appearance. When you reach that point... your Sage transformation will truly be complete."

"I believe..." Shima began thoughtfully, "... before we decide whether there is anything further Mount Myōboku can teach you, there is someone else who should meet you first." Rei tilted his head slightly.

"Someone else?" Shima smiled warmly.

"The oldest sage of our mountain. The Great Toad Sage, Gamamaru-sama." Even Jiraiya looked mildly surprised.

"You want to take him to see Gamamaru-sama already?" Fukasaku nodded.

"Normally we would observe someone much longer before requesting an audience. However, Rei's understanding of natural energy follows a path unlike anything we've witnessed before and even was able to teach you. So whether Mount Myōboku has more to teach him... or whether his future lies elsewhere... should be left for Gamamaru-sama to judge." Outwardly, Rei merely nodded respectfully.

"Though I have no idea of who he is but I trust your decision." Internally, however, his thoughts became considerably less composed. Gamamaru... The one whose dreams have guided the the actual history of shinobi. Hopefully... he only sees the future... Not where Rei truly came from. Rei couldn't refuse and thus could only say yes, because right here saying no wasn't an option. It was also another reason why he never bothered with the Toad contract.

Because that frog had been there from the beginning, and now that he was the disruptor, he wondered what would the old frog tell him. Fukasaku smiled approvingly before turning toward one of the mountain paths.

"Then come with us." The group quietly departed the courtyard, climbing a series of ancient stone stairways carved directly into the mountainside. The peaceful sounds of flowing water gradually faded, replaced by an almost sacred silence. The deeper they ventured, the denser the surrounding natural energy became, until even the air itself seemed ancient beyond comprehension. Eventually they arrived before an enormous cavern illuminated by soft natural light filtering through openings high above.

Within the chamber rested a colossal elderly toad upon an equally ancient seat, his body bearing the unmistakable weight of countless centuries. Rei immediately stepped forward before lowering himself into a respectful bow.

"It is an honor to meet you, Great Toad Sage-sama."