NOVEL NEXT Chapter 51: Yin Seal
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Sage Mode Training
"Wake up, Natsume."
The calm, measured voice of Katsuyu, the Slug Sage, echoed softly through the dense atmosphere of Shikkotsu Forest. "This is your first time sensing natural energy. Don't rush, or you'll find yourself in trouble."
Natsume reluctantly opened his eyes, emerging from deep meditation. A faint unease settled in his chest, as though he'd been pushing himself too far.
"If you continue without proper control," Katsuyu warned, her tone firm yet patient, "nature's backlash could turn you to stone—or worse."
Natsume winced at the thought. The gravity of Sage Mode training was not something he could afford to underestimate.
"At this stage," Katsuyu continued, "you'll need external aids to sense natural energy. But remember, the ultimate goal is to break free from those crutches. Only then will you be ready for the next step."
"How long will that take?" Natsume asked, recalling Naruto Uzumaki's training with the toads of Mount Myōboku. Even for someone as talented as Naruto, it had taken a week to sense natural energy and another half-month to master Sage Mode—a remarkable feat compared to Jiraiya, whose progress had been slower.
"It depends," Katsuyu replied thoughtfully. "For some, it takes days. For others, a full year."
Natsume sighed, the vague answer doing little to reassure him.
He stood and brushed himself off, grimacing at the slimy residue clinging to his clothing—a byproduct of training in Shikkotsu Forest.
"That's enough for today," Katsuyu said, her tone softening. "Return tomorrow. You're always welcome to stay longer if you wish."
There was a note of loneliness in her voice. Shikkotsu Forest's serene solitude was rarely broken by visitors.
Natsume offered a polite bow. "Thank you for your guidance, Katsuyu-sama."
With a surge of chakra, he and Tsunade activated the Reverse Summoning Technique, reappearing in Konoha moments later.
As soon as they arrived, Natsume darted toward the bathroom to shower, desperate to rid himself of the slimy sensation. Meanwhile, Tsunade collapsed onto the couch, switching on the TV but barely paying attention.
Children grow up so quickly, Tsunade mused wistfully. What will the future hold for him?
For now, her focus remained on helping Natsume master Sage Mode. Afterward, she'd keep the promise she'd made—to give him the freedom to shape his own path.
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The Lab
Later that afternoon, Natsume made his way to a hidden underground lab. He had helped establish the facility for Kabuto Yakushi's research. Currently, Uchiha Shisui was their most critical patient.
"How's Shisui?" Natsume asked as he entered, the sharp scent of antiseptics stinging his nose.
Kabuto didn't look up from his work. "Stable. Out of danger. But it'll be a while before he wakes up."
Natsume nodded, a wave of relief washing over him. "Good. Just make sure he doesn't... you know, try anything drastic."
Kabuto smirked, his tone sharp and confident. "He won't get the chance."
Natsume frowned slightly. Memories of Shisui's tragic past flickered in his mind. He knew Kabuto's cunning and ambition all too well—both a strength and a danger.
"I'll leave you to it," Natsume said, stepping back. He knew better than to interfere with Kabuto's work.
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Half a month passed, and Natsume advanced to the next stage of his Sage Mode training: absorbing natural energy into his body and balancing it with physical and spiritual energy to create Senjutsu chakra.
The process was painstaking, requiring intense focus and patience. Natsume didn't mind. These extra weeks in Shikkotsu Forest gave him more time with Tsunade—a luxury he cherished.
Meanwhile, the ninja world remained relatively quiet. The Akatsuki continued to lurk in the shadows, gathering funds and intelligence. Konoha was preoccupied with the search for Uchiha Shisui and rumors of a mysterious Wood Release user.
Elsewhere, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure showed no signs of significant activity, while Kirigakure suffered under the manipulations of Uchiha Obito.
Once I master Sage Mode, I'll head to Kirigakure, Natsume resolved. There were battles to fight, futures to shape, and opportunities to seize.
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After another grueling day of training, Natsume left Shikkotsu Forest completely drained. When he arrived at Uzumaki Ena's home, he all but collapsed into Uzumaki Ena's waiting arms.
"Massage my shoulders," he groaned, half-joking.
"Bite me," Ena teased, smirking as she offered her arm.
"Don't say such ridiculous things," Natsume muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
Ena's cheeks reddened slightly as she handed him a grape. "Here. It's not much, but it helps."
Natsume blinked, then took the fruit. The sweetness was refreshing, cutting through his fatigue.
"I haven't mastered the Yin Seal yet," Ena admitted, "but it's helping me focus my chakra better."
She began massaging his forehead gently, her touch easing the tension in his body. Natsume felt the weight of exhaustion lifting as he leaned into the soothing sensation.
"The Yin Seal... truly a power of the ages," he murmured to himself before drifting into a peaceful sleep.
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The Playground
On his way home, Natsume passed the Ninja Academy and noticed a sparring match underway. Curious, he stopped to watch.
"Who are you?" asked Iruka, the instructor overseeing the session.
"Natsume," he replied simply. "I know those two. Thought I'd watch."
On the training field, Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto were locked in fierce combat, their rivalry evident even at this young age.
Frustrated, Sasuke leaped back and formed a series of hand seals. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A small but determined fireball burst forth.
Naruto clapped his hands together, smirking. "Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
A powerful gust of wind extinguished Sasuke's fireball and sent him sprawling to the ground.
"Winner: Uzumaki Naruto!" Iruka announced. "Naruto maintains the top ranking in this assessment."
Naruto rushed to help Sasuke up. "You okay? That was close! Let's both get stronger together!"
Sasuke scowled, brushing Naruto's hand away. His frustration was palpable, but so was his determination.
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"Big brother!"
Uzumaki Naruto spotted Natsume and dashed over, dragging a reluctant Uchiha Sasuke along.
"This is my new friend! His name is Uchiha Sasuke, and he's a really strong genius!"
"I'm not your friend," Sasuke grumbled, yanking his arm free. His tone was sharp and annoyed. "You're just an obstacle on my path to becoming a true shinobi. I'll surpass you one day!"
Natsume couldn't help but chuckle. "You two sure get along well."
Sasuke, still unaffected by the tragedy of the Uchiha clan, seemed more like a normal boy. Yet, because of his deep-seated rivalry with Naruto, he had joined the Academy early—only to lose every time they sparred, which left him constantly frustrated.
"Hey, Sasuke, let me introduce you properly," Naruto continued, ignoring Sasuke's usual protest.
"No need," Sasuke replied dismissively, his hands stuffed into his pockets. He raised his chin slightly. "I already know him—he's a friend of my brother's. Maybe I even knew him before you did."
Even the smallest things become a competition between them, Natsume thought with amusement.
"Speaking of your brother, where is he? Why didn't he come to pick you up?" Natsume asked, glancing around. School had just ended, but there was no sign of Uchiha Itachi.
Sasuke's expression darkened. "He's busy. My mother's picking me up."
It was clear Sasuke adored his brother more than anyone else, and the mention of Itachi being absent left a shadow over his face.
Just then, a bearded man appeared in front of them. Before Natsume could react, Naruto exclaimed, "Uncle Sarutobi!"
"I'm Sarutobi Seinosuke," the man said with a warm smile. "You must be Natsume. The old man talks about you often."
Old man? Natsume wondered, realizing Seinosuke must be the son of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and the father of Sarutobi Konohamaru.
Naruto chimed in proudly, "He's Grandpa Hokage's son and my Wind Release teacher!"
It made sense that Hiruzen Sarutobi would assign his son to teach Naruto Wind Release, given Naruto's unique chakra nature. While Danzo Shimura might have been the strongest Wind Release user in Konoha, Hiruzen would never trust him to teach Naruto. Kakashi Hatake specialized in Lightning Release and Sharingan, so Sarutobi Seinosuke was the perfect choice.
"See you later, big brother!" Naruto called as he left with Seinosuke, waving over his shoulder.
Now, it was just Natsume and Sasuke. Natsume didn't leave right away, though. He had spotted Uchiha Mikoto nearby, waiting for Sasuke, and wanted to say hello.
"Aunt Mikoto," Natsume greeted her warmly.
"Natsume! It's been a while," Mikoto said with a pleasant smile. "How is Lady Tsunade?"
"She's doing well, no worries about food or shelter," Natsume replied, causing Mikoto to laugh.
"Quite the humorous answer," she said, ruffling Sasuke's hair. "I've got to head home and start dinner. We'll catch up next time."
Natsume watched as they left, and then he headed back home himself.
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The next day began like any other—practicing Sage Mode in the morning and visiting the Gunma Casino in the afternoon to replenish chakra. Later, Natsume made his way to the nearby woods. He was eager to test his ocular abilities, and his sparring partner for the day was Uzumaki Ena.
Ena had become quite strong. With her massive chakra reserves and mastery of sealing techniques, she was now on par with a special jounin.
"Alright, Ena, come at me," Natsume instructed, his Sharingan flashing to life. The three tomoe spun in his eyes. For this training, the Mangekyō wasn't necessary.
"Here I go!" Ena called out, hurling six shuriken in a dizzying array of directions.
But to Natsume's Sharingan, they moved in slow motion. He easily dodged them and raised his hand. "You're going to need to use the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique."
Ena complied, creating nine clones in an instant. The training intensified, and before long, Natsume found himself struggling against the onslaught of attacks.
By the end of the afternoon, Natsume had gained valuable experience, though he was battered and bruised. Fortunately, Ena had her own healing techniques, which made minor injuries a non-issue.
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That evening, Natsume stopped by a barbecue restaurant to pick up some midnight snacks for Hinata Hyūga. Just as he was about to pay, he bumped into a familiar face—Akimichi Shitō, the jounin he and his team had saved during the war with Kumogakure.
"Natsume!" Shitō greeted him with a broad, cheerful grin. "I'll cover the bill!"
"Uncle Shitō," Natsume protested, "I couldn't possibly let you—"
"Nonsense! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even be alive to enjoy this barbecue. Boss, put it on my tab!"
The owner, familiar with Shitō's frequent visits, smiled and nodded. "That'll be 120,000 ryō."
"…What?" Shitō nearly fell over at the price.
Natsume quickly stepped in, paying the bill before Shitō could object. While jounin sounded like a prestigious title, they weren't exactly wealthy unless they constantly took on high-ranked missions. And 120,000 ryō? That was because of Hinata's surprisingly large appetite.
"Uncle Shitō, if you really want to repay me, why don't you teach me a new jutsu?" Natsume suggested, an idea forming in his mind.
Shitō blinked, then chuckled. "Sure! What do you want to learn?"
"The Partial Expansion Jutsu."
Shitō hesitated for a moment. Even though it was a simplified technique, it was still part of the Akimichi clan's secrets. However, Natsume had saved his life, and he was Tsunade's student—a loyal Konoha shinobi. Besides, the Akimichi clan's real strength lay in their secret pills, not just the jutsu.
"Alright. Meet me tomorrow afternoon at Training Ground 4."
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The training would further Natsume's mastery of body-enhancing techniques, combining it with his Immortal Body, making him even more formidable.
[Due to your actions, Tsunade's fate has changed. You have earned six Destiny Points.]
[Due to your actions, Hinata Hyūga's fate has changed. You have earned six Destiny Points.]
[Due to your actions, Karin's fate has changed. You have earned six Destiny Points.]
Natsume blinked in surprise at the notifications.
Fate really does like to shift in the strangest ways, he thought, pleased with the outcome.
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That night, Natsume used a reverse summoning technique to visit Hinata. By now, she was used to his nightly visits and no longer startled at his sudden appearances.
"Natsume," she greeted him with a shy smile, her heart fluttering with excitement.
Her days were hard—constant training, her father's disapproving gaze, and Neji's cold attitude—but seeing Natsume brought her peace.
"I brought you some barbecue tonight," Natsume said, ruffling her hair gently. "I'll bring chicken legs tomorrow."
Hinata's eyes lit up. "Thank you… It looks delicious."
As she ate, she quietly added, "I'll pay you back one day, I promise."
Natsume chuckled. "Don't worry about it." Who would have thought Hinata, the future heiress of the Hyūga, would be so modest? he mused.
Compared to her, even Tsunade, the supposed rich woman, seemed poor. After all, Natsume still hadn't managed to pay off all her gambling debts.
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