People in Demon Slayer: The Journey That Began with Demon Slayer

“Very good. This time I will go to the front lines, and I will take Gaara with me.”

Maki guessed what Rasa wanted to do and advised, "But Kazekage-sama, Gaara cannot control the power of the One-Tailed Beast. There are too many uncertainties in sending him into battle, and he may very well cause friendly fire to our ninjas."

Rasa said coldly, "It doesn't matter. This time, it's not about letting Gaara join the battle on the front lines. When I arrive at the front lines, most of Konoha's forces will definitely go to the front lines to fight me. At this time, Konoha will be at its weakest. You will lead the team to throw Gaara into Konoha and destroy it from within!"

"Yes!"

...

On the front lines between Konoha and Sunagakure, the ninjas of Konoha and Sunagakure are currently locked in a stalemate, neither daring to launch an attack easily.

Konoha was waiting for reinforcements from other ninjas, while Sunagakure was waiting for their Kazekage.

Naruto was training at that moment.

Naruto gained Jiraiya's trust through his superb acting skills.

At this point, Naruto had already formed a summoning jutsu with Mount Myōboku.

As for other ninjutsu, since Naruto uses wind-style chakra, Jiraiya is not proficient in wind-style ninjutsu, and Naruto has already learned the Rasengan, so he cannot teach Naruto ninjutsu.

Naruto was also very anxious because so many days had passed and Jiraiya hadn't mentioned Sage Chakra at all.

"Master Jiraiya, can you tell me about Mount Myōboku?" Naruto planned to subtly probe Jiraiya to get him to talk about Sage Chakra, so that he would have a reason to ask to learn it.

Jiraiya nodded and said, "Mount Myoboku, if you want to get there from the Land of Fire, it takes about a month. It is known as the Lost Mountain and also as a sacred place. If you don't know the secret path, it is an absolutely impossible place to reach."

It's inhabited by a large number of toads, but don't underestimate them; these toads can all use a special power called "fairy magic."

A glint flashed in Naruto's eyes. Here they come!

Naruto scratched his head, seemingly not understanding, and asked in confusion, "Sage Technique? Master Jiraiya, what is Sage Technique?"

Jiraiya explained to Naruto, "Besides the chakra that we extract from our own bodies, there is a special kind of energy in nature. When natural energy is mixed into the extracted chakra, it forms Sage Chakra."

Taking advantage of the situation, Naruto asked Jiraiya, "Master Jiraiya, can you teach me Sage Chakra?"

Jiraiya's expression turned serious as he warned, "Now is not the time. If you absorb too much natural energy, causing an imbalance, your body will be devoured by the power of nature, which is too dangerous."

"Master Jiraiya, I can't learn any of your other ninjutsu except for the Summoning Jutsu. I want to become stronger."

"Naruto, your strength is unmatched among your peers, so why are you so obsessed with Sage Chakra?"

Naruto explained with a sense of loss, "Master Jiraiya, I joined the battlefield as a Jinchuriki. My existence is a weapon of war."

However, my strength is far from sufficient. I cannot fully control the Nine-Tails' chakra, and entering Tailed Beast form would cloud my will, potentially harming my comrades. Therefore, I do not wish to rely on the Nine-Tails' power and thus seek other powers to supplement my strength.

Jiraiya fell silent. Hearing Naruto say that he was a weapon of war, Jiraiya felt a pang of heartache, but Naruto's concern about accidentally hurting his comrades also comforted him.

Jiraiya had already made up his mind: "Naruto, you've really grown up and become a responsible ninja. Since you've made up your mind, I won't try to stop you anymore. I'm your teacher, and it's my responsibility to make you stronger. Alright! Then I'll take you back to Mount Myōboku to learn Sage Chakra!"

Naruto couldn't help but smirk.

Chapter 240 Naruto's Training

When Jiraiya saw Naruto's smile, he assumed it was because Naruto was about to learn a new power that would allow him to protect his comrades.

"Now I will take you to Mount Myōboku."

Jiraiya took out a summoning scroll, formed hand seals, and pressed the scroll to activate the ninjutsu: "Reverse Summoning Technique!"

Jiraiya and Naruto turned into smoke and disappeared from the spot.

When Naruto arrived at Mount Myōboku, he was amazed to see the huge plants around him and the many toads resting comfortably on the branches and leaves.

"Is this Mount Myōboku...?"

Gamabunta, a toad with a pipe in his mouth, suddenly descended from the sky: "Jiraiya, what's the matter with you asking me to summon you back to Mount Myōboku? Isn't Konoha currently fighting with other ninja villages?"

Jiraiya explained, "The Hidden Cloud Village, Hidden Mist Village, and Hidden Stone Village have withdrawn from the war. Only the Hidden Sand Village is still determined to fight Konoha. However, we are currently in a stalemate, so I took some time out of my busy schedule to bring Naruto to Mount Myōboku to learn a bit."

Gamabunta took a puff of his pipe and looked at Naruto: "Are you planning to teach this brat Sage Chakra? Does the boss know?"

Jiraiya nodded: "Naruto is prepared for this. I will inform the boss and the big sister."

Gamabunta suddenly looked up at the sky: "The boss is here."

Naruto and Jiraiya looked up at the sky at the same time, and saw two toads falling from the sky. One was a small green toad with white whiskers and eyebrows, and the other was a small green toad with purple hair and purple lips.

The two toads were nowhere near as big as Gamabunta.

However, Gamabunta respectfully said to the two toads, "Boss, Jiraiya has come to see you, so I'll be leaving now."

After Gamabunta left, Fukasaku looked at Naruto and asked, "Is this the chosen one you were talking about, Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya nodded and said, "That's right, boss. This time I want to bring Naruto here to learn Sage Chakra."

Looking at the young Naruto, Shima Gama asked in confusion, "Little Jiraiya, don't you think little Naruto is still too young?"

Jiraiya scratched his head: "Big sister, this is what Naruto asked for. Because he had no choice but to join the battle, but he didn't want to use the Nine-Tails' power, so he wanted to learn Sage Chakra to make up for his strength."

Shima Gama wanted to offer some advice, but Fukasaku Gama stopped him, saying, "Honey, since Jiraiya has already made his decision, it means Naruto is ready."

Shima no longer tried to dissuade him: "Alright then, honey, I'll go cook now."

Shima Gama left this place.

Fukasaku the toad said to Naruto and Jiraiya, "Come with me."

Fukasaku the toad led Jiraiya and Naruto to the fountain and asked Naruto, "Jiraiya should have already explained Sage Chakra to you, right?"

Naruto nodded and said, "The technique that combines the spiritual energy and physical energy inside the body with the natural energy outside the body, and then uses chakra to activate it, is called Sage Art."

"That's right. Taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu used through Sage Chakra will all be greatly enhanced."

In order to let Naruto directly feel the power of Sage Chakra, Fukasaku the toad came to a huge toad statue, formed a hand seal, and placed his hands on the bottom of the toad statue.

Jiraiya exclaimed, "As expected of the boss, the power of nature is constantly gathering."

Naruto looked around but found nothing unusual.

Suddenly, the toad in the deep pool actually managed to lift the toad statue, which was dozens or even hundreds of times its own weight.

"It's...it's lifted up?!" Naruto was so shocked he almost dropped his jaw.

"This is the power of a celestial art that blends natural energy." Fukasaku toad threw the toad statue to the ground, and the entire ground shook, showing how heavy the toad statue was.

Naruto asked, puzzled, "But I don't understand what they're doing at all. I only saw them form a hand seal and then lift it up."

Fukasaku, panting, replied, "Of course, Naruto can't sense natural energy right now, which means he can't absorb it into his body."

"We must integrate with nature."

"To merge into one?" Naruto couldn't understand what Fukasaku the toad was saying at all.

Jiraiya said, "Simply put, it means to die."

"what?"

Fukasaku the toad scolded, "Little Jiraiya, don't use such strange metaphors."

Fukasaku the toad looked at Naruto and explained, "It's not about sending you to die. Now let me explain."

To absorb natural energy, one must sense it and draw it to oneself. To become one with nature means controlling it, allowing it to freely flow in and out of the body. The specifics of cultivation...

Fukasaku, the toad, pointed a finger at Naruto: "Don't move!"

Naruto was completely bewildered: "Don't move? What does that mean?"

Fukasaku the toad continued to explain: "It means that you can't move. Natural energy can only be felt for the first time after you stop flowing as an animal and when the flow of natural energy is harmonized."

Naruto frowned and asked, "It can't be as simple as just not moving, right? Just now, Jiraiya-sensei said to die, which means to be like a corpse, right?"

Fukasaku the toad looked at Naruto in surprise: "You are much smarter than Jiraiya. For animals, remaining completely still is the most difficult thing. It takes time to train, and the difficulty is very high."

"It will take a long time? But I don't have that much time. The war with Sunagakure still requires me. Is there any way to shorten the training time?"

Naruto's plan is to leave Konoha and the Land of Fire during the battle with Sunagakure. If his training takes too long and the war ends, it will be very difficult for him to leave Konoha.

"If that's the case, there are better ways."

Fukasaku pointed to the waterfall behind him and said, "This waterfall contains the secret toad oil of Mount Myōboku. This toad oil has the power to attract natural energy and can be used as an aid in cultivation."

Fukasaku took out some toad oil and applied it to Naruto's wrist: "As long as you apply toad oil to your body, natural energy can enter your body, and your skin will gradually feel the natural energy."

After applying the toad oil to his wrists, Naruto could clearly feel a strange energy entering his body.

"All you have to do is seize this opportunity. One day, you'll be able to do it without this oil, but..."

Fukasaku the toad changed the subject and continued, "There are risks involved in doing this. If someone who cannot skillfully manipulate natural energy uses it, they might turn into a frog!"

Naruto's entire arm had transformed into the shape of a toad.

Chapter 241 Luo Sha Arrives at the Front Lines

Despite the prospect of turning into a frog, Naruto remained calm. Since Jiraiya and Fukasaku had agreed to let him train in Sage Chakra, they were certain there was a way to deal with the situation.

Suddenly! Fukasaku the toad struck Naruto with his stick, causing Naruto's frog transformation to fade and return to normal.

Fukasaku the toad warned, "You must maintain your balance. You can still use a stick to hit yourself back if you absorb too little natural energy, but if you absorb too much natural energy, you will never be able to turn back into a frog!"

Fukasaku Gamabun pointed solemnly to the numerous frog statues to the side.

"Those who transform into frogs will further integrate with nature. Those who failed in their spiritual practice ultimately ended up as these stone statues!"

Naruto stared in horror at the numerous frog statues, finding it hard to believe that these were once human.

"But you can rest a little less. I'll be with you. If you show any signs of frogification, I'll use the stick to force out the natural energy in your body."

Jiraiya stepped forward and looked at Naruto, saying, "Naruto, even I can't perfectly complete this training. When I train Sage Chakra, I still slightly transform into a frog, but even so, I'm still considered to have trained quite well. So Naruto... are you sure you want to train Sage Chakra now?"

Naruto said very firmly, "I want to train!"

Inside the Nine-Tailed Space.

Kurama's voice reached Naruto's ears: "Don't worry about Naruto, you can train as much as you want. If you have any problems, I will force the natural energy out of your body immediately."

Naruto smiled and said, "I understand, Kurama."

Naruto officially stayed at Mount Myōboku to train in Sage Mode chakra, while Jiraiya had to go to the front lines to oversee the overall situation, so he left first.

Two days later, Naruto's face was bruised and swollen, all from being beaten by Fukasaku the toad.

Fukasaku the toad was also amazed by Naruto's perseverance. For two days, Naruto trained without stopping for a moment. So much so that, in order to prevent Naruto from having any problems, Fukasaku the toad and Shima the toad took turns watching over Naruto.