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

Moreover, thanks to Kurama, Naruto was almost completely transformed into a frog several times, and it was with Kurama's help that he was able to expel the natural energy from his body.

Day three.

As usual, Naruto sat in place, meditating and cultivating, when he suddenly felt several golden rays of light constantly surrounding him.

Naruto carefully guided the golden light into his body, and one of his eyes changed, revealing orange eyeshadow.

Sensing the extraordinary power within him, Naruto was thrilled: "Is this Sage Chakra...?"

Through numerous attempts, Naruto has been able to autonomously enter an imperfect Sage Mode using toad oil.

The reason it's not perfect is that when Naruto enters Sage Mode, his body undergoes different frog-like transformations, and he can only enter Sage Mode using toad oil.

With guidance from Fukasaku the toad, Naruto quickly mastered the technique of entering full Sage Mode using toad oil.

"It seems that you have mastered how to control the use of oil, Naruto. Next, you will train to control natural energy without using oil."

Naruto began trying to enter Sage Mode without using oil, but the difficulty was ridiculously high, as if all his previous efforts had been in vain.

Seeing that Naruto was completely stumped and his mentality was getting worse, Fukasaku the toad interrupted Naruto's training.

"The more anxious you are, the less effective it will be. Come with me."

Fukasaku the toad led Naruto to a stone forest.

"This is your next training ground. You will begin your meditation on a stone slab atop a sharp mountaintop. If you lose focus even slightly, it will affect your movements, and you will roll down the mountain to the ground."

Fukasaku, the toad, picked up a stone slab and said to Naruto, "Little Naruto, take one too and come with me."

A man and a toad began to meditate on the mountaintop.

Naruto calmed himself down and was able to maintain his balance at first, but suddenly a gust of wind blew by, and Naruto began to sway involuntarily, then fell down.

Fortunately, Fukasaku the toad caught Naruto with his tongue and helped him sit up again.

"To stop the movement of animals, you must find a point where you can maintain your balance, remain still, and harmonize with nature!"

Naruto took a deep breath, clearing his mind of all distractions.

With a clear mind, Naruto seemed to have divine assistance and successfully found his balance, sitting steadily on the stone slab without moving.

As time went by, Naruto finally sensed the natural energy around him.

Naruto guided natural energy into his body, combining it with his own spiritual and physical energy.

The orange eyeshadow reappeared in Naruto's eyes, and his pupils changed into a horizontal line.

Fukasaku the toad was extremely surprised: "Proof of becoming a sage... the mask has appeared, but the frog form hasn't materialized. Has he surpassed Jiraiya and become a sage...?"

"how do you feel?"

Naruto felt the immense power within his body: "It feels ridiculously good!"

"Then it's time to proceed with the final step of the training."

Naruto asked in confusion, "Isn't it over yet?"

"I will teach you how to use Sage Chakra and the Frog Kumite fighting style. Learning the Frog Kumite will be very effective in helping you master Sage Chakra."

Naruto pondered for a moment. Four days had passed, and he wondered if the battle between Konoha and Sunagakure had even begun.

However, since Jiraiya has not yet returned to Mount Myōboku, the battle should not have started yet. Naruto decided to spend a day learning the Frog Kumārajīva technique. It would be best if he could learn it, but if he couldn't, mastering the trick would mean he wouldn't have to practice on Mount Myōboku.

Naruto and Fukasaku the toad train again.

And the border of the Land of Fire.

Kazekage Rasa has arrived at the front lines.

Chiyo was extremely surprised to see Rasa at the front lines: "Rasa, why are you at the front lines?"

As Chiyo was a highly respected figure in the Land of Wind, Rasa still held her in high regard: "Advisor Chiyo, this war between Sunagakure and Konoha must yield results, otherwise all of Sunagakure's previous efforts will have been in vain!"

Chiyo didn't dwell on the question, but instead asked, "Rasa, tell me, what happened with Yekura?"

Rasa said expressionlessly, "Yakura wanted to sow discord between Sunagakure and Kirigakure and joined a mysterious organization, so she is now a rogue ninja."

Chiyo snapped, "Rasa! Do you really think I'm senile? Do you think I don't know what kind of person Yokura is?"

Faced with Chiyo's questioning, Rasa's face also darkened: "Advisor Chiyo, I am the Kage of Sunagakure! I said, Pakura betrayed Sunagakure, she is a rogue ninja!"

Chapter 242 The Battle Between Sunagakure and Konoha

Chiyo could not hide her disappointment in the face of Rasa's tough stance.

Rasa ignored Chiyo and immediately announced, "From this moment on, I will assume full command. All Chunin and above ninja of Sunagakure, assemble for a meeting in one hour!"

An hour later, the camp was filled with ninjas.

Rasa began his speech at the meeting: "The current situation is very unfavorable for our Sunagakure. Other ninja villages have given up the war against Konoha, and now only our Sunagakure is left to fight alone."

But we cannot back down, otherwise all the efforts of our fallen comrades will have been for naught!

Now, the Konoha ninjas scattered across the front lines of the Land of Fire are all rushing here. We don't have much time left, so we must hurry!

I hereby declare that I will lead all the ninjas here in a decisive battle against Konoha!

Seeing that their own village's Kage had also joined the war, the Sand Village ninjas seemed to have taken a breather and kept calling out the Kazekage's name.

After the meeting, Rosa met with Maki and Gairo separately.

"Maki, you led my ANBU ninjas to infiltrate the Land of Fire and attack Konoha, forcing the Konoha ninjas who came to reinforce to return to defend Konoha!"

Maki nodded slightly: "Yes, Lord Kazekage!"

Rasa turned to Gaara, his eyes filled with undisguised disgust: "Gaara, it's time to prove your worth. Don't disappoint me!"

Gaara did not answer Rasa, his expression filled with bloodlust.

Maki, along with Gaara and the Anbu ninja, infiltrated the Land of Fire.

Inside Konoha Village, Hiruzen Sarutobi also learned that Rasa from Sunagakure Village had arrived at the front lines.

Koharu Utatane scoffed, "I never expected that brat Rasa would be so eager to come to the battlefield in person."

Mitokado Homura felt no pressure whatsoever and said casually, "The outcome of this battle is already decided. As long as Tsunade and the others arrive at the front lines, even Rasa will be powerless to change their inevitable defeat."

Danzo said with a sinister smile, "We can take this opportunity to kill Rasa on the front lines. That way, Konoha can annex the territory of the Land of Wind."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe and said, "Even if Rasa is dead, we cannot annex the territory of the Land of Wind. Putting aside whether our current strength is enough to occupy it, if Rasa dies, those great ninja villages that have finally calmed down will definitely start moving again, and those small ninja villages that want to become one of the five great ninja villages will also be eager to make a move."

"The five great ninja villages of the ninja world can only be the five of us. This is a tacit consensus among our villages, and no one can break this consensus."

Danzo certainly understood this principle, because this was the so-called political consensus, and Danzo was merely indulging in empty talk.

Because of this war, Danzo's Root ninjas also suffered heavy losses, and they were among the very few who joined forces with him since Hiruzen Sarutobi became Hokage.

Just as the group was discussing when the war on the front lines would end, a sudden tremor struck Konoha, and the villagers fled in a frenzy.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and his three companions rushed to the rooftop of the Hokage Building to check what had happened, only to discover a scene that left them in disbelief.

A raccoon covered in cursed markings was wreaking havoc on Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other three looked grave as they uttered four words with difficulty: "The One-Tailed... Shukaku?!"

Shukaku was frantically destroying the buildings, shouting excitedly in a shrill voice, "I'm finally out! Destroy! I'm going to destroy all of this!"

A Konoha ninja appeared before Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others: "Hokage-sama! We've discovered traces of Sunagakure ninjas, and they're wreaking havoc on the village!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately ordered, "Send word immediately to gather the remaining ninja of Konoha and assist the villagers in taking refuge!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to Danzo and asked, "Danzo, how many of your Root ninjas are still stationed in Konoha?"

Danzo's face was extremely grim: "Most of the Root ninjas have not yet returned to Konoha, and there are less than ten stationed there."

"Koharu, Homura, immediately have the liaison unit notify the Konoha ninjas who are heading to the front lines to return to defend Konoha for now! Then Danzo, you lead the Konoha ninjas to kill those Sunagakure ninjas, and I'll go and hold off the One-Tailed Beast!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi removed the Hokage hat from his head and charged directly at Shukaku, who was wreaking havoc.

When Rasa learned that Maki and Gaara were already destroying Konoha, he immediately announced an attack on the Konoha ninja forces.

Rasa and Jiraiya stood facing each other.

Jiraiya mocked Rasa, saying, "Sunagakure's vision is really small. Is the Kazekage personally going into battle because Sunagakure has no other ninjas to offer?"

Rasa retorted sarcastically, "Does your Konoha still have any decent ninjas left? You wiped out the Uchiha clan, which is quite an eye-opener for us. It's rare to see someone choose to pull out their own fangs. Is your Hokage suffering from dementia?"

"You're not far behind either, using the hero of Sunagakure, Pakura, as a sacrifice, which has certainly opened our eyes... By the way, I heard that Pakura is still alive. Do you think she'll seek revenge on you?"

Faced with Jiraiya's mockery, Rasa's expression instantly turned extremely gloomy.

"Magnetic Escape? Placer Gold Spear!"

Rasa condensed gold dust into a drill-like shape and thrust it straight at Jiraiya.

"You're getting angry, aren't you? Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"

Jiraiya flicked his hair, and the silver-white hair enveloped his entire body and hardened, blocking Rasa's attack.

The battle between Rasa and Jiraiya officially marked the start of the war.

The ninjas of Sunagakure and Konoha clashed.

In an instant, ninjutsu filled the entire battlefield, with shuriken and kunai flying everywhere.

"Needle Hell!"

Jiraiya, wrapped in needles, thrust his hair toward Rasa like flying needles.

With a casual wave of his hand, Rasa conjured a wall of gold dust that blocked Jiraiya's flying needles.

Rasa stepped onto a mat made of gold dust and flew into the air, choosing not to entangle with Jiraiya, and continuously helping the Sand Village ninjas kill Konoha ninjas.

Jiraiya's expression was grave. He had to stop Rasa. As long as they waited for Konoha's comrades to arrive, victory in the battle would surely belong to Konoha.

Jiraiya bit his finger, pressed one hand to the ground, and shouted, "Summoning Jutsu!"

Gamabunta was summoned to the battlefield from Mount Myōboku by Jiraiya.

Naruto, who was training at Mount Myōboku, saw Gamabunta leave and guessed that the battle between Konoha and Sunagakure had begun.

"The opportunity... has arrived!"

Chapter 243 Sage Mode + Tailed Beast Transformation