Hello everyone! Yes, I am back with a new chapter! One reviewer told me he did not want to wait another year for an update, and it just got me thinking that I haven't been fair to any of you. I know you've all enjoyed my story (or stories) and I want to allow you to read it in it's entirety within your lifetimes!

So, the good news is that I will be pushing out material faster! The bad news...they're going to be shorter. A lot shorter. But I think this will be for the best in the long run, and I am doing my best to write a little everyday, so hopefully this change in habit will actually push the story faster. We'll see how it goes. Now...on with the show!


Jiraiya and Naruto continued their trek, carrying large backpacks. Naruto didn't bother counting the days; it already felt like an eternity for him, being absent from his love and children still heavy on his mind. He was starting to believe 90% of the training would be just walking there. "Hey." Jiraiya nudged him. "Cheer up. Nothing like a nice hike to clear your mind."

"Nice hike!?" Naruto nearly shouted. As he looked around him, all he could do was give off a curt 'tch". "What's so nice about this? We're in the middle of a fog cloud, and judging by the ground here, I doubt we would be able to see anything worthwhile."

Jiraiya chuckled. "Ah. It only means…we're almost there."

Naruto's eyes lit up. "Really?"

Jiraiya smirked as he continued on ahead. "If my memory serves me right." After a moment, he came to a stop; Naruto followed his lead. "Ah, here we are." Naruto looked ahead, his eyes widening. In front of them was a giant green mountain. "Welcome to Myobokuzan." Jiraiya smiled. Patting the young man's back, he said "Come on. Let's go meet Ma and Pa."

"Your parents!?" Naruto gawked. "They- "

"Not my biological parents, I assure you." Jiraiya said. "But, they became something like the parents I never had. Sort of what we are to each other."


Naruto looked at his surroundings as they made their way up the hill. The forest was lush, filled with streams of the purest water he had ever seen. The trees were giant, crawling with ivy. Then there was the fauna; mostly large insects. As Naruto turned his attention forward, he nearly halted as a giant caterpillar crawled in front of them. By giant, it was as big as a lion and twice the length. Up close, they were rather disgusting. It's undulating movement was rather… "Yeah, it takes a while to get used to." Jiraiya said, snapping him out of his awe.

"S-sorry…"

"Don't worry. Take it all in. We still got a ways to go." Jiraiya nodded his head forward, Naruto following after him.

The further up they went, Naruto noticed the flora beginning to change. While exotic, at first the plants were normal enough. However, smaller plants became tree-sized; ferns, flowers, even giant mushrooms! All became big enough for them to climb. "I never knew a place like this could exist…" Naruto said.

"The toads prefer to keep it that way." JIraiya acknowledged. "Speaking of which…" A giant toad suddenly landed in front of them, much like one of their summons. It was a dark green color, sporting samurai-style shoulder plates and a kabanno across his back.

"Is that-?"

"Yup." Jiraiya confirmed. "This one's a new one to me, but he is indeed a summon." Jiraiya said.

"Ah, Jiraiya-san." The toad said, looking towards him. "I was told to be expecting you and the kid."

"Uh, I'm twenty-two…" Naruto muttered.

"I'm Gamakomaru, by the way." The toad introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you." Jiraiya said, as if having a conversation with these things were normal. "Hope I get to summon you in battle soon."

"Hey." Naruto stepped forward. "How's Gamakichi? And Gamabunta?"

"Naruto!" A familiar orange toad parted the ferns, revealing his orange face.

"Gamakichi!" Naruto beamed. "It's been too long!" Taking a look at him, Naruto whistled. "Man, you've gotten big!"

Indeed, Gamakichi was now the same size as Gamabunta. "We all have to grow up eventually, Naruto." Gamakichi said. "Much like you have apparently."

Naruto chuckled, scratching his head. "Where's your old man?"

"Around." Gamakichi said. "I'll take you to him!"

"Maybe later." Jiraiya interrupted, holding his hand out. "Naruto has to meet the parents."

"Ah." Gamakichi nodded. "Of course. Well, have fun." Gamakichi backed away from the ferns and allowed the two ninja to be on their way.

"We're almost there. Let's hurry." Jiraiya said. Naruto nodded, and followed him. The anxiety Naruto was feeling was almost gone.


Finally, they came upon a rather humble looking hut. Naruto hesitated to use the word "strange" based on everything else he saw. It was definitely different from what he normally saw, with fungi growing inside and the crooked roof, but when compared to everything around him, it looked rather normal. "This is the place?"

"Indeed it is." Jiraiya walked forward, knocking on the door. After a moment, it opened.

"Jiraiya?" A voice that sounded like an old lady said from inside. "Is that you?"

"Indeed it is, Ma!" Jiraiya exclaimed happily.

Naruto leaned his head over…and while not shocked, was still a little bit confused at what he saw. In front of him was a toad, coming up to their knees. It had it's curly, white hair permed up, and wore what seemed to be a black dress. Though Naruto was used to seeing his summons wear some clothes, a toad with hair just looked unnatural to him. That more than anything threw him off. Jiraiya opened his arms as the toad leaped into him. "My, how you've grown!"

"Grown? I'm probably older than you now!" Jiraiya exclaimed. The two laughed. The toad then caught sight of Naruto. "Aw, Ma. This is my star pupil: Naruto!" Jiraiya presented him.

"Naruto?" The toad hopped up to him. She turned her head, as if inspecting him. While Naruto was used to sentient toads, he couldn't help but feeling a bit nervous being under her microscope. "He looks like the other…"

"He should." Jiraiya nodded. "He's Minato's son."

The toad's eyes widened in joy. "His son? My, this day just keeps getting better and better!" she laughed. "It's a pleasure to meet you!" she bowed. "I'm the wife of the Great Toad Sage!"

Naruto scratched his head, unsure of what to do. "Uh, nice to meet you…"

"Is Pa home?" Jiraiya asked.

The old lady toad snorted. "When is he not!? All he does is meditate all day!" Looking back inside, she sighed. "Well, we're about to have dinner anyway. Come on inside and join us!"

"Uh, I don't want to intrude…" Naruto interrupted, showing an unusual conscious display of manners.

"Nonsense! We have plenty of caterpillars to go around!" she called back.

As she helped herself inside, Naruto looked to Jiraiya in horror. "Caterpillars!?"

"You'll get used to them." Jiraiya shrugged. "Just pretend they taste like chicken."

Naruto just gulped. "What do they really taste like?"

Naruto followed Jiraiya inside, and looked around. Everything seemed mostly human; a cabin fit for people. Chimney, cabinets, kitchen, the works. Naruto looked over to the fireplace. In front of it seemed to be a toad with a black cloak. From his angle, Naruto did think he was indeed meditating. "Wake up! We've got company!" the old lady toad called.

The other toad turned, and got up. He looked somewhat more normal for a toad; however, his furry eye brows and Fu Manchu threw him off. Hair and toads just didn't mix in Naruto's opinion. "Uh, so we do." He croaked as he creaked his neck. "Jiraiya, my boy! It's been too long!"

"Indeed it has old man." Jiraiya said as he let his pack fall to the floor. The two walked towards each other, and embraced, like they were real father and son. "Sorry I haven't been in contact. Been busy with a few things." Turning to Naruto, Jiraiya introduced him. "Pa, this is Naruto. He's Minato's kid."

"Ah, I see." The elder toad said, inspecting him. "It is obvious."

"How do you know my old man?" Naruto asked.

"An excellent question. But, I sense, a story best told for another time." The toad sage answered for now. "For now, let us convene over dinner. I suspect there's a story as to why you are here, and that is far more pressing."


"And that's the gist of it." Jiraiya finished the story of Naruto's recent troubles.

"Mm. Yes, I see." The great toad sage said, rubbing his chin. "Indeed, this is quite a conundrum you're in." The sage suddenly shot out his tongue into his wood bowl, grasping a caterpillar and swallowing it whole.

"Uh…yeah." Naruto gulped. Looking down at his own bowl, he had to keep himself from hurling as he looked at the creepy crawlers squirm inside.

"It is." Jiraiya elbowed him. Pointing his eyes to the bowl, he silently told his pupil to eat his meal. Jiraiya himself got some chopsticks and picked up a caterpillar, putting it in his mouth. If he didn't like it, he wasn't showing it.

"It's such a tragedy! A new father, forced to be separated from his family!" the wife said as she sobbed, blowing her snout with a napkin and making a trumpeting sound.

"So, what do you think, pops?" Jiraiya asked. "Think you can help him?"

The sage sighed. "It is possible." The sage said. "But we haven't had a successful pupil in centuries."

"Centuries?" Naruto thought. Just how old were these toads? "What about ero-senin here?" Naruto pointed his thumb at his mentor.

Jiraiya balked at being called be Naruto's nickname for him. "Ero-senin?" the sage croaked his brow, looking at the sanin. Jiraiya could only chuckle nervously.

"I knew it!" the wife slapped her hand onto the table. "I knew your perverted antics would get you into trouble!"

Jiraiya could only sigh. "Don't take him too seriously. He says disrespectful things to everyone. He calls Tsunade Ba-chan; you can imagine how much she likes that." Jiraiya only gave him a dirty look, before turning back to the toads. "Anyway, I think we're getting off track here."

"Yes, indeed." The sage agreed. "Anyway, to answer your question Naruto, it's complicated with Jiraiya. I'll tell you when we get started. Now, as to your current problem…" The sage put his hands together. "In theory, it is possible. Many have tried their entire lives to master Senjutsu; most give up in the very end."

"They weren't strong enough?" Naruto asked.

"Strength isn't the issue." The sage answered, pointing to his temple. "It is the mind that proves to be the problem for most." The sage caught another caterpillar and swallowed his last one. "I am going to be honest with you, young man. The chances of you mastering this art…they're not good. And even if you do…it will take time before you return. Years."

Naruto hung his head low. The three could only look at him in silence. There was simply no way to break this to him gently. Naruto breathed, and looked back at him. "I don't have a choice." Naruto said. "Either I master Senjutsu, or I'm stuck here forever. The way I see it, I've got nothing to lose by trying." He said. "If you're willing to teach me, I promise you I'll give it my all!"

The sage slowly smiled, and nodded. "Good answer." He yawned, and stretched his arms. "I'm sorry. We're not as young as we used to be. I think it is the proper time to turn in."

"Hn." Jiraiya agreed. "You two get some sleep." Looking at Naruto's bowl, he then said "What's the matter, kid? Not hungry?"

Naruto squealed like he stuck his hand somewhere it didn't belong. "Uh, no!" Naruto picked up the bowl as he shoved the grub into his mouth. Putting the bowl down, he looked at the toads as he gave them the biggest and fakest smile he could. "MM, THIS IS GOOD!"


The next day, Naruto SOMEHOW survived not being poisoned by that disgusting grub, and was awoken at dawn for his training. Normally, he would have complained, but truth be told ever since being separated from Sakura, he did not feel like sleeping much. Wondering how she was doing alone with the babies weighed heavily on his mind all the time. The toads took him to a garden carved in the side of a mountain, acting like a natural balcony. It was beautiful to see the sun rise there.

The sage was on a pile of carved rocks, seemingly meditating in front of the sun. Turning around, he addressed Naruto. "Ah, welcome." The elder toad said. Extending his hand, he beckoned Naruto to sit. Naruto did so, along with Jiraiya. "Being expert ninja for years, I assume you know all about manipulating the chakra already within you." Naruto nodded. "Care to tell me how you get the chakra?"

Naruto blinked, surprised by what sounded like a stupid question (Sakura always had to remind him there was no such thing as a stupid question…except if he asked them). "Uh, it's produced by our own cells, it's maintained by our health. It's tied to our own life-force…at least, that's how I think it works…"

"Indeed." The toad agreed. "An oversimplification, but yes, that's more or less it." He cleared his throat. "Now, do you know where else chakra comes from?"

Naruto thought about that for a minute. "Uh…Biju?"

"Ideally, no." the Sage answered. "This may be the case for you, but most people are not jinchurikis to my knowledge. And drawing chakra from that source has proven rather…counter-productive for you."

Naruto sighed; this sage did not mince words. "Well, I give up. What is it?"

"Nature." The toad answered, smiling. "Chakra is all around us in nature!" he said as he opened up his arms.

Naruto looked around. "Well, I guess all living beings have chakra…even plants…"

"Exactly." The toad answered. "Now, how does chakra escape its host?"

"That's easy; someone creates a jutsu and expels it." The blonde answered.

"That's one way, and large amounts are expelled that way, yes." The sage answered. "However, chakra leaks all the time."

"Really?" Naruto asked, surprised.

"Indeed. Just like you are constantly losing skin cells, you are losing minute amounts of chakra constantly. Unlike cells though, energy does not disappear; it transforms. And the very earth, having supported life for billions of years, is saturated with chakra."

"Wow. This sounds cool!" Naruto exclaimed, smiling in genuine excitement.

"Indeed. You have been trained to harness the chakra within you. Now, I will train you to use the chakra in the atmosphere." The toad got off his stones, walking towards Naruto while carrying his cane. "Tell me, how do you normally harness your chakra?"

Naruto thought about it for a moment. "I never really gave it much thought. I just put my mind to it, and it happened."

"Naruto." Jiraiya nudged him. "Try thinking back to the first time you used-"Jiraiya stopped himself, remembering the first person he used the Rasengan AGAINST. Probably wasn't a smart idea to bring up Kabuto right now. "Sorry. The first time you used the Rasenshuriken." He corrected himself.

Naruto then thought to how he molded his chakra, and added the wind element to it. "Well, first, I had to find the energy within me." Naruto began. "Then, I willed that energy to move within me and outside."

"Very good." The sage nodded in satisfaction. "You will be doing the same thing, except you will learn to control the energy surrounding you rather than within."

Naruto blinked. Though he wished this was under different circumstances, he was very much looking forward to this. "I'm ready." He said, ready to get started.


So yeah, that will be all for now. I don't think this episode will be particularly long in the first place, so we'll see how it's all going to go. Look forward to more!