The first thing that struck me about Mount Myoboku was the amazing beauty of the place; I almost didn't notice Gamaspeed talking as he gave us a quick tour of the forest around the tree house. The air was ripe with bird calls and the sounds of insects buzzing about, the weather humid but with the canopy filtering out the worst of the heat.
"-Actually, I never had an uncle but that's how I always imagined getting your first place is."
"You two here to train, right?" Gamakichi asks before Gamaspeed can roll on.
"Yeah, you betcha!"
"Cool cool cool, the oil-fall is just a quick hop away shouldn't take long to get there in fact I think I can almost hear it now it's music to my ears like the world's tiniest shamisen, kinda sounds like the intro to Pompeii but with the laughter of a brook and sparrow's chirping all played out by a harp, ya hear?" No, I don't hear that Gamaspeed, but I very much wish I could.
Naruto clears his throat. "So, um, are there any spare rooms up there? With like, two beds?"
"Ah Naruto my son, when yous got a lovely-"
"There should be a room somewhere up top," Gamakichi interrupts. "I'll stop by later to show ya the way to the oil-fall. In the mean time, I already need another smoke break…" With a nod, Gamakichi hops off, taking Gamaspeed with him.
"Well, uh…" I nod, and we start walking up the tree. It's one of the tallest trees I've seen in person, but there are a number of such giants in this part of the forest. After we get to the boards, we don't see the door, and have to walk around the trunk for a second to find one. We come up on a deck, surrounded by the canopy and boughs of the tree. There's a large cabin around the trunk, and with a closer look, a few huts nestled in the branches nearby. "Ready to get settled in?"
"Yes…" Naruto smiles, and give me a pat on the shoulder as we walk into the cabin…
Later in the afternoon, Gamakichi led us on a winding path through the undergrowth of the forest to the oil-fall. It may have been just a short hop for the toads, but for me and Naruto, it took a few minutes. The oil-fall itself wasn't as high as I was expecting, but its shimmering surface was something to see. Around the clearing but mostly next to the pool were statues of toads, sitting in meditation. Sitting next to the pool was an older toad, facing away from us. Naruto seemed to recognize them, and pulled me along as he ran towards them.
"Hey, Grandpa Sage! I'm back!"
"Ah, Naruto. I thought I sensed you coming." He sees me for the first time, and gives a small smile. "And who is this you've brought with you?"
"This is Hinata. She's a real good friend of mine."
"I can see," The toad elder says, glancing at where Naruto is still holding my hand. Did he forget, or…?
"Anyhoo, we were looking to train, and I was kinda wondering if, ya know, you'd be willing to help again."
"Ha! Train you, the mighty Naruto?"
"...And Hinata."
"And Hinata, too," Naruto says a bit louder.
"Hmm, well, if you are willing to learn, I will be willing to teach, if I can find the time. Gamakichi has learned well, also. Perhaps he might be willing to help you see the basics from another angle."
"To be honest, I don't have much more free time than you, sir." Says Gamakichi nervously.
"Well, that should be enough. Come, you three: join me in meditation here." We all step over to do so, with Gamakichi on the toad elder's right, and Naruto and I to his left. This toad elder is much smaller than the other toads I've seen, not a whole bunch bigger than a normal frog or toad. But, I have zero problems with meditating, especially after hanging around Gamaspeed, and it isn't long before I sink down into a calm. As my mind begins to empty I think of total stillness, too, and start the breathing exercises I learned from Naruto. Long and slow inhale, quick and sharp exhale. What seems like many minutes later, my thoughts have shrunk down to a simple awareness. I begin to feel something I haven't felt in a long time, like seeing a reflection of the mountains and forest in a lake, from the view of the lake. Hmm… is this what the shrine maiden meant when she mentioned becoming one with nature- being a sage, like Naruto and the toads? It's just a sense at this point, but I think it might be something. Letting the scene fill itself out, I can sense the forest and the oil-fall, as well as Naruto and the two toads. While I'm taking in my surroundings, I feel a tap on my shoulder. I open my eyes, and it's the elder toad sage. Naruto and Gamakichi are no longer in the clearing with us- when did they leave?
"Yes, sir?"
"Hinata, correct?" I nod, and he continues. "You are at an interesting place, young girl. I sensed you as a part of nature during my meditation, and yet…" The sage looks at the oil-fall or a moment and sighs regretfully. "And yet, when you arrived, I also got a measure of your reserves. If you mean to train in sage mode as Naruto does, I'm afraid that won't be possible. You would most likely be able to take in natural energy, but not quite enough for it to react to your chakra, not without turning to stone."
"...Would there be anything else for me to learn?"
"Of course; we here on Mount Myoboku have mastered many arts. And while you are short of the depth of reserves you need, you may yet reach that point through training. Rigorous training, I might add. Sage ninjutsu may be out of your reach, but there is still ninshu that is within your grasp."
I take a deep breath, and exhale. Once again, what I'm given is short of what I aimed for, but at least this time it will still be something positive.