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Chapter 19 : Sage Mode

Normal P.O.V.

"Jiraiya, are you sure this is a good idea right now?" Tsunade asks with her arms crossing over her chest.

"Of course, it is. Dontchya trust me?" the cheeky frog says, grinning.

"No,"

Currently, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Naruto and Iruka are standing at the entrance of the gates to their village. Naruto is giving Iruka his keys as he normally does while Tsunade and Jiraiya argue over Naruto's training.

"Thanks so much for always watching my apartment while I'm away. I'm gonna replay you soon," Naruto says, smiling.

"Don't worry about it. Watching you grow and become something amazing is payment enough for me,"

"Aw, thanks sensei,"

The two end their conversation to listen to the Slug Queen argue with the Toad Sage.

"Oh come on, Tsunade. Have a little faith in me for once,"

"All I'm saying is that you can't just keep taking Naruto on all of these crazy training adventures. He just got out of the hospital for Christ sakes. You keep forgetting that he's still just a kid. Let him live his life a little before you two go galivanting about the countryside for more training,"

"But Grandma," Naruto interjects in a whining tone. "I may be younger than you adults, but I'm tough. I can handle it. And besides, you said it yourself: "We are in a time of war. We don't have the time to be fuckin' around you idiots,"."

"Don't use my words against me," she says, glaring. She takes a deep breath and uses her index finger and thumb to pinch the bridge of her nose. "Fine. Do whatever you want. I guess I'll just be waiting for you to return, bandage you up, and send you on your way to fall into this endless cycle,"

"There you go. That's the spirit," Jiraiya says through a bright smile.

Naruto and Iruka cringe when they see the painful look on the Toad Sage's face when Tsunade grabs his ear and glares at him. "I'm warning just this once, Jiraiya. If Naruto comes back and needs more than a few bandages, I'll make sure that you won't leave the hospital in anything less than a full body cast. Do you understand?"

"Yes ma'am," Jiraiya nods in fright.

"Good," she releases his ear before turning towards Naruto to pull him into a tight hug. "Seriously, be careful, ya brat,"

"I will,"

"Master Jiraiya," Iruka speaks, breaking the slight tension, "How long do the both of you plan to be gone?"

"Not quite sure. The training I will have Naruto undergoing took me a while to complete. It all depends on how Naruto takes to the training on top of the travel time,"

"What do you mean on top of the travel time. This place you're taking me can't be that far away, right?" Naruto asks.

Jiraiya lets out a deep laugh before answering, "Yes, it's quite far actually,"

"What?! You've got to be kidding me! I don't have a month to just get there,"

"That's why I told you to pack enough for at least a month. You thought that was all training? Naruto, this is a secret place we are heading to. In fact, this is the only place where you can even do this kind of training. There is technically no easy way to get there, but we must travel a month's worth on secret path; which, by the way, anyone can get lost if they do not know the way. That's why you have me to guide you," Jiraiya explains.

"Hold on a second. You're not taking him where I think you are?" Tsunade asks in a worried tone.

"Yes, I am, my Slug Queen," Jiraiya answers with a smile, causing Tsunade to smack her hand against her face.

"What? Where is he taking me?"

"He's taking you to Mount Myōboku: Land of the Toads," Tsunade says with a sigh as she removes her hand from her face.

"What?! You're serious?! Hey, wait a second. Is that where Gamabunta, Gamakichi, Gamatatsu, and all of the other toads live?" Naruto asks excitedly.

Jiraiya nods, "Yep. You get to see all of them again. In fact, they're extremely excited to see you again,"

"Jiraiya, how could you?"

"How could I what, Tsunade?"

"How could you think that Naruto would be ready for that kind of training right now? He needs time to ready himself. This is hard and dangerous training. If he can't do this correctly, then we might even lose him forever,"

Jiraiya walks over and places his hands on her shoulders with a reassuring smile. "Tsunade, you have to have faith that he'll be alright. We know this kid and what he's capable of. I believe that her can do it, don't you?"

Tsunade looks over at Iruka. The brunette dolphin smiles reassuringly. She turns towards Naruto and gives an anxious look.

"Grandma, I may not know what this training is. But, whatever it is or whatever I have to do, I will complete it and be back before you know it. Believe it,"

Tsunade walks over to her "grandson" and places a hand on his cheek. "I know you will," she pulls him into another tight hug and whispers, "Please be careful and come back soon," before releasing him. She clears the lump in her throat and speaks again. "If the training goes well, then you should hopefully be back in two months' time. That will be around the same time that I will have my annual Kage Meeting,"

"We'll be back by than with bells on our toes," he walks up to her and gives her quick peck on the lips and a smile. "I promise,"

Tsunade turns her head away with her arms crossed and her cheeks bright red. "I told you not to do that in front of people," she whispers.

"Alright then, let's get going!" Jiraiya shouts.

"Yeah! Mount Myōboku, here we come!"

The month of their travel is coming to an end, much to an impatient Naruto's suffering. The trip had been long and mostly uneventful. Sure, they encountered a few random enemies here and there, but they were not important enough for Naruto to truly remember them. However, Jiraiya did share stories about his father's time as a student and his training at the mountain. With each tale, Naruto hung on all Jiraiya's words as if they were going to disappear if he did not.

Anytime Naruto heard a story about his father, rather it be a memory or his achievements, he would give his full attention. There were even times Naruto would wonder how much different his life would be if his parents were still alive. He would even wonder how much different his life would be if Sasuke's clan was still living. Thoughts like these would plague his mind and heavy his heart. He would successfully shake them off, but they would sometimes return more damning than before.

In fact, those very same thoughts are currently plaguing the young fox's mind. Thoughts of the past and his relationship with Sasuke and questions of the different outcome with their parents still living. Would they approve of their relationship? Would they even be together in the first place? Would they even need to train as hard as they are now? Deep within Naruto's mind he knows that the chain of their events would be much different. He also knows that there would be a strong possibility that they may have never be together. They may not even speak. The first thing that bonded them together was their loneliness and being an outcast. Would they still even feel that way? Naruto: the son of the Hokage and a Jinchūriki. Sasuke: the son of the Uchiha clan's head/ leader of the Konoha's Military Police Force. What would they have in common?

"Ugh. Stop thinking brain," Naruto groans inwardly as he grasps the sides of his head. He needed a distraction and fast.

"Keep thinking that hard and your brain might explode," Jiraiya chuckles.

"What do you mean?"

"I know that you've been overthinking things. Like what would your life be like if your parents were still living. Or if you and Sasuke would still be together. Or how about if your parents were still alive, would you even be here with me right now. Now that one's my favorite,"

"Glad to see you find amusement in my thoughts," Naruto grumbles as he folds his arms over his chest.

"You're too much like your parents. And overachiever, overthinker, too protective, challenging, hotheaded, and stubborn as a bull. The funny thing is that your parents have so many similar traits, but you can out looking just like your father. If Kushina was still around, I know she's be pissed,"

"How do you know that?"

"Because I've been around since the two of them met. In fact, when your mother was younger, she was known as the "Red Hot-Blooded Habanero". Another funny fact about her; she didn't like your father in the beginning,"

"She didn't?"

"Naw. In fact, she disliked him and thought of him as extremely feminine and a wimp. Your father, on the other hand, loved your mother from the moment she came to Konoha. One of his favorite traits about her was her long red hair; which she hated by the way. But, thanks to her red hair, Minato saved her, and it brought them to marriage. Yes, they were truly the power couple of Konoha,"

"Wow. That's amazing. I never knew that,"

"Yeah, they were truly something to behold. Their death, the night you were born was the most mourning I've ever seen Konoha do since the death of the Second Hokage,"

Silence fills the atmosphere around them; it is almost suffocating. Realizing this, Jiraiya continues to speak.

"Listen, kid. I'm sorry that I wasn't around after their deaths. I didn't even know about it until much later, after the dust settled. Your father was one of my best students and your mother was like a daughter to Tsunade and me. We may not actually be related, but I do consider your family apart of mine. I can't speak for Tsunade though, but I know I regret never returning to Konoha until four years ago. So, I'm sorry,"

Naruto's eyes widen at his sensei's words. He had no idea this was how his "grandfather" felt or that he was keeping this secret inside of him all these years. Without thinking, Naruto lunges forward and hugs Jiraiya's torso, burying his face in long white hair.

"I don't hate you," Jiraiya wants to object, but is stopped. "I know that's what you were trying to say. I'm not mad at anyone. Not you, not the Third Hokage, or even the Uchiha. I'm grateful for the way things turned out. Yeah, it sucked not having parents to rise me, but I gained more family than I ever thought I would have. I'm grateful for everything you, Tsunade, Iruka, and everyone else has done for me. I don't need an apology. I just need you to get me to that freakin' mountain," the blond fox chuckles.

They share a few laughs together before Jiraiya removes Naruto from him.

"Then your wish is granted. Look ahead of you,"

Naruto strains his eyes to see through the thick fog. But, after a few minutes, the sun peaks out and the fog clears to revile Mount Myōboku. Excited to see his toad friends, Naruto runs through the gates but is stopped by two familiar toadlets.

"Halt! Who dares enter the gates to Mount Myōboku?" Gamakichi says firmly.

"You know the hell I am!" Naruto shouts back as he walks towards him.

"Naruto? I that you?"

"Who else would it be?"

"I don't fuckin' know. How the hell was I supposed to know that you were coming here?"

"I thought Pervy Sage told you guys?"

"He didn't tell us," Gamatatsu says as he hops next to his brother.

"Hey Gamatatsu, how are you guys?" asks Jiraiya.

"Hungry. You got any snacks?" Jiraiya opens his backpack and pulls out a bag of chips. Gamatatsu glad takes them and starts stuffing his face. "Thanks, Jiraiya. You're the best!"

"So, what brings you guys here anyways?"

"I already talked to the elders. I told them that I was bring my young prodigy here to train with you guys,"

"Wow, is it time for him to learn senjutsu and Sage Mode already? Man, how time flies. Hold on a sec. I'll go get them,"

Naruto waits until Gamakichi leaves before asking, "What's he talking about? Senjutsu? Sage Mode? What are those?"

"They're what I brought you here to learn. With the upcoming battles, you're gonna need to master powerful, new abilities. Both your father and I have come here to train in this type of jutsu and have mastered it. Now, it's your turn." Jiraiya explains with a smile and his hands on Naruto's shoulders. He looks up and sees the elders and Gamakichi coming their way. "Why hello elders: Fukasaku and Shima. It's great to see you guys again,"

"It's good to see you too, Jiraiya," Shima greets.

"Well, I see you haven't changed a bit. Don't look a day over 60," Fukasaku laughs to himself.

"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, ya old toad. You may be over 800 years old, but you're not too old for me to kick your ass,"

"Oh, leave him alone, Fukasaku. You two have been going at it since Jiraiya accidently first arrived here. It's been too long, let it go already," Shima scolds.

"Excuse me. But did he say that you two were over 800 years old?" asks Naruto.

"Why yes. We are the heirs of the Great Toad Sage and often referred to as "Two Great Sage Toads". I'm Shima and this is my husband Fukasaku. He's a bit senile, so don't mind the things he says,"

"Who are you calling senile, ya old wart,"

"It's nice to meet you. My name is Naruto Uzumaki,"

"Oh, so you're the famous Naruto Uzumaki? Oh, you look just like your father. So handsome, strong, brave. I can tell you're going to do well in this training, especially with being a Jinchūriki,"

"How did you know?" asks Naruto.

"You have three tails. I don't know about you, but only Jinchūriki have that many, especially the Nine-Tails' vessel," Fukasaku answers.

"Oh yeah," Naruto says, laughing nervously. "Could you tell me more about this training? Pervy Sage didn't tell me anything. He said I had to wait until I got here,"

"Pervy Sage?" both the toads look over to a pouting Jiraiya before letting out joyous laughs.

"That is an accurate and funny nickname, kid," Fukasaku continues to laugh for a few more moments before clearing his throat and putting on a serious face. "All jokes aside, the training you will be participating in is to help you study senjutsu and obtain Sage Mode. With these abilities, you will gain other powerful abilities, but this is not something you can use too often or for too long. However, with you being a Jinchūriki, you might be able to get around at least on of these disadvantages,"

"The key element to know is that you must remain perfectly still. This is the only way you to become one with nature and balance its natural energy with yours. If you can master this, this you will be able to enter Sage Mode. But, if you cannot accomplish this feat, then your body will turn to stone and you will remain here forever," Shima finishes, pointing to a few statues of the previous failures for emphasis.

Naruto swallows a large lump in his throat before standing tall and showing his determination.

"I'm ready,"

"Great. Then let's get started. We haven't a moment to lose. Please follow us," Shima says before turning away and leading them in the direction of their first stop.

"Where are we going?" asks Naruto.

"The Sacred Oil Fountain. It is where you will bathe in the special oil that people use to help them learn senjutsu easier," Fukasaku explains while hoping along the trail.

After a few moments, they arrived at the fountain.

"We're here," both toads announce.

Naruto looks around, the lump returning in his throat. "Are these all the toads and people who couldn't master senjutsu?"

"Yes. What you see before you are the fate of those who could not master senjutsu. It is a tragedy, but we honor these people and toads none the less," Shima explains, her head lowered, and her hands folded into a praying position.

"But what about the statues at the gate?"

"Those are just a few that were moved for emphasis. This place is not accessible to everyone. Only a select few know the way. But, some who come only hear of the power that they can be blessed with, not the curse that comes with it. If your body nor your will is not strong enough, then your curse will be a stone prison from which you can never escape from," Fukasaku answers, a stern look dominating his face.

Trying to sound brave, Naruto puffs his chest out and puts on a bright smile.

"This won't scare me. I have a purpose and someone I care about who needs me. If this is what I must do to save him, then so be it. What do I have to do?"

Everyone smiles in admiration at Naruto's determination. The worries and slight fears drain from their minds and is replaced by hope and pride.

Fukasaku smiles as he hops in front of the young fox. "You are a brave and determined one. Very well, let us begin,"

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To Be Continued…