What if naruto learn every animals sage mode

The musty scent of ancient parchment filled Naruto's nostrils as he blew dust from yet another stack of scrolls. Sunlight slanted through the high windows of the Hokage Tower's restricted archive, catching motes of dust that danced like miniature stars in its golden beams. The room hummed with the weight of history—thousands of scrolls and texts chronicling Konoha's most guarded secrets.

"Remind me again why I'm doing this?" Naruto groaned, his orange and black jacket discarded hours ago due to the archive's stifling heat. He stretched his arms overhead, joints popping after being hunched over crates of documents since dawn.

Tsunade's voice echoed from the other side of the massive room, sharp and uncompromising. "Because you keep pestering me about 'advanced training,' and I figured if you're going to be Hokage someday, you should know what's actually in these archives." A loud thud punctuated her sentence as she dropped another crate. "Consider it educational."

Naruto snorted, creating a small cloud of dust that made him sneeze explosively. "Yeah, real educational. I've learned that old scrolls smell terrible and make me wish I had a clone for each nostril."

"You have literally thousands of shadow clones at your disposal," Tsunade replied dryly, her honeyed eyes narrowing. "And yet here you are, complaining about using your own two hands."

"I tried that!" Naruto protested, gesturing wildly to the cavernous room. "Remember? The clones kept getting distracted, opening scrolls they shouldn't, and you threatened to punch me through the monument if I didn't dismiss them!"

A smirk tugged at Tsunade's lips despite her attempt to remain stern. "Right. Well, at least this way I can keep an eye on you."

Naruto muttered something under his breath about "slave-driving grandmas" as he turned back to the pile. His fingers worked methodically, sorting scrolls by age and subject matter as Tsunade had instructed. Most were mundane—trade agreements, diplomatic correspondence, census records—but occasionally, he'd spot something with a security seal that piqued his interest.

The next crate proved different. As soon as Naruto lifted its lid, a subtle pulse of energy brushed against his senses—so faint that anyone without sage training would have missed it entirely. His fingers tingled as they hovered over a scroll bound in dark green leather, its edges trimmed with what looked like fossilized tree bark.

"Hey, Granny Tsunade," he called, curiosity overriding his earlier complaints. "This one feels weird."

Tsunade appeared beside him with surprising speed for someone who claimed to be exhausted from paperwork. Her brow furrowed as she examined the scroll without touching it. "Weird how?"

"It's like" Naruto struggled to find the words, his face scrunching in concentration. "Like it's breathing? No, that's not right. It's it's got natural energy in it. Not much, but it's there."

Tsunade's expression sharpened. "Natural energy? You're sure?"

Naruto nodded emphatically. "Positive. It feels similar to Mount Myoboku, but different somehow."

With unexpected gentleness, Tsunade lifted the scroll from its resting place. The wax seal bore no clan mark or familiar symbol—just the impression of what might have been a paw print, though like no animal Naruto recognized.

"This shouldn't be here," Tsunade murmured, more to herself than to Naruto. "This should be in the Sage Archives."

"The what now?" Naruto perked up, instantly interested in anything involving sage techniques.

Instead of answering, Tsunade broke the seal with a precise chakra pulse. The scroll unraveled in her hands, revealing text in an archaic form of their language, interspersed with illustrations that made Naruto lean forward eagerly.

"Holy crap!" he exclaimed, eyes widening as they traced over detailed drawings of strange landscapes—mist-shrouded forests, craggy mountain ranges, vast underground caverns. Each illustration featured different animals, rendered with exceptional detail. "Are those sage regions?"

Tsunade's expression had grown increasingly grave as she scanned the text. "Yes," she confirmed, voice uncharacteristically quiet. "Sage regions beyond Mount Myoboku."

The weight of those words hit Naruto like one of Sakura's punches. His heart raced as he pointed to an illustration of an enormous slug. "Is that Katsuyu's home? The place you trained?"

"Shikkotsu Forest," Tsunade nodded. "But these others" She trailed off, finger tracing over unfamiliar landscapes. "I knew of their existence, but not their locations or practices. This scroll contains information that even the Sannin weren't privy to."

Naruto could barely contain himself, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "So there are other sage modes? Like, I could learn more than just the Toad Sage Mode?"

The Fifth Hokage rolled the scroll closed with a sharp snap. "In theory," she said, her tone cooling noticeably. "But no shinobi has ever mastered more than one sage tradition. There are reasons for that, Naruto."

Her warning fell on deaf ears. Naruto's mind raced with possibilities, his blue eyes practically glowing with excitement. "But imagine what I could do! If each sage mode has different abilities, I could—"

"You could die," Tsunade cut him off bluntly. "Or worse. Natural energy isn't a toy, Naruto. It's primal, dangerous, and each sage region's energy has its own I suppose you'd call it 'flavor.' Mixing them could tear your chakra network apart."

The harsh words dimmed Naruto's enthusiasm, but didn't extinguish it. "I won't know until I try," he insisted. "Besides, I mastered Toad Sage Mode when everyone said it was impossible. And I've got the Nine-Tails' chakra under control now, too."

Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose, a gesture Naruto recognized as her attempting to ward off an impending headache—usually one he'd caused. "This isn't about your determination or your talent, Naruto. This is about fundamental laws of nature."

"But—"

"No," she cut him off. "We need to consult with someone who actually understands sage training before you go running off half-cocked. I'm not having another Hokage's legacy die on my watch because he was too stubborn to listen to reason."

The mention of his father sobered Naruto momentarily. "Fine," he conceded with a huff. "We'll ask the old toad. But I'm telling you, Granny, if it's possible, I'm going to do it."

Tsunade's amber eyes narrowed. "We'll see."

Fukasaku, the ancient toad sage, looked as though he'd been struck by lightning when Tsunade unrolled the scroll before him. His webbed fingers trembled slightly as they hovered over the parchment, sensing the faint natural energy embedded within.

"Where did you find this?" he asked, voice hushed with what might have been reverence or fear—perhaps both.

They sat in Tsunade's private study, a secure room adjacent to the Hokage's office where sensitive matters could be discussed without fear of eavesdropping. Golden afternoon light warmed the space, but the atmosphere remained tense.

"Restricted archives," Tsunade answered, watching the elderly toad carefully. "You recognize it?"

"Recognize it?" Fukasaku croaked, sounding almost offended. "Of course I recognize it! This is the Sage Compendium—a record of all major sage regions compiled by the Sage of Six Paths himself!" His bulbous eyes fixed on Naruto. "We thought it lost centuries ago."

Naruto, who had been uncharacteristically quiet since the toad's arrival, leaned forward. "So it's real? There really are other sage modes I could learn?"

The elderly toad's expression turned grave. "Technically, yes. But no human has ever successfully mastered multiple sage traditions, Naruto-boy. The natural energies they conflict."

"What does that mean, exactly?" Tsunade pressed, folding her arms across her ample chest.

Fukasaku sighed, looking suddenly every bit his considerable age. "Natural energy isn't uniform across the world. It's shaped by the environment, by the creatures that live there, by countless factors. Toad natural energy feels different from Slug natural energy, which feels different from Snake natural energy."

"Snake?" Naruto blurted, thinking immediately of Orochimaru.

"Indeed," the toad nodded. "Ryūchi Cave is one of the elder sage regions. But that's beside the point. These energies don't naturally mix, Naruto-boy. They're like oil and water—they repel each other. Forcing them to coexist within one chakra network" He shook his head solemnly.

"But the scroll exists," Naruto pointed out, stubbornness creeping into his voice. "The Sage of Six Paths wouldn't have made it if it was impossible."

Fukasaku fixed him with a penetrating stare. "The Sage of Six Paths could do many things ordinary shinobi cannot."

"I'm not an ordinary shinobi," Naruto countered, leaning forward, eyes ablaze with determination.

Before Fukasaku could retort, the door burst open. Shizune stood in the doorway, face flushed and breathing hard. "Lady Tsunade! We've just received word from the border patrol—they've been attacked!"

Tsunade was on her feet instantly, Hokage persona sliding into place like a well-worn glove. "Casualties?"

"Three dead, seven injured—two critically," Shizune reported grimly. "They're being transported to the hospital now. But Lady Tsunade" She hesitated, gripping the doorframe. "The reports say the attackers used strange abilities. Jōnin-level ninjutsu had no effect. And the survivors they're showing signs of chakra corruption."

"Chakra corruption?" Fukasaku echoed, alarm evident in his gravelly voice. "What kind of corruption?"

"The medical team described it as 'natural energy poisoning,'" Shizune explained, glancing between them with growing confusion. "Though they've never seen anything like it before."

The room fell silent as the implications sank in. Naruto's gaze drifted to the scroll spread across Tsunade's desk, mind racing. After a moment, he broke the silence.

"I need to learn the other sage modes," he stated with quiet certainty. "Whatever this threat is, it's connected to natural energy. I'm the only one who can counter it."

Tsunade's jaw clenched, a muscle twitching in her temple. "You don't know that."

"I do," Naruto insisted, rising to his feet. Gone was the whining teenager from the archives; in his place stood a shinobi who had faced down gods and demons. "You know I'm right, Granny Tsunade. If these enemies are using corrupted natural energy, then pure sage chakra is our best defense."

Fukasaku looked troubled, webbed fingers tapping against his knee. "The boy may have a point, Tsunade-girl. Natural energy can only be properly countered with natural energy. If someone is weaponizing it" He trailed off, the implication clear.

A tense silence stretched between them. Tsunade's eyes closed briefly, her shoulders rising and falling with a deep breath. When she opened them again, her gaze was steely with resignation.

"Fine," she snapped, pointing a manicured finger at Naruto. "But this isn't one of your impulsive adventures. You do this by the book. You go where I tell you, when I tell you, and you report back every step of the way. The moment—the instant—something goes wrong, you pull back. Understood?"

Naruto's face split into a grin so bright it seemed to illuminate the room. "Yes, ma'am!" he saluted exaggeratedly, unable to contain his excitement.

Tsunade turned to Fukasaku. "Will you help him?"

The ancient toad sage seemed to age another century before their eyes, shoulders sagging under an invisible weight. "I will guide him as best I can," he conceded. "But much of this will be uncharted territory, even for me."

"Where should I start?" Naruto asked, practically vibrating with anticipation.

Tsunade and Fukasaku exchanged a look, communicating silently in the way only experienced shinobi could.

"Shikkotsu Forest," Tsunade declared finally. "The Slug Sages. Their techniques emphasize healing and purification—the most logical counter to corruption." She moved to her desk, pulling out a blank scroll and brush. "I'll write a letter of introduction to Katsuyu. Without it, you'd never make it past the forest's outer defenses."

As she wrote, brush strokes flowing with practiced precision, Naruto felt a strange calm settle over him. This wasn't like his usual missions or training—this was something deeper, more significant. He could feel it in his bones, in the way his sage chakra stirred at the mere thought of these unknown realms.

"You should depart tomorrow," Tsunade said, not looking up from her writing. "After I've briefed you properly and we've gathered intel on these attacks."

Naruto nodded, uncharacteristically solemn. "I won't let you down, Granny Tsunade. I'll master every sage mode out there if that's what it takes to protect the village."

Fukasaku shook his head, half in exasperation, half in admiration. "Always rushing headlong into the impossible," he muttered. "You're just like your father."

Naruto grinned, the comparison warming him from the inside. "Yeah, well," he shrugged, "impossible just means no one's done it yet."

Outside the window, the sun dipped toward the horizon, painting Konoha in shades of amber and gold. As shadows lengthened across the village, Naruto gazed out at the carved faces of the Hokage Monument, his father's visage watching over them all. A new journey was beginning—one that would test the very limits of what a shinobi could become.

In the fading light, the ancient scroll seemed to pulse with possibility, its secrets waiting to be unlocked. Beyond the toads lay a world of untapped potential, and Naruto Uzumaki—knucklehead ninja, jinchūriki, and sage—was about to throw himself into it headfirst.

As always.

Dawn painted the eastern sky in watercolor strokes of pink and gold as Naruto stood at Konoha's main gate, backpack slung over his shoulder. The village was still waking, only a few early risers moving through the streets behind him. The air held that peculiar stillness found only in early morning, crisp and full of promise.

"The Shikkotsu Forest lies to the northeast," Tsunade instructed, handing him a sealed scroll bearing her official mark. "Three days' journey if you push hard. This contains my letter to Katsuyu, plus a map with the forest's outer markers. Do not attempt to enter without following the proper protocol—the forest's natural defenses will consume you before you take ten steps."

Naruto accepted the scroll with unusual reverence, tucking it carefully into an inner pocket. "Got it. Follow the map, don't get eaten by plants."

"This isn't a joke, Naruto," Tsunade snapped, though there was more worry than anger in her voice. "Sage regions exist separate from the shinobi world for a reason. They operate by different rules—rules that don't care about your determination or your chakra reserves."

"I know," he assured her, his expression softening. "I'll be careful, I promise."

Fukasaku, perched on a nearby post, cleared his throat. "Remember what we discussed, Naruto-boy. Each sage tradition has its own philosophy, its own approach to natural energy. You cannot simply bulldoze your way through with raw power as you did at Mount Myoboku."

"Hey! I didn't bulldoze anything!" Naruto protested, but his indignation was belied by the smile tugging at his lips.

"Of course not," the elderly toad deadpanned. "You merely shouted at nature until it surrendered."

Tsunade snorted, a rare show of amusement breaking through her concern. "That sounds about right."

The sound of approaching footsteps drew their attention. Sakura hurried toward them, medical pack bouncing against her hip, pink hair flying behind her.

"You weren't going to leave without saying goodbye, were you?" she called, slightly breathless as she reached them.

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I didn't want to wake you up so early."

"Idiot," she huffed, punching his arm with restrained strength that would still leave a bruise. "As if I'd let you go chasing after some new power without properly checking your supplies." She opened her medical pack, producing several labeled bottles. "Soldier pills, antidotes for common poisons, blood replenishing tablets, and a special formula I developed for chakra exhaustion."

Naruto accepted them with a grateful smile. "Thanks, Sakura. But I'll be fine, you know? I've got sage mode, Kurama's chakra—"

"And a talent for finding trouble like no one else," she cut him off, placing her hands on her hips. "Just come back in one piece, okay? And send word when you can."

"Count on it," he promised, tucking the medicines away.

A comfortable silence fell between them, broken only by birdsong and the distant sounds of the village coming to life. Then, with a deep breath, Naruto adjusted his headband and turned toward the road ahead.

"Well, guess I'm off to learn slug stuff," he announced with forced cheerfulness, masking the cocktail of excitement and apprehension churning in his gut. "Try not to miss me too much!"

"Just go already," Tsunade grumbled, folding her arms across her chest. But her eyes betrayed her concern as she added, "And remember—the instant something goes wrong—"

"—I pull back, I know," Naruto finished for her. He flashed his signature grin, bright as the rising sun. "But nothing's going to go wrong. Believe it!"

With a final wave, he turned and sprinted down the path, his orange-and-black form quickly becoming a distant speck among the trees. Tsunade watched until he disappeared from sight, a furrow of worry etched between her brows.

"He'll be alright," Sakura offered, though uncertainty tinged her voice. "This is Naruto we're talking about."

"That's precisely what worries me," Tsunade replied, eyes still fixed on the horizon. "He's stepping into realms that haven't seen a human in generations, pursuing something no shinobi has ever accomplished." She sighed heavily. "And all because of a threat we barely understand."

Fukasaku nodded gravely. "The boy carries a heavy burden. But if anyone can transcend the limitations of traditional sage training, it's him." His ancient eyes crinkled with something between pride and apprehension. "The question isn't whether he can learn these sage modes"

"It's what it will cost him to do so," Tsunade finished quietly.

The sun climbed higher, casting long shadows behind them as they turned back toward the village. On the road ahead, Naruto raced toward the unknown, his heart pounding with the thrill of adventure and the weight of responsibility. Behind him, Konoha grew smaller with each step; before him stretched a path no shinobi had ever walked.

The journey beyond the toads had begun.

The mist swallowed sound. It hung between the ancient trees like ghostly curtains, transforming the forest into an otherworldly realm where distance became meaningless. Droplets of moisture clung to Naruto's skin, each one cool against his face as he pushed deeper into Shikkotsu Forest, following the vague directions on Tsunade's map.

Three days of hard travel had left him with aching muscles and dwindling rations, but the thrill of discovery kept his steps light. The forest had grown steadily stranger as he progressed—trees twisted into impossible shapes, flowers that glowed with faint blue light, and mushrooms taller than he was. Now, on the morning of the fourth day, the mist had become so thick that he could barely see twenty feet ahead.

"This has to be it," Naruto muttered, voice unnaturally loud in the muffled silence. He squinted at the damp map in his hands, trying to match landmarks that seemed to shift when he wasn't looking directly at them. "The outer boundaries of the inner sanctum."

Something slick and cool brushed against his ankle. Naruto glanced down to see a small white slug, no bigger than his palm, leaving a glistening trail along his sandal. He crouched, studying the creature with fascination. Unlike ordinary slugs, this one had faint purple markings running along its back in patterns that reminded him of seal formulas.

"Hey there, little guy," he said softly. "I don't suppose you could tell me how to find Katsuyu?"

To his shock, the slug quivered and raised what he assumed was its head. "You know Lady Katsuyu?" The voice was high and delicate, somehow projected without the slug having anything resembling a mouth.

Naruto nearly fell backward. "You talk! I mean—" He caught himself, remembering his manners. "Yes, I know Katsuyu. Well, sort of. She's Lady Tsunade's summon, and Tsunade sent me here with a letter." He fumbled in his pocket, producing the sealed scroll.

The slug extended what looked like eye stalks to examine the scroll, then bobbed in what might have been a nod. "Follow me," it said simply, turning and gliding across the forest floor.

Naruto scrambled after the surprisingly swift creature, ducking under massive fungi and skirting bubbling pools that emitted sweet, herbal scents. The mist seemed to part before the slug, closing again behind them in thick, swirling tendrils. Minutes stretched into what felt like hours as they twisted through the labyrinthine forest.

Just as Naruto's patience was beginning to wear thin, the mist suddenly thinned. He stumbled to a halt at the edge of an enormous clearing—or what he initially thought was a clearing. As his eyes adjusted, he realized he was standing at the shore of a vast, perfectly circular lake. The water was so still it mirrored the misty sky above, creating the illusion of infinite space. At the center rose what appeared to be a small island, crowned with a single massive tree whose canopy stretched wider than the Hokage Tower.

"Whoa," Naruto breathed, eyes wide. "That's incredible."

"The Heart of Shikkotsu," the little slug informed him proudly. "The sacred pool of purification and the seat of the Great Slug Sage."

Before Naruto could ask how they were supposed to cross, the surface of the lake began to ripple. The disturbance originated from the island, concentric circles spreading outward until they lapped gently at the shore. From the water emerged a familiar form—enormous, white, with blue-purple markings running along its smooth back.

"Katsuyu!" Naruto exclaimed with genuine delight.

The giant slug seemed to bow slightly in recognition. "Naruto Uzumaki. Lady Tsunade informed me you might be coming." Her voice was just as gentle and formal as he remembered. "But I confess, I did not expect you so soon."

Naruto grinned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, well, I kind of ran most of the way."

Katsuyu made a sound that might have been a chuckle. "Of course you did. That is very like you." She extended what served as her head toward him. "May I see Lady Tsunade's letter?"

Naruto handed over the scroll, which seemed tiny against Katsuyu's massive form. Somehow, she managed to open and read it, her eye stalks scanning the contents carefully. When she finished, she regarded Naruto with what he sensed was increased respect.

"I see," she said finally. "You wish to learn Slug Sage Mode to combat a threat using corrupted natural energy."

"That's right!" Naruto nodded enthusiastically. "I already mastered Toad Sage Mode, so I figured—"

"That this would be similar?" Katsuyu finished, a note of amusement in her gentle voice. "I'm afraid you will find our methods quite different, Naruto. The path of the Slug Sage is one of patience, precision, and purification."

"I can do patient!" Naruto protested, even as his foot tapped restlessly against the soft ground.

This time, Katsuyu definitely chuckled. "We shall see. Come, the Great Slug Sage will want to meet you." She lowered herself to the shore. "Climb on my back. I will carry you across the lake."

Naruto did as instructed, settling carefully between the pronounced ridges on Katsuyu's back. Her body felt cool and surprisingly firm beneath him, nothing like the slimy texture he'd expected. As she slid smoothly into the water, barely causing a ripple, Naruto marveled at how different this was from his boisterous journeys with the toads.

"The water here is special," Katsuyu explained as they glided toward the central island. "It contains concentrated natural energy in its purest form. A single drop can heal minor wounds, but immersion would overwhelm most chakra networks. This is why few outsiders are permitted here."

Naruto gazed into the crystalline depths, where strange lights pulsed and danced like submerged stars. "It's beautiful," he said softly, momentarily subdued by the sacred atmosphere.

"Yes," Katsuyu agreed. "Beauty and healing are deeply connected in Shikkotsu. We believe that to mend what is broken, one must first appreciate its perfect form."

They reached the island in comfortable silence. As Naruto slid from Katsuyu's back onto the mossy shore, he felt a strange tingling in his feet, as if the ground itself hummed with energy. The enormous tree at the island's center loomed above him, its bark the color of polished silver, its leaves a deep, iridescent green that shifted to purple in the dappled light.

"This way," Katsuyu directed, leading him toward the base of the great tree.

As they approached, Naruto realized what he had taken for natural contours in the massive trunk was actually an opening—an archway tall enough to admit Katsuyu's considerable bulk. Inside, the tree was hollow, forming a cathedral-like chamber lit by the same bioluminescent fungi he'd seen throughout the forest. The light reflected off walls lined with a crystalline substance, creating rainbow patterns that danced across the chamber.

And there, at the center, lay the largest slug Naruto had ever seen.

The Great Slug Sage was easily twice Katsuyu's size, her body a pristine white that seemed to glow from within. The purple markings across her back formed complex, interlocking patterns that shifted subtly as she breathed. Her eye stalks, longer and more elegant than Katsuyu's, turned toward them as they entered.

"So," the Great Slug Sage spoke, her voice resonating throughout the chamber like the toll of a massive bell, "this is the human who believes he can master multiple sage traditions."

Naruto swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of how small he was in this ancient being's presence. But he forced himself to step forward and bow respectfully—something Sakura had drilled into him before his departure.

"Great Slug Sage," he said with uncharacteristic formality, "I am Naruto Uzumaki of Konohagakure. I've come to request your training in the ways of Slug Sage Mode."

The massive slug regarded him silently for a long moment, her eye stalks unwavering. Then, unexpectedly, she laughed—a sound like water flowing over crystal.

"At least you have manners," she observed. "More than I expected from Jiraiya's student."

Naruto's head snapped up. "You knew Pervy Sage?"

"I know of all who walk the sage paths," she replied simply. "Jiraiya of the Toads was respected, if somewhat exuberant for our tastes." She shifted, her massive body rippling as she moved closer to inspect Naruto. "I sense the toad's natural energy within you, boy. It flows chaotically, like rapids over stone—powerful but untamed."

"Yeah, that's kind of my style," Naruto grinned.

"It is not ours," the Great Sage responded flatly. "And therein lies the problem. Our methods require precision, patience, and perfect chakra control—qualities you conspicuously lack."

Naruto's face fell. "Hey, that's not fair! I haven't even had a chance to try yet!"

"I have lived for centuries, child. I do not need to see you try to know you will fail." The Great Sage's tone was not unkind, merely matter-of-fact. "The slug way is not for everyone, just as not every shinobi can master medical ninjutsu."

Naruto's hands clenched into fists at his sides, frustration rising like a tide. "With all due respect, Great Sage, people have been telling me what I can't do my entire life. And you know what? I've proven every single one of them wrong." His blue eyes flashed with determination. "So if you've got a test or trial or whatever, bring it on. But don't tell me I can't do something before I've even tried!"

The chamber fell silent. Katsuyu had withdrawn slightly, eye stalks lowered as if embarrassed by Naruto's outburst. The Great Sage remained perfectly still, regarding him with an inscrutable expression.

Finally, she spoke. "Very well, Naruto Uzumaki. If you insist, I will test your suitability." Her tone suggested she was merely humoring him. "The trial is simple: you must remain perfectly still in meditation for three days and three nights while absorbing the natural energy of Shikkotsu Forest."

"That's it?" Naruto brightened. "Just sit still for three days? I did that at Mount Myoboku!"

The Great Sage's eye stalks narrowed slightly. "Did you? Without moving a muscle? Without fidgeting or scratching or shifting position even once?"

Naruto hesitated. "Well maybe not perfectly still"

"As I thought." The Great Sage's voice held a trace of smug satisfaction. "Furthermore, you will not be alone in your meditation. My children will be with you, testing your compatibility with slug natural energy."

"Your children?" Naruto asked hesitantly.

In answer, the Great Sage's body rippled. From hundreds of tiny pores across her massive form, smaller slugs emerged—thousands of them, ranging in size from as tiny as a fingernail to as large as Naruto's arm. They flowed down her body like a living waterfall, coating the crystal floor in a writhing, white mass.

"They will crawl over you, absorbing small amounts of your chakra and attempting to harmonize it with our own energy," the Great Sage explained. "If at any point you move, speak, or otherwise disturb the process, you fail. If your chakra rejects our energy, you fail." Her eye stalks rose to their full height. "And understand this, Naruto Uzumaki: failure means you leave Shikkotsu Forest and never return."

Naruto gulped, looking at the sea of slugs now covering the chamber floor. "And if I succeed?"

For the first time, something like approval flickered in the Great Sage's manner. "Then I will personally oversee your training in Slug Sage Mode."

Naruto took a deep breath, centering himself. "When do I start?"

"Now," the Great Sage declared. "Katsuyu will guide you to the meditation pool."

The "meditation pool" turned out to be a shallow depression in the crystal floor of a smaller chamber adjacent to the Great Sage's sanctuary. The basin was filled with clear, viscous liquid that reminded Naruto of honey, but flowed like water when Katsuyu instructed him to step into it.

"This fluid will help conduct natural energy," she explained as Naruto gingerly lowered himself into the knee-deep pool. "It also contains essence of the Great Sage herself, which will facilitate the connection between you and the smaller slugs."

Naruto nodded, trying not to grimace at the strange sensation of the cool liquid soaking through his clothes. "So I just sit here?"

"In the traditional meditation posture," Katsuyu instructed. "Cross-legged, hands forming the seal of harmony." She demonstrated with movements of her own body, somehow configuring herself into what Naruto recognized as a variation of the meditation pose Fukasaku had taught him.

Following her example, Naruto settled into position at the center of the pool. The liquid seemed to cradle him, making the posture easier to maintain than it would have been on solid ground. As he formed the seal with his hands, he felt a subtle shift in the energy around him—the natural chakra of Shikkotsu Forest responding to his gesture.

"Good," Katsuyu approved. "Now close your eyes and remain perfectly still. The slugs will come to you, and your trial will begin. Remember, Naruto—three days and three nights without movement. This is the way of patience."

Naruto nodded once, then closed his eyes. He heard Katsuyu slither away, leaving him alone in the chamber. For several minutes, nothing happened. He focused on his breathing, using the techniques Fukasaku had taught him to center his mind and calm his naturally restless body.

Then he felt it—a cool, smooth touch against his ankle. Then another on his knee. And another on his shoulder. The slugs had arrived.

They moved onto his body with deliberate slowness, their passage leaving trails of tingling sensation wherever they touched. One slid up his neck, another across his cheek. Within minutes, Naruto felt them covering every exposed inch of his skin, their collective weight subtle but noticeable.

And then they began to feed.

It wasn't painful, exactly. It felt more like tiny mouths sipping at his chakra, taking the smallest possible amount from thousands of different points simultaneously. The sensation was strange—not quite uncomfortable, but definitely odd.

I can do this, Naruto thought firmly. Just three days of sitting still. I've faced way worse.

As if in response to his confidence, the slugs increased their activity. They began to secrete something onto his skin—a substance that burned slightly, then cooled, leaving numbness in its wake. Through the numbness, Naruto felt something new entering his chakra network—the natural energy of Shikkotsu, fundamentally different from the energy he had absorbed at Mount Myoboku.

Where toad natural energy had felt vibrant and dynamic, slug energy felt smooth and cool, flowing through his pathways with deliberate purpose. It moved with surprising strength, pushing against his own chakra like a steadily rising tide.

Hours passed. Maintaining perfect stillness became increasingly difficult as parts of his body went numb, then tingled painfully as circulation returned. An itch developed on his nose, maddening in its persistence. His back ached, then cramped. Still, Naruto remained motionless, drawing on every ounce of self-discipline he had developed during his previous sage training.

As the first day gave way to night—a transition he sensed more than saw—the nature of the trial changed. The slugs began to pulse in unison, their chakra synchronizing into waves that washed through Naruto's system with increasing intensity. Each wave brought visions—fragmentary at first, then with crystal clarity.

He saw himself on the battlefield during the Fourth Shinobi War, watching as comrades fell around him. Only now, instead of rushing forward to attack, he found himself kneeling beside the wounded, hands glowing with medical chakra as he closed fatal wounds and purged poison.

The scene shifted. He stood over Neji's broken body, but instead of helpless grief, he channeled healing energy into his friend's shattered chakra network, mending what had been irreparably damaged.

Another shift. Sasuke at the Valley of the End, their final battle. But rather than matching Chidori with Rasengan, Naruto reached out with purifying energy that drew the corruption from Sasuke's curse mark, cleansing what hatred had tainted.

This, a voice that might have been the Great Sage's whispered in his mind, is what you seek.

Day two brought physical trials. The slugs' secretions intensified, seeping deeper into his chakra network and testing its resilience. Naruto's muscles spasmed involuntarily, fighting against the foreign energy. Sweat beaded on his forehead, trickling down into his eyes with stinging persistence. His lungs labored against the pressure of slugs covering his chest.

Still, he didn't move.

The visions continued, showing him possibilities he had never considered. Healing instead of harming. Purification instead of destruction. The power to mend rather than break.

By the third day, Naruto's consciousness had begun to fragment. Reality and vision blurred together, past and present merging into a kaleidoscope of sensation. The constant drain on his chakra had left him lightheaded, while the influx of slug natural energy made his skin feel too tight for his body.

It was during this twilight state, halfway between awareness and dreams, that Naruto felt a new presence enter his mind.

Interesting, a voice observed—not the Great Sage's, but similar in its ancient resonance. Your chakra resists and embraces simultaneously. I have not seen this before.

With a start, Naruto realized he was communicating with the collective consciousness of the slugs themselves.

Who are you? he thought back, careful not to physically speak.

We are the Children of Shikkotsu, the voice replied. The thousand eyes and thousand mouths of the Forest. We have tasted your chakra, Naruto Uzumaki, and found it unusual.

Unusual how?

Your energy bears the mark of the toad, yes, but also something else. Something ancient and fiery. There was a pause, as if the collective was conferring. The Nine-Tails. Its chakra has merged with yours in a way we have not witnessed before. This complicates matters.

Naruto felt a flicker of worry. Complicates how?

The fox's chakra resists our assimilation. It protects you, even from that which would help you. This is why your body fights our energy even as your spirit welcomes it.

Understanding dawned. Kurama is being overprotective.

Yes, the collective agreed. You must convince the fox to accept us, or the transformation cannot complete.

Naruto had been avoiding diving into his internal mindscape, fearing that the mental shift would somehow count as movement. But now he realized he had no choice. With practiced focus, he turned his awareness inward, seeking the familiar presence of his tailed beast partner.

He found Kurama curled in the now-spacious chamber of his mind, nine tails lashing with agitation.

"What do you think you're doing, kit?" the massive fox growled without preamble. "These creatures are trying to change your chakra!"

"That's kind of the point, Kurama," Naruto replied, approaching without fear. "I need to learn Slug Sage Mode to fight those Hollow Ones."

Kurama's crimson eyes narrowed. "Toad Sage Mode was one thing. We've adapted to it. But this? These slugs are trying to fundamentally alter your chakra pathways. Our chakra pathways," he corrected with a rumbling emphasis.

"I know it feels weird," Naruto acknowledged, placing a hand on the fox's massive paw. "But we need this. You felt what those enemies did to the border patrol. Their corrupted natural energy nearly killed those ninja."

"And you think becoming part slug is the answer?" Kurama scoffed, but with less heat than before.

"I think having more options is never a bad thing," Naruto countered. "Besides, healing abilities would be pretty useful, don't you think? How many times have we had to wait for Sakura or Granny Tsunade to patch us up?"

The fox grumbled, tails still twitching, but Naruto could tell he was considering the argument. Finally, Kurama heaved a massive sigh that filled the mindscape with warm wind.

"Fine," he conceded grudgingly. "I'll stop fighting the slug chakra. But," he added with a sharp-toothed grin, "don't blame me if you end up all slimy and disgusting."

Naruto grinned back. "Thanks, partner."

Returning to his external awareness, Naruto sensed an immediate difference. The resistance he had been feeling dissolved, allowing the slug natural energy to flow smoothly through his network. The thousands of tiny mouths feeding on his chakra seemed to sigh in collective satisfaction as harmony was achieved.

The fox consents, the hive mind observed with something like surprise. Remarkable. Perhaps you are indeed worthy of our teachings, Naruto Uzumaki.

The rest of the third day passed in a state of deepening integration. The slugs no longer felt like foreign entities on his skin but extensions of himself. Their rhythmic pulsing synchronized with his heartbeat, their collective breathing matched his own. The boundaries between Naruto and the Children of Shikkotsu blurred, then dissolved entirely.

And then, without warning, they withdrew.

The sudden absence was jarring. Naruto's eyes flew open, his body immediately protesting the movement after three days of perfect stillness. Daylight—real daylight, not the bioluminescent glow of fungi—streamed into the chamber from high windows he hadn't noticed before.

Before him stood Katsuyu and the Great Slug Sage, both regarding him with what appeared to be genuine astonishment.

"He did not move," Katsuyu stated, wonder evident in her gentle voice. "Not once in three days."

"More than that," the Great Sage added, her massive body shifting closer. "He achieved harmony with the Children. They accepted him completely."

Naruto tried to speak but found his throat painfully dry. Katsuyu immediately extruded a small amount of clear fluid, which she directed toward his mouth. The liquid was cool and sweet, instantly soothing his parched tissues.

"Thanks," he croaked, then winced at the hoarseness of his voice.

"You have surprised us, Naruto Uzumaki," the Great Sage declared. "Few humans have ever completed the Trial of Stillness, and none who already carried another sage mode's energy. Yet you not only endured—you thrived."

Naruto attempted to stand but found his legs uncooperative after so long in one position. Katsuyu slid closer, offering her firm body as support.

"Does this mean you'll train me?" he asked, hope evident despite his raspy voice.

The Great Sage's eye stalks dipped in what might have been a bow. "I gave my word, and I shall keep it. You have earned the right to learn our ways."

A grin spread across Naruto's face, bright enough to rival the sunlight streaming into the chamber. "Awesome! When do we start?"

The Great Sage made a sound suspiciously like a chuckle. "Your enthusiasm remains intact, I see. Rest today, young sage. Your real training begins tomorrow, and you will need all your strength."

Real training, as it turned out, made the three-day sitting trial seem like a pleasant vacation.

"Again," the Great Sage commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Naruto gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down his face as he attempted—for what felt like the hundredth time—to precisely control the flow of chakra to his fingertips. Before him lay a shallow pool of that same honey-like liquid, and within it floated a single leaf with a hairline crack running down its center.

His task: heal the leaf using only Slug Sage chakra, without damaging the delicate cellular structure.

"Breathe," Katsuyu reminded him gently from where she watched nearby. "Slug Sage Mode begins with the breath."

Naruto nodded, forcing his frustration aside. He inhaled deeply, feeling for the cool, flowing energy that had begun to make a home alongside his own fierce chakra. It responded sluggishly at first—like trying to direct water through a pipe designed for fire—but gradually came under his control.

He extended his hand over the leaf, focusing the healing energy into the finest possible stream. The previous ninety-nine attempts had either failed to heal the crack entirely or had flooded the leaf with so much energy that it had disintegrated.

This time, he visualized the energy as a single droplet—perfect, contained, precisely shaped. It flowed from his fingertip into the crack, spreading along the damaged area with deliberate purpose. The leaf glowed faintly lavender, the color of slug sage chakra, as the cells knit together.

And then, miraculously, the crack was gone.

"Well done," the Great Sage approved, her usually impassive tone warming slightly. "You begin to understand."

Naruto sat back on his heels, exhausted but grinning. "That was just a leaf. When do I get to heal actual people?"

"When you can heal one thousand leaves without error," the Great Sage replied without missing a beat. "Slug Sage Mode is about precision, Naruto. Rush the process, and you risk causing more harm than good."

Naruto's face fell. "A thousand? But that could take—"

"As long as necessary," Katsuyu finished firmly. "Remember, this is not like Toad Sage Mode, which augments your existing abilities. Slug Sage Mode grants entirely new ones—the power to manipulate life energy itself."

The Great Sage's eye stalks curved toward him. "Consider this, young sage: with sufficient skill, you could regrow severed limbs, purge any poison, even pull someone back from the brink of death. But one mistake—one moment of impatience—could just as easily destroy what you seek to mend."

Put that way, Naruto couldn't argue. He nodded solemnly, turning back to the pool. "Alright. One leaf at a time."

Days blurred into weeks. Naruto trained from dawn until dusk, mastering increasingly complex healing techniques under the Great Sage's exacting tutelage. Leaves gave way to fish, then to small mammals brought to him with various injuries. Each success built upon the last, his control becoming more refined, his understanding of life energy more nuanced.

The physical transformation began gradually. Naruto first noticed it when catching his reflection in one of Shikkotsu's clear pools—his skin had developed a subtle translucency, allowing faint glimpses of the chakra flowing beneath. Purple markings, similar to those on Katsuyu but uniquely patterned to match his own energy signature, appeared along his arms and across his face when he channeled Slug Sage chakra.

Most startling were his eyes. Where Toad Sage Mode turned them amber with horizontal bar pupils, Slug Sage Mode transformed them to a deep lavender, luminous in dim light.

"Your physical changes are more pronounced than most," the Great Sage observed one evening as Naruto practiced the advanced technique of separating his body into smaller components—a variation of Katsuyu's division ability. "The Nine-Tails' chakra amplifies the transformation."

Naruto, currently split into three smaller versions of himself, each controlling a different healing jutsu simultaneously, nodded in triplicate. "Kurama says it's because I'm already used to physical transformations from using his chakra. My body adapts more easily now."

"Interesting," the Great Sage mused. "This may explain why you can accomplish in weeks what takes most decades."

The three Narutos rejoined with a puff of chakra smoke, leaving a single, slightly dizzy original. "So, am I almost done? I've mastered the division technique, the healing jutsu, the chakra sharing, and the purification methods."

Before the Great Sage could answer, a disturbance rippled through the chamber. Smaller slugs streamed in, their collective voices creating a buzzing urgency that Naruto had never heard before.

"What is it?" he asked, instantly alert.

The Great Sage's eye stalks swiveled toward the entrance. "Intruders at the forest's edge. Injured humans fleeing from pursuit."

"The Hollow Ones?" Naruto asked, already moving toward the exit.

"Unknown," the Great Sage replied. "But the wounds described match the corruption you spoke of."

Naruto's expression hardened. "I need to help them."

For once, the Great Sage didn't counsel patience. "Yes," she agreed. "This will be your true test, Naruto Uzumaki. Go with Katsuyu. Show me what you have learned."

They found the injured shinobi at the misty boundaries where Shikkotsu Forest met the regular world. Four ANBU operatives, their masks cracked or missing entirely, lay in various states of distress among the twisted roots of boundary trees. A fifth stood guard, swaying on his feet, a broken tantō clutched in trembling hands.

Naruto approached with Katsuyu at his side, already channeling Slug Sage chakra. His skin took on the characteristic translucent glow, purple markings spreading across his face and down his arms.

The standing ANBU raised his blade defensively, then faltered as recognition dawned. "Uzumaki?" he rasped, lowering the tantō. "What are you doing here? And what happened to you?"

"Long story," Naruto replied, gently moving past him to assess the others. "I'm here to help. What attacked you?"

The ANBU—a hawk mask hanging broken around his neck, revealing a gaunt face streaked with dirt and blood—shook his head as if to clear it. "We don't know. Human-shaped, but wrong. They used jutsu I've never seen before. Chakra that felt tainted."

Naruto knelt beside the most grievously wounded operative, a woman whose exposed skin showed spreading black veins beneath the surface—like poison, but moving with purpose.

"Corrupted natural energy," he murmured, recognizing the symptoms from Tsunade's briefing. "Katsuyu, we need to purify and extract."

"Yes," the giant slug agreed, separating into numerous smaller forms that moved to each of the injured ANBU. "I will stabilize the others while you treat the worst case."

Naruto placed his hands over the woman's chest, where the black veins converged toward her heart. Closing his eyes, he sank deeper into Slug Sage Mode, feeling the cool energy suffuse his entire being. His hands began to glow with soft lavender light as he sought the corruption within her chakra network.

There—a writhing darkness, like ink dropped into clear water. The corrupted energy had wrapped around her major chakra pathways, constricting and poisoning with every heartbeat. It felt fundamentally wrong—natural energy twisted into something toxic and predatory.

Drawing on the Great Sage's teachings, Naruto extended his consciousness into the woman's chakra network. Instead of forcibly extracting the corruption—which might damage her pathways beyond repair—he began the more delicate process of purification.

Separating the natural from the unnatural, he thought, remembering the Great Sage's words. Finding the boundary between what belongs and what doesn't.

His lavender chakra met the corruption, not attacking but enveloping it. Where they touched, the darkness hissed and fought, but Naruto maintained perfect control. Gradually, the corruption began to lose cohesion, its unnatural bonds dissolving under the pure influence of Slug Sage chakra.

As it broke apart, Naruto carefully gathered the purified natural energy, redirecting it to help heal the damage left behind. The black veins receded, leaving healthy pink skin in their wake. The woman's labored breathing eased, her pulse strengthening under his hands.

"Amazing," the standing ANBU breathed, watching as similar transformations occurred with his teammates under Katsuyu's care. "I've never seen medical ninjutsu like this."

"It's not exactly medical ninjutsu," Naruto explained, wiping sweat from his brow as he finished with the woman and moved to help Katsuyu with the others. "It's Slug Sage Mode—specifically designed to heal and purify."

Working together, Naruto and Katsuyu stabilized all four injured operatives within the hour. The corruption was fully extracted, their major wounds healed, and their chakra networks restored to functionality. They wouldn't be fighting any battles soon, but they would live.

As the ANBU began to regain consciousness, Naruto helped them sit up and drink the revitalizing fluid Katsuyu provided. The hawk-masked operative, who introduced himself simply as Tenzo, briefed Naruto on what they had encountered.

"We were tracking unusual chakra disturbances near the border with the Land of Rivers," he explained, voice steadier now that his teammates were out of danger. "We found a group of what appeared to be missing-nin camped in a valley. But when we moved to observe more closely, they detected us somehow."

"Despite our chakra suppression?" one of the other ANBU added, a note of professional offense in his voice.

Tenzo nodded grimly. "They didn't just sense us—they pinpointed our exact locations. And when they attacked" He trailed off, eyes distant with the memory. "Their jutsu didn't look right. The hand signs were normal, but the chakra was visible to the naked eye—black with purple edges, like bruised skin."

"Did they say anything?" Naruto pressed. "Give any indication of what they were after?"

"They called themselves 'the Cleansed,'" the female ANBU whom Naruto had healed first answered, her voice raspy but clear. "They said the old ways of chakra were flawed, that they had found the 'true path' to power through direct communion with nature."

Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Sounds like they're trying to use some twisted version of sage mode."

"Whatever it is," Tenzo said, "conventional jutsu barely affected them. Fire, water, earth—all seemed diminished against their barrier of corrupted chakra. Only Hikari's lightning release had any noticeable impact." He nodded toward the female ANBU.

"They're getting stronger," another operative added. "This is the third encounter our division has had with them in as many weeks. Each time, their abilities seem more developed."

"And more corrupted," Katsuyu observed, having listened silently until now. "The taint in your chakra networks was more aggressive than what Lady Tsunade described from the first attacks."

Naruto stood, face set with determination. "I need to get this information back to Konoha. And then I need to continue my sage training." He looked at the ANBU with resolve burning in his now-blue eyes, the Slug Sage transformation having receded. "We're going to stop these 'Cleansed' before they hurt anyone else."

Tenzo studied him thoughtfully. "You've changed, Uzumaki. And not just the physical transformation we saw. There's a steadiness to you that wasn't there before."

Naruto blinked, then broke into a surprised laugh. "Yeah, well, three days of not moving will do that to you." His expression sobered quickly. "Can you make it back to Konoha with my help, or should I send clones to escort you?"

"We can manage," Tenzo assured him. "Your healing has done wonders. But what about you? Are you returning to the village?"

Naruto shook his head. "Not yet. I've almost mastered Slug Sage Mode, but the Great Sage has more to teach me." His gaze drifted toward the depths of Shikkotsu Forest, where mist curled between ancient trees like beckoning fingers. "And I have a feeling I'm going to need every technique she can show me for what's coming."

Naruto stood at the shore of the sacred pool two weeks later, the setting sun casting long shadows across the water's mirror-like surface. His time in Shikkotsu Forest was drawing to a close, his training nearly complete.

The Great Slug Sage regarded him from the island at the pool's center, her massive form luminous in the fading light. "You have learned all I can teach you, Naruto Uzumaki," she declared, her voice carrying easily across the water. "Your mastery of Slug Sage Mode is unprecedented for one not born to our ways."

Naruto bowed deeply, the gesture no longer feeling foreign or forced. "I couldn't have done it without your patience, Great Sage. Or Katsuyu's guidance."

The giant slug beside him dipped her eye stalks in acknowledgment. "You were an exceptional student, once you learned to slow down," she said with gentle humor.

"The true test lies ahead," the Great Sage continued more solemnly. "This corruption you face—this perversion of natural energy—represents a fundamental threat to all sage traditions. If these 'Cleansed' are indeed attempting to create a shortcut to sage powers"

"They'll destroy themselves and take a lot of innocent people with them," Naruto finished grimly. "I know. That's why I need to master the other sage modes too."

The Great Sage's eye stalks swiveled toward him. "You still intend to pursue this path? Even knowing the risks of combining multiple sage energies?"

"I do," Naruto confirmed without hesitation. "Each sage tradition has unique abilities that could help counter this threat. Slug Sage Mode gives me healing and purification. Who knows what the others might offer?"

For a long moment, the Great Sage was silent, her ancient gaze unreadable. Then, slowly, she bowed—a full, formal gesture that sent ripples across the sacred pool.

"Then go with our blessing, Naruto Uzumaki, First Human Master of Multiple Sage Arts. May your path bring balance rather than destruction." A small object floated across the water toward him—a perfect crystal sphere, no larger than a marble, glowing with faint lavender light. "Take this token of Shikkotsu. Should you ever need our aid, break it, and the Children will come."

Naruto accepted the crystal reverently, tucking it into the special pouch he now wore alongside his kunai holster. "Thank you, Great Sage. I promise I won't let you down."

As he turned to leave, Katsuyu slid closer. "Where will you go next?" she asked.

Naruto's expression grew determined, his blue eyes flickering briefly with the horizontal bars of Toad Sage Mode, then the lavender glow of Slug Sage Mode, before returning to their natural state.

"Ryūchi Cave," he answered, facing the forest's edge where the path would lead him back to the wider world. "It's time to learn from the snakes."

Behind him, sunlight caught the ripples on the sacred pool, transforming them momentarily into the scales of a great serpent—an omen or mere coincidence, neither sage chose to say.

Heat shimmered above the rust-colored earth, distorting the horizon into wavy mirages that danced and vanished with every blink. Naruto wiped sweat from his brow, squinting against the merciless sun that had been beating down on him since dawn. The rocky badlands stretched out in all directions, a desolate landscape broken only by jutting stone formations that cast sharp, knife-like shadows across the baked ground.

"This place is trying to kill me," he muttered, taking another swig from his canteen. The water was warm and tasted vaguely of metal, but it was wet, and that was all that mattered at this point.

Six days had passed since he'd left Shikkotsu Forest, his body still humming with the cool, restorative energy of Slug Sage Mode. The ANBU—Tenzo and his team—had provided coordinates for Ryūchi Cave before departing for Konoha with their wounded. According to them, the Hollow Ones had mentioned "the Serpent's wisdom" during their attack, a clue that pointed directly to the Snake Sages.

Naruto paused atop a ridge, consulting the rough map Tenzo had sketched for him. The cave entrance should be visible from here—a natural archway of stone resembling a snake with its mouth open wide. He scanned the horizon, squinting through the heat haze until—

"There!" he exclaimed, spotting the distinctive formation perhaps a mile distant. Relief flooded through him, quickly followed by a jolt of apprehension. The snakes would not welcome him as the slugs had. These were Orochimaru's former allies, creatures who had witnessed firsthand the depths of human cruelty in the name of experimentation and power.

Still, he had no choice. If the Hollow Ones were somehow drawing on corrupted snake sage energy, he needed to understand the original source to counter it.

He reached the cave entrance as the sun began its descent, casting long shadows that made the stone archway appear even more serpentine. Up close, the detail was unsettling—erosion or perhaps deliberate craftsmanship had carved scales into the rock, and twin hollows above the entrance gleamed like watchful eyes in the fading light.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto stepped into the shadow of the arch. The temperature dropped immediately, a welcome relief from the scorching heat. He hesitated at the threshold, then called out, his voice echoing into the darkness.

"Hello? My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I've come to speak with the White Snake Sage!"

Silence answered him, broken only by the soft drip of water somewhere deep within. Naruto waited, shifting uncomfortably, then tried again.

"I'm not here to cause trouble! I need to learn about Snake Sage Mode to help fight a new enemy!"

This time, the silence felt different—alert, perhaps even hostile. The fine hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and he instinctively reached for a kunai before forcing his hand to relax.

"I can feel you watching," he continued, lowering his voice. "I know you have no reason to trust humans after Orochimaru. But I'm not like him. I've already mastered Toad Sage Mode and Slug Sage Mode. I'm trying to understand all the sage traditions to protect people from those who are corrupting natural energy."

A soft, dry whisper answered from somewhere above him. "Ssso many wordsss"

Naruto's head snapped up. Coiled around a stalactite just inside the entrance was a snake at least twelve feet long, its scales a pale lavender color that almost glowed in the dim light. Its eyes, vertical slits of amber, regarded him with cold intelligence.

"Um, hi," Naruto managed, resisting the urge to back away.

The snake's tongue flicked out, tasting the air around him. "You carry the scent of toads," it observed, voice like dry leaves rustling. "And something else slugs?" Its head cocked to one side. "Curious. Most curious."

"Like I said, I've mastered Toad Sage Mode and Slug Sage Mode," Naruto explained, gaining confidence. "I need to learn Snake Sage Mode next."

The serpent dropped from the ceiling with alarming speed, landing without a sound on the stone floor. It circled Naruto once, twice, its massive body flowing like water around him.

"No human has ever mastered multiple sage traditions," it said, voice closer now, almost intimate. "The energies conflict. They tear the body apart."

"Yeah, I've heard that before," Naruto replied, holding perfectly still as the snake completed a third circuit around him. "Didn't stop me then, won't stop me now."

The serpent reared up, bringing its face level with Naruto's. Its tongue darted out, almost brushing his cheek. "Confident, aren't you? Or perhaps just foolish."

Naruto met its gaze without flinching. "I've been called worse."

To his surprise, the snake made a sound like hissing laughter. "Indeed. Very well, Naruto Uzumaki. You may follow me to the Inner Sanctum. The White Sage will decide your fate."

Without waiting for a response, the serpent turned and slithered deeper into the cave. Naruto hurried after it, summoning a small Rasengan to light the way. The pale blue glow cast eerie shadows along the tunnel walls, which seemed to ripple and move in ways that stone definitely shouldn't.

"So, uh, do you have a name?" Naruto asked, trying to dispel the growing tension as they descended deeper underground.

"Suijin," the snake replied without turning. "I am one of the Watchers of the Threshold."

The tunnel began to widen, the ceiling lifting away until Naruto could no longer see it in the limited light of his Rasengan. The air grew warmer, carrying unfamiliar scents—exotic flowers, strange spices, and something else, something primal that made the hair on his arms stand up.

They emerged suddenly into an immense cavern, so vast that Naruto's light couldn't reach its boundaries. Natural columns of stone rose like ancient trees, connecting floor to ceiling. Phosphorescent fungi clung to the walls, casting a ghostly blue-green glow over everything.

And there were snakes. Everywhere.

They draped from stalactites, coiled around columns, slithered across the floor in rippling rivers of scales. Some were no larger than pencils, others thick as tree trunks. They came in every color imaginable—obsidian black, blood red, gold that seemed to shimmer with its own light, and countless variations between.

"Welcome to Ryūchi Cave," Suijin announced, voice echoing. "Home of the Snake Sages."

The assembled serpents turned as one to stare at Naruto, hundreds of unblinking eyes fixed on him with expressions ranging from curiosity to undisguised hostility. A susurrus of whispers filled the cavern, the words just below the threshold of understanding.

Suijin led him down a natural pathway through the cavern, snakes parting before them like a living curtain. Some hissed as he passed, recoiling from his proximity. Others extended themselves toward him, tongues flickering rapidly to taste his scent.

"They remember Orochimaru," Suijin explained, noticing Naruto's discomfort. "Some fondly, some with hatred. He brought both knowledge and pain to our kind."

"I'm nothing like Orochimaru," Naruto insisted, louder than necessary, making sure the watching snakes could hear.

Suijin's response was cryptic. "We shall see. The White Sage sees beyond surface appearances."

They approached what appeared to be a raised dais at the far end of the cavern. Atop it, coiled in perfect symmetry, lay a snake unlike any Naruto had ever seen. It was massive, easily the size of Manda, Orochimaru's infamous summon. But where Manda had been purple and intimidating, this creature was pure white—not albino, but a crystalline white that seemed to both absorb and reflect the cavern's ambient light. Its scales had an almost translucent quality, revealing shadows of its internal structure beneath.

Most striking were its eyes—not the typical gold or amber of most snakes, but a deep, penetrating crimson that seemed to glow from within.

"The White Snake Sage," Suijin announced, lowering his head in deference.

Naruto followed suit, bowing respectfully. When he straightened, those crimson eyes were fixed directly on him, unblinking.

"Naruto Uzumaki," the White Sage spoke, voice neither male nor female but somehow both, resonating with power that Naruto felt in his bones. "Child of prophecy. Jinchūriki of Kurama. Master of Toad Sage Mode. Apprentice of the Slug Sage." Each title was pronounced deliberately, as if testing their weight. "You stand before me seeking knowledge that has destroyed lesser men."

It wasn't a question, but Naruto answered anyway. "Yes."

The White Sage's massive head lowered until it was level with Naruto's. Up close, those crimson eyes were hypnotic, drawing him in like whirlpools.

"Why?" The word hung in the air between them, simple yet impossibly complex.

Naruto had prepared arguments, explanations about the Hollow Ones and the threat they posed. But standing before the ancient being, he found himself speaking a deeper truth.

"Because there's a darkness growing that feeds on corrupted natural energy. Because I need to understand all the sage traditions to face it. Because" he hesitated, then finished, "because if not me, then who?"

The White Sage regarded him for a long, silent moment. Then its body rippled—the serpentine equivalent of a shrug.

"Honest, at least," it remarked, almost to itself. "Very well, Naruto Uzumaki. I will test you, not because of your quest or your fears, but because you bring something I have never witnessed before—the harmonized energies of toad and slug sage chakra coexisting in one vessel." Its tongue flicked out, almost touching Naruto's face. "That alone makes you worthy of consideration."

Relief flooded through Naruto, quickly followed by wariness. The Snake Sage's interest felt more scientific than benevolent.

"So what's the test?" he asked, squaring his shoulders. "Whatever it is, I'm ready."

That earned him a sound that might have been laughter—a dry, rattling hiss that echoed throughout the cavern.

"So confident," the White Sage observed. "So very human. Your test, Naruto Uzumaki, is the Cave of Rebirth."

The assembled snakes stirred at this pronouncement, their collective whispers rising to an audible hiss that filled the chamber. Some seemed alarmed, others excited.

"The Cave of Rebirth?" Naruto repeated. "What's that?"

Instead of answering directly, the White Sage turned its massive head toward a previously unnoticed opening at the side of the dais. "Like all snakes, humans must shed their skin to grow. But where we shed our physical form, you must shed something more fundamental. The Cave of Rebirth will strip away your illusions, Naruto Uzumaki. It will force you to confront what lies beneath your skin."

Cryptic as the explanation was, Naruto felt a chill that had nothing to do with the cavern's temperature. This would be different from his previous trials. The Toads had tested his body and chakra control. The Slugs had tested his patience and precision. But this this sounded like it would test something deeper.

"When do I start?" he asked, voice steadier than he felt.

"Now," the White Sage replied. "Enter the Cave of Rebirth. Should you emerge we will speak again."

That ominous "should" hung in the air as Naruto approached the opening. Unlike the grand entrance to the main cavern, this was a narrow fissure in the rock wall, barely wide enough for a person to slip through sideways. No light emanated from within—just a palpable darkness that seemed to swallow the cavern's ambient glow.

Naruto hesitated at the threshold, then glanced back at the assembled snakes. Their unblinking stares offered no comfort or encouragement. The White Sage had already turned away, apparently considering the matter settled.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto stepped into the darkness. The effect was immediate and disorienting—the sounds of the cavern cut off as if a door had been slammed behind him. The darkness was absolute, pressing against his eyes like a physical force.

He instinctively tried to summon another Rasengan for light, but his chakra fizzled at his fingertips, refusing to take form.

"Great," he muttered, voice sounding strangely flat, as if the darkness absorbed sound as well as light. "Guess I'm doing this blind."

He extended his hands, feeling his way forward. The passage was narrow, its walls slick with moisture that felt oddly warm against his palms. He shuffled forward, one cautious step at a time, until the passage began to widen. The absolute darkness remained, but the oppressive feeling of confinement gradually eased.

How long he walked, Naruto couldn't say. Time seemed meaningless in the lightless void. It might have been minutes or hours before he noticed a change—a faint illumination ahead, barely perceptible at first, then gradually strengthening to a soft, diffuse glow that seemed to emanate from the walls themselves.

The tunnel opened into a circular chamber, its walls polished to mirror-like perfection. The light—a pale, bluish radiance—had no obvious source but filled the space evenly. At the center of the chamber stood a simple stone pedestal, empty save for a small bowl of clear liquid.

Naruto approached cautiously, studying his reflection in the mirrored walls. He looked haggard, his normally bright hair dulled with dust, dark circles under his eyes from days of hard travel.

"Hello?" he called out. "Is this the test? Am I supposed to do something with this bowl?"

No answer came. The chamber remained silent save for the soft echo of his own voice. Naruto circled the pedestal, examining the bowl from all angles. The liquid inside appeared to be ordinary water, though it didn't reflect the chamber's light as it should.

"Fine," he muttered. "When in doubt, follow instructions." He picked up the bowl and raised it to his lips.

The liquid had no taste, but as it slid down his throat, an immediate coldness spread through his body. Naruto gasped, nearly dropping the bowl as his vision blurred. The mirrored walls around him seemed to waver and distort, reflections stretching and melting into new shapes.

"What the—" he began, but his voice died as the chamber transformed around him.

The mirrors were no longer reflecting the chamber but showing something else entirely. Scenes from his past—fragmented, disjointed memories playing out simultaneously on every surface.

There he was as a child, alone on the swing while other children celebrated with their families.

There he was facing Mizuki, learning the terrible truth about the Nine-Tails sealed within him.

There he was in the Valley of the End, failing to stop Sasuke from leaving.

Naruto spun around, disoriented by the kaleidoscope of memories surrounding him. "What is this?" he demanded. "Some kind of genjutsu?"

"Not genjutsu," a voice replied—his own voice, but wrong somehow, hollow and echo-like. "Memory. Truth. Self."

From the mirrored surface directly before him, a figure emerged—stepping out of the reflection as if walking through a doorway. It was Naruto, but not as he was now. This was Naruto as a child, perhaps eight years old, dressed in that garish orange jumpsuit, eyes wide with a mixture of defiance and poorly concealed hurt.

"They all hated us," the child-Naruto said, voice accusing. "They feared us. No matter what we did, they saw only the fox."

Before Naruto could respond, another figure stepped from a different mirror—Naruto at twelve, newly graduated from the Academy, proudly wearing his forehead protector.

"We had to be loud," this Naruto said. "We had to be noticed. If we didn't make them see us, we might as well not exist."

A third figure emerged—Naruto at sixteen, wearing the tattered remains of his jacket after the fight with Pain, eyes reflecting the determination born from that near-defeat.

"We grew stronger," this version stated, "but at what cost? How many friends have we failed to save? How many promises have we been unable to keep?"

The original Naruto backed away, finding himself surrounded by versions of himself from different points in his life. Each one spoke, overlapping voices filling the chamber with a cacophony of self-accusation and doubt.

"Stop it!" Naruto shouted, covering his ears. "This isn't real!"

"Isn't it?" came a new voice—cold, mocking, and terribly familiar.

The mirrors rippled again, and a final figure stepped through—Naruto, but with pale skin, black sclera, and red, slitted eyes. The dark manifestation that emerged when he lost control to the Nine-Tails' chakra.

"This is the real you," Dark Naruto sneered, circling him predatorily. "The part you keep locked away. The part that knows the truth."

"What truth?" Naruto demanded, tracking the shadow-self's movements warily.

"That you're just like Sasuke," Dark Naruto replied, grinning to reveal elongated canines. "Just one push away from darkness. You act so righteous, so determined to save everyone, but deep down—" he leaned in close, "—you enjoy the power. You crave it. Why else pursue multiple sage modes? Why seek more and more strength, if not to dominate?"

"That's not true!" Naruto protested, but a flicker of doubt crept into his voice. "I need the strength to protect people!"

"From what?" Dark Naruto countered. "From people like Sasuke? People like Orochimaru? Or from people who are just like you—hungry for power, willing to twist nature itself to get it?" He laughed, the sound echoing unnaturally. "These 'Hollow Ones' you're so afraid of? They're just doing what you're doing—taking shortcuts to power that isn't theirs to claim."

The accusation struck deep, tapping into fears Naruto hadn't fully acknowledged even to himself. Was he any different? Was his quest to master multiple sage modes truly noble, or was it just another form of the same ambition that had corrupted Orochimaru?

"I'm nothing like them," Naruto insisted, but the words sounded hollow even to his own ears.

"No?" Dark Naruto circled again, gesturing to the mirrors where scenes from his battles now played—moments when he'd lost control, when the Nine-Tails' chakra had taken over, when he'd hurt those around him. "How many times have you lost yourself to power? How many times have you risked everything and everyone for strength?"

The chamber seemed to close in around him, the mirrors reflecting his doubts infinitely. The child versions of himself watched silently now, their eyes accusing. Dark Naruto leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper.

"You're on the same path as Sasuke. As Orochimaru. Just taking a different route."

Something snapped in Naruto then—not in anger, but in clarity. He straightened, looking his dark reflection directly in the eyes.

"You're right," he said quietly.

Dark Naruto blinked, clearly not expecting agreement.

"I do want power," Naruto continued. "I always have. I've chased after it my whole life—training until I collapsed, pushing beyond my limits, always seeking the next technique, the next level."

He took a step forward, and to his satisfaction, his shadow-self took a corresponding step back.

"But you're wrong about why." Naruto's voice grew stronger. "I never wanted power to dominate or control. I wanted it because without it, I couldn't protect anyone. Without it, I was helpless to save the people I care about."

The mirrors rippled, showing new scenes—Naruto shielding Iruka from Mizuki's attack. Naruto standing before Konoha, facing Pain alone. Naruto extending his hand to enemies turned allies, offering understanding instead of vengeance.

"Yeah, I've made mistakes. I've lost control. I've hurt people I never wanted to hurt." He gestured to the mirrors. "But I learned from those failures. I grew from them. That's what makes me different from Sasuke, from Orochimaru, from these Hollow Ones. I don't pursue power at any cost—I pursue it with purpose."

The dark version of himself snarled, but the sound lacked conviction. The other reflections—the younger versions of Naruto—began to fade back into the mirrors, their expressions softening.

"I'm scared," Naruto admitted, addressing not just his dark self but all his reflections. "Scared of failing. Scared of not being strong enough when it matters. Scared that I'll become what I fight against." He took another step forward. "But I face those fears. I acknowledge them. And I choose to move forward anyway."

Dark Naruto wavered, his form becoming transparent. "Pretty words. But when the moment comes—when you have to choose between power and principles—what then?"

Naruto smiled, not his usual broad grin but something softer, more certain. "Then I'll remember who I am, and why I fight. And I'll choose the harder path, every time."

With that, he reached out and touched his dark reflection's shoulder. The contact sent ripples through the shadow-self, fragmenting it like disturbed water. Dark Naruto dissolved, particles of shadow swirling around Naruto before sinking into his skin like ink into paper.

The chamber fell silent. The mirrors no longer showed reflections but had become transparent, revealing new passages branching off in multiple directions. Naruto stood alone at the center, breathing heavily as if he'd fought a physical battle rather than a psychological one.

"Well," he murmured to himself, "that was intense."

A soft hissing laugh echoed from one of the passages. Naruto turned to see a small white snake watching him from just inside the tunnel entrance. Unlike the massive White Sage, this snake was barely the length of his arm, its scales a pearlescent white that caught the chamber's light in rainbow hues.

"Few face themselves so directly," the snake observed, voice youthful compared to the ancient tones of the White Sage. "Most become lost in the reflections, unable to distinguish truth from fear."

"Who are you?" Naruto asked, approaching cautiously.

"Hakuja," the snake replied, bobbing its head in what might have been a bow. "I observe the trials. The White Sage sends me to guide those rare few who pass the first test."

"First test?" Naruto groaned. "You mean there's more?"

Hakuja's tongue flicked out in what Naruto was beginning to recognize as serpentine amusement. "Of course. The Cave of Rebirth has many chambers, each revealing a different aspect of the self. You have faced your fears and doubts. Now you must face your limitations."

Without further explanation, the small snake turned and slithered into the passage. Naruto followed, noting that this tunnel was better lit than the entrance had been. The walls here were crystalline, refracting light in complex patterns that shifted as he moved.

"So, Hakuja," Naruto began, trying to establish some rapport with his guide, "have many humans attempted this trial?"

"Many have entered the Cave of Rebirth," Hakuja confirmed. "Few have progressed beyond the first chamber. Fewer still have reached the third. And only one has completed the full trial."

"Let me guess—Orochimaru?"

The snake paused, turning to regard Naruto with surprisingly expressive eyes. "Yes. Though perhaps 'completed' is the wrong word. He passed through the trials, but he rejected their lessons. That is why his sage transformation was incomplete."

They emerged into a second chamber, smaller than the first but no less impressive. Where the previous room had been constructed of mirrors, this one appeared to be carved from a single enormous crystal. The faceted surfaces caught and amplified the light, creating a disorienting effect where shadows seemed to move independently of their sources.

At the center of this chamber lay a shallow pool of silvery liquid, its surface perfectly still despite the rippling light around it.

"The Pool of Integration," Hakuja announced. "Here, you will attempt to harmonize the sage energies you have already mastered with the essence of the snake."

Naruto approached the pool cautiously. "What do I do? Just touch it?"

"Immerse yourself," Hakuja instructed. "The liquid will respond to your chakra, drawing the serpent's essence into your network. If your body can adapt, you will begin the transformation. If not"

The snake left the consequence unspoken, but Naruto got the message. Failure here could be fatal.

He knelt beside the pool, studying his reflection in the metallic surface. Then, taking a deep breath, he plunged both hands into the liquid.

Pain—immediate, searing, electric—shot up his arms and through his entire body. Naruto gritted his teeth, fighting the instinct to withdraw. The silvery substance clung to his skin, slithering up his arms like living mercury, leaving trails of fire in its wake.

"What—is—this?" he gasped, watching in horror and fascination as the liquid began to seep into his pores, disappearing beneath his skin.

"The essence of the serpent," Hakuja replied calmly, as if Naruto weren't visibly in agony. "It seeks compatible pathways in your chakra network."

Compatible was not the word Naruto would have chosen. He could feel the snake sage energy colliding with the established patterns of toad and slug chakra, creating turbulence that manifested as physical pain. It was like trying to force water to flow uphill and sideways simultaneously.

"It hurts!" he managed, as the silver substance reached his shoulders.

"Of course it hurts," Hakuja replied, sounding almost surprised at Naruto's shock. "You are attempting something unprecedented. Your existing sage energies are rejecting the intrusion."

Naruto's vision began to blur, dark spots dancing at the edges. He'd experienced pain before—plenty of it—but this was different. This was internal, fundamental, as if his very cells were rebelling against each other.

Just as he thought he might pass out, a familiar voice resonated within his mind.

"Kit, you're making this harder than it needs to be." Kurama's growl cut through the haze of pain.

"What do you mean?" Naruto thought back, grateful for the distraction.

"You're trying to force three different natural energies to occupy the same space," Kurama explained, impatience evident in his tone. "They can't coexist like that—they're too different."

"So I can't do it? All this was for nothing?"

Kurama snorted. "I didn't say that. I said you're approaching it wrong. Stop thinking of them as separate energies fighting for dominance. Think of them as aspects of the same fundamental force."

The concept clicked into place. Naruto had been trying to maintain three distinct sage modes, keeping each energy segregated from the others. But that wasn't sustainable—no wonder his chakra network was in chaos.

Instead, he needed to understand the essential nature of each sage tradition and find the harmonies between them.

Toad Sage Mode was about balance—natural energy in perfect equilibrium with physical and spiritual energy.

Slug Sage Mode was about flow—natural energy directed with precision for healing and restoration.

And Snake Sage Mode, from what he could glean through the pain, was about adaptation—natural energy used to transform, to sense, to shed limitations.

Balance. Flow. Adaptation. Three aspects, not of separate forces, but of nature itself.

With this new perspective, Naruto changed his approach. Instead of fighting the snake energy or trying to contain it, he welcomed it, seeking connections to the energies he already harbored. Where they had clashed before, he now found surprising resonances—places where toad energy's stability could anchor snake energy's transformative capacity, where slug energy's precision could refine snake energy's sensory awareness.

The pain gradually subsided, replaced by a strange tingling sensation that spread throughout his body. The silvery substance had completely disappeared beneath his skin now, but its effects were visible—faint scale-like patterns appeared on his forearms, shimmering slightly in the crystal chamber's light.

"Remarkable," Hakuja whispered, slithering closer to inspect the transformation. "Your body is actually adapting. I've never seen anything like it."

Naruto rose to his feet, feeling oddly lighter despite the tumult in his chakra network. His senses had sharpened dramatically—he could taste the air as he breathed, picking up scents and particles that had been completely undetectable before. His vision seemed altered too, edges more defined, subtle movements more noticeable.

"Is this normal?" he asked, examining the scale patterns on his arms with fascination.

"Normal? No," Hakuja replied. "But functional—yes. You've achieved a partial sage transformation, which is more than I expected. Most would have been overwhelmed by the conflicting energies."

Naruto grinned, flexing his hands experimentally. The scale pattern extended and retracted with his movements, like living armor just beneath his skin. "So I passed?"

"The second trial, yes," Hakuja confirmed. "But the third awaits, and it is the most difficult."

They proceeded through another crystalline passage, this one spiraling downward into the earth. As they descended, Naruto became aware of a subtle vibration in the air, a rhythmic pulsing that seemed to match his heartbeat.

"What is that sound?" he asked.

"The Heartstone," Hakuja answered. "The core of Ryūchi Cave and the source of our sage power. Few outsiders have ever laid eyes upon it."

The passage opened into a vast chamber, larger even than the main cavern where the White Sage had received him. But where that space had been filled with snakes and illuminated by bioluminescent fungi, this chamber contained only a single, massive crystal formation at its center.

The Heartstone—for what else could it be—rose from the floor like a mountain of transparent ruby, its crimson facets pulsing with inner light in a slow, steady rhythm. The air around it shimmered with visible chakra, so dense that Naruto could see currents and eddies flowing through the chamber.

"This is the third trial," Hakuja announced, voice hushed with reverence. "The Communion. You must touch the Heartstone and allow it to read your intentions. If it finds you worthy, it will grant you the full power of Snake Sage Mode. If not"

"Let me guess—terrible death?" Naruto suggested wryly.

Hakuja's tongue flicked out. "Nothing so dramatic. Merely rejection. Though few have survived being rejected by the Heartstone with their minds intact."

"That's not reassuring," Naruto muttered, but he approached the massive crystal nevertheless.

As he drew closer, the pulsing light intensified, synchronizing with his heartbeat. The scale patterns on his arms responded, glowing with a soft light of their own. When he stood before the Heartstone, barely an arm's length away, he could feel its power washing over him in waves, testing, probing.

"What do I do?" he asked quietly.

"Place your hand upon it," Hakuja instructed. "Open yourself completely. The Heartstone will see everything—your past, your present, your desired future. It will judge not just your worth, but your ultimate purpose in seeking our power."

Naruto hesitated. The Heartstone would see everything—including his darkest moments, his failures, his doubts. Everything he had just confronted in the mirror chamber, and more.

But then, wasn't that the point? The Snake Sage tradition was about shedding pretenses, about transformation through honest self-recognition. He had nothing to hide—not anymore.

With renewed determination, Naruto pressed his palm flat against the crystal's surface.

The effect was instantaneous. His consciousness expanded beyond his body, beyond the chamber, beyond Ryūchi Cave itself. He saw the entire sage region as if from above—a network of caverns and tunnels spreading beneath the earth like the coils of a massive serpent. He saw the thousands of snakes that called it home, from the tiniest grass snake to the ancient White Sage.

And then his vision extended further, connecting to the other sage regions he had visited. He saw Shikkotsu Forest, its misty groves and healing pools pulsing with gentle energy. He saw Mount Myoboku, its oil fountains and toad statues humming with natural power.

Most surprisingly, he saw the connections between them—threads of natural energy that crisscrossed the world, binding all life together in patterns too complex to fully comprehend.

This, he realized, was the true nature of sage power—not separate traditions isolated from each other, but different expressions of the same fundamental force. The toads emphasized balance, the slugs precision, the snakes adaptation—but all drew from the same wellspring of natural energy.

The vision shifted, focusing now on Naruto himself—or rather, on the sage chakra flowing through him. He could see the distinct signatures of each tradition, but also how they were beginning to harmonize, finding resonances where before there had been only conflict.

And he saw something else—a space within his chakra network where something new was forming, something that was neither toad nor slug nor snake, but a synthesis of all three. The beginnings of a unified sage chakra, unique to him alone.

As abruptly as it had begun, the vision ended. Naruto found himself on his knees before the Heartstone, hand still pressed against its warm surface. The crystal had changed color, its ruby hue now threaded with gold and lavender veins that pulsed in rhythm with his heart.

"It has accepted you," Hakuja whispered, sounding stunned. "More than accepted—it has marked you."

Naruto looked down at his arms. The scale pattern had stabilized, no longer shifting but settled into a distinctive formation that traced the major chakra pathways from his hands to his shoulders. When he channeled sage chakra, the scales took on a subtle golden glow.

But there was something else—something new. His awareness had expanded dramatically, not just in this chamber but extending outward through the cave system. He could sense every snake within half a mile, feeling their movements as clearly as if he were watching them. More impressively, he could sense the unique chakra signatures of each one, distinguishing individuals without seeing them.

"Is this part of Snake Sage Mode?" he asked, gesturing to his heightened awareness.

"Yes," Hakuja confirmed, slithering closer to examine Naruto's transformation. "The serpent's greatest gift is sensory perception—the ability to taste chakra, to feel vibrations through the earth, to see beyond normal vision. You've gained these abilities, though in a form modified by your existing sage powers."

Naruto rose to his feet, testing his new senses. He could feel chakra pathways within his own body more clearly than ever before, including the places where conflicting sage energies created turbulence. With careful concentration, he found he could adjust the flow, easing the painful disruptions.

"I think I understand now," he said slowly. "Each sage mode isn't just about power—it's about perspective. Different ways of connecting to natural energy, different ways of seeing the world."

"Most insightful," a familiar voice commented.

Naruto turned to see the White Snake Sage entering the chamber, its massive body flowing like liquid ivory across the stone floor. It regarded him with those crimson eyes, which now seemed less alien, more comprehensible to Naruto's enhanced senses.

"You have completed the trials," the White Sage acknowledged. "Few humans have stood before the Heartstone and fewer still have received its blessing. You now carry the essence of the serpent within you."

Naruto bowed, the gesture coming naturally now. "Thank you for this opportunity, White Sage."

"Do not thank me yet," the ancient serpent cautioned. "What you have accomplished is unprecedented, but also dangerous. Three sage energies now dwell within your chakra network—energies that were never meant to coexist. You have found a temporary harmony, but maintaining it will require constant vigilance."

As if to emphasize the point, a sudden spasm of pain shot through Naruto's chest. He gasped, dropping to one knee as conflicting chakras collided within his core.

"You see?" the White Sage observed dispassionately. "Your body struggles to contain what you have gathered. Each new sage energy you add will increase the strain exponentially."

Hakuja slithered forward, unexpectedly concerned. "Is there nothing that can be done?"

The White Sage was silent for a moment, its massive coils shifting thoughtfully. "There is an ancient legend," it finally said, "of one who mastered all sage traditions. The one the humans came to call the Sage of Six Paths."

Naruto's head snapped up, pain momentarily forgotten. "The Sage of Six Paths knew multiple sage modes?"

"Not multiple modes," the White Sage corrected. "A unified mode—what some texts call the Sage of All Creatures. He did not switch between traditions as you now must; he transcended them, finding the common essence beneath the different forms."

"How?" Naruto demanded, excitement overriding protocol. "How did he unify them?"

The White Sage's tongue flicked out, tasting Naruto's eagerness. "That knowledge has been lost for centuries. Perhaps it died with him. Or perhaps—" its voice took on a speculative quality, "—perhaps it awaits rediscovery by one with the proper qualifications."

Before Naruto could press for more details, another wave of pain washed through him. This one was more intense, causing visible ripples across his skin as sage energies fought for dominance.

"You must stabilize," the White Sage instructed, suddenly businesslike. "Focus on the fundamental nature of each sage energy, not its outer manifestation. Find what they share, not what divides them."

Naruto closed his eyes, concentrating as he'd been taught. He visualized the three sage energies within him—toad chakra like a steady current, slug chakra like a healing tide, snake chakra like a transformative flame. Different expressions, but all flowing from the same source.

Gradually, the energies responded, their clash subsiding to a more manageable level. The pain receded, leaving Naruto breathless but stable.

"That will suffice for now," the White Sage determined. "But a permanent solution must be found if you truly intend to master additional sage modes."

"I'll find a way," Naruto promised, getting back to his feet. "I always do."

The White Sage made a sound that might have been amusement. "Indeed. Your reputation for impossible achievements precedes you, Naruto Uzumaki." It turned toward the chamber's exit. "Come. You have earned the right to formal recognition as a Snake Sage, limited though your transformation may be."

They returned to the main cavern, where the assembled serpents awaited. A noticeable change had come over the gathering—where before there had been suspicion and hostility, now curiosity and grudging respect predominated. Word of Naruto's success had evidently spread through the complex cave system.

The White Sage took its place on the dais, coiling into that perfect symmetry that seemed both natural and impossibly precise. With a gesture of its tail, it beckoned Naruto forward.

"Naruto Uzumaki," it proclaimed, voice echoing throughout the cavern, "you have passed the trials of Ryūchi Cave. You have faced yourself in the mirrors, integrated the serpent's essence in the pool, and communed with the Heartstone. By ancient right, I name you Snake Sage, third among humans to claim this title."

A murmur ran through the assembled snakes—not protest, but acknowledgment. Naruto felt a subtle shift in his chakra as the declaration took effect, the snake sage energy settling more comfortably within his network.

"Thank you," he said simply, words inadequate for the magnitude of the moment.

Hakuja slithered forward, bearing something in its mouth—a small scroll bound in shed snakeskin. "This contains techniques unique to Snake Sage Mode," the young serpent explained as Naruto accepted the gift. "Study them well."

The White Sage's voice lowered, meant for Naruto alone. "Be warned, young sage. The path you walk is untrodden. Each new sage energy you acquire will increase the burden on your body and spirit. And there are those who will not welcome your intrusion into their sacred traditions."

"I understand the risks," Naruto replied. "But I have to try. These Hollow Ones, or Cleansed, or whatever they call themselves—they're corrupting natural energy itself. If I don't stop them, who will?"

The ancient serpent regarded him thoughtfully. "Who indeed?" It inclined its massive head slightly. "Go then, with our blessing and our caution. And should you survive your quest, perhaps return to tell us what you discover about the Sage of All Creatures."

Naruto bowed one final time, then turned to leave. As he walked through the ranks of serpents, many inclined their heads in respect. Suijin, the lavender snake who had first greeted him, fell into step beside him.

"I will guide you back to the surface," the serpent offered. "The tunnels can be confusing to outsiders."

They traveled in companionable silence until they reached the cave entrance. Daylight streamed through the stone arch, momentarily blinding after so long underground. Naruto paused at the threshold, turning to his guide.

"Thank you, Suijin. And please thank Hakuja for me as well. I couldn't have navigated the trials without his help."

The lavender snake bobbed its head. "I shall convey your gratitude. And Naruto Uzumaki—" it hesitated, then continued, "—what you seek may be found where opposites meet. Water and fire, earth and air, life and death. The spaces between traditions often hold the greatest secrets."

With that cryptic advice, Suijin retreated into the shadows of the cave, leaving Naruto alone beneath the stone arch. He stepped out into the sunlight, blinking as his eyes readjusted. The scale patterns on his arms caught the light, shimmering briefly before fading to near-invisibility.

Naruto took a deep breath, centering himself as he prepared for the journey ahead. Three sage modes mastered, who knew how many more to go. The White Sage's warnings echoed in his mind, along with the tantalizing reference to the Sage of All Creatures.

Was it truly possible to transcend the divisions between sage traditions? To find a unified mode that encompassed all their strengths without their limitations?

He would find out, one way or another. For now, though, he had information to report and a body to stabilize. Konoha—and Fukasaku—awaited.

Adjusting his pack, Naruto set off across the badlands, scales rippling beneath his skin with each step. The journey beyond the toads continued.

Mount Myoboku erupted in a cacophony of croaks and ribbits as Naruto crashed through the thick canopy of giant leaves. His arrival scattered a cluster of multi-colored toads who had been sunning themselves on a massive lily pad, sending them hopping for cover with indignant protests. He stumbled forward, caught himself on the gnarled trunk of a mushroom tree, and promptly doubled over in pain.

"Damn it!" he gasped, clutching his chest as fiery spasms ripped through his chakra network. Beneath his skin, three distinct energies warred for dominance—the steady, balanced power of Toad Sage Mode, the cool, precise flow of Slug Sage Mode, and the adaptive, sensory-heightened energy of Snake Sage Mode. Each pushed against the others like rival predators in too small a territory.

Naruto gritted his teeth, forcing himself to breathe through the pain. He'd managed to suppress the conflict long enough to travel from Ryūchi Cave, but the journey had taken twice as long as it should have. Every time he'd tried to draw on his chakra to speed his progress, the sage energies would flare up in violent opposition.

"Naruto-boy!" The familiar gravelly voice of Fukasaku preceded the elderly toad's appearance as he hopped rapidly along the path. "We sensed your arrival, but—" He stopped abruptly, bulbous eyes widening at the sight of Naruto's condition. "Great Gamamaru's warts! What have you done to yourself?"

Naruto managed a weak grin through the pain. "Hey, Pa. Told you I'd be back."

The tiny toad sage moved with surprising speed, leaping onto a nearby toadstool to examine Naruto at eye level. His webbed hand reached out, hovering over Naruto's chest without touching. "Your chakra network it's in chaos! I can sense three distinct sage energies fighting for dominance." His expression darkened. "You actually did it. You learned Snake Sage Mode."

"And Slug Sage Mode," Naruto added with a hint of pride that quickly dissolved into another wince. "But they're not playing nice with each other."

Fukasaku muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "stubborn fool" before hopping onto Naruto's shoulder. "Come. We need to get you to the sacred oil fountain immediately. Ma will know what to do."

The journey to the central temple of Mount Myoboku passed in a blur of pain and shifting colors as Naruto's vision fluctuated between the different sensory enhancements of each sage mode. One moment, the world appeared sharper, edges defined with toad-sage clarity; the next, it softened into the healing-focused perception of slug sage vision; then it would shift again, picking up the heat signatures and subtle movements that snake sage senses detected. The constant perceptual shifts were almost as nauseating as the physical pain.

Shima was waiting for them at the oil fountain, her expression a perfect complement to her husband's disapproval—equal parts exasperation and concern.

"Look at him!" she exclaimed as Naruto collapsed onto the stone bench surrounding the bubbling fountain. "His chakra network's lit up like festival lanterns, and twice as volatile! What were you thinking, child?"

"That I need to stop the Hollow Ones," Naruto managed through clenched teeth. "And this was the only way."

The two elder toads exchanged a glance loaded with centuries of shared understanding.

"Into the oil," Fukasaku directed, gesturing to the fountain. "Now."

Naruto didn't need to be told twice. He slid off the bench and into the shimmering, golden liquid. The effect was immediate—a cooling sensation spread through his body, temporarily dampening the conflict between the sage energies. The pain receded to a dull throb, allowing him to think clearly for the first time in days.

"Better?" Shima asked, hopping to the fountain's edge.

"Much," Naruto sighed, sinking deeper until only his head remained above the surface. "This is helping, but it's just managing the symptoms, isn't it? The sage energies are still fighting each other."

"Indeed," Fukasaku confirmed, settling beside his wife. "The oil harmonizes with toad natural energy, creating a temporary buffer against the others. But it's not a solution." His bulbous eyes narrowed. "You've accomplished something unprecedented, Naruto-boy. No human has ever successfully held multiple sage energies simultaneously."

Naruto's grin flashed bright against the golden liquid. "Yeah, well, I'm just getting started. There are more sage traditions out there, and I need to learn them all to counter the Hollow Ones."

Shima made a choking sound. "More? You can barely contain three! Adding others would be like—"

"Like trying to stuff a dozen toads into a single lily bud," Fukasaku finished for her. "Impossible and messy."

"Nothing's impossible," Naruto countered, but the confidence in his voice wavered as another ripple of pain shot through his network. "But I'm open to suggestions on how to make this work better."

The ancient toad sage studied him for a long moment, webbed fingers stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps there is a way," he finally said. "Not to eliminate the conflict—that may be impossible—but to manage it. To find harmony."

"I'm listening," Naruto said, leaning forward eagerly.

Fukasaku hopped to the edge of the pool, dipping one webbed foot into the oil. The liquid rippled, forming concentric circles that spread outward. "Natural energy is not uniform across the world," he began, watching the ripples. "It takes on different flavors, characteristics, depending on where and how it's gathered. Toad sage energy—" he gestured around them, "—emphasizes balance and harmony with nature. A middle path between extremes."

"And Slug sage energy focuses on restoration and patience," Naruto added, thinking of the Great Slug Sage's teachings. "While Snake sage energy is about transformation and sensory perception."

"Precisely!" Fukasaku looked impressed. "You've been paying attention. Each tradition emphasizes different aspects of natural energy, but they all draw from the same fundamental source." He traced a pattern in the oil with his finger. "Rather than trying to keep them separate—which is causing the conflict—you might need to find the common ground between them."

Naruto's brow furrowed in concentration. "Like understanding that they're just different sides of the same coin?"

"Different facets of the same gem might be more accurate," Shima interjected, hopping forward with a small wooden bowl. She scooped up some oil from the fountain, then added a pinch of crushed herbs from a pouch at her waist. The mixture swirled, separating into distinct layers of different colors before slowly merging into a new, unified hue.

"See?" she said, holding the bowl for Naruto to observe. "Separate elements with their own properties, but capable of creating something new when properly combined."

"A synthesis," Fukasaku nodded. "Not three separate sage modes that you switch between, but a new, unified approach that draws on the strengths of each."

The concept clicked into place in Naruto's mind, echoing what Kurama had suggested during his trial at Ryūchi Cave. "So I need to find the connections between them, the places where they overlap or complement each other!"

"It's not just about technical understanding," Fukasaku cautioned. "It's about philosophical integration. You must comprehend the essential nature of each sage tradition—not just how they manipulate natural energy, but why they approach it as they do."

Naruto's eyes lit up with determination. "Then that's what I'll do! I'll create a new meditation technique that combines all three traditions!"

Shima sighed, exchanging a knowing look with her husband. "Always charging ahead without considering the details. Some things never change."

But Fukasaku was smiling, the creases around his ancient eyes deepening. "Perhaps that's exactly what's needed here—your particular brand of stubborn innovation. The old ways would say this is impossible, but you've made a habit of redefining impossible."

Sunset painted the sky in hues of amber and gold as Naruto sat cross-legged atop the Great Toad Sage's stone statue. Three days had passed since his arrival, days spent in intensive study and practice under Fukasaku and Shima's guidance. The pain had diminished somewhat, though flare-ups still occurred whenever he drew heavily on his chakra.

Before him lay three small objects, each representing one of the sage traditions he had mastered: a leaf from Mount Myoboku's sacred trees, a crystal vial of water from Shikkotsu Forest's healing pools, and a shed snake scale from Ryūchi Cave. As Fukasaku had suggested, Naruto was attempting to create a new meditation technique that would harmonize the three sage energies rather than forcing them to coexist separately.

He closed his eyes, focusing first on his breathing—steady and deliberate, as the toads had taught him. Then he added the slugs' method of chakra circulation, visualizing the energy flowing through his network in precise, healing patterns. Finally, he incorporated the snakes' sensory awareness, extending his perception outward while remaining centered.

"Three paths, one journey," he murmured, the mantra he had developed. "Three energies, one source."

Within his mindscape, Naruto visualized the three sage energies as distinct colored streams—amber for toad, lavender for slug, emerald for snake. Instead of keeping them separate, he allowed them to flow toward each other, seeking points of resonance where they could merge without conflict.

Where toad energy emphasized balance, it could stabilize slug energy's healing flow and snake energy's transformative potential. Where slug energy excelled at precision, it could refine toad energy's raw power and direct snake energy's sensory capabilities. Where snake energy specialized in adaptation, it could help toad energy adjust to changing conditions and enhance slug energy's responsiveness.

Gradually, at certain intersection points, the streams began to blend, creating new colors—a radiant gold where all three merged completely, a vibrant blue-green where toad and snake connected, a rich purple where slug and snake flowed together, a warm orange where toad and slug combined.

"That's it," Naruto whispered, excitement rippling through him. "They can work together!"

A sudden jolt of pain shattered his concentration, the carefully visualized streams scattering like startled fish. Naruto's eyes snapped open as he clutched his chest, breathing hard.

"Still not quite there," he muttered, frustrated but undeterred.

"Progress rarely follows a straight path," Fukasaku observed from where he sat nearby, monitoring Naruto's efforts. "Especially when you're pioneering something entirely new."

Naruto nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "I'm getting closer, though. I can feel it. There are moments when the energies almost sync up completely."

"Indeed." The elder toad hopped closer, examining the faint markings that had appeared on Naruto's skin during the meditation—toad-like warts around his eyes, slug-like translucence on his forearms, and snake-like scale patterns across his shoulders. "Your body is beginning to adapt, finding ways to express all three sage influences simultaneously."

Before Naruto could respond, a disturbance rippled through the natural energy field surrounding Mount Myoboku—a distinctive pulse that indicated the arrival of a messenger toad from the human world. Both Naruto and Fukasaku turned toward the sound of rapidly approaching hops.

Gamakichi bounded into view, skidding to a halt before them. The young toad, now nearly as tall as Naruto himself, was breathing heavily, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by uncharacteristic urgency.

"Naruto! Finally found you!" he exclaimed between breaths. "There's trouble—big trouble. A village near the Land of Wind's border was attacked three days ago. The survivors they're in bad shape."

Naruto was on his feet instantly, all thoughts of meditation forgotten. "The Hollow Ones?"

Gamakichi nodded grimly. "Has to be. The reports match what you described—corrupted natural energy, chakra that behaves wrong, jutsu that doesn't work against them. But there's something new." His expression darkened further. "The survivors aren't just injured—they're changed somehow. Their chakra is tainted, like it's been poisoned with something that keeps spreading."

A cold knot formed in Naruto's stomach. "They're not just attacking people anymore. They're corrupting them."

"Turning them," Fukasaku murmured, grave concern etching deeper lines into his ancient face. "Using natural energy as a weapon against humanity itself."

Naruto's hands clenched into fists, determination hardening his features. "I need to see these survivors. Maybe with what I've learned from the three sage traditions, I can help them."

"There's more," Gamakichi said, shifting uncomfortably. "The attack pattern is weird. This is the third village hit in that region, but they're not going after obvious targets. No major cities, no strategic points. It's like they're choosing locations based on something else entirely."

"Some connection to natural energy, perhaps," Fukasaku suggested. "Places where the barrier between dimensions is thinner, where natural energy flows more freely."

"Or they're creating a pattern," Naruto said suddenly, a chill running down his spine as he remembered something the White Snake Sage had mentioned. "A ritual circle, using corrupted chakra points to channel or manipulate natural energy on a massive scale."

All three fell silent, the implications hanging heavy in the air between them.

"I need to go," Naruto finally said, resolve firming his voice. "Now. Before they attack another village."

Fukasaku nodded reluctantly. "Your training is incomplete, but perhaps it is sufficient for the moment. At the very least, you've established enough harmony to function without immediate danger to yourself."

"I'll take you to the border village," Gamakichi offered. "It's faster by toad-jump than on foot, even for someone as quick as you."

"Thanks," Naruto smiled gratefully, gathering his few possessions. "Let me just grab my pack, and—"

Another ripple in the natural energy field interrupted him—stronger this time, indicating a larger arrival. The three exchanged puzzled glances; Mount Myoboku rarely received multiple visitors in such quick succession.

The answer came moments later as a massive toad Naruto didn't recognize leaped into the clearing, bearing an unmistakable figure on its back. Red hair gleamed in the setting sun, and pale green eyes rimmed with dark circles scanned the area with sharp intensity.

"Gaara!" Naruto exclaimed, genuine shock widening his eyes.

The Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village slid from the toad's back with fluid grace, his expression as impassive as ever save for the slight tightening around his eyes that Naruto had learned to recognize as extreme concern.

"Naruto," Gaara acknowledged with a short nod. "Fukasaku-sama." His gaze fixed on Naruto, taking in the fading marks of his sage transformations with quiet assessment. "You look different."

"Yeah, long story involving three sage modes and a lot of pain," Naruto replied with a half-grin that quickly faded. "But what are you doing here? How did you even find me?"

"Lady Tsunade directed me to Mount Myoboku when I arrived in Konoha seeking you," Gaara explained, his voice as calm and measured as always despite the urgency underlying his words. "The Honorable Sage Gamamaru was kind enough to grant me passage here."

Fukasaku's eyebrows rose in surprise. "The Great Sage invited you directly? Most unusual. He must perceive great significance in your arrival."

The faintest trace of a smile touched Gaara's lips. "He mentioned something about 'threads of destiny weaving together' before falling asleep mid-sentence."

Despite the gravity of the situation, Naruto snorted. "That sounds like the old geezer. But seriously, Gaara, what's happened? Is this about the village attacks near your border?"

All trace of humor vanished from Gaara's face. "It's far worse than isolated attacks now. Sunagakure itself is under siege."

"What?" Naruto and Gamakichi exclaimed in unison.

"Three days ago, strange phenomena began occurring in the desert surrounding Suna," Gaara continued, sand from his gourd shifting restlessly in response to his controlled distress. "Quicksand appearing spontaneously, sandstorms that carry genjutsu-like effects, mirages that become temporarily real. My sensors detected massive disturbances in the natural energy field throughout the region."

"Just like the reports from the border villages," Gamakichi muttered.

Gaara nodded. "And then they came—figures wielding corrupted chakra that behaves unlike any jutsu I've encountered. They call themselves 'the Hollow Ones,' though some refer to themselves as 'the Cleansed.' They cannot penetrate Suna's defenses directly, but they've established a perimeter around the village, preventing anyone from entering or leaving."

"A blockade," Fukasaku mused. "But to what purpose?"

"They're isolating Suna," Naruto realized, the pieces falling into place. "Cutting it off from help while they prepare something bigger." His gaze met Gaara's. "How did you escape?"

"I didn't," Gaara replied simply. "I was returning from diplomatic meetings in the Land of Rivers when the siege began. My shinobi at the gates managed to send a messenger hawk with the situation before communications were cut off completely."

Naruto's expression hardened. "So you came looking for help."

"I came looking for you specifically," Gaara corrected, his pale eyes intent. "The hawk's message mentioned these enemies use a corrupted form of natural energy. My shinobi who encountered them reported that conventional jutsu are ineffective, but there was a mention of 'the sage's power' possibly being a countermeasure." His gaze tracked over the marks still visible on Naruto's skin. "It seems you've been preparing for this threat already."

"Trying to," Naruto admitted, running a hand through his spiky blonde hair. "I've learned three different sage modes to combat their corrupted version, but I'm still working on managing them together."

Interest flickered in Gaara's expression. "Three sage modes? I had heard legends of different animal sage traditions, but to master multiple"

"It's not without consequence," Fukasaku interjected, casting a concerned glance at Naruto. "The conflicting energies place enormous strain on his chakra network. He's making progress in harmonizing them, but it's dangerous, unprecedented work."

"I can handle it," Naruto insisted, squaring his shoulders. "And now we know where I need to be. If Suna's under siege by the Hollow Ones, that's where we'll find answers—and hopefully put a stop to whatever they're planning."

Gaara studied him for a moment, then nodded once, decision made. "We leave immediately. Can your toad allies transport us directly to the outskirts of Suna?"

"Not without knowing the exact conditions," Fukasaku answered before Naruto could speak. "If the natural energy in the region is as disturbed as you describe, a toad-jump could land you in the middle of the enemy forces—or worse, the corrupted energy could interfere with the transportation technique itself."

"We'll go to the border village first," Naruto decided. "Assess the survivors, gather intel on exactly what we're dealing with. Then approach Suna from the most strategic direction." He turned to Gamakichi. "Can you take both of us?"

The orange toad puffed out his chest. "No problem! You two weigh nothing compared to what I can carry."

"Before you go, Naruto-boy," Fukasaku said, hopping forward and extending a small bamboo container, "take this special oil. It may help stabilize your sage energies in moments of crisis. Use it sparingly—it's all we can spare on short notice."

Naruto accepted the gift with a grateful bow. "Thanks, Pa. For everything."

"One more thing," the elder toad added, his voice dropping to ensure only Naruto could hear. "Remember what we discussed about finding the common essence beneath different forms. The answer to managing these conflicts may lie not in mastering each sage mode separately, but in discovering what unites them all."

Naruto nodded, tucking the container safely into his pack. "I'll remember."

Moments later, he and Gaara were settled on Gamakichi's broad back, preparing for departure. As the huge toad tensed for the leap that would carry them away from Mount Myoboku, Naruto closed his eyes, centering himself.

Within his chakra network, the three sage energies continued their complex dance of opposition and resonance. But now, for brief, promising moments, they aligned into patterns of harmony—toad, slug, and snake energies flowing together like tributaries joining to form a mighty river.

Not perfect. Not yet. But for the first time since beginning this journey beyond the toads, Naruto felt the faint outline of something greater taking shape—a unified sage power that might be equal to the challenge ahead.

"Ready?" Gamakichi called over his shoulder.

Naruto opened his eyes, exchanging a determined look with Gaara. "Ready."

The giant toad launched into the air, carrying them toward a destiny neither could fully foresee, but both were prepared to face.

Behind them, Fukasaku watched their departure with ancient eyes that had witnessed countless cycles of conflict and peace. "May the sage's wisdom guide you," he murmured, "for you walk a path none have traveled before."

The village—or what remained of it—smoldered beneath the midday sun, tendrils of black smoke rising from collapsed buildings and scorched earth. Once a thriving waypoint for travelers between the Lands of Fire and Wind, now it stood as a grim testament to the Hollow Ones' growing power.

Naruto and Gaara moved through the devastation in tense silence, taking in the extent of the damage. Gamakichi had transported them to a safe distance before returning to Mount Myoboku, leaving them to approach on foot—a precaution against alerting any lingering enemies to their presence.

"No bodies," Gaara observed, his sand swirling protectively around them both. "Either the survivors removed them, or"

"Or they took them," Naruto finished grimly. "For whatever they're doing with that corrupted chakra."

They found the survivors gathered in a makeshift camp a mile from the village, under the protection of a joint squad of Konoha and Suna shinobi. Medical tents had been erected, but even from a distance, Naruto could sense something wrong with the chakra signatures emanating from them—distorted, fluctuating patterns that reminded him unnervingly of the corrupted natural energy the Hollow Ones wielded.

A kunoichi with the Konoha symbol on her forehead protector approached them, relief evident in her expression as she recognized both Naruto and the Kazekage.

"Lord Kazekage! Naruto Uzumaki! Thank the heavens you're here," she exclaimed, bowing quickly. "I'm Yori, jōnin field medic. We've been struggling with the injured since the attack three days ago, but nothing in our medical training prepared us for this."

"What exactly are we dealing with?" Gaara asked, his calm voice belying the concern in his eyes.

Yori led them toward the largest medical tent, her expression grim. "They call it 'the corruption'—some sort of chakra poison that spreads through the victim's network, transforming their energy into something wrong. Conventional medical ninjutsu is ineffective, sometimes even accelerates the spread."

"How many affected?" Naruto asked, already feeling the distinct signatures of the corrupted chakra growing stronger as they approached the tent.

"Twenty-three survivors," Yori replied. "Seventeen showing signs of corruption to varying degrees. The other six were out hunting when the attack occurred—they returned to find the village like this."

She pulled back the tent flap, revealing rows of pallets occupied by villagers in various states of distress. Naruto's enhanced senses immediately detected the corrupted chakra—a sickly, dark energy that pulsed beneath the victims' skin in unnatural patterns. Black veins spread across their exposed flesh, like ink bleeding through paper.

A small gasp escaped him as he recognized the pattern from his encounter with the injured ANBU outside Shikkotsu Forest—but this was far more advanced, the corruption reaching deeper into the victims' chakra networks.

"Has anyone turned?" he asked quietly, remembering Gamakichi's warning.

Yori's face tightened. "Three, so far. They changed. Became hostile, attacked the medical staff. Their bodies began transforming—hardening in some places, becoming almost fluid in others. We had to" She trailed off, the implication clear.

"You did what was necessary," Gaara assured her, his voice gentle despite its usual monotone.

Naruto moved toward the nearest patient—a middle-aged man whose arms were covered in the black veining, his breathing labored. Even without touching him, Naruto could sense the corruption working its way through his system, warping the natural flow of chakra.

"I might be able to help," he said, turning to Yori. "I've been learning different sage modes specifically to counter this corruption."

Hope flickered in the medic's tired eyes. "Any help would be welcome. We're losing them, one by one."

Naruto knelt beside the man, closing his eyes to center himself. This would be the first real test of his attempt to harmonize the three sage energies—not in meditation, but in practical application.

"Three paths, one journey," he murmured, his breathing steadying as he drew on the sage chakra within him. "Three energies, one source."

The transformation came more smoothly than he expected—perhaps driven by urgent necessity, perhaps because he was finally understanding Fukasaku's teachings about finding the common essence. Toad Sage energy rose first, establishing the balanced foundation. Slug Sage energy followed, bringing healing precision. Snake Sage energy completed the triad, adding sensory acuity and adaptive potential.

Instead of fighting each other as they had before, the energies seemed to recognize the gravity of the situation, falling into a temporary harmony as Naruto directed them toward a common purpose.

Gaara watched in fascination as Naruto's appearance shifted—orange pigmentation appearing around his eyes as in traditional Toad Sage Mode, but now accompanied by the translucent quality of Slug Sage Mode across his skin and the faint scale patterns of Snake Sage Mode along his arms and shoulders. His eyes, when he opened them, displayed an extraordinary transformation—neither the horizontal bars of the toad, the lavender of the slug, nor the vertical slits of the snake, but something new: irises that had taken on a golden hue with concentric rings that pulsed with energy.

Naruto placed his hands over the man's chest, directly above the core of the corruption. With his enhanced senses, he could actually see the tainted chakra—a writhing darkness that had wrapped itself around the man's natural energy pathways, slowly converting his life force into something alien.

Drawing on Slug Sage Mode's healing techniques, refined through Snake Sage Mode's precision and stabilized by Toad Sage Mode's balance, Naruto began the delicate process of separation—identifying the boundary between the man's natural chakra and the corrupting influence.

"It's like a parasite," he murmured, more to himself than to the others watching. "It attaches to natural energy pathways and perverts them, turning the body's own chakra against itself."

The corruption fought back as he worked to isolate it, tendrils of darkness lashing out at his own chakra network. Naruto winced but pressed on, creating a barrier of pure sage energy around the infected pathways.

Then, in a moment of clarity, he understood the fundamental nature of the corruption—it wasn't merely tainting chakra; it was inverting the natural relationship between physical energy, spiritual energy, and natural energy. Where these three forces should exist in harmony, the corruption forced natural energy to dominate and warp the others.

"That's it," he breathed, excitement building as the solution became clear. "It's not about removing the corruption—it's about restoring balance!"

With renewed purpose, Naruto redirected his approach. Rather than trying to extract the corrupted energy—which merely left a vacuum the darkness rushed to fill—he began reinforcing the man's own natural balance. Using Toad Sage techniques to strengthen the boundaries between energies, Slug Sage precision to repair damaged pathways, and Snake Sage adaptability to counter the corruption's attempts to spread.

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he worked, the strain of maintaining harmonized sage modes taking its toll. But slowly, visibly, the black veins began to recede, the man's breathing eased, and his chakra flow began to normalize.

After what felt like hours but was likely only minutes, Naruto sat back, exhausted but triumphant. The man's chest rose and fell in the steady rhythm of healing sleep, his skin clear of the corruption's visible signs.

"You did it," Yori whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "The corruption—it's gone!"

Naruto nodded, wiping sweat from his brow as his sage transformation receded. "Not gone completely—I've neutralized it, restored balance to his system. His body will need time to fully recover, but the danger has passed."

Gaara stepped forward, studying Naruto with quiet assessment. "Can you help the others as well?"

"I think so," Naruto replied, though fatigue was evident in his voice. "But I'll need to pace myself. Each cleansing takes a lot out of me, and maintaining the harmonized sage mode is still difficult."

"Then rest first," Gaara decided, his tone brooking no argument. "Heal those in most immediate danger, then recover your strength before continuing. We still have Suna to consider."

Naruto wanted to protest, but the wisdom in Gaara's words was undeniable. The temporary harmony he'd achieved between the sage modes was already unraveling, tendrils of pain snaking through his chakra network as the energies resumed their conflict.

"Alright," he conceded. "Let me treat the worst cases now, then I'll rest."

Over the next two hours, Naruto treated five more victims—those Yori identified as closest to turning. Each cleansing refined his technique, making the process more efficient but no less draining. By the time he finished with the fifth patient, his hands were trembling with exhaustion, and the harmonized sage mode flickered like a candle in the wind.

"That's enough," Gaara declared, physically stepping between Naruto and the next patient. "You're pushing yourself too hard."

"There are still eleven people infected," Naruto protested, though he swayed slightly on his feet.

"And they will still be here after you've rested," Gaara countered, his normally impassive face showing rare concern. "You cannot save Suna if you collapse here."

Reluctantly, Naruto allowed himself to be led to a separate tent where a pallet had been prepared. He sank onto it gratefully, his body finally registering the full extent of its exhaustion.

"The purification worked," he murmured, fighting to keep his eyes open as he spoke to Gaara. "But it's just treating symptoms. We need to find the source of this corruption, stop it permanently."

"And we will," Gaara promised, his sand automatically forming a protective circle around Naruto's pallet. "Rest now. We move for Suna at dawn."

As sleep claimed him, Naruto's mind drifted to the brief moment of perfect harmony he'd achieved while healing—when the three sage energies had aligned perfectly, creating something greater than their sum. It had felt right. Natural, even.

Perhaps Fukasaku was correct. Perhaps the answer wasn't mastering each sage mode individually, but discovering the common essence that united them all—the fundamental truth of natural energy that transcended animal traditions.

In his dreams, he stood at a crossroads where three paths converged, merging into a single golden road that stretched toward the horizon. And somewhere along that unified path, he sensed, lay the key to becoming what the White Snake Sage had called "the Sage of All Creatures."

Dawn painted the eastern sky in hues of amber and gold as Naruto completed treating the last of the corrupted villagers. After six hours of restorative sleep, he had awakened with renewed determination and refined control over his harmonized sage powers. The cleansing process had become almost intuitive now, each successful treatment teaching him more about the nature of the corruption and how to counter it.

"That's all of them," Yori confirmed, checking the final patient's vital signs. "I still can't believe it. You've accomplished what our entire medical team couldn't."

"Only because I had access to sage energy in its pure form," Naruto replied, rolling his shoulders to ease the lingering tension. "Conventional chakra can't counteract this corruption—it's specifically designed to warp natural energy."

Gaara, who had been conferring with scouts at the edge of the camp, approached with purpose in his stride. "The latest reports confirm the situation in Suna remains unchanged. The perimeter of Hollow Ones holds firm, preventing entry or exit. Strange environmental phenomena continue throughout the surrounding desert."

Naruto nodded, his expression hardening with resolve. "Then we go now. After what I've learned treating these villagers, I think I understand what we're up against more clearly."

"And what exactly are we facing?" Gaara asked, adjusting his gourd as they walked toward the camp's edge, where they could speak privately.

Naruto's eyes narrowed as he formulated his thoughts. "The Hollow Ones aren't just using corrupted natural energy—they're trying to fundamentally change how natural energy interacts with the world. The corruption in those villagers was attempting to invert the normal relationship between physical energy, spiritual energy, and natural energy."

"To what end?" Gaara's pale green eyes focused intently on Naruto's face.

"Control," Naruto replied simply. "In normal sage mode, you achieve harmony with natural energy—you respect its power, work with it. This corruption forces dominance over natural energy, bending it to the user's will regardless of the consequences."

"Like forcing a river to flow uphill," Gaara mused, his sand shifting restlessly in its gourd. "Possible with enough power, but unnatural and ultimately devastating."

"Exactly." Naruto pointed toward the horizon, where the first hints of the vast desert surrounding Suna were visible. "And I think that's why they're targeting Suna. The desert is one of the most extreme natural environments, with its own unique flow of natural energy. If they can corrupt that"

"They could potentially affect natural energy on a massive scale," Gaara finished, alarm flickering behind his stoic expression. "The environmental phenomena my shinobi reported—they're likely precursors to whatever grand working the Hollow Ones are attempting."

Naruto nodded grimly. "Which means we don't have time to waste." He turned to face Gaara directly. "I've been thinking about our approach. We can't just charge in—even with both of us at full strength, we'd be facing an unknown number of enemies wielding chakra that conventional jutsu can't counter."

A hint of a smile touched Gaara's lips. "You've grown cautious. Maturity suits you, Naruto."

"Hey, I can be strategic when I need to be," Naruto protested with a flash of his old grin before sobering again. "The thing is, while treating the villagers, I kept sensing a pattern in the corruption—like all the tainted chakra was resonating at the same frequency, connected to a common source."

"A central point of origin," Gaara surmised, immediately grasping the implication. "Find that, and we potentially neutralize the entire corruption at once."

"That's my theory," Naruto confirmed. "But to locate it, I'll need to get close enough to sense the overall pattern, which means penetrating the perimeter they've established around Suna."

Gaara's expression shifted subtly into what Naruto recognized as his tactical planning mode. "The southern approach offers the best terrain for stealth. The dunes there create natural cover, and my familiarity with the landscape provides additional advantage."

"Works for me," Naruto agreed. "But there's one more thing." He hesitated, then pressed on. "Once we locate the source, I think I know how to counter it, but it's going to require something I haven't fully mastered yet—a complete harmonization of all three sage modes simultaneously, maintained long enough to purify whatever focal point they're using."

"The strain of such an attempt" Gaara began, concern evident in his voice.

"Could be pretty rough," Naruto acknowledged with typical understatement. "But I've been getting better at it, and seeing how the purification worked on the villagers gave me new insights. I think I can do it—I have to do it."

Gaara studied him for a long moment, then nodded once, decision made. "Then we proceed with your plan. We leave in thirty minutes—just long enough to brief the medical team and prepare basic supplies."

As Gaara turned to make the necessary arrangements, Naruto took a moment to center himself, closing his eyes and feeling the three sage energies circulating through his system. They still clashed at points of intersection, creating ripples of discomfort, but the violent opposition of days earlier had mellowed into something more manageable—a dynamic tension that he was slowly learning to balance.

Within his mindscape, Kurama stirred, crimson eyes opening to fix on Naruto with an appraising stare.

"You're actually figuring it out," the fox observed, something like grudging respect in his rumbling voice. "Finding harmony where most would see only conflict."

"I had a good teacher," Naruto replied with a mental grin. "Someone who taught me that seeming opposites can work together if they find common ground."

Kurama snorted, but there was no heat in it. "Don't get overconfident, kit. What you're attempting with these sage modes goes beyond anything even I've witnessed in centuries of existence. The strain could still tear you apart from the inside."

"Then I'll just have to be stronger than the strain," Naruto answered with characteristic determination. "Besides, I'm not doing this alone. I've got you watching my back, don't I?"

The great fox gave what might have been the barest hint of a smile. "Always. Though I maintain this multiple sage mode obsession of yours is needlessly complicated."

"Yeah, well," Naruto shrugged mentally, "when have I ever done things the easy way?"

Returning his attention to the external world, Naruto found Gaara waiting, a small pack extended toward him.

"Water, soldier pills, and basic medical supplies," the Kazekage explained. "The desert shows no mercy, even to those who think they've mastered nature's power."

Naruto accepted the pack with a grateful nod. "Ready when you are."

Gaara's sand swirled around them both, forming the platform that would carry them across the desert with speed and efficiency. As they rose into the air, Naruto cast one last glance at the recovering village below, the first real victory against the Hollow Ones' corruption.

It wasn't enough—not nearly enough—but it was a start. And more importantly, it had shown him what might be possible if he could truly master the harmonization of sage powers.

As they sped toward Suna and the confrontation that awaited, Naruto silently renewed his commitment to the path he had chosen. Beyond the toads lay not just new powers, but a deeper understanding of natural energy itself—and perhaps, if he was worthy, the legacy of the Sage of Six Paths.

The sun climbed higher, its harsh light illuminating the vastness of the desert before them. Somewhere ahead, the Hollow Ones waited, their corruption spreading. But they would soon discover what Naruto's enemies had learned time and again—underestimating his stubborn determination was always their first and greatest mistake.

Updating Soon......