Living in Konoha: Picking Up Abilities Starting from the Anbu

Kazuya exhaled deeply, letting out a long, focused breath as he kept his desire to farm more experience from the Great Toad Sage in check. The Sage's power was far greater than expected, judging by the quality of the golden orbs he exuded. Pushing him too far could make things complicated.

No need to stir up trouble right now, he thought.

Sage arts could stand toe-to-toe with Yin-Yang Release techniques; this toad had lived for millennia, and his mastery of Sage arts must be refined beyond belief. At the very least, it was likely on par with the legendary Senju Hashirama. Kazuya could bide his time. Myoboku was teeming with golden orbs to collect anyway.

I'll take it slow. Once my chakra is at level six, I'll come back for the Great Toad Sage.

Not long after, Kazuya followed Fukasaku and Shima to a small waterfall. Beneath it lay a shallow pool of what seemed to be… oil.

This place looks familiar, Kazuya thought, realizing it was the very spot where Naruto had trained to master Sage Mode in the original storyline.

Fukasaku stepped forward. "To make chakra, you mix physical and spiritual energy. But to create Sage chakra, you must add natural energy into that mix," he explained. "All three energies—physical, spiritual, and natural—must combine in a precise 1:1:1 ratio. Only then can you produce Sage chakra."

Shima nodded, adding, "You have to be careful with that ratio. If you absorb too little natural energy, you won't be able to maintain Sage Mode. But if you take in too much… you risk transforming." She pointed at the nearby statues. "Those who failed to control it turned into stone, permanently."

Kazuya put on a concerned face, though inwardly he was already assessing how to use Fukasaku and Shima as his next experience sources.

Hmm. Can't handle the Great Sage yet… but these two mini-bosses? Now that's manageable.

Fukasaku continued, "Generally, the more chakra one has, the easier it is to enter Sage Mode. Judging by your chakra levels, you should be well-suited for this."

At this, Fukasaku cast Kazuya a cautious look, visibly unsettled. Something about this young man's chakra felt downright monstrous—rivaling a Tailed Beast, even. Surely that couldn't be right… but then he remembered how Kazuya had singlehandedly taken down Gamabunta. No, his intuition was probably spot-on.

"However, don't get your hopes up too quickly!" Shima interjected. "Even the Fourth Hokage, one of Konoha's most talented shinobi, needed three months to barely grasp Sage Mode. Brace yourself for a long, difficult journey."

Kazuya nodded politely. "I understand. I'm ready to give it my all."

"Good. Then let's begin!" Fukasaku said, watching as Kazuya started absorbing natural energy.

He focused, appearing to strain and concentrate as if struggling to channel his energy…

Fifteen minutes later, a sudden surge of natural energy caused a loud, rumbling hum, as if the air itself were vibrating with power.

"Whoa! You're going too fast!" Fukasaku called out, about to intervene, when he suddenly noticed something. Red, intricate markings had appeared around Kazuya's eyes.

"What?!"

Even Shima was dumbfounded, her eyes wide with shock.

Did he… already… succeed?

In fifteen minutes?

This can't be real. He must be cheating, right? Since when was learning Sage Mode this easy?

Shima stared at Kazuya, then back at the rows of petrified failures around them, feeling as though the world had just turned upside down.

"Seems I've done it," Kazuya said, feigning nonchalance. "It wasn't as hard as I'd expected. Still, I'm grateful to both of you for guiding me."

If only they knew.

Looking at his reflection in the oily pool, Kazuya couldn't help but frown slightly. The red markings were… less than flattering. They made his otherwise striking face look a bit ordinary.

Maybe I'll tone down the markings next time I use Sage Mode.

"Fifteen minutes…" Fukasaku muttered, his worldview cracking. "This can't be. The fastest Sage Mode learner, Minato Namikaze, needed three months!"

It was as if everything he'd ever known had been turned on its head.

Kazuya gave him a warm smile. "But now that I've got the basics, I'd be honored if you would help me refine my skills even further."

"Refine?!" Fukasaku and Shima looked at each other, shock written across their faces.

This kid learns Sage Mode in fifteen minutes and wants us to 'refine' his technique.

Maybe he should be the one teaching us!

With a slight flick of his wrist, Kazuya sent a few shurikens flying toward them.

It was time to drop the "humble apprentice" act.

Time to farm experience points. Let's go!

The toad elders leaped to avoid the shuriken, moving swiftly.

But Kazuya was already on the attack again.

"Sage Art: Great Fireball Jutsu!" A massive, blazing fireball—easily over thirty meters in diameter—exploded from his hand, bearing down on them with intense heat.

"Are you kidding me?!"

As the relentless exchange of attacks raged on, Fukasaku and Shima found themselves driven to their limits.

"This kid's not joking around!"

"Water Release: Iron Cannonball!"

"Wind Release: Toad Iron Cannon!"

The two Toad Sages reacted immediately, launching their own Sage Jutsu in counterattack. Explosions echoed as fire clashed against water and wind, filling the air with bursts of energy and blinding flashes. Within moments, the entire area had erupted into a full-blown battlefield.

Amid the fray, waves of golden light constantly burst from the two elder toads, streaming toward Kazuya in a continuous, dazzling flow.

Note: If you are interested, read up to chapter 140 at patreon.com/MythicForge11