From the Senju clan's records, Yōkō knew that Shikkotsu Forest's Sage arts, besides greatly increasing chakra reserves, focused more on bodily recovery capabilities.
Yōkō's power system was already quite comprehensive. Coupled with his immortal body and decent wound recovery, he hadn't actively sought out Shikkotsu Forest's Sage arts.
This time, using Jiraiya as a catalyst, he had accidentally obtained Mount Myōboku's Sage arts.
For ordinary people, natural energy was more like a form of erosion or a special toxin.
A normal person's physical energy and spiritual energy were inherently balanced.
Introducing natural energy into the body could cause physical and spiritual energy to become chaotic or even collapse.
Therefore, the side effect of Mount Myōboku's Sage arts was petrification.
According to the Senju clan's records, the side effect of Shikkotsu Forest's Sage arts was flesh and blood corroding as if by strong acid.
After experiencing it, Yōkō found that Mount Myōboku's Sage arts focused more on enhancing Taijutsu and ninjutsu.
In his normal state, his chakra reserve was 2.1 times that of an ultra-Kage level.
Upon entering Sage Mode, his chakra reserve became 3 times that of an ultra-Kage level.
Yōkō glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen nearby.
Using Five Elements Unrivalled Attack in Sage Mode would multiply its power exponentially.
A Sage-level Five Elements Unrivalled Attack would receive a terrifying boost.
What a shame. Sarutobi Hiruzen isn't dead yet. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to use Five Elements Unrivalled Attack openly these next few years.
While deep in thought, Yōkō's vision darkened as Jiraiya's leg kicked towards his face.
Infuriated by Fox's comment that Sage arts power was "merely average," Jiraiya had become incensed and was fighting in earnest.
This kick was launched with full power.
Sage arts enhanced Jiraiya's Taijutsu, just as they enhanced Yōkō's.
Yōkō raised his hand and caught Jiraiya's calf.
SMACK!
A crisp sound echoed for kilometers.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others' pupils constricted sharply. He could block that level of Taijutsu with just his palm?
Orochimaru assessed internally: Facing this kick from Jiraiya, I'd have to use a serpent substitution technique to avoid damage.
The Jiraiya who delivered this kick is extremely strong. The Fox who stopped it is even stronger.
Jiraiya's body came to an abrupt halt. The reactive force from the momentum made him hear a fragile creak from the bones in his own calf.
Not only did this kick fail to send Fox flying, but he himself nearly suffered a fracture.
Yōkō, holding Jiraiya's calf, spun around once before throwing Jiraiya away.
Mid-air, Sage Fukasaku shouted into the wind, "Taijutsu is no match for him, ninjutsu is no match for his Wood Release. Use genjutsu!"
Toad Confrontation Chant was Mount Myōboku's strongest genjutsu. Based on Myōboku's secret musical scale, it requires multiple toads singing in chorus to activate.
It used special sound waves to trap listeners in an illusionary space that bound their spirits.
When Taijutsu and ninjutsu were insufficient, Myōboku still had genjutsu as a trump card. This was the depth of a thousand-year legacy.
Sage Shima grumbled, "Singing a duet with you in front of so many people is so embarrassing."
"To verify whether Fox possesses the power to change the world, we have no choice," Sage Fukasaku said. "After this test, we must seek out the Great Toad Sage as soon as possible."
Sage Shima said, "Right! Let's ask the Great Toad Sage properly why he hasn't had any dreams lately. Is he actually gathering prophecies in his sleep, or does he just sleep all day every day?!"
"Toad Confrontation Chant? I don't think that's necessary."
Jiraiya was still flying backward through the air when he suddenly heard a voice right behind him.
He and the two Great Sages turned their heads simultaneously, seeing Fox behind them!
"Ninja Art: Eight-Part Wood Dragon Technique!"
This was a technique Yōkō developed specifically for absorbing others' chakra.
From Yōkō's palms, shoulders, chest, and back—different parts of his body—Wood Dragons as thick as arms sprouted forth.
Eighteen Wood Dragons shot towards Jiraiya.
Jiraiya tried to resist, dodging the first four dragons, but was tightly ensnared by the subsequent ones.
The most terrifying aspect of the Wood Dragons was their chakra-absorbing property. Jiraiya's chakra was rapidly drained.
Not just Jiraiya, but the two Great Toad Sages were affected as well.
Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima were each bitten by a Wood Dragon.
Sage Shima tried to fight back but immediately felt her whole body go limp. The Wood Dragon yanked her off Jiraiya's shoulder.
Jiraiya crashed heavily to the ground, his Sage Mode dissipating.
The eighteen Wood Dragons vanished. After landing, Sages Fukasaku and Shima stared at Fox in horror.
Konoha's Fox was too powerful.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others also used Body Flicker to land nearby.
Orochimaru went to check on Jiraiya, finding him uninjured but lying on his back, eyes vacant.
Jiraiya hadn't wasted his years wandering the world. Unfortunately, his growth in strength was far surpassed by Fox's.
Orochimaru's eyes dimmed momentarily. Jiraiya mastered Sage arts, which I failed to master, yet he's still no match for Fox. All the effort I've put into ninjutsu and power over the years... can it compare to Fox?
A moment later, Orochimaru shook off the gloom.
With unlimited life, I will eventually reach the limits of a shinobi.
Orochimaru opened his mouth to mock, "Jiraiya, did you think returning to Konoha would make you an overnight sensation, earn everyone's recognition, even their admiration?"
What a pity. You've been misled by that so-called prophecy. Your tadpole-sized brain can't hold anything else."
"Orochimaru!" Sarutobi Hiruzen sternly cut off Orochimaru's mockery.
That's going too far. Jiraiya just suffered a major defeat. Mocking him now is unnecessary.
Sages Fukasaku and Shima looked at Jiraiya with concern.
Jiraiya turned his head to look at Tsunade.
Tsunade wasn't looking at Jiraiya at all. She went to Fox's side and asked, "Fox, have you truly mastered Sage arts?"
Yōkō nodded. "Once your control over chakra reaches a certain level, the difficulty of Sage arts isn't that high.
What I lacked was the opportunity to perceive and identify natural energy.
After absorbing Sage chakra with the Wood Dragon Technique, I immediately found the trace of natural energy.
Absorbing natural energy and extracting Sage chakra... it happened naturally."
Tsunade nodded repeatedly.
In Tsunade's eyes, Jiraiya saw a gentleness he had never seen before.
Jiraiya's expression changed.
The sense of defeat vanished without a trace. He quickly jumped up from the ground.
"Oh haha! My challenge to Fox actually helped him master Sage arts! I truly am the guide for the Child of Prophecy!
In that case, Konoha should thank me, and you, Fox, should also thank me!"
The look in Orochimaru's eyes just moments ago had been mockery of Jiraiya's overestimation. Now, seeing Jiraiya wearing a smile as if nothing was wrong...
However, deep in Jiraiya's eyes was confusion and helplessness. He could fool others, but he couldn't fool Orochimaru.
Jiraiya was merely putting on a brave face.
Yōkō said, "I truly must thank Lord Jiraiya, Sage Fukasaku, and Sage Shima.
During the fight earlier, when I said Sage chakra was 'merely average,' it was because I had just extracted it and hadn't used it yet.
It was only in my final exchange with you that I realized the power of Sage chakra.
Sage arts can bring about a qualitative leap for a shinobi. Without them, I might not have been able to defeat the honored sages."
A few polite words to smooth things over made the Myōboku group look slightly better.
Sage Fukasaku had to admit that Konoha's Fox possessed terrifyingly abnormal talent.
Absorbing and extracting Sage chakra mid-battle, then defeating Jiraiya and the two of them head-on... it was unprecedented.
Sage Fukasaku said, "Fox, if the Great Toad Sage were to invite you, would you be willing to visit Mount Myōboku as a guest?"
"Of course I would. I would very much like to meet the Great Toad Sage who has lived for over a thousand years."
***
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(End of Chapter)