So, where did Naruto go?
Naruto had spent the entire day at the research institute where Orochimaru and the Second Hokage were located.
He was asking Orochimaru for advice on Sage Art.
Although Orochimaru's cultivation in Sage Art could only be described as a half-filled bottle sloshing around...
He still knew a lot of information about Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode.
Naruto actually intended to forge his own path for Sage Mode, just like Hashirama.
Hashirama's Sage Mode wasn't the Sage Mode of Shikkotsu Forest, but Hashirama wasn't very good at teaching it either.
Hashirama himself was a "feeling-type" Genius.
When Naruto asked him for advice, this God of Shinobi who had pacified the chaotic era scratched the back of his head and gave an answer that would make anyone trying to learn through a System collapse.
"Ah? Sage Mode? I'm not very good at teaching it either... One day, I just suddenly felt some strange energy in the air, tried to communicate with it, tried to absorb it, and then... I just knew how!"
These words sounded ridiculous, but they pointed exactly to one of the core thresholds for high-level Sage Mode cultivation: either possessing a pure heart without distractions like the Six Paths Sage, easily able to perceive and merge with natural energy...
Or possessing the kind of indomitable and determined "Great Perseverance" like Uzumaki Naruto, carving out a path through countless failures and risks.
In terms of learning Sage Art, Hashirama was absolutely a Genius on the level of the Six Paths Sage.
On the other hand, the negative examples were Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
Jiraiya's talent for practicing Sage Mode wasn't particularly high, and he couldn't reach the Realm of being without Impurities.
Coupled with his loose personality and his tendency to "fish for three days and dry the nets for two" later in his training, his Sage Mode always retained imperfect features like Frogification. Furthermore, in emergencies, he needed the assistance of Fukasaku and Shima Sage to activate it.
As for Orochimaru, it was a different case.
His desire for power was too fervent, and his heart was full of calculation and obsession, which ran counter to the introductory philosophy of Sage Art. Additionally, he preferred using scientific means to analyze and control power rather than merging with it, so he failed to even get past the basics.
In the end, he could only rely on Jugo, who naturally mastered Sage Mode, to create the Cursed Seal, a pseudo-Sage Mode.
The Sage Modes of the Three Great Holy Lands each had their own characteristics.
The Mount Myōboku form is more perfect the closer it is to a human shape.
The Ryūchi Cave form becomes more powerful and more dangerous the closer it gets to a "Dragon".
Shikkotsu Forest is the most mysterious and special; the entire Holy Land has only one massive individual, the Slug Sage, and every time it is summoned, it is only a Clone.
The Slug Sage has a long life, almost as old as heaven and earth, and has no interest in passing down the Legacy of Sage Art.
Of course, being nearly Immortal, there was no need for it to leave a Legacy.
This led to the contractors of the other two Holy Lands, Jiraiya and Orochimaru, having studied Sage Mode, while only Tsunade of Shikkotsu Forest never even had the chance to practice it.
"Alright, Naruto-kun."
Orochimaru licked his lips, a trace of displeasure at being disturbed flashing in his golden snake-like pupils.
"There isn't much more I can tell you regarding theoretical matters."
"Since you're unwilling to touch the Cursed Seal, you'll have to realize the specific cultivation and perception for yourself."
"Lord Tobirama and I..."
He glanced at the Second Hokage nearby, who was busy in front of a pile of complex instruments with a furrowed brow.
"...have more important and urgent matters to attend to."
Senju Tobirama didn't even look up: "Alright, kid. Regarding the practical application of Sage Mode, it's more appropriate to ask the Fifth Hokage. Although he doesn't have a perfect Sage Mode, he has at least succeeded."
As soon as he finished speaking, Orochimaru unceremoniously walked to the heavy metal door of the research institute, which was engraved with Sealing Jutsu, and made a "please" gesture toward Naruto.
"Bang!"
Just as Naruto stepped outside, the heavy door behind him was slammed shut without mercy. There was even the "click" of the internal latch closing, completely isolating him from the inside.
Naruto stood outside the research institute, scratching his cheek somewhat helplessly.
He was more like a collaborator with Orochimaru and the Second Hokage, and currently, these two didn't seem very interested in a non-universal ability like Sage Mode.
Orochimaru, who used to be interested in Sage Mode, was now deeply immersed in his own scientific research and couldn't pull himself out.
In their eyes, Naruto, who kept coming here to ask questions, was quite an eyesore.
However, Naruto really didn't want to go to Jiraiya's side either. That guy looked at him like a mouse looking at a granary, wishing he could immediately make him the Sixth Hokage.
Speaking of which, Jiraiya's inauguration ceremony as the Fifth Hokage was hurriedly held during the two days Naruto was away.
To this day, his face hasn't even been carved onto the Hokage Rock.
At that moment, a figure waiting in the shadows outside the door quietly appeared.
It was a girl with pale red hair, a cold face, and wearing Otogakure-style clothing—Tayuya.
She was one of Orochimaru's subordinates, assigned here to handle security and messaging.
"When Orochimaru is done, please let me know, Tayuya."
Tayuya bowed slightly: "Understood, Lord Naruto."
Naruto nodded and then used the Flying Thunder God to leave the research institute.
After returning home, he only saw Kushina.
"Hmm? Where are Karin and Hikari?"
Kushina smiled.
"They were taken away by Grandma Mito. I'll be heading over there in a bit as well."
"Did something happen?"
At the mention of this, Kushina looked a bit embarrassed.
"It's nothing, really. It's just that Hikari-chan also wanted to learn Sealing Jutsu. I originally intended to teach her and Karin together, but then Grandma found out about it."
Kushina sighed, her expression becoming even more sheepish: "Grandma... she said that although my foundation in Sealing Jutsu is solid, my teaching System isn't systematic enough. She said I don't explain the principles of some Advanced applications clearly enough, and..."
She glanced at Naruto and added in a low voice: "Grandma said that although I learned well, my teaching style is too 'unorthodox.' I just teach whatever comes to mind without being rigorous enough. She's afraid I'll lead two promising talents astray."
This couldn't be helped. Her teacher, Mito, lacked energy in her later years and couldn't even use the Yin Seal to maintain her youthful state. She passed away not long after teaching Kushina.
And Kushina also died young. Although she was very talented, she was still lacking when it came to lecturing.
She simply didn't have the time to learn more Sealing Jutsu, which also led to the Nine-Tailed always trying to riot during the time she was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
In Kushina's view, Minato's talent for Sealing Jutsu was even higher than hers.
Minato not only developed the Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder by combining Sealing Jutsu with the Flying Thunder God, but he also developed the even stronger Eight Trigrams Sealing Style based on the Four Symbols Seal.
Naruto couldn't help but let out a light chuckle.
He could imagine the scene of Grandma Mito 'criticizing' Kushina in that gentle yet unquestionable tone.
Although Kushina was an excellent user of Sealing Jutsu, in terms of systematic teaching, she indeed might not be as good as Grandma Mito, who had studied it for a lifetime and possessed an incredibly complete theoretical System.
"So..."
Kushina shrugged, her tone quite frank.
"Grandma said she might as well teach the three of us personally.
She said I also need to consolidate my theoretical foundation and understand the 'why' behind the things I know, so that I can better pass down the Legacy."
By the end, she couldn't help but smile bashfully herself.