Chapter 113: Sage Mode, Negative Emotions, and the Uchiha
"Ouch! Sensei—!"
"Since when did you get such a heavy hand?!"
Jiraiya clutched his head, a massive bump swelling where Hiruzen had struck him.
The Hokage hadn't even looked like he was trying, but the impact felt like a
hammer hitting a rail.
"Regardless of whether Nagato truly possesses the Rinnegan, he is a survivor of
the Uzumaki," Hiruzen said, ignoring the dramatics.
"The Great Toad Sage's prophecy has strategic value. The Land of Rain is
currently moving toward a deep-cooperation agreement with the Leaf. Locating the
orphans will be simpler once we have boots on the ground there. Once you file
your report, I'll hand the files over to the Anbu."
Hiruzen pointed his pipe at Jiraiya. "But your priority is your own strength. I
don't care about your past mistakes, but if you don't start showing some real
progress, I'm going to have to personally supervise your 'extra' training. And I
won't be as gentle as the toads."
Jiraiya waved his hands frantically. "I'm on it, Sensei! I promise! I'll master
Senjutsu (Sage Mode) before the month is out!"
"Lord Fukasaku and Lady Shima say I have a natural affinity for it! I'll balance
the Sage training with the search for Nagato and my standard mission rotations.
I'm going to be the most productive Sannin in history!"
"Oh, and Sensei... my novel about the Sovereign Sage Pills is almost finished!
I'll bring you the first draft soon!"
Jiraiya felt a deep pang of guilt. The Nagato situation was a massive security
breach on his part, yet Hiruzen had chosen to shoulder the blame himself,
framing it as a "failure of administration" rather than a student's betrayal.
I really need to step up, Jiraiya thought. I'm making the Old Man carry
everything.
"Mastering Senjutsu in a month? Bold words, 'Dead-Last,'" Orochimaru
interjected, his voice full of clinical skepticism. "How long does it usually
take to learn Sage Mode at Mount Myoboku?"
"Three to five years for a human to reach a combat-ready state. Ten if they're
slow. But I can cheat by using a 'Fusion' with the Toad Sages. I don't need to
master the balance on my own to use it in a fight," Jiraiya explained.
"Years? And you call that 'talent'?" Orochimaru let out a dry, raspy laugh.
"I've already located a unique bloodline with a natural affinity for
environmental energy. By the time you finish your first meditation, I'll likely
have decrypted the chemical triggers of Senjutsu and turned it into a
village-wide vaccine."
Jiraiya rolled his eyes. "Don't talk big, Snake. You tried to take the Sage
inheritance at Ryuchi Cave and failed miserably. You were bedridden for a week
after that snake-bite."
"Sensing natural energy is the first wall. Molding it into Senjutsu Chakra is
the second. Applying it to combat without turning into a statue? That's a
marathon of life and death. I don't think even your 'science' can shortcut a
god-tier transformation."
According to the records of Mount Myoboku, the fastest human to ever master Sage
Mode was a legendary hero who took five years. Of course, there were myths of
the Sage of the Six Paths learning it in a single breath, as if it were an
instinct.
Lord Fukasaku had told Jiraiya not to compare himself to the Sage's lineage.
Those with "Special Roots"—the descendants of the original clans—had a
biological advantage that commoners couldn't match.
"Both of you, enough," Hiruzen said, placing a hand on each of their shoulders.
He felt the physical growth of his own body; his height and breadth had
increased again, and his grip on their shoulders felt as solid as an iron vice.
"Senjutsu is a magnificent power. I'm envious, truly."
"I tried to learn it years ago, but I lacked the 'roots.' But I still have hope.
If my students master it, it's the same as if I mastered it. Consider it a favor
to your old teacher—fill the gap I couldn't."
Jiraiya and Orochimaru froze. This was the classic "Hiruzen Reconciliation"
tactic they remembered from their childhood. Whenever they fought, he'd bring up
his own failures to make them feel like they were part of a team.
"Don't worry, Sensei! We've got this!" they said in unison.
After Jiraiya and Hiruko left to handle the new ordinances, Hiruzen signaled for
Orochimaru to stay behind.
"What is it, Sensei?"
"I've been thinking," Hiruzen began, gesturing to the Box of Ultimate Bliss. "Do
you think this artifact could be used to solve the Uchiha's 'Stableness' issue?"
"You've read Lord Tobirama's notes. You know the mechanics of the Sharingan.
It's triggered by extreme negative emotion, which causes the brain to produce
a specialized type of chakra. Most of that chakra goes to the eyes, but a
residual portion anchors itself in the brainstem."
"That residual 'Hate-Chakra' is what causes their personalities to warp. It
makes them obsessive, paranoiac, and eventually, insane."
Hiruzen leaned in, his eyes narrowed. "If we communicate with the Uchiha
properly... could we use the Box to 'filter' out that stagnant negative chakra
from their brainstem after they awaken their eyes? If we remove the 'Malice' but
keep the 'Ocular Power,' could we stabilize the clan permanently?"
Orochimaru's eyes lit up. This was the kind of high-stakes biological
engineering he lived for.
"It's a brilliant hypothesis, Sensei."
"But we haven't mastered the Box's control interface yet. We're still working on
the 'Safety' protocols."
"And then there's the issue of Trust," Orochimaru added darkly. "To the Uchiha,
their eyes are their pride. Asking them to let us put their brains into a
'Malice Filter' designed by the Hokage? Even with our current improved
relations, we don't have that much social capital yet. It would look like we're
trying to lobotomize them."
Hiruzen nodded. He knew Orochimaru was right. The project was technically
feasible but politically impossible.
Unless...
I need a bridge. A scientist who is also an Uchiha. Someone they trust
implicitly.
Master Tobirama, Hiruzen thought. This project has your name written all over
it.
Hiruzen had an even deeper plan for the Box. The monster sealed inside, Satori,
possessed a sensory ability to "Predict Malice" and near-infinite mobility. It
was a perfect match for Tobirama's tactical style.
If Tobirama could become the "Jinchuriki" of the Box—controlling Satori's power
to filter the Uchiha's negative energy—then the plan would be human-led and
controllable. The Uchiha would trust Seisui Uchiha far more than they would
trust a black box in a lab.
But that was a long-term goal. He wouldn't force his Master into another
"Weapon" role unless the Master agreed to it.
"Let's put a pin in that. For now, we seal it," Hiruzen commanded.
Together, the Hokage and the Snake wove a series of high-level suppressive
seals, burying the Box in a lattice of protective chakra.
"One step at a time," Hiruzen mused. "Move too fast, and you'll trip over your
own feet."
The Uchiha Compound.
Seisui Uchiha (Tobirama) was currently undergoing "Special Training" mandated by
Elder Isshin.
After his legendary performance at the Academy, Isshin had become obsessed with
the boy. He viewed Seisui as a "Biological Jackpot." The Elder had spent the
last month force-feeding Tobirama every secret scroll the Uchiha possessed.
Tobirama was actually enjoying himself. He was absorbing the Uchiha's private
history and secret manuals like a thirsty sponge. He was finding counters to
jutsus he hadn't even known existed.
Isshin was so delighted by Seisui's learning speed that he had organized a
"Practical Demonstration" for today. He had summoned several Three-Tomoe elites
to spar with the boy.
"Let's see if you've truly mastered the 'Uchiha Heart,' Seisui!" Isshin cheered.
Tobirama smirked, drawing his practice blade. You have no idea how much I've
mastered your heart, old man.
In the Mountains' Graveyard.
Madara Uchiha sat on his throne, his Rinnegan glowing as he watched the spar
through a Zetsu link.
He was silent. Focused.
He didn't see a student. He didn't see an orphan.
He saw a ghost.
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