Naruto: Hatake's No Misfortune

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Muzan stood in deep thought, his mind consumed by the understanding of natural energy. In the world of Naruto, natural energy remains a mysterious force. Even the most skilled shinobi absorb it blindly, wielding its power without fully grasping its deeper intricacies.

Orochimaru, the first to study this energy in detail, had used it to create his cursed seals, transforming himself into something resembling an immortal.

"There should be some research done by Orochimaru-Sensei," Muzan mused. "After leaving Mount Myoboku, I can gradually study this power."

One thing Muzan observed was that places rich in natural energy tended to trigger certain environmental changes—whether it be dense jungles or thick fog.

"In other words, natural energy differs subtly depending on the environment," he concluded.

These were deductions he had made through his experiments. Although he hadn't visited the other two Sage Lands, Orochimaru had mentioned that the environments there were distinctly different.

Bold hypotheses are the foundation of all experiments. Muzan knew he would need to consolidate his findings and verify them over time.

As Gamabunta lounged in the lake, he noticed Muzan standing still and mistook him for a statue. Suddenly, the massive toad leaped, sending a tidal wave of water toward Muzan. Startled, Muzan looked up just in time to see the wave crashing down.

Frightened, he quickly used Earth Release to shield himself, ensuring that his experimental notes remained unharmed.

After securing his notes, Muzan glanced up at the enormous toad. "Mr. Bunta, please be more careful next time. My experimental data was almost destroyed by your splash."

"What a strange kid," Gamabunta thought. Unaware that Muzan was Orochimaru's disciple, he assumed the boy was one of Jiraiya's new students and wondered how Jiraiya could tolerate such a rational, almost cold, disciple.

Training would have to wait until Jiraiya returned.

An hour later, the two elder toads spoke with Jiraiya, discussing a sudden change in prophecy that had disrupted his plans.

Muzan noticed Jiraiya's expression shift—a clear sign that something significant had happened.

"Something must have occurred in the ninja world to unsettle him," Muzan speculated.

What concerned him most was the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku. With the Sage's ability to foresee the future in his dreams, Muzan had no intention of appearing before him—not until he had conquered everything and was ready to face the most dangerous threats.

Muzan had plans to develop the Twelve Kizuki, entrusting them with most of his operations while he focused on mastering natural energy.

Seeing that Muzan had already begun gathering natural energy, Jiraiya decided not to share the specifics of the prophecy with him.

"I'll oversee your training next," Jiraiya said. "The first step is to smear yourself with toad oil…"

Following Jiraiya's instructions, Muzan absorbed the surrounding natural energy more efficiently. However, he also carefully monitored the changes within his body.

According to Jiraiya, entering Sage Mode would cause some physical transformations, turning parts of the body into a frog. Yet as Muzan's transformation began, his body's stable cells neutralized the effects.

As a result, the Sage Art Muzan practiced didn't produce any visible changes, something even Jiraiya couldn't explain.

Muzan wasn't focused on using Sage Mode for combat. Instead, he was more interested in the training process itself, seeking to understand its deeper workings.

Jiraiya couldn't help but notice the similarities between Muzan and Orochimaru. "Their mannerisms, their way of thinking… they're almost identical," he thought.

As Muzan trained, he carefully balanced the three energies until reaching a threshold. Then, instead of testing the changes immediately, he pulled out his notes and began documenting his observations.

"It's a shame there's no laboratory here," Muzan muttered. "We could attempt to replicate these results."

Under Jiraiya's guidance, Muzan advanced rapidly. To Jiraiya's surprise, Muzan's face even began showing signs of Sage Mode, though without the toad-like features Jiraiya himself exhibited.

Muzan's mastery of Sage Mode was more refined than Jiraiya's. A simple explanation of the techniques was enough for him to learn in a short time.

"This kid's talent is terrifying," Jiraiya thought. "At this rate, it won't be long before he fully masters Sage Mode."

"It's a shame I wasn't in the village at the time. I would've taken him from Orochimaru," Jiraiya mused, though outwardly he joked, "Your learning speed is even faster than mine when I first learned Sage Mode."

Sage training requires precise chakra control and a calm mind, but for Muzan, these presented no challenge.

"Thank you, Jiraiya-sama, for your guidance," Muzan said politely.

Some things can't be learned from experiments alone—like the practical wisdom that only experience can provide. Thanks to Jiraiya's help, Muzan avoided many pitfalls.

"Now that you've mastered the basics of Sage Mode, let Orochimaru teach you the rest. Come back to Konoha with me."

Looking at Muzan, Jiraiya saw the boy's terrifying potential. It had taken him just one day to go from being introduced to Sage Mode to mastering its basics.

Moreover, being the son of Hatake Sakumo, Muzan represented a new generation of Konoha shinobi rising after Minato. But Jiraiya knew dark times were ahead, and he needed to prepare before they arrived.

As they left Mount Myoboku, Muzan followed, eager to test the results of his experiments.

In the daylight, Muzan partially opened his black robe, exposing his skin to the sun.

"Just as I suspected," Muzan thought. "There's a connection between natural energy and sunlight."

The sun's rays caused a burning sensation, but Muzan's body didn't disintegrate. Instead, the effects of Sage Mode delayed the damage.

Muzan now had a clear path for his research, confident that one day he would overcome the weakness of his demonic nature.

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