Naruto Shadow Mage

"Another master?"

"Who is it?"

"Could it be one of the legendary Sannin, Jiraiya? Is Minato-sensei going to teach me Sage Mode?"

Predicting that the Fourth Hokage might teach him a secret technique, very likely the Sage Mode from Mount Myoboku, Cross Country couldn't help but get excited!

What is Sage Mode?

It is one of the most powerful god-tier secret techniques in the Naruto world, besides the kekkei genkai!

In the original storyline, Madara Uchiha had the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, but what did the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, use to contend with him?

The answer is Sage Mode!

Similarly, in the original storyline, how did Naruto Uzumaki's strength improve rapidly, allowing him to face the Six Paths Pain, which defeated Jiraiya after only a few days of training?

The answer, again, is Sage Mode!

If Cross Country could master the training method of Sage Mode, even if he couldn't achieve the perfect Sage Mode like the First Hokage or Naruto Uzumaki, using Sage Mode would surely elevate his strength from an ordinary Jonin to a Kage-level powerhouse at the pinnacle of the ninja world!

What a temptation!

Unfortunately, the idea of mastering Sage Mode and becoming a Kage-level powerhouse only excited Cross Country for a few seconds.

Soon, Cross Country realized something was off!

"It shouldn't be!"

"If Minato-sensei was going to teach me Sage Mode, he wouldn't say 'teaching on behalf of another,' he should say 'teaching on behalf of a master,' right?"

"After all, if we really think about it, Jiraiya should be my grandmaster. Saying 'teaching on behalf of another' seems too distant, right?"

"Moreover..."

Thinking this, Cross Country's mouth twitched a few times, and he pondered sadly:

"Moreover, during the Third Great Ninja War, Jiraiya seemed to have just started learning Sage Mode, and Minato-sensei hadn't completed Sage Mode training yet, right?"

"Sigh!"

"I was really daydreaming just now. I should just ask Minato-sensei what secret technique he intends to teach!"

Unable to train in Sage Mode, Cross Country felt a bit disappointed.

But as Cross Country has always thought, the path must be walked step by step, and taking big steps can lead to mistakes!

Since he had already made two significant leaps in progress through the APP's accelerated training and the personal guidance of the Fourth Hokage, there was no need to seek more. The true path was to stabilize his strength and foundation, slowly break through barriers, and climb to the peak of Kage-level power step by step.

Shortcuts have drawbacks in many aspects of life unless you're the protagonist.

Cross Country didn't consider himself a protagonist, so he quickly came to terms with not being able to train in Sage Mode.

Moreover, even if he couldn't learn Sage Mode from the Fourth Hokage, the Fourth Hokage still planned to "teach on behalf of another" and pass on a new secret technique to him!

While Cross Country secretly anticipated what secret technique the Fourth Hokage would teach, the Fourth Hokage suddenly used the "Speed" secret technique, sprinting a hundred meters in front of Cross Country. When he returned, the Fourth Hokage asked, "Cross Country, do you see any difference in the technique I just used compared to yours?"

"No difference."

After observing carefully, Cross Country shook his head and replied, "Minato-sensei, the technique you just used is basically the same as mine, even the speed increase is similar."

"That's right, Cross Country. This is actually the limit of the secret technique I developed."

Hearing Cross Country's answer, the Fourth Hokage smiled slightly and patiently explained to the frowning Cross Country, "Cross Country, Shikaku told me about your request for chakra paper. And seeing your mastery of my secret techniques, you must have completed the nature transformation of Wind Release chakra."

"At such a young age, to complete the nature transformation of Wind Release chakra, Cross Country, you are very talented and remarkable."

"But do you know that the nature transformation of Wind Release chakra has more than one extreme?"

"If you make another breakthrough based on your understanding of Wind Release chakra nature transformation, your understanding of 'wind' can be elevated to another level, like this!"

After speaking, the Fourth Hokage repeatedly used the "Speed" secret technique, sprinting a hundred meters in front of Cross Country.

This time, when the Fourth Hokage used the "Speed" secret technique, Cross Country sensed through his mental energy that the Fourth Hokage was simply using more chakra. However, when Cross Country used Wind Perception to sense the Fourth Hokage's "Speed" technique, a flash of understanding appeared in his eyes!

"So, the true detail of Minato-sensei's secret technique lies here, how foolish I am!"

"Using mental energy to sense only shows that Minato-sensei increased chakra usage. But using Wind Perception reveals the subtle changes in Minato-sensei's secret technique!"

"Interesting, previously Minato-sensei's 'Speed' technique integrated Wind Release chakra into the 'wind' to increase his movement speed. But now, Minato-sensei's 'Speed' technique integrates Wind Release chakra into the 'wind' and then surpasses the 'wind.' What a profound understanding!"

"If it were me, could I surpass the 'wind' like Minato-sensei?"

Asking himself, Cross Country couldn't help but feel disheartened.

The Fourth Hokage's understanding of 'wind' was beyond Cross Country's imagination.

Cross Country felt he could catch up with the Fourth Hokage if given two or three years to solely comprehend the essence of Wind Release chakra without any other training.

However, such training seemed a bit counterproductive.

Moreover, Cross Country aimed to be an all-around ninja, and spending years solely on understanding 'wind' wouldn't be as beneficial as seeking comprehensive breakthroughs to increase overall strength!

However, as if seeing Cross Country's dilemma, the Fourth Hokage returned to Cross Country's side.

Especially when Cross Country was about to speak and politely refuse the specialized Wind Release training, the Fourth Hokage, while smiling, patted Cross Country's head and said, "Cross Country, I understand your difficulties, so I didn't plan to make you give up other training to focus solely on Wind Release chakra comprehension."

"In fact, even I could only reach this level with the help of a benefactor. Without the secret technique I'm about to teach you, no matter how talented a person is, they couldn't reach my level. So, Cross Country, as long as you complete the daily training of the secret technique I teach on behalf of another, while balancing other training, with your talent, I believe it will only take you a little over a year to surpass my understanding of Wind Release chakra."

"Now, let me tell you about the secret technique I'm going to teach you!"

Saying this, Cross Country suddenly saw a gentle light in the Fourth Hokage's eyes.

Then, just as Cross Country was curiously wondering who had taught the Fourth Hokage the secret technique, the Fourth Hokage revealed the answer with a smile:

"Cross Country, the person who taught me this secret technique is actually your sensei, Uzumaki Kushina."

"And the secret technique I teach on her behalf is a secret technique of the Uzumaki clan!"

"It's called, the Mental Secret Technique!"