Naruto: Tango with Death

To read up to 15 chapters ahead: https://www.patréon.com/SlyOW

-------------

After replenishing my chakra reserves and strengthening my body through the absorption of Yang Chakra, I found the Yuki to be waiting for me.

Putting my clothes back on, I asked, "The Owl Sage asked you to lead me to the new emplacement of the statue?"

Yuki nodded silently, and as I finished putting on my clothes she led me outside.

To my surprise, we move to the peak of Yami Mountain, a place I never really went to as I didn't have any interest in going up there.

And rightfully so, as there wasn't anything up there, not even enough air actually. However, by body was strong enough to cope with the changes quickly.

Moreover, the statue had now been moved up there, where the Owl Sage waited for us. He nodded at Yuki, who took her cue and left, and said to me, "There, any ninjutsu you use will not harm anyone here. As for the flooding one you talked about, you don't have to worry, it won't do anything either. Just don't point that laser of death toward the temple."

I smiled and thanked him. However, as he was about to leave, I asked, "Actually, Owl Sage, I do have a question to ask you."

He looked at me curiously, and I explained to him what had been happening to me recently, with my change in perception and everything.

By the time I finished telling him, he remained deep in thoughts for a few seconds, before saying, "I think I know what happened to you."

"Really?"

The Owl Sage nodded, and said, "We've spoken about the Sage Mode a few times already, which is the process of absorbing Natural Energy into your body, to merge with your chakra to form Senjutsu Chakra for a limited period of time."

I nodded, and asked, "I didn't absorb some by accident did I?"

The Owl Sage shrugged, which looked weird when done by an owl, and replied, "It somewhat sounds like your Yin Chakra is overpowering your Yang Chakra, but you would have felt it if it was the case."

I nodded, this was actually my first thought, but as he said, I ruled it out quickly.

The Owl Sage continued, "As for Natural Energy, it shouldn't be the case either. Natural Energy only stays in someone's body for a limited period of time."

I asked, "But what if, for some reason, I managed to incorporate Natural Energy? What would happen then?"

The Owl Sage shook his head and replied, "It can't be Natural Energy. To absorb Natural Energy, you have to be able to feel it, and the only way to do so is by perfectly balancing your Yin and Yang Chakra. Then, you must form a tripartite balance by taking in just as much Natural Energy to your body. The three would then merge into Senjutsu Chakra. If too little Natural Energy is absorbed, then it will naturally disappear."

I mumbled, "So Natural Energy can't do anything by itself."

The Owl Sage nodded, and I asked, "But what if a small portion of both my Yin and Yang somehow got isolated, forming a perfect balance somewhere in my body, and I absorbed Natural Energy without realizing it. Wouldn't that create a small amount of Senjutsu Chakra somewhere inside me? What if this was in my brain and…"

The Owl Sage shook his head and replied, "No. Just no. Your entire being must be balanced for you to sense Natural Energy and draw it to you. And even if for some ungodly reason you managed to form a small amount of Senjutsu Chakra inside your body, it would disappear in a matter of minutes."

"How so?"

"Senjutsu Chakra can't be contained inside the body eternally, it gets absorbed in your body tissues and leak out gradually. That's why one can't enter Sage Mode forever."

I sighed and asked, "But then what is it, if it isn't Yin or Senjutsu Chakra?"

The Owl Sage pointed at my head and said, "Your brain, quite simply."

At that I titled my head, which made the Owl Sage laugh as he asked, "Did you know that humans only used 20% of their body's strength?"

Wait a minute…

"You can't be telling me I've been having the First Gate opened this while time?! But how, I don't feel any stronger than before…"

"Sukaina, please shut up and let me explain."

I stopped, and nodded, my mind going mad as I tried to find an explanation.

One that the Owl Sage gave me, "I am surprised the knowledge of the gates is still a thing in your world, but then it makes explaining things easier. As you should know, opening the First Gate would allow you to use 100% of your body's strength for a limited period of time, right?"

I nodded, and he continued, "Well, I believe that your Gate of Opening has somehow half opened, thus not giving your body a boost but only your brain."

Confused, I asked, "But shouldn't I be feeling pain or something?"

The Owl Sage shook his head and replied, "You are only able to use 20% of your body's strength because any more than that would hurt you. However, the body isn't exactly perfect, which is why your senses are also sealed up. If you learn some medical knowledge you will learn that your brain is capable of handling much more information than your senses are feeding it."

I hummed, "Then… what will happen when I truly open the Gate of Opening?"

The Owl Sage shrugged and said, "That, I do not know. Maybe your body will return to normal once you close it. Or maybe a tiny part of it will constantly remain opened. But I have a hunch neither of these will happen."

I tilted my head, and the Owl Sage explained, "What stops humans from keeping the Gates constantly opened is the destruction they push their body in. However, if one were to have a sufficiently strong healing factor, then…"

I naturally finished, "They would be able to keep it open indefinitely!"

The Owl Sage nodded, but then warned, "However, that would also weaken your healing factor, as it would be busy constantly healing your body."

I nodded and said, "But there is the second Gate, the Gate of Healing."

The Owl Sage, again, nodded.

I had talked more about the Gates with Guy while I was training to my limits, and I learned a few useful things.

One of these was about the Second Gate. The Gate of Healing happened to be the only Gate that did not offer its user any additional power. However, it would amplify their healing factor by a large amount.

As a result, even Guy, someone who had an absolutely normal healing factor, could keep the Gate of Opening pretty much indefinitely.

I smiled at the Owl Sage and said, "Thank you for lighting up my lantern."

The Owl Sage smiled and said, "No worries. Now go into the statue and unleash hell upon our surroundings. If you want a direction to aim your attacks at, go for that mountain over there."

I looked in the direction he showed and saw another mountain, the only other mountain that was about to same size as ours. I wanted to ask the Owl Sage what was on that mountain, but turning back I didn't seem him anywhere. He had disappeared.

The Stealth Technique was really impressive when well mastered.

I had only mastered the first two stages of the technique, meaning I could make myself soundless, and I had started working on the third one, to divert light, but this one was hard.

However, controlling the air around me to erase all sounds happened to be a great way to train my chakra control, which I thought had reached the peak. Bending light was not just a matter of chakra control though, there was a technique to be mastered, like a jutsu. One that was particularly hard to master.

But that's for another time. Right now, I'm mastering an S Rank Technique!