Chapter 11: Fukasaku

His facial features were softer and more delicate, with an angular jaw and slightly arched eyebrows. He realized that he had an air of mystery and seriousness.

His body also seemed leaner and more sculpted, with defined muscles and a more elegant and confident posture.

"This is amazing, dattebayo!"

His happiness was palpable. Although he was not dissatisfied with his appearance, who wouldn't want to become even more beautiful? He had dreamed of it several times in the past, mainly to win Sakura's love...

But now, Naruto knew he needed to set aside those thoughts and hurry back to avoid being late.

The sun had just risen over Mount Myoboku, illuminating the landscape with warm shades of orange and yellow.

The sunlight seemed to dance on the leaves of the trees, painting the forest in a vibrant mix of colors. The cool morning air blew gently, bringing with it the soft smell of freshly cut grass and wildflowers.

In the distance, the sounds of nature could be heard - the singing of birds, the croaking of frogs, and the murmuring of a nearby stream.

The tranquility of the landscape was interrupted only by the sound of Naruto's footsteps as he ran back to Grandpa Toad's house after intense refinement training.

Upon arrival, Fukasaku, Grandpa Toad, was startled to see Naruto.

"Naruto-chan, what happened to you!?" He spun around Naruto, evaluating him in astonishment.

His appearance had changed considerably, even more so than the day before, although for Fukasaku, human appearance was not as distinct as that of toads, still, after such a drastic change, he couldn't help but notice.

"Naruto-chan, are you using some transformation jutsu to look more handsome?" Fukasaku guessed.

It wasn't an absurd assumption, considering that in just two days, Naruto had undergone such a surprising transformation in his appearance.

At the sight of Naruto, Shima also had a surprised reaction, and her eyes widened in astonishment.

"Naruto-chan, what happened to you?" she asked, examining his appearance.

Naruto scratched his head and smiled embarrassedly: "Well, I was training, and maybe I improved my appearance in the process?"

It was a vague and imprecise answer, but Naruto preferred not to reveal the true source of his transformation.

The elderly toads exchanged a confused look but chose not to press him.

"Are you hungry, Naruto-chan? Eat some before we start training," Shima said with a gentle smile.

This time, there was onigiri, which was more palatable. Naruto thanked her: "Thank you for the food!"

The first rays of the morning sun bathed Mount Myoboku as Fukasaku called Naruto for training. "Naruto-chan, it's time for you to start training without relying on the Óleo-Gama," the elder toad said seriously.

Naruto promptly got up, stepping out from under the oil barrel and letting the Sennin Mode he had acquired through the oil dissipate. "Okay, Vovô Sapo," he agreed.

With an agile leap, Fukasaku began jumping over the stone frog statues, with Naruto following closely. They stopped at a considerable height, about 10 meters above the ground, where Fukasaku began explaining what was to come.

"This is when the training really starts to get difficult," Fukasaku said wisely. "To enter the Sennin Mode without the Óleo-Gama, you'll need a lot of concentration and hard work."

The explanation continued for a few more minutes until Fukasaku concluded his speech. "Of course, you can keep using shadow clones, but remember, if you get distracted, the whole process will be lost," he emphasized.

"Okay!" Naruto nodded with determination in his voice, ready to face the challenge ahead.

Naruto thought for a moment about using the purple orb but decided to save it for a more necessary occasion. After all, he only had one and didn't want to waste it.

He began entering a state of Zen Meditation and realized how much harder it was without the support of the Óleo-Gama. Although he had been able to draw a lot of natural energy from the hunting dimension, the difference in natural energy there was striking.

"This kid... he never stops surprising me," Fukasaku thought while admiring Naruto for keeping his mind so calm and serene throughout the process.

But gradually, Naruto and his shadow clones began to swell.

Fukasaku quickly grabbed his staff and hit Naruto, interrupting his meditation. Naruto screamed in Pain but quickly prepared to start over. After all, he knew that persistence was the key to overcoming this obstacle and mastering the Sennin Mode without the Óleo-Gama.

⊱⋅───⊱◈◈◈⊰───⋅⊰

As the sun set on the horizon, illuminating the sky with shades of orange and pink, a group of people gathered in a dark and somber room. Their faces were hidden in the shadows, making it difficult to identify who they were.

"Jiraiya is dead, now is a good time to capture the Nine-Tailed Fox," someone said in a low and sinister tone.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Pain, controlled by the powerful Nagato. His imposing presence filled the room as he spoke, "I'm going to Konoha. I'll leave in a few days."

There was a tense moment of silence before someone slapped their thigh and laughed in a bizarre way, "Good!" The laughter echoed through the room, filling it with a sense of unease.

⊱⋅───⊱◈◈◈⊰───⋅⊰

It was 7 pm, the sun had already set and Naruto was still training. However, Fukasaku interrupted him: "Naruto-chan, I admire your enthusiasm and effort, but I'm old and can't stay anymore."

Upon hearing this, Naruto, who was meditating atop a several-meter-high stone pillar, opened his eyes, which now had the Sage Mode activated.

"Yes!"

As he jumped, he felt freer than ever. He could clearly feel the presence of beings around him.

His senses become sharper than those of a beast. He could hear the faintest sound and see in the dark with incredible clarity. The world around him seemed to slow down and he felt like he could move at an incredible speed.

Naruto realized that Sage Mode had improved his abilities beyond his wildest dreams. He felt invincible and knew that with this power, he could face any challenge that came his way.

However, there was a big catch: the time limitation. He could only stay in this form for a short period of time, which greatly limited his effectiveness in battle.