Mount Myōboku was filled with plants that had grown several times larger than usual. As one of the three great Sage lands, the natural chakra levels here were far higher than in other places.

Naruto and his two shadow clones were sitting on sharp peaks that stretched into the clouds. All three had the markings of Sage Mode on their faces. Having been training here for many days, Naruto had gradually mastered Sage Mode.

Sage Fukasaku and Jiraiya, facing them, wore relieved smiles. These two were as happy about Naruto’s growth as he was himself.

"It seems a Sage has appeared who surpasses young Jiraiya."

"Yup, looks like it’s time for me to retire."

Jiraiya’s lips curved into a slight smile, but inside, he was overjoyed. More than breaking through his own strength, it brought him greater happiness to see his student surpass him.

However, the good times didn’t last. Five minutes later, both clones lost their balance and fell, with the real Naruto following right behind.

Jiraiya quickly caught the falling Naruto.

"It seems you can only maintain it for five minutes. Your training path is still a long way off!"

"What?! Even the Pervy Sage couldn’t do this well."

"What?! Are you questioning your master? What an arrogant brat."

"Lord Fukasaku, Jiraiya-sama."

Just as Jiraiya was about to scold Naruto, who was a bit too pleased with his current training results, he was interrupted by a communication frog.

"Hmm? Isn’t this the communication frog Hatake Satoru asked me to leave behind?"

"It looks like something has happened in Konoha village."

It turned out that Hatake Satoru had laid the groundwork for future events back when they were in the Kamui dimension.

"Hey, do you still have any stamina left?"

Hatake Satoru asked Naruto, who had been hungry for half the day, standing beside him.

"Huh? What do you want me to do, Satoru-sensei?"

"Use up all your current stamina to summon a communication frog for me."

"Huh?"

It seemed inexplicable at the time, but it turned out to be useful now.

"That’s right, Jiraiya-sama. A member of the Akatsuki organization named Pain has invaded Konoha village~"

"What?!"

It seemed Nagato had made a move against the Nine-Tails.

"Pervy Sage, let’s go back and help."

"No, Pain’s target is you. You must stay in Konoha village. I’ll go alone."

"How can that be? Do you want me to hide alone while the village is attacked because of me? If I do that, how can I still strive to become Hokage?"

Jiraiya’s reasoning wasn’t wrong. It would certainly be safe to keep Naruto here.

But as Naruto said, such safety went against his ninja way. As his master, he couldn’t do such a thing.

Even if Naruto faced danger upon returning to the village and needed him to protect him with his life, he needed to let him go to Konoha village to fight alongside them now.

"You really won’t back down, will you? Fine, I’ll make an exception and take you with me."

"Yay! But I need to make some preparations first."

"Shadow Clone Jutsu."

Naruto left three shadow clones in Mount Myōboku.

...

This all started from when he had just learned Sage Mode.

"Well done, you can control your chakra properly now."

Naruto’s Sage Mode training was taking shape; he hadn’t turned into a frog in nearly a day.

But before he could even praise himself, the duration of Sage Mode was up. The same problem remained: Naruto couldn’t absorb chakra and fight at the same time.

This required the help of the two toad sages.

"I’ll leave the rest to you."

"Alright, I’ve got this, little Jiraiya."

Sage Fukasaku jumped onto Naruto’s shoulder.

"Huh?! What are you doing, Pervy Sage?"

"This is a necessary step for Sage Mode. During combat, Lord Fukasaku will help you absorb chakra, thereby extending the duration of your Sage Mode."

"Oh, I see. Let’s start then."

Naruto sat down to start accumulating chakra. Fukasaku also began on Naruto’s shoulder.

It started smoothly. But before Fukasaku and Naruto could fuse, an accident occurred.

"Get out! I don’t want to share a room with a toad."

Fukasaku was expelled by the oppressive aura of the Nine-Tails’ chakra within Naruto.

"Oof, ah."

Fukasaku fell from Naruto’s shoulder.

"Are you okay? Lord Fukasaku?"

Naruto quickly asked.

"It’s no good anymore. Fusing with Naruto won’t work."

"Why not? Lord Fukasaku."

Naruto was a bit confused.

"The Nine-Tails inside you protested against my chakra and drove me out."

This was going to be troublesome. From then on, every time Naruto activated Sage Mode, he could only maintain it for a few minutes.

"There’s no other way. It seems we’ll have to find a solution during future training."

Jiraiya wasn’t in a hurry. Naruto’s current progress far surpassed his own at that age. It was normal to encounter some difficulties. He still had plenty of time to resolve them.

...

The three clones Naruto had summoned now were his solution.

"Wha... What is this?"

Jiraiya and Fukasaku asked in confusion.

"When I go to Konoha to fight, I’ll leave these three clones in Mount Myōboku to help me absorb chakra. Whenever the chakra for Sage Mode runs out, I’ll consume a clone to replenish it."

"That’s quite a good idea."

Jiraiya looked at Naruto with immense pride. It seemed his student had grown up without him even realizing it.

"Alright, let’s go."

Jiraiya took Naruto and returned to Konoha using the Reverse Summoning Technique.

"Bang."

"Hmm? They’re here? They’re here much faster than I expected."

Hatake Satoru, who was sitting on the ground, sensed the arrival of Naruto and Jiraiya.

There was a "bang" behind him. Jiraiya and Naruto stood on Bunta’s head.

Jiraiya and Naruto arrive.

"Now, the final reinforcements have arrived."

"Is this your so-called reinforcement? Are you planning to lure the Nine-Tails into a trap?"

"Who can say for sure?"

Hatake Satoru certainly wasn’t foolish enough to have Naruto walk into a trap. However, given the current power levels of both sides, Nagato had no chance of victory.

"Is that Yahiko?"

"Long time no see, Jiraiya-sensei."

What was going on? What were those black rods on him for?

"Yahiko is dead. This person is merely a puppet controlled by Nagato."

Jiraiya found it hard to believe what he was seeing. Yahiko was dead? A reunion between master and disciples after so long, only to become enemies.

However, Jiraiya had experienced the previous great war and countless life-and-death separations. The sorrow didn’t linger on his face for long.

"It seems a lot has changed for you three after I left."

"Jiraiya-sensei, perhaps the biggest mistake you ever made was not killing the three of us back then."