Mastermind of the Akatsuki

With a burst of space-time distortion, Byakuya successfully arrived at Mount Myōboku.

Upon entering, he began to sense the surroundings. The concentration of natural energy in this place was several times greater than in the outside world. Staying in such an environment would make entering Sage Mode significantly easier.

The giant toads of Mount Myōboku had also become massive due to the natural energy here.

Retracting his senses, Byakuya looked toward Fukasaku and asked, "Fukasaku-sama, I can sense a tremendous energy in the air. This must be the legendary natural energy, right?"

Fukasaku looked at him in surprise, "You can sense the natural energy in the air?"

Byakuya nodded. "Is there a problem with that?"

Fukasaku was briefly speechless, then said, "Byakuya, it seems your talent in Sage Mode is even more terrifying than I imagined. You might become the strongest sage in the past hundred years."

In Fukasaku's memory, during the centuries he had managed Mount Myōboku, many had stumbled into the mountain and become messengers of Mount Myōboku. But a significant number of them were unable to learn Sage Mode.

The shinobi who failed in forced attempts to enter Sage Mode turned into stone statues in the Toad Forest, monuments warning future generations.

Among those who could learn Sage Mode, only a handful were capable of entering it independently. Even Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze required external assistance to use Sage Mode. The only one who could truly enter Sage Mode on his own was Naruto.

It was precisely because of Naruto's natural affinity with Sage Mode that Fukasaku had believed he was the Child of Prophecy, foretold by the Great Elder Toad to save the ninja world.

Yet even Naruto couldn't clearly sense natural energy in the air without the aid of toad oil to enhance his perception.

This was Byakuya's first time in Mount Myōboku, and yet he instantly sensed the natural energy around him.

Such talent reminded Fukasaku of the First Hokage from decades ago, a man with similar gifts who could instantly enter Sage Mode without any side effects.

Byakuya noticed Fukasaku's silence and asked, "Fukasaku-sama, when are we starting the Sage Mode training? The ninja world doesn't have much time left."

After a brief pause, Fukasaku said, "Follow me. I'll take you to the place where you'll train in Sage Mode."

Soon, the two arrived at the toad oil pool, a special location in Mount Myōboku filled with its unique toad oil.

Pointing at Byakuya, Fukasaku said, "The principle of Sage Mode is quite simple: you just need to mix your chakra with natural energy in a one-to-one ratio to produce senjutsu chakra. But how to actually mix chakra and natural energy, that's a secret technique unique to Mount Myōboku."

After explaining the method, Fukasaku gestured to the pool. "This pool contains toad oil, which boosts your perception. With your talent and the help of this oil, you'll likely grasp Sage Mode quickly. However, let me warn you, failing to enter Sage Mode can result in being turned to stone."

Byakuya nodded, then jumped directly into the pool.

This scene left Fukasaku wide-eyed. Toad oil only needed to be applied to the upper body , there was no need to swim in it. Doing so would waste the oil and create additional risks.

After all, for a shinobi, excessively boosting perception can be harmful. It can overstrain the body, leading to premature exhaustion.

Fukasaku stayed silent but didn't stop Byakuya. With talent like his, perhaps he truly could emerge from the pool unharmed and master Sage Mode.

Byakuya had no idea what Fukasaku was thinking.

At the bottom of the pool, he sat cross-legged and began practicing Sage Mode. Thanks to a reward from his system, he had already learned the technique, but this was his first chance to actually use it.

Taking this opportunity to adapt to it in a proper setting was an ideal choice.

A few minutes later, Byakuya emerged from the pool. His eyes had become vertical pupils, and camo-like markings appeared on his face, classic signs of Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode.

Sensing the energy around him, Fukasaku silently nodded.

Jiraiya, on the other hand, widened his eyes and said with a complex expression, "Byakuya, you've already mastered Sage Mode? It hasn't even been a few minutes… When I trained for Sage Mode back then, it took me several months…"

"Just luck," Byakuya said with a light chuckle. "Maybe I have a high affinity with natural energy. I didn't find it all that hard to produce senjutsu chakra."

"You're the only one who thinks it's not hard…" Jiraiya replied weakly.

Smiling, Byakuya turned to Fukasaku and asked, "Fukasaku-sama, is there a large enough open space nearby? I'd like to test out Sage Mode's power."

After a pause, he added, "Preferably somewhere really big. I might make quite a mess."

Fukasaku nodded and led him to a vast open training ground in Mount Myōboku, where several giant toads, including Gamabunta, were working out.

Seeing Fukasaku, Byakuya, and Jiraiya arrive together, Gamabunta spoke, "Boss Fukasaku, what brings you here? And with Jiraiya and…"

"This is Byakuya, a shinobi here to train in Sage Mode."

"Oh, training Sage Mode…" Halfway through his sentence, Gamabunta realized something was off. He stared at Byakuya. "The chakra on you… that's senjutsu chakra. You've already mastered Sage Mode?"

"Just got lucky," Byakuya replied. "Gamabunta, I just succeeded in mastering Sage Mode. Could you clear the area a bit so I can fully unleash its power?"

Gamabunta frowned. He hadn't encountered a human this cocky in a long time.

He knew of Byakuya, but this was Mount Myōboku. He wasn't about to be ordered around like that, until he saw Fukasaku's look. Then, with a grunt, he stepped aside, "Use this place as you like. I'd like to see just how far you've come with Sage Mode."

"Then I'll gladly accept."

Standing at the center of the clearing, Byakuya quickly formed hand seals and slammed his palms to the ground.

The earth trembled violently as a crack dozens of meters long tore open. Countless vines surged up from the ground, merging to form a towering wooden humanoid over a hundred meters tall. Two wooden dragons coiled around the giant, guarding it like sentinels.

Byakuya continued using Wood Style, causing the giant wooden figure to dash across the land. The sheer power and visual impact of the scene were overwhelming.

Gamabunta, Fukasaku, and Jiraiya all stood frozen in place.

Only now did Fukasaku fully understand why Byakuya had asked for such a large open space.

If this hadn't been a training field used by toads like Gamabunta, it might not have been able to contain the wooden giant at all , even movement would have been impossible.

Jiraiya, meanwhile, began to question his entire life.

Byakuya was actually able to use both the Wood Human and Wood Dragon techniques simultaneously, such power was almost catching up to the First Hokage. Even with this strength, Byakuya still treated Madara Uchiha cautiously. Just how strong was Madara Uchiha?

Gamabunta was also filled with shock. As the largest toad on Mount Myōboku, he usually had plenty of confidence when facing Tailed Beasts. But upon seeing the hundred-meter-tall Wood Human, Gamabunta felt somewhat insecure and instinctively wanted to retreat. This was the first time such a thought had crossed Gamabunta's mind.

Standing atop the Wood Human's head, Byakuya looked like a child who had just gotten a new toy, freely using sage chakra and performing ninjutsu enhanced by sage mode.

After playing for over ten minutes, Byakuya finally dispelled the Wood Style ninjutsu and returned to the ground.

The sage mode felt like infinite firepower, allowing him to freely use enhanced ninjutsu with chakra consumption reduced by half. However, the boost in taijutsu and sensory abilities was noticeably weaker.

Overall, though, it was still an incredibly powerful mode. It made sense why Madara Uchiha, even riding the Nine-Tails, could not defeat Senju Hashirama.

After all, Madara Uchiha could only rely on himself and the Nine-Tails, whereas Senju Hashirama drew upon the natural energy of the surrounding earth, sky, and sea, no middleman like a Tailed Beast taking a cut.

Returning to the ground, Byakuya said to Fukasaku, "Fukasaku-sama, the sage mode of Mount Myōboku is even stronger than I imagined. After mastering it, I should have the strength to fight Madara Uchiha."

"It's all for the ninja world. Mount Myōboku is just doing its part," Fukasaku replied.

Fukasaku didn't dare to act high and mighty in front of Byakuya. After all, Byakuya was not a member of Mount Myōboku, or rather, Mount Myōboku had no right to claim Byakuya as their representative.

Jiraiya happily said, "Byakuya, are you confident you can defeat Madara Uchiha? Looks like this crisis in the ninja world will soon be over."

Byakuya shook his head, his expression serious, "I'm not confident in defeating Madara Uchiha. He has prepared for many years and surely has more tricks up his sleeve than what we've seen. Until we have absolute certainty, we shouldn't be careless."

"That's true... I was a bit overconfident," Jiraiya said with a hearty laugh, then turned to Fukasaku, "Since Byakuya has mastered sage mode, please, Fukasaku-sama, send us back."

Fukasaku looked troubled and said, "Not right now."

Jiraiya asked confusedly, "Fukasaku-sama, is it because Great Toad Sage wants to question Byakuya? Has Great Toad-sama awakened after so long?"

Fukasaku couldn't hold back a bit and said, "No, I haven't even paid respects at the Toad Shrine today. The reason I can't send you back is that I've run out of chakra and need a few hours to refine more. In the meantime, stay here on Mount Myōboku. If you get hungry, the mother of the child will prepare food for you. They're specialties of Mount Myōboku and taste quite good."

At the mention of Mount Myōboku's specialties, Jiraiya's expression changed.

Curious, Byakuya asked, "What are the specialties of Mount Myōboku? I'm a bit hungry, so maybe we could try some?"

Jiraiya's face turned sour, "I'm not hungry now, so maybe it's better not."

Byakuya saw through Jiraiya's pretense and smiled, "Jiraiya nii-san, you seem especially averse to the specialties of Mount Myōboku. Is it because their nutritional value isn't good?"

Jiraiya shook his head, "The nutritional value is actually good, seven times the protein of beef."

Byakuya then asked, "Is it because they taste bad? Or is the food poisonous?"

Jiraiya shook his head again, then said, "Neither. The specialties of Mount Myōboku are insects. You can try them if you want, but as for me, no thanks. I'm not hungry."

"Since Jiraiya nii-san isn't hungry, I'll go alone then."

With that, Byakuya followed Fukasaku's footsteps and soon arrived at the home of Fukasaku and Shima, where a delicious-looking giant green caterpillar sat on the dining table.

Shima bit off the caterpillar's head and said to Byakuya, "Want some? This stuff is really tasty. That Jiraiya fellow doesn't appreciate fine food. I guarantee you'll love it once you try."

"No, thanks."

Byakuya politely declined Shima's offer, having no interest in trying this "dark cuisine." When he first crossed over and struggled to survive, he wasn't unfamiliar with eating worms, but now that conditions were better, there was no need to force himself to eat unpleasant things.

Besides showing off in front of others, Byakuya had another purpose in coming to Mount Myōboku.

At this point, he had already brought the Five Great Shinobi Villages under his control and received generous rewards, making him one of the top ninjas under the Ōtsutsuki. However, he felt his strength was still insufficient and needed to subdue more forces. Mount Myōboku, one of the three sacred grounds independent of the ninja world, was the best choice.

After thinking for a moment, he looked at Fukasaku and Shima and said, "Fukasaku-sama, besides learning sage mode, I have one more request on this visit to Mount Myōboku."

"What is it?" Fukasaku and Shima both felt uneasy.

Byakuya took a deep breath and said, "To counter Madara Uchiha's threat, the Five Great Shinobi Villages and Amegakure have united under the Akatsuki banner. I want Mount Myōboku to join Akatsuki too, to fight alongside us against Madara Uchiha."

At these words, Fukasaku's face grew much colder, "Byakuya, Mount Myōboku has never formed alliances with ninja organizations, and it won't be an exception now. This is your ninja world's matter, not ours."

"If the ninja world is destroyed, do you think Mount Myōboku will be spared?"

Byakuya stared at Fukasaku and said, "If Mount Myōboku doesn't join Akatsuki, I strongly suspect Madara Uchiha has some collusion with the three sacred grounds. After all, many strange ninjutsu come from the three sacred grounds. I even suspect Madara Uchiha was resurrected by Mount Myōboku."

Faced with Byakuya's suspicion and provocation, Fukasaku's face turned extremely ugly. Just as he was about to harshly reject Byakuya, a voice about the Great Toad Sage came to his ears, "Little Fukasaku, bring young friend Byakuya over. I have business with him."