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After returning to Konoha, Jiraiya chose not to share the strange dream predicted by the Great Toad Sage with his teacher, Sarutobi.
As the Hokage, it was a matter of personal belief whether one chose to believe in it or not. Investigating innocent ninjas without proper reason could lead to chaos within Konoha. Even the Hokage had limitations on inquiring about a ninja's secrets, and certain matters needed to be prioritized.
Thus, Jiraiya decided to handle this matter himself. The Toad Sage had warned that the dream prophecy would lead to the disappearance of all ninjas, including those from Konoha. Being a firm supporter of the Will of Fire, Jiraiya couldn't let such a catastrophic event occur.
He devised two plans. The first was to find the person mentioned by the Great Toad in Konoha and confront them directly, which was the most direct and effective approach. However, this method did not align with his personal principles, leading him to consider the second plan.
The second plan involved finding the prophesied individual and providing them with the right guidance, avoiding the disappearance of Konoha and nurturing an outstanding ninja for the village.
Jiraiya's decision would depend on finding the prophesied person. Without locating them, any discussion would be futile. However, Jiraiya couldn't shake off his worry.
The Toad's handling of the prophecy dream did not indicate whether the prophesied person could be guided to choose the path of light over darkness. Instead, it directly foretold the disappearance of the ninjas led by Konoha, accompanied by an unprecedented world war.
This concern weighed heavily on Jiraiya's mind. If the prophecy couldn't be rectified, it might lead to further destruction.
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As July drew to a close, the sun's scorching heat intensified. In the courtyard, under the shade of a tree, Shiraishi and Ruri meditated together, practicing the extraction of natural energy from the environment.
Natural energy was different from physical and spiritual energy, being more abundant and omnipresent in the air, water, flowers, and trees. Absorbing natural energy could greatly enhance physical and mental capabilities, leading to overall improvement and vitality.
In theory, if all ninjas in the world mastered the method of absorbing natural energy, human lifespans would increase by several decades. They would maintain strong energy and vitality even in old age, aging gracefully.
However, such an ideal scenario clashed with the reality of the world. Promoting this practice method without a well-organized system could lead to disastrous consequences and an unprecedented war.
Thus, the best course of action for Shiraishi was to continue practicing discreetly, ensuring his safety and avoiding unnecessary risks.
As Shiraishi focused on extracting natural energy, Ruri suddenly opened her eyes. A cat with orange fluff had jumped onto her shoulder. This seemingly harmless cat moved with unmatched agility despite its chubby appearance. It opened its mouth, speaking with a voice that leaned towards a neutral tone, neither clearly male nor female.
"Ruri-sama."
The cat addressed Ruri.
"Yu, is there something wrong?"
Yu was the most capable of the ninja cats under Ruri's summoning contract. Responsible for managing hundreds of cats in Konoha Village and transmitting information, it had come to report something of importance.
"I don't know why, but the number of toads in Konoha has increased significantly in the last few days."
Yu jumped off Ruri's shoulder and looked at her.
"Toads?"
Ruri frowned.
"Yes. I found it strange, so I came to report it."
"What do you think could be the reason?"
Having spent almost half a year sending hundreds of cats into Konoha through various formal channels, Ruri had ensured their integration and anonymity. Vigilant from past experiences, she was alert to any anomalies.
"I'm not sure. Ruri-sama, what should I do next?"
Ruri considered the sudden increase in toads. It might be a natural occurrence, or someone might be manipulating the situation from behind the scenes, planning something sinister. Regardless, she had to remain vigilant, not overlooking any suspicious signs.
"When the clan transmit information in the future, have them do it from high buildings, away from any toads. If you notice anything unusual with those toads, let me know immediately."
Ruri emphasized the importance of caution at all times, as overlooking the smallest detail could lead to dire consequences.
"Yes!"
After Yu finished his report, it vanished before Ruri's eyes with a swift motion.
Soon after, Shiraishi, who had been meditating in the shade, opened his eyes and stood up.
"How did it go?" Ruri inquired.
"It went well. Now, I feel like I have an endless source of power in my body, and my mental state is much better than usual. I could go without sleep for several days and nights without feeling tired," Shiraishi replied with a satisfied smile.
As Shiraishi had expected, natural energy had incredible benefits for living beings. If this method were extended to the entire human population, it could rejuvenate both the body and the spirit, preventing serious diseases and bolstering immunity. Minor ailments would become insignificant, easily overcome by their strong immune systems.
Although Shiraishi's body seemed unchanged, it now contained not only chakra but also natural energy absorbed from nature. He didn't realize this through experiments, but now, having extracted natural energy, he felt that it could function as a complete energy system even without chakra.
This observation aligned with his expectations. Natural energy could serve as a valuable energy supplement in battle, especially for enhancing physical skills, which had been proven in previous experiments.
Further research was needed to determine if separate natural energy could be used to release ninjutsu and illusions. If that were possible, natural energy could become an excellent substitute for chakra. However, in practice, the two energies complemented each other, creating the magical chakra produced by their fusion.
Chakra, natural energy, and senjutsu chakra followed this order in their progression. In theory, since natural energy could be used independently to strengthen physical and mental activity, it should logically be possible to use it alone to release ninjutsu and illusions. But theory and practice didn't always align perfectly.
Despite this, Shiraishi was satisfied with the results. His fighting style mainly revolved around Taijutsu, with medical ninjutsu as his primary technique.
Now that he had a superior substitute for chakra in the form of natural energy, he could conserve the limited chakra in his body. He could then utilize natural energy to enhance physical and mental activity, achieving better results than with chakra alone, and showcasing remarkable endurance.
Consequently, calling natural energy an energy source that would never be exhausted was not an exaggeration. By the way, he had heard the voice of Feather Fire earlier. Curious, he asked Ruri what had happened.
Ruri didn't hide anything and shared that Yu had come to report that there had been an influx of toads in Konoha recently, prompting them to exercise caution.
"Toads?" Shiraishi tilted his head.
It was true that there seemed to be more toads in Konoha Village, but it was challenging to notice this without paying special attention. The toads were small and often concealed in dark, damp sewer environments, making them inconspicuous.
Ruri explained that Mount Myoboku, one of the three sacred places, was the lair of the toads, and Jiraiya, as a Jonin, had a deep connection with them.
"Do you think these toads might be from Mount Myoboku?" Shiraishi wondered if it was a matter of concern.
"The records of the Uchiha's classics indicate that the three sacred places have a long history and possess incredible power. We can't take it lightly, whether it's the Sannin or any other powerful entities involved," Ruri replied.
"That's true. I'll keep an eye out," Shiraishi agreed, feeling that discussing such matters felt a bit strange.
He understood that Ruri had a complete intelligence system at his disposal, making his involvement unnecessary.
Besides, the sudden increase in toads in Konoha was indeed odd, but he decided to stay inconspicuous and avoid unnecessary complications. He had been hiding effectively so far, with Ruri handling most of the aftermath issues. He now lived as an ordinary Konoha Chunin.
Thus, he resolved to continue this approach.
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