"The time is almost right. It's time to begin."
Night had fallen.
Naruto left a wood clone at home while his real body made its way to the familiar waterfall where he usually trained.
"Absorb!"
Once more, he extracted nutrients from the surrounding trees. As his clones maintained vigilance over the area, Naruto closed his eyes and began his training.
No—this wasn't just training. It was the practice of Sage Mode.
After ensuring his body was in optimal condition, he abruptly opened his eyes.
Sharingan!
Taking a deep breath, he removed his shirt and formed a single-handed seal.
Whoosh!
In the next instant, Naruto's entire back transformed into wood, the change visible to the naked eye. Flowers and leaves sprouted from his back, as if he had become a walking tree teeming with life and energy. The absorbed nutrients quickly flowed into a small sapling growing from him.
In mere moments, the sapling expanded, rapidly taking on human form. With a soft thud, it detached from Naruto and landed at his feet. Before his eyes, the wooden mass shifted, morphing into his exact likeness.
White Zetsu-style Wood Clone—Success!
Naruto nodded in satisfaction. "It was worth all the time spent mastering the Shadow Clone Jutsu and refining my understanding through Uchiha Shisui's insights."
This was no ordinary clone. Unlike a shadow clone, which required an even distribution of chakra, this wood clone functioned entirely on absorbed nutrients from trees. It surpassed the shadow clone in every aspect—and even exceeded the Wood Clone created by Hashirama Senju.
The White Zetsu-inspired wood clone could replenish itself, convert nutrients into chakra, and even utilize Naruto's own bloodline abilities, including the Sharingan and the latent Uzumaki Diamond Chains. More impressively, as long as it remained mobile and connected to natural energy, it could continue fighting indefinitely.
Moreover, it retained the shadow clone's best feature: upon dispelling, all experiences and memories would return to the original body.
Naruto analyzed his creation with a hint of pride. "Although the wood clone isn't as strong as my main body, it is formed entirely from natural energy. In theory, it should also carry the aura of the Mori no Mi fruit, meaning it won't be repelled by nature. Rather, it will be embraced by it."
"If you weren't my own wood clone, detecting your presence without malicious intent would be nearly impossible."
Naruto grinned. "Then, I'll leave the Sage Mode training to you."
The clone smirked in return. "Leave it to me."
With that, the wood clone sat cross-legged and began absorbing the surrounding natural energy.
"Try merging your physical and spiritual energy without converting it into chakra," Naruto instructed. "Let the natural energy fuse directly with the nutrients. If this works, we might be able to develop a method to transform nutrients into pure natural chakra."
As he spoke, Naruto placed a hand on the clone's shoulder, transferring physical and spiritual energy into its body.
A regular wood clone lacked these elements, but with its ability to absorb nutrients, Naruto theorized it could serve as an intermediary for natural energy conversion.
Under his guidance, the wood clone successfully absorbed natural energy. To his surprise, the process was gentle—completely different from the violent resistance most experienced when drawing in nature's power.
Is this because of the Mori no Mi's presence? Naruto wondered.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A surge of energy erupted from the clone's body.
This wasn't regular chakra—it was something far more potent.
It completely overshadowed ordinary chakra derived from physical energy.
Success!
And, most importantly—no petrification!
This was pure natural chakra.
As the clone released the energy, it transformed into senjutsu chakra, the pinnacle of all chakra forms.
Sizzle—Sizzle—
Naruto observed as the White Zetsu-style wood clone underwent further changes.
In an instant, its body was covered in an intricate layer of flora—flowers, vines, branches—all sprouting from its very form. At the same time, its face shifted.
Light green eye markings appeared—the distinctive sign of Sage Mode!
Naruto could feel it. The very trees around him seemed to resonate with his existence, many of them even submitting to his presence.
A few moments later, as the balance stabilized, the plant life receded, returning into the clone's body.
The wood clone opened its eyes and grinned. "The balance has been achieved. I've fully stabilized the senjutsu chakra."
Its expression was filled with excitement. "Not only that—this senjutsu chakra can be applied to plants! I feel like I could even use it to heal most injuries!"
Naruto smiled. "A Sage Mode beyond even Hashirama's and the Toad Sage's… It makes sense, though. How could nature reject someone like me, a user of the Mori no Mi, the ultimate manifestation of natural power?"
He extended his hand. "Well done."
"We're family, after all."
The clone smirked before placing its hand on Naruto's shoulder.
Immediately, Naruto's body began to morph into wood—a liquid-like transformation.
The next moment, the wood clone dissolved back into him, merging seamlessly.
An overwhelming surge of senjutsu chakra flooded into Naruto's body, along with all the clone's memories and experiences.
A triumphant grin spread across his face.
The fusion of nature's power was complete.
"I see."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the distinct markings of Sage Mode appeared on Naruto's face.
Whoosh—
In an instant, he vanished, reappearing beside the large tree that had just been pierced by his Rasengan.
Extending his hand, he gathered Senjutsu chakra into his palm and pressed it against the damaged trunk.
He poured in natural energy continuously.
Before his eyes, the gaping hole in the tree began to heal rapidly.
"What incredible vitality."
Naruto's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
At the same time, he could feel his speed skyrocketing, his movements now faster and sharper than ever.
Even more astonishingly, the Sharingan in his eyes evolved, each iris now adorned with a second tomoe.
"An unexpected bonus. Now I have a fully developed two-tomoe Sharingan in both eyes."
He clenched his fist, sensing the immense power coursing through his body.
"This overwhelming strength… is this what Sage Mode truly feels like?"
With just an ordinary punch, he felt like he could unleash devastating force.
"My perception… it's incredible."
He could sense the entire forest of Konoha, every tree, every movement, as if they were extensions of himself.
"This is the unique Sage Mode granted by the Mori Mori no Mi."
With a single thought, Naruto exited Sage Mode.
At the same moment, a Wood Clone infused with White Zetsu's properties emerged beside him.
Naruto watched as the clone placed its hands on the ground, absorbing nutrients while simultaneously drawing in natural energy.
"If this works… my clones might be able to enter Sage Mode on their own."
His Senjutsu was different from the traditional Sage Mode of Mount Myōboku. He wasn't sure if the experiment would succeed.
However, the moment his clone completed the process—Naruto was shocked.
By merging the natural energy with the absorbed nutrients, the clone transformed instantly.
Its body shifted into wood, while its hair sprouted into vines.
Moreover, its form became completely malleable.
The clone's arms stretched effortlessly, its body seamlessly blending with the surrounding trees, taking on their appearance.
"This version of Sage Mode… it's completely different."
Naruto smiled, his mind buzzing with ideas.
"The Sage Mode that integrates nutrients and natural energy… it's more like the Sage Mode of the Mori Mori no Mi."
He took a deep breath, nodding to himself.
"I'll name the first one Natural Sage Mode."
"And the second… Mori Sage Mode."
At this moment, Naruto wasn't invincible—not yet.
But his strength had already reached the level of Super Kage.
"After the Uchiha Massacre… I'll reach even greater heights."
Everything was progressing flawlessly.
With his newfound mastery over Sage Mode, he could begin training in the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.
Without hesitation, Naruto created another Wood Clone, this time infused with Senjutsu chakra to help develop his technique.
However, just as he prepared to train—
He paused.
"Ah, I forgot. The Rasenshuriken is way too loud."
Naruto chuckled to himself.
"But as fate would have it… someone just delivered me a nice little surprise."
A slight smirk curled his lips.
Not far from where he stood, hidden within the trees, a white head emerged, peeking cautiously at him.
Zetsu observed Naruto and his motionless clone, clearly confused.
"What a strange brat…"
But after a moment, White Zetsu shrugged it off.
"That jutsu of his looks insanely powerful. But never mind that—right now, I need to report back to the main body."
With that, White Zetsu began to sink back into the tree, using his Mayfly Technique.
But just as he attempted to merge with the earth—
An invisible force suddenly stopped him in his tracks.
"Huh?"
Zetsu's expression twisted in shock.
"Why… why can't I move?"
His heart pounded.
"Did that brat sense me?"
"No way. That's impossible."
"My Mayfly Technique is one of the greatest stealth techniques in the ninja world! Not even sensory-type ninja can detect me so easily!"
"Then why…?"
Before he could complete his thought—
Snap!
A shadow loomed over him.
A giant carnivorous plant had silently appeared behind him.
Before he could react, its gaping maw snapped shut—trapping him inside.
Only his terrified head remained exposed.
"W-What the hell is going on?!"
Naruto appeared before him in an instant, golden eyes glowing in the dim light.
"I really didn't expect today to be this rewarding."
He smirked.
"Not only do I gain the Mayfly Technique, but I also get the perfect disguise ability."
His smile deepened.
"This will make things a whole lot easier."
He reached forward, channeling natural energy into his palm.
"Thank you for your generous gift… courtesy of nature itself."
Zetsu's face twisted in horror.
"NO—WAIT! DON'T— AHHHH—!"
Puff—
And just like that—White Zetsu was no more.
…
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