After experimenting with Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode, Natsuro didn't immediately pursue its perfected state.
Because before that, he had something else to test.
And this experiment might be dangerous.
Glancing around, he confirmed that only the Slug Sage was present. That was good.
So, he began his experiment.
First, he used Yin-Yang Release to form a shape.
After thinking for a moment, he decided not to overcomplicate things and simply followed the original source material, creating a black sphere.
Then, he watched as the black sphere floated in the air before him, finally placing a hand on it.
The next moment, Natsuro poured all five elemental natures along with Yin-Yang chakra into it.
Almost instantly, his expression changed dramatically.
Realizing something was wrong, he immediately grabbed the black sphere and hurled it into the sky.
The next second...
BOOM!!!
A massive explosion erupted, engulfing the entire sky in an intense, blinding light.
Below, the forests of Shikkotsu Forest trembled violently, the sheer shockwave from the blast snapped countless trees in half.
Even the Slug Sage, usually indifferent to most things, opened its eyes in shock.
What just happened?!
Was Natsuro… actually trying to destroy Shikkotsu Forest?!
Natsuro wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
As expected, creating a Truth-Seeking Ball was no simple feat.
From what he recalled, the fundamental requirement for forming a Truth-Seeking Ball was Yin-Yang Release combined with all five elemental natures.
Since he possessed all of these, he figured it was worth attempting.
And the result?
A total failure.
Did this mean he needed to unlock Kekkai Genkais first before he could properly form a Truth-Seeking Ball?
He pondered, then recalled the sheer destructive power of the explosion he had just caused.
That blast alone…
Even a Perfect Susanoo might not be able to withstand it.
Which meant…
It was worth further exploration.
Even if he couldn't create an actual Truth-Seeking Ball, he could still repurpose the unstable reaction as an explosive technique.
Given its sheer force, few, if any, ninjutsu could match it.
Moreover, a new thought occurred to him...
What if, instead of stabilizing the Truth-Seeking Ball, he deliberately made it unstable to maximize explosive force?
The result might be far beyond anything like Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.
At this moment, he couldn't help but smirk.
If Deidara were still alive and saw this…
He'd probably be so excited that he'd die a second time.
The only reason he dared to try this was because with Yin-Yang Release, he could manipulate chakra outside his body, meaning he didn't have to test it inside himself.
If he had attempted this experiment inside his own body…
Natsuro wiped his forehead again.
He would have blown himself to pieces.
Even with Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode boosting his life force, he wouldn't have survived that blast.
"Natsuro, what are you doing?"
At last, the Slug Sage couldn't hold back anymore and questioned him.
Only now did Natsuro turn his attention back to it.
He explained his idea.
"Truth-Seeking Balls… Truly a terrifying power," the Slug Sage murmured.
They surpassed even Bloodline Selection techniques.
The Slug Sage thought back to the Sage of Six Paths.
Once he mastered Six Paths Senjutsu, he had always been surrounded by nine floating Truth-Seeking Balls, each containing immeasurable power.
However, hearing his plan to use them as bombs, the Slug Sage felt speechless.
And yet…
It did seem possible.
After all, that recent explosion alone…
The Slug Sage glanced up at the sky, where the remnants of the blast still lingered.
This level of power, not even high-level combination ninjutsu could compare.
The Slug Sage looked around.
The forest had already been devastated.
It let out a deep sigh, "Fine. Just keep going."
Since the damage was already done, Natsuro might as well continue his experiments.
With the Slug Sage's permission, he immersed himself in his research.
…And the Slug Sage suffered for it.
Before, it could sleep all day in peace.
Now?
The constant explosions wouldn't let it rest.
Every time it closed its eyes, BOOM.
Looking at the sky, filled with repeated shockwaves, the Slug Sage sighed.
It had to admit, the explosions were growing stronger and stronger.
If he ever threw one of these at it, and it was caught off guard…
Even as a Slug Sage, it wouldn't survive unscathed.
One day, as the Slug Sage yawned, it realized, the explosions had stopped.
At first, it felt relieved.
But after so many days, it had grown used to the constant noise.
Now that it was gone, it felt strangely unsettling.
Turning its gaze downward, it saw Natsuro deep in thought, his brow furrowed.
Unlike before, he now looked truly exhausted. The result of days of non-stop experimentation with seven different chakra natures.
However, even in his fatigue, he seemed to have entered a strange state of mind.
A new idea was forming in his head.
After days of continuous experimentation, Natsuro had become increasingly familiar with the use of Yin-Yang Release.
At this moment, he entered the Sage Mode of Mount Myōboku, the one he was most accustomed to.
Then, he took out a small orb.
Inside this orb was a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra that he had previously extracted from the boy named Sora.
Now, he carefully drew out a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra, allowing it to merge with his own body, experiencing its will and power.
"Yin Release, the power born from spiritual energy, creating form from nothing."
He murmured as he activated his immense spiritual energy.
At the same time...
Back in the Hokage's office, Natsuro's Spirit Transformation shadow clone sensed the surge.
Seeing that Shikaku wasn't around, the clone quietly dispelled itself, transferring all of its knowledge and chakra back to the original body.
Instantly, Natsuro's Yin Release energy surged dramatically.
At that moment, countless black runes surfaced across his body.
Then, as if they had come to life, the runes detached from his body, gathering in the air around him.
They continued condensing, responding to his imagination.
Eventually, they formed a small, pitch-black rabbit adorned with golden patterns.
If anyone familiar with Pokémon had been present, they would have recognized it as a Moonlight Espeon (Umbreon), except much smaller.
Natsuro observed the creature for a moment, then turned his attention back to the Nine-Tails' chakra inside him.
"Yang Release, the power born from physical energy, breathing life into form."
He placed his hand on the small rabbit's body.
At the same time, he shifted from Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode to Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode, tapping into its ability to manipulate life energy.
If Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode could let him grow additional arms or even extra eyes, then…
Infusing life energy into this creature should be simple.
As time passed, the small rabbit slowly opened its blood-red eyes.
But, its gaze was filled with chaotic emptiness.
Natsuro snapped out of his trance, staring silently at the tiny Umbreon before him.
At the same time, the Nine-Tails' chakra dissipated completely.
"Wait… What exactly did I just do?"
Natsuro scratched his head.
Had he… gone crazy from all the Truth-Seeking Ball explosions?
Why was he suddenly imitating the Sage of Six Paths, trying to create a living being like a Tailed Beast?
Looking at the emptiness in the rabbit's eyes, he assumed the experiment had failed.
However, just as he was about to dismiss it as a mistake, the chaos in the rabbit's eyes suddenly faded.
It looked at Natsuro with a gaze full of affection.
And in the next moment, under his stunned gaze…
The small Umbreon vanished.
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