Ninja Ice House

Chapter 605 Fulfillment

"This is just my duty as a teacher to impart knowledge and resolve doubts. It's not something you should thank me for. Your achievements are the result of Kakashi-sensei and Jiraiya-senpai's careful guidance. I only did something insignificant..."

Shuimu is content to have become a familiar face in this kind of setting.

In the lineage of the Hokage, the disciples and grand-disciples of the "Three Legendary Sannin" naturally have the most power. As for Shimura Danzo's successor, he is someone that people would acknowledge. He can be considered as the "second son" of the second wife.

Being able to exchange a few words in the hospital room proves that everyone still accepts you as one of their own, as a brother or sister in the same circle.

"Since you've just woken up, I won't disturb you any longer. I still need to report back to Elder Danzo."

As Mizuki was speaking, he asked Tsunade for permission and prepared to leave. At that moment, the ward door opened, and Kakashi Hatake, Sakura Haruno, and Shizune were about to enter.

After nodding in acknowledgment and passing by, Sakura Haruno asked curiously:

"Teacher Mizuki left so early? I heard he sent over a lot of precious medicinal herbs. They're really generous over there."

"Mitsuki... is more magnanimous than Danzo. That old man keeps everything hidden, I don't know what he's preparing. This young guy, on the other hand, has some discernment. Whether it's real or fake, as long as he can get things done smoothly, let him be..."

"Tsunade..."

Xiaochun, who was turning over to a new room, interrupted unhappily.

"Danzo's actions are indeed somewhat unpleasant, but as the current Hokage, you don't need to evaluate him like that, and you shouldn't be sarcastic in front of your juniors."

"I know, I know. Anyway, we're all family, so we'll know what we need to know! As for Orochimaru's situation back then, I don't believe things would have turned out the way they did if he hadn't helped us."

"Alright, let's not dwell on the past."

Mitokado Homura coughed twice and said to Jiraiya, who was giving an awkward, wry smile,

"It's good that you're awake. The village is a bit restless right now, and we definitely need good news to boost morale. The events in the Land of Rain and the Land of Wind have made the ninja world quite unsettled..."

The key issue is that with younger generations present, it's embarrassing for the elderly to argue endlessly about past events, and their previously respected image is at risk.

"In short, I had Haiyi double-check. As for your health... there was nothing seriously wrong with you to begin with."

Tsunade summarized succinctly,

"Take a rest first. During your rehabilitation, exercise more to get your muscles and reflexes back to their peak. Then... show your face to outsiders more often. Many people know you're back and in the hospital, but you haven't shown up. They say you've been dead for a long time, and the rumors of your death being kept secret can't be suppressed."

"I understand! After so many years, experiencing the feeling of death being right before my eyes is truly indescribable."

Jiraiya felt that his condition wasn't as good as Tsunade had described, but it wasn't as bad either.

After recovering from a serious illness, recovery is relatively slow, especially for Jiraiya. The mental changes are quite severe, and he needs to adjust to his body before he can return to his former smooth and normal state.

Now, the awakened "Toad Sage" feels as if he is wearing an ill-fitting outfit, and is slightly uncomfortable.

Fortunately, this is only temporary, and this sense of distance will gradually disappear over time.

After chatting and laughing with everyone for a while, people continued to come to visit after everyone left. It took a while for the ward to become completely quiet.

Alone, Jiraiya finally had some free time to be aware of his physical condition.

After refining his chakra for a while, it was not much different from before. However, the coordination between his vitality and mental power seemed to be not as smooth as before. The activity level of his yin attribute was much higher than that of his yang attribute. Only with his superior control could he avoid losing control.

This situation is somewhat similar to Naruto Uzumaki when he was a child. Because of the presence of the Nine-Tails' chakra, the chakra in his body was interfered with by foreign energy, making it difficult to control precisely.

Jiraiya's situation is slightly better. The unexpected increase in his mental strength has made his innate habitual control methods a little uncomfortable, but it will naturally ease up after a while.

As for the others, the World Tree species that were hidden deep within the chakras and had not yet been refined, remained quietly, showing no signs of any unusual changes.

Through this seed, Jiraiya was even able to feel more clearly the connection and imprint between himself and the dream space.

It was a subspace modeled after his own dream, but it was no longer fully under his control. It was like a dream bubble shrouded in a thin membrane, from which a huge tree branch emerged. The leaves and canopy breathed in and out natural energy, while the roots at the bottom actually extended out of the entire space, like tentacles, dancing in the turbulent flow of spacetime.

The originally powerful spatial storm was softened by these whip-like tendrils, so as not to cause too much damage to this subspace. Some of the energy was even absorbed by these roots and turned into nutrients for the growth of the tree trunk.

"What incredible power! Is this the method of a top-tier transcendent life form? Establishing a foothold in outer space is still far too dangerous for the beings of the ninja world."

In Jiraiya's spiritual vision, the entire ninja world was like an isolated island in a dark, stormy ocean, with no village or shop in sight, and nothing could be seen beyond that distance.

However, Jiraiya believed that in the eyes of Kosugi Bokusui or even stronger masters, they would definitely be able to sense the existence of those things in the void that he could not currently see at all.

Let's not think about things too far ahead; let's get through this hurdle first!

Jiraiya's expression changed drastically when he tried to sense and absorb the natural energy into his body.

The previously vague sense of natural energy became exceptionally clear, but the energy that was active enough to be absorbed and utilized seemed slightly different from when the Toad Sage Technique of Mount Myōboku was used before.

It's largely the same as before, so the Toad Sage Technique is still usable, and its power has increased, but the control over it seems to have involuntarily decreased a lot.

There are gains and losses, but Jiraiya is not upset. Given enough time, he will surely be able to discover even more powerful sage techniques.

However, the risks of self-cultivation seem to be much greater than being taught step by step by the extraordinary immortals of Mount Myōboku.

In an instant, Jiraiya's thoughts fell upon the "World Tree Species." He channeled a wisp of Sage Chakra that was not active enough and not pure enough. As if a hornet's nest had been disturbed, tiny spore-like points of light emanated from the center of a pair of cotyledons that had emerged, drifting toward the dream space. A very few flew back and into the ninja world. Before Jiraiya could stop them, they disappeared into the void and were never seen again.

At the same time, the Sage Mode, which was clunky and sluggish like an old car engine, was activated immediately. From within the budding seed, a surge of Sage Chakra, carrying a vast and chaotic spiritual energy, poured into his body, instantly forcibly fusing several powers within Jiraiya's body together and perfectly controlling them, making them as responsive as his own limbs.

"Impressive. Is this what exceptionally talented individuals experience during their cultivation?"

Indeed, the differences between people are astonishing.

As Jiraiya acted, the Infinite Tsukuyomi in the dream space began to crumble, and the trapped people awoke one after another, fulfilling Kosugi Bokusui's promise.