275 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

At that moment, Tobirama Senju spoke up, "Have you considered the method used by the Three Great Summoning Sanctuaries?"

"The method of the Three Great Summoning Sanctuaries?" Akira was momentarily stunned but quickly understood what Tobirama meant.

The Three Great Summoning Sanctuaries were places rich in natural energy, shaped both by nature and by deliberate effort.

The latter was the work of the three Great Sages, who employed various techniques to channel natural energy, making the sanctuaries increasingly saturated with it.

"Second Hokage, you've given me a great reminder. I hadn't thought of this before." Akira smiled.

"Even the most meticulous plans can have an oversight. It's normal," Tobirama said casually, shaking his head.

"I'll need Lady Tsunade's help with this." Akira continued.

"If you need something from Little Tsuna, just say it directly," Tobirama replied, understanding Akira's intent.

As the summoner of Shikkotsu Forest, Tsunade had a close relationship with the Slug Sage. She could ask the Sage how it managed to draw in such a vast amount of natural energy.

Rather than figuring it out alone, why not learn from those who had already mastered it?

Tsunade, who had been meditating and attempting to sense the Earth's energy, opened her eyes and looked at Akira.

"You need something from me?"

"Please summon the Slug Sage. I have something to ask her," Akira requested.

"No need for a full summoning, just a small clone will do," Tobirama reminded.

Although she didn't know what they were planning, Tsunade didn't hesitate. She immediately summoned a three-meter-tall slug clone.

"Greetings, Sage," Akira greeted first.

"Fifth Hokage, you're too polite," the Slug Sage responded in its gentle voice.

In the next instant, as the slug extended its senses, a shocked voice emerged.

"This... this is the God Tree...?! Fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade, what are you trying to do!?"

Tsunade crossed her arms and said in a deep voice, "Fifth Hokage, you explain it. I need to continue my training."

"Here's the situation, Sage..." Akira looked at the slug clone and patiently explained everything.

"I see... So, besides the planet's energy, there's also energy from the stars!" After a while, the Slug Sage murmured in realization.

Akira was surprised. "Sage, you're familiar with planetary energy?"

"Of course. Not just me—the White Snake Sage and the Great Toad Sage also know about it and can utilize it," the slug explained.

Akira nodded in understanding. No wonder the Great Sages of the Three Summoning Sanctuaries were so powerful.

The slug continued, "It's not that we are unwilling to teach this more advanced Sage Mode, but rather that humans have lifespans too short to master it."

"To grasp this higher level of Sage Mode, one must first achieve a permanent Sage State, extend their lifespan significantly, and then gradually gain mastery over time."

Akira nodded in acknowledgment.

In fact, the Three Sanctuaries were already generous in teaching humans the standard Sage Mode. They weren't obligated to share more advanced knowledge.

Pushing the matter further would be pointless and could only lead to unnecessary complications.

"Sage, would you be willing to teach me the method for gathering natural and planetary energy? In exchange, once I master the ability to harness stellar energy, I will share my knowledge with you immediately," Akira proposed.

"Of course." The Slug Sage had no objections.

No one would turn down an opportunity to become stronger.

Moreover, the existence of stellar energy piqued the Sage's curiosity.

After a millennium of tranquility, something had finally reignited its interest.

"However, based on your description, stellar energy appears to be much stronger than planetary energy. My method may not be entirely effective," the Sage cautioned.

Akira nodded. "That's fine. I just need a reference point."

"Understood." The Slug Sage gave a nearly imperceptible nod before saying, "Fifth Hokage, have Lady Tsunade summon me again in an hour. I need time to prepare."

With those words, the slug disappeared in a puff of smoke.

An hour later, amidst another cloud of smoke, the three-meter slug reappeared.

This time, it brought along a massive scroll, nearly as tall as a person.

"Fifth Hokage, the detailed methods are all recorded within this scroll. I hope it proves useful," the slug said.

Akira expressed his gratitude sincerely. "Thank you, Sage."

"I hope you can defeat the Otsutsuki from the stars. We so-called Sages certainly cannot," the slug said, a rare trace of worry in its voice.

"Victory will belong to the life of this planet!" Akira declared with unwavering determination.

Gazing at the three God Trees, identical to those in its memories, the Slug Sage murmured,

"Perhaps... you really can do it."

With those parting words, another puff of smoke rose, and the Slug Sage vanished.

By now, Tobirama had already unrolled the scroll and was carefully studying it.

As he examined the densely packed sealing patterns and sparse explanatory text, his head began to ache.

It was clearly an incredibly advanced sealing technique.

While Tobirama was skilled in sealing techniques compared to most shinobi, he was nowhere near his elder brother and sister-in-law in this field.

"So, this technique refines chakra using that new form of Sage Mode as its foundation..." After a while, Tobirama shook his head. "I'm afraid this is beyond me!"

He turned to Akira and said, "Fifth Hokage, it looks like this is something only you can handle."

Then, shifting his gaze back to the scroll, he added, "From what I can tell, successfully channeling stellar energy on a large scale requires you to have already mastered a Sage Mode based on that energy."

Looking at the contents of the scroll, Akira slowly nodded.

"It does seem to align with what you're saying, Second Hokage."

Attempting to siphon energy directly from the Earth was out of the question—it would be a slow form of suicide.

If the Earth's energy were depleted, all life on the planet would perish. That was obviously unacceptable.

Without first mastering a Sage Mode that utilized stellar energy, even attempting this technique was meaningless.

That was the essence of this sealing technique.

A Sage Mode based on natural energy would attract more natural energy.

A Sage Mode based on planetary energy would draw in planetary energy.

So, unless one mastered a Sage Mode that used stellar energy as its core, there was no point in even testing this technique.