272 Naruto: Snatching the Mangekyō

This brand-new Sage Mode was incredibly powerful, but its training was extremely difficult. It required mastering the fusion of four different types of energy to create a completely new form of senjutsu power.

Planetary energy, natural energy, the ninja's physical energy, and spiritual energy—all four had to be blended in a precise 1:1:1:1 ratio to form this new sage power.

The ratio itself wasn't hard to determine. The real challenge lay in fully controlling the planetary energy.

This was no easy feat, it required immense strength just to attempt it.

"This new Sage Mode is powerful, but it's still not enough to reach the level of the Six Paths. It's not enough to contend with the Ōtsutsuki!" Akira thought to himself.

Still, he wasn't discouraged. This was merely the power of the planet itself—there was still the energy of the stars to consider.

Once he mastered stellar energy, his Sage Mode would undoubtedly reach an even higher level. At that point, he would truly have the strength to stand against the Ōtsutsuki.

He had a strong premonition—when stellar energy was incorporated into Sage Mode, the resulting power would be absolutely terrifying!

With a hint of amusement, Akira murmured to himself, "Since this Sage Mode is derived from the energy of the Earth, I'll call it the Earth Sage Mode."

Human Sage, Earth Sage, and Celestial Sage—these were the three tiers of Sage Mode he had envisioned, each corresponding to a different level of natural energy.

Compared to the energy of the planet, the energy from the stars was not only endless but also denser and far more difficult to control.

At present, even with his immense strength, Akira could only pull that energy toward himself, he couldn't yet wield it freely.

Harnessing and integrating it into his body to forge an even stronger Sage Mode was still beyond his reach.

With a flicker, Akira vanished, reappearing next to Tsunade and the others, who were attempting to sense the planet's energy.

Sensing his arrival, Hikari was the first to open her eyes from her meditation, curiously looking at him.

"Did you make a breakthrough?"

"That's right," Akira nodded. "I've successfully mastered a new Sage Mode."

"How strong is it?" Uchiha Hikari's eyes lit up with anticipation.

At this, the others also turned their attention to Akira, eager to learn more about this new power.

Meeting Hikari's gaze, Akira smirked. "Hold out your hand—I'll let you experience it firsthand."

Without hesitation, Hikari extended her delicate, pale right hand.

Akira placed his palm against hers, channeling his newly refined sage chakra—crafted with planetary energy—into her body.

This was pure senjutsu chakra. He had deliberately excluded any influence from the Ten Tails' power.

Even so, his refined sage chakra was far stronger than ordinary senjutsu energy.

After all, his very being had undergone a fundamental transformation. Ever since merging with the Ten Tails and the Ōtsutsuki, he was no longer the same as before.

In an instant, Hikari's expression shifted to one of shock as she murmured, "This chakra… it's incredibly powerful!"

Before their eyes, her slender, pale arm began to bulge, writhing unnaturally before solidifying into stone.

Even as a Ten Tails Jinchūriki, Hikari found herself unable to control this unfamiliar senjutsu chakra upon first contact.

"Just senjutsu chakra alone… I refuse to believe I can't handle this!" Hikari's Sharingan spun fiercely as she activated the Ten Tails' power, causing its energy to surge through her.

Slowly, the sage chakra Uchiha Akira had transferred into her body dissipated, absorbed by her own energy.

"This really is something else! I can't wait to see how this power can be used in the future!" Hikari grinned.

Curious, Tobirama turned to Akira. "I have to ask, Fifth Hokage—if this new sage chakra were fused with the Ten Tails' power, just how strong would the result be?"

It was clear that Akira had only demonstrated the pure energy of this new Sage Mode.

"My situation is a bit unique," Akira explained. "My chakra has already merged with the Ōtsutsuki and the Ten Tails, making it far stronger than a normal ninja's. So even if someone else masters this Sage Mode, they won't be as powerful as I am."

"I understand that," Tobirama nodded. "But the others here aren't weak. The Ten Tails' power is already at its peak—if this new chakra is added on top, their strength will undoubtedly rise to another level."

They all knew that Akira's chakra was already beyond the ordinary.

His refined sage chakra was naturally stronger than that of others.

"Let me test the intensity myself," Uchiha Hikari said with a smirk, extending her right hand again.

No one objected. Among those present, she was the most suitable for this task.

As a Ten Tails Jinchūriki, she possessed an almost immortal body, making her the best candidate.

"Be careful," Akira warned.

Then, he placed his palm against hers once more.

In an instant, Hikari's expression changed drastically.

Her right hand rapidly swelled, turning to stone before their eyes!

The petrification spread at an alarming rate, creeping up her arm.

With a sudden, decisive motion, Hikari tore off her own right arm without hesitation.

Boom!

With a dull thud, her stone-arm crashed to the ground, kicking up a small cloud of dust.

"It's even stronger than I expected!" Hikari scowled, acknowledging the terrifying power of this new chakra.

Uchiha Akira spoke calmly. "This is simply the strength of my chakra—it doesn't mean everyone who masters this Sage Mode will be this strong. That's unrealistic."

Staring at her severed, stone-carved arm, Hikari shook her head. Internally, however, she was even more intrigued by this new senjutsu.

At her level, regular training had long ceased to be useful—only something on the level of the God Tree's fruit could help her grow stronger.

But now, this new Sage Mode gave her a renewed sense of hope.

"If an ordinary ninja—someone without Six Paths power—were to master this senjutsu, how much stronger would they become?" Tobirama posed a crucial question.

"It would definitely be stronger than the previous Sage Mode," Akira replied. "But the degree of improvement isn't fixed—it depends on the individual."

He wasn't sure of the exact limits, but he knew it would surpass the old Sage Mode.

Previously, Sage Mode could elevate a jōnin to Kage-level, even placing them among the stronger Kage.

According to Akira's estimates, this new Sage Mode had an even greater amplification—potentially pushing users to the brink of the so-called "Super Kage" level.

And if someone already at that level mastered this Sage Mode, they might be able to challenge the likes of Tsunade, Uchiha Fugaku, or Uchiha Shisui.

In the end, the stronger one's base power, the less dramatic the improvement would be—but the potential for growth was undeniable.