061 Reborn as the Third Kazekage

Underground Training Grounds, Sunagakure

"Pay attention! The Senjutsu of Yellow Weasel clan is different from others. You must merge natural energy into your chakra dynamically while in motion. The key is to find balance quickly and keep it circulating. Now, run faster!"

Arashi sprinted wildly around the training track, with the weasel Buck perched on his shoulder. The tiny claws on Buck's front paws pressed against the back of Arashi's head, guiding the flow of natural energy.

"Easy for you to say... I'm running... gathering energy... balancing... and circulating it all at once... This is insane!"

Arashi panted heavily as he ran. In response, Buck smacked him on the forehead with a paw.

"You still have the energy to argue? And you call yourself the Kazekage? You might look smart, but you're as clueless as a donkey. You've been training for over six months, and you're still only halfway there."

Arashi sighed in frustration. Yellow Weasel clan's Senjutsu was nothing like the Toad Senjutsu from Myoboku Mountain. According to Buck, how could those who lay eggs and hatch from shells compare to mammals? Their hearts weren't even fully developed!

And truth be told, Buck wasn't wrong. Though this Senjutsu was hard to master, its effectiveness was unmatched. Arashi still struggled with consistency, but when he succeeded, the results were incredible.

Myoboku Mountain's Senjutsu had long activation times and limited duration. Naruto had to rely on multi-shadow clones and massive scrolls just to create a makeshift infinite battery. But against an opponent of equal skill and endurance, he could easily be put at a disadvantage.

Yellow Weasel clan's Senjutsu, on the other hand, had none of these drawbacks. It was like charging for five minutes and getting two hours of power! In theory, once the natural energy was successfully integrated and balanced with the user's chakra, the cycle would continue indefinitely. As long as one's stamina held out, they could fight as long as they wanted!

Arashi stopped talking back and focused. He let his body move mechanically, trying to sense the rhythm of the natural chakra within him.

Buck resumed his instructions.

"The divine energy rises in the mind, settles in the heart, and forms the dual forces of Yin and Yang..."

"It divides into four streams, forming the Four Symbols, and circulates in a perfect cycle..."

Arashi silently recited the incantation, guiding his chakra through the designated pathways in his body.

"Hmm?"

Buck suddenly noticed something different.

Arashi's face began to change. Five thin whisker-like markings appeared on each cheek, while a white mask-like pattern spread around his eyes and nose bridge. 

When Arashi first achieved Sage Mode, he was so baffled by his own transformation that he almost laughed out loud. Other Sage Modes made users glow with divine energy, looking like gods descending from the heavens. Meanwhile, he looked like a comedic side character from a stage play!

But at the end of the day, combat wasn't about looking cool—it was about winning. As long as he could fight and win, who cared about appearances?

"Not bad, not bad! This time, you got it on the third attempt—half an hour faster than last time. Now, let's spar!"

Buck rarely gave praise, but now he twisted his body, leaping off Arashi's shoulder into a battle stance. Without hesitation, Arashi swung his leg in a swift roundhouse kick.

Buck spun mid-air, using Arashi's leg as a foothold, and slashed at his lower body with his claws. Arashi countered with a knife-hand strike, deflecting the blow. He twisted his body like a spinning top, flinging Buck away, then abruptly halted and followed up with another knife-hand strike.

In mere moments, the two exchanged dozens of rapid attacks in mid-air. Their movements were too fast for the naked eye to track, and despite using only physical combat, their strikes echoed with the sound of wind and thunder.

Yellow Weasel clan's Senjutsu was indeed extraordinary. It granted explosive speed and overwhelming force. Before long, the solid, rock-like ground of the training hall was littered with fist and claw imprints.

"Try using ninjutsu!"

Buck leaped high into the air, pulling his claws back to charge energy.

"Sage Art: Ten Shadow Tempest Claws!"

Ten streaks of high-speed, Senjutsu-enhanced wind blades spiraled together, forming a massive, meteor-like projectile. The attack roared like a raging beast as it shot toward Arashi.

"Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!"

For the first time, Arashi used Sage Mode to form this technique. Unexpectedly, the energy sphere in his hands swelled dramatically, its diameter rivaling even Naruto's enhanced versions. It spun at an incredibly high frequency, emitting a deafening hum.

"Not good! Dodge, now!"

Arashi shouted, but the Tempest Claws were already mid-flight—too late to retract. With no other option, he hurled the giant Rasenshuriken with all his might.

The two powerful attacks collided in mid-air! They twisted and clashed violently, creating a sound like a dragon's roar from the depths of hell!

In the end, the Rasenshuriken's sheer force overwhelmed the Tempest Claws, shattering it completely. Without resistance, the Rasenshuriken surged forward, crashing into the ceiling of the training hall.

"Oh no, it's going to collapse!"

Buck, experienced as he was, had sensed danger the moment the Rasenshuriken left Arashi's hand. He immediately flipped mid-air and bolted toward the nearest corner.

Arashi reacted swiftly as well. With Sage Mode active, he activated "Lightning Cloak." His body was instantly enveloped in crackling blue-gold lightning. In the blink of an eye, he reached the safest corner, snatching up Buck along the way and cradling him in his arms.

This training hall was built underground, five meters deep, and was as large as half a football field. But now, its once-sturdy ceiling was crumbling like a rotting wall, collapsing into rubble!

"Crash!"

A thunderous explosion shook the ground as massive chunks of rock and earth came crashing down. In an instant, more than half of the underground training ground's ceiling had collapsed!

Luckily, Arashi had already taken shelter in a corner. The fallen concrete slabs formed a natural safety triangle against the walls, keeping him from being buried alive.

"Damn! What kind of technique was that? That was insane!"

Buck, still nestled in Arashi's arms, let out an exasperated huff.

"Cough, cough… I got careless, alright? Should've trained out in the desert instead. Almost got myself buried like an idiot."

Arashi coughed violently, trying to shake off the dust.

"Not to argue, but… we are buried. Maybe it's time to take a quick trip back to the Yellow Weasel clan?"

"No need, no need. I'll just blast our way out. Rasengan—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! You sit right there!"

Buck hurriedly smacked Arashi's outstretched palm before he could complete the technique.

"If you fire off another one of those, we'll be buried even deeper!"

"Fine, fine. I'll use iron sand then—"

Before Arashi could finish, the weight pressing down on them suddenly shifted. A massive slab of concrete was lifted away, revealing an opening above.

Sunlight streamed in.

Arashi and Buck looked up to see Rasa standing there, manipulating a golden sand construct shaped like a giant hand.

"Good thing I came looking for you," Rasa said, raising an eyebrow. "Pakura mentioned you were training here, but damn, I wasn't expecting this mess."

"Gotta stay sharp."

Arashi dusted himself off, stepping out of the rubble.

"Speaking of which, get some people to clean this up."

"Clean up? Clean up what?!"

Rasa gestured at the destruction around them. The underground training field looked like it had been hit by a full-scale earthquake.

Arashi surveyed the wreckage and let out a sheepish chuckle.

"Still, patch it up. The place has been standing for decades. I'll cover the costs myself."

Buck rolled his eyes. "I'm outta here." With a puff of smoke, he disappeared.

Arashi turned back to Rasa.

"So, what's the issue?"

"It's Amegakure. There's been trouble again."