Chapter 148: Temporary Substitute
When it came to "preparation," there really wasn't much for Mizuki to do — he just had to wait for his Chakra Suppression Technique to gather enough chakra. The rest was mental readiness. Ironically, the supposedly most difficult step — sensing natural energy — was not the real hurdle for him. The hardest part lay in control — maintaining the perfect balance between chakra and natural energy to avoid being swallowed whole.
In the past, Mizuki had failed to sense natural energy because he fundamentally misunderstood it. The term "natural energy" misled him into thinking it was easier to sense in untouched, wild areas like forests. That, it turned out, was wrong.
Natural energy — whoever coined the term — wasn't exactly inaccurate, but it lacked precision. Mizuki had come to understand that natural energy was a product of the entire world: every living being contributed to its formation, including humans. Thus, instead of searching for it in remote mountains, sensing natural energy in populated areas was actually just as — if not more — effective, provided one could calm their mind.
Although the exact origins of Sage Mode had long been lost to history, it was clear that chakra — the very basis of all jutsu — came from Ōtsutsuki Kaguya. Only after chakra entered the world did humanity begin to utilize natural energy to develop Sage techniques. Natural energy likely existed long before chakra, but only after humans acquired chakra did they discover a way to truly use it.
But humans... were weak. Unlike the great Tailed Beasts, humans' frail bodies couldn't handle natural energy's intensity. Furthermore, humanity's separation from nature — their worship of the God Tree and Kaguya — had cut them off from the world's embrace. Over time, their ability to sense natural energy atrophied almost to extinction.
Yet despite this "estrangement," natural energy itself hadn't weakened. Why? Mizuki speculated it was because the Tailed Beasts had unconsciously filled the void left by humanity's retreat. Being born from the Ten-Tails, molded by human will, the Tailed Beasts might have unknowingly supported the natural balance humanity had abandoned.
"Turning humans into Jinchūriki was actually a good idea... just completely misused."
Rather than sealing Tailed Beasts inside humans like weapons, Mizuki believed the proper use was closer to his own method: creating autonomous clone vessels that could coexist with tailed beast chakra. Jinchūriki, as they were traditionally made, lived tragic lives. Without Naruto's miraculous influence, most would have remained mere sacrificial pawns.
Humanity had inherited the sins of their ancestors: a thousand years of prejudice and scorn from the world itself, even though those who had made the original mistakes were long dead. Only Kaguya and Black Zetsu remained from that era. The world's "immune reaction" against humans persisted unfairly, but in some ways, it made sense. Humanity had harbored hidden threats — like Kaguya's will (Black Zetsu) and the mysterious cults worshiping forbidden powers like Jashin.
There were other interfering forces too. Sage clans like Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest manipulated human destinies subtly, often providing "aid" while laying hidden traps. The so-called "training" in Sage Mode often left humans dead or petrified.
"Helping humans? Hmph. More like using them."
Even those who succeeded, like Jiraiya, ended up as unwitting tools. Wars devastated the ninja world century after century. It was no wonder the world itself — and those who governed natural energy — became increasingly wary of humans.
And then there was Mizuki's key discovery: natural energy could be sensed by borrowing the power of Tailed Beasts.
Humans lacked the innate ability to absorb natural energy efficiently. But creatures like the Tailed Beasts, born from the Ten-Tails and filled with massive chakra reserves, could facilitate that connection. Naruto, as a Jinchūriki, had an easier time mastering Sage Mode than even Jiraiya. Kabuto's success was pure obsessive madness, and Minato's incomplete Sage Mode was evidence of pure genius.
Thanks to his pseudo-One-Tail clone, Mizuki now had access to enormous amounts of Shukaku's chakra. He could afford to experiment recklessly. After dozens of trials, he learned that by introducing tiny amounts of tailed beast chakra into his body, he could faintly sense an unfamiliar, heavy, oppressive energy — natural energy.
"Still, the disruption it causes to chakra control is insane..."
Mizuki couldn't help but marvel at how Naruto — with his famously poor control — could eventually wield both Kurama's chakra and Sage Mode simultaneously. Truly, the Child of Destiny lived under the world's constant favor.
Unfortunately, Mizuki faced another big issue: his Yin-Yang balance was broken.
Because of the Curse Mark implanted by Orochimaru, Mizuki's spiritual and physical energies were skewed. Normally, to achieve Sage Mode, a perfect equilibrium between the body (Yang energy), spirit (Yin energy), and natural energy was required. Mizuki's imbalance, while manageable in daily life, became a major roadblock for Sage training.
"Damn Yin energy..."
One solution would be to transplant a Sharingan — a natural Yin-attribute organ. But Mizuki wasn't about to gouge out someone's eye, nor could he perform such a surgery on himself.
Another idea: use techniques from the Nara or Yamanaka clans, experts in Yin chakra. But again, that would require cooperation Mizuki knew he couldn't easily secure.
In the end, Mizuki decided: he needed to artificially replace the missing Yin balance.
And the answer lay in a small trick buried inside the Inuzuka clan's summoning contract: Harvesting mental energy fluctuations from summoned creatures.
Using a soul-gathering array, Mizuki could siphon a little Yin chakra from his numerous personal summons. This reservoir would then substitute for his own missing Yin energy during Sage Mode attempts.
"It's a temporary solution... but it'll do for now."
The road ahead was still treacherous. Even without Mount Myōboku's cursed assistance, natural energy's corrosive power was real. But Mizuki was determined. He couldn't afford hesitation any longer — not with his promotion test looming and a brewing storm ready to engulf Konoha.
…
After a few more painstaking days, Kakashi finally returned from Kirigakure, bringing news of the Mist Village's civil war. Since it didn't directly threaten Konoha, the higher-ups didn't pay much attention — they had enough problems of their own.
A few days later, Asuma Sarutobi also returned from the Land of Earth, though he was too busy for Mizuki to get details on the situation.
Finally, after another week, Jiraiya and Naruto returned to the village — accompanied by a glamorous blond woman carrying a tiny pig.
Tsunade had come home.
With the new Fifth Hokage officially back, the unease that had gripped Konoha for months began to fade. Although the inauguration ceremony was scheduled three days later, Tsunade immediately began work, drowning under a mountain of paperwork and critical patients.
As for Mizuki?
He barely managed to catch a glimpse of her.
There would be time enough soon. The real challenges — and opportunities — were just beginning.
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