Naruto: Chronicles of a Fire Ninja-Chapter 368 - 363: Awakening of Power

When Jiraiya materialized on Mount Myoboku, the familiar scent of moss and ancient stone filled his nostrils. The mountain was shrouded in its perpetual mist.

Fukasaku was waiting for him, the elderly toad's expression more serious than usual. "Jiraiya-boy, what took you so long? I have been waiting for you for so long."

"Konoha was attacked, Fukasaku-san. I had to handle some stuff before I could come here," Jiraiya explained.

"Fine, but your student is not in good shape as well."

"What's wrong with Kaida?" Jiraiya asked, immediately noting the concern in his master's voice.

They walked along the stone path, passing by the massive statues of legendary toads. "The boy is... evolving," Fukasaku said carefully, choosing his words. "When I brought him here, his chakra was already in chaos. The awakening of the Mangekyo Sharingan triggered something different. Normally when a Sharingan evolves, it has some effect on the chakra. Now that the evolution is so drastic, it has a very big effect on his body. A normal Uchiha body is not much responsive and will do bare minimum to adjust to the changes, but his is doing its best to mold itself according to the new power it was getting."

Jiraiya's steps faltered. "Mangekyo? So he did awaken it after witnessing his friend's death."

"Yes, but that's not the concerning part." Fukasaku stopped at a junction in the path, turning to face his student. "His chakra reserves, which were already remarkable, have tripled since his arrival. And they're still growing."

"And his body is trying to mold itself for that change," Jiraiya said.

"It should be impossible," Fukasaku agreed. "But it's happening. His body was struggling to contain this explosive growth. Under normal circumstances, his chakra network would have been torn apart, his body too underdeveloped to handle such power."

They resumed walking, heading toward a structure carved into the living rock of the mountain. "Since you had asked me to take care of the body, I did some things from my side to make sure that body will not become crippled for his life," Fukasaku continued.

"Thank you, Fukasaku-san, but what did you do?" Jiraiya asked.

"We've been using carefully controlled amounts of natural energy to help his body adapt to these changes."

"Senjutsu chakra?" Jiraiya's eyes widened. "That's incredibly risky. The slightest imbalance could turn him to stone."

"For you yes, but for us not that difficult. Are you forgetting that it is me and Ma who provide you with senjutsu chakra when you fight? Why do you think it will be difficult for us to do so for a body who is not moving that much?" Fukasaku asked.

"You got a point there," Jiraiya said with an awkward laugh. While discussing, they reached a massive wooden door, ancient seals carved into its surface. "See for yourself."

The door opened to reveal a chamber bathed in soft green light. At its center stood a crystalline tank filled with translucent liquid that seemed to pulse with its own inner light. Suspended within was Kaida, his body floating peacefully in the strange substance. Three elderly toads sat cross-legged around the tank, their webbed hands pressed against its surface as they channeled chakra into the liquid.

Jiraiya approached the tank slowly, studying his student's face. Despite the circumstances that had brought him here, Kaida looked serene, almost peaceful. And unlike what Fukasaku had said, he didn't look to be in any danger at all—quite the contrary, he looked much healthier than before. His physique had changed and was becoming more lean and muscular while his height had also increased by a few centimeters.

"The healing waters of Mount Myoboku, along with various herbs from the mountains near us," Fukasaku explained, noting Jiraiya's questioning look. "Combined with natural energy, they're helping his body adapt to these changes. All these elders are seeing the process personally, so there is nothing for you to worry about."

"When can I take him back to the village?" Jiraiya asked, placing a hand against the cool surface of the tank.

Fukasaku shook his head. "Not yet. The natural energy we've used to stabilize him needs time to properly integrate with his system. Remove him too soon, and his body will either explode from chakra overload or turn to stone from unbalanced nature energy."

Jiraiya nodded, already expecting something like this. "The village and his family can wait. Please take good care of him, Fukasaku-san."

"There's something else you should know," Fukasaku said, his voice lowering. "Before falling into his current sleep, the Great Sage spoke of your student. He said the boy could become crucial to the future—if he doesn't become hell-bent on destroying the world."

Jiraiya's expression hardened but then he remembered something and sighed. "That won't happen. Unlike many Uchiha, Kaida, though he lost something precious, still has strong bonds tying him to the village. His girlfriend, Yomi, survived. He has family in Shisui, Naruto, and Hae. He won't fall into darkness so easily."

"Perhaps," Fukasaku conceded. "But expecting him to remain unchanged after this would be foolish. The power he's gaining, the trauma he's experienced—these things leave marks on the soul, Jiraiya-boy. Even if he doesn't turn to darkness, the Kaida who leaves this mountain won't be the same one who arrived with you few days prior."

They stood in silence for a moment, watching the gentle swirl of the healing waters. The elderly toads maintaining the tank haven't moved or spoken, their concentration absolute as they regulated the flow of natural energy.

"How much has his chakra increased since you brought him here?" Jiraiya asked finally.

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"It's still growing," Fukasaku replied. "We're monitoring it carefully. The rate of increase has slowed but hasn't stopped. His Mangekyo seems to be acting as a catalyst, pushing his body to evolve beyond normal limitations. We've never seen anything quite like it."

Jiraiya ran a hand through his white hair, thinking. "The combination of Senju and Uchiha blood, plus the emotional trauma of awakening the Mangekyo... it's creating something new. Something unseen," Jiraiya said.

"Indeed. The Great Sage seemed particularly interested in this development. Before entering his sleep, he instructed us to take special care with the boy's treatment if something like this happened. Whatever Kaida is becoming, it's significant enough to catch his attention," Fukasaku said. Even though he didn't know what the combination of these two bloodlines meant, it was different for the Great Sage who had seen what an Otsutsuki is. The toad sage had witnessed that power himself, the power of gods themselves, and what Kaida is—an inferior version of the said person. But both Jiraiya and Fukasaku didn't know about this, and for them, whatever was happening to Kaida was unknown.

After some more time, "Keep him safe," Jiraiya said finally. "I need to return to Konoha and manage the fallout from this attack. But send word immediately if anything changes."

Fukasaku nodded. "Of course. And Jiraiya-boy?" he called as his former student turned to leave. "Remember what I said. When he wakes, he'll need guidance more than ever. Power like this... it changes people, whether they want it to or not."

"I know," Jiraiya replied softly. "But I have faith in him. His heart is strong, and his bonds are stronger. He won't walk the path of hatred that so many others have chosen."

As Jiraiya prepared to return to Konoha, he cast one last look at his student floating in the healing waters. The boy's face remained peaceful, giving no hint of the tremendous changes occurring within him. Whatever Kaida became when he finally awakened, Jiraiya silently vowed to be there to guide him—away from the darkness that had claimed so many powerful shinobi before him, and toward a future worthy of the sacrifices that had brought him to this point.

***

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