Kushina had actually begun training in Akio's Sage Mode earlier, but the first to succeed was Konan.
That didn't mean Konan had greater natural talent for senjutsu. The only reason she finished sooner was simple: she could devote far more uninterrupted time to training. Kushina, after all, still had a certain hyperactive blond kid to look after.
Before Akio's eyes, Konan absorbed enough natural energy in roughly three minutes and entered Sage Mode. Because she still couldn't fully control senjutsu chakra, her pupils took on a faint blue glow, the only visible change to her appearance.
Honestly… Konan was very blue right now.
Light-blue hair. Light-blue eyes. A pale-blue paper flower on the right side of her head. Blue-violet eye shadow.
She could practically rebrand herself as "Blue."
Konan, for her part, was quite pleased. She'd always loved the color.
"Why is it that every woman who learns Sage Mode turns blue?" Akio muttered thoughtfully. "Tsunade did, Konan did… Kushina probably won't. With the Nine-Tails' chakra mixed in, her eyes will likely turn… red?"
After indulging that pointless thought, Akio refocused on Konan.
"You've only grasped the basics for now. Judging by how quickly senjutsu chakra is leaking off you, you can probably maintain Sage Mode for two, maybe three minutes at most."
When Konan used his Sage Mode, not only did her chakra faintly resonate with his, Akio could actually see the senjutsu chakra leaking from her body.
Very blue. Extremely blue.
Konan nodded. "I tested it earlier. Just under three minutes."
"And the power?" Akio asked eagerly.
She smiled. "Massive. My techniques are at least ten times stronger. I haven't tested everything yet."
Akio nodded in satisfaction. "Of course they are. My senjutsu better be strong. So, think you can beat that idiot Nagato now?"
"Yo, Sensei, I'm standing right here."
Konan turned toward Nagato with a light smile. At the same time, her Sage Mode ran out and automatically disengaged.
"The duration's still too short," Akio said. "But that'll improve with familiarity. Let's head to the stadium and see what this really does in combat."
Land of Whirlpools — Training Stadium
Nagato was getting absolutely chased down by Konan.
Her attack pattern was straightforward. Using Paper Person of God, she formed a pair of wings, then unleashed Paper Rain countless paper blades firing rapidly from the wings. The paper could snap back and reform, creating a continuous firing loop.
That was the normal version.
In Sage Mode, every paper blade was coated in pale-blue senjutsu chakra. Their speed increased by an order of magnitude. The paper burned violently from air friction, and by the time it reached Nagato, it had turned into clusters of faint blue fireballs.
The raw damage wasn't overwhelming but the speed and sheer volume were terrifying.
Put simply:
Konan's wings had turned into twin Gatling guns that fired blue flames.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat.
Nagato wasn't holding back. Konan's firepower was simply overwhelming. He'd underestimated her and let her strike first—now he didn't even have time to form hand seals for an Earth Wall.
Thankfully, her method had a weakness.
Once the paper burned up, it couldn't be recycled.
After about thirty seconds, both wings were completely gone. Konan had to pause to "reload," giving Nagato a brief chance to breathe.
He immediately raised an Earth-Release defense.
Konan switched tactics.
From Gatling gun to sniper rifle.
Paper layered together, forming massive paper spears. Each strike detonated on impact.
By the time the three-minute Sage Mode limit expired, Nagato was filthy, battered, and thoroughly suppressed.
Akio was extremely pleased. The power was excellent and unexpectedly compatible with Konan's fighting style. At this point, unless Nagato used Sage Mode or Dust Release, he'd be completely outmatched.
"If Kushina pulls this off," Akio mused, "even Minato's going to struggle against her…
…Then again, he never really fights back anyway."
His two students stood before him. Konan was beaming, this was the first time in over a decade that she'd ever gained the upper hand against Nagato in sparring.
Which, frankly, explained a lot about why Nagato was still single.
"Yo! Sensei, your Sage Mode is amazing! I want to switch and learn this too!"
Akio froze, then his face darkened.
"Idiot. It's not that Sage Mode is strong, it's that Konan is strong. You learning it would be a waste."
Nagato scratched his head. "Is that so?"
Konan smiled gently. "Sensei, it is your Sage Mode that's strong."
Akio nodded smugly. "Naturally. I am a true Sage."
Nagato: ???
He didn't get it but agreeing was safer. "Right! Sensei's Sage Mode is amazing because Konan got stronger."
Akio's eye twitched.
Konan smiled. "Sensei, Nagato, I'll head back and continue training."
"Good," Akio said. "Senjutsu takes time. Just focus on familiarity for now. In a few days, take Kimimaro and the others on a simple A-rank mission."
"I understand, Sensei."
After watching Konan leave, Akio turned back to Nagato, his expression more serious.
"From now on, keep a shadow clone stationed near Ichiraku Ramen at all times. Protect Sara."
Nagato stiffened. "Sensei… the letter from before?"
Akio sighed. "Enemy or ally, we don't know yet, and there's no clear way to investigate. I've already placed safeguards on Sara. I'll also set up several barrier arrays around the ramen shop. With your shadow clone added, it'll be enough."
Nagato hesitated. "Then why… not leave your shadow clone?"
Akio glared at him. "Stop asking stupid questions and do it."
"Yo!" Nagato nodded.
Akio relaxed. If he left a clone behind, who knew when it would wander off and cause trouble. Nagato might say "yo" a lot, but when it mattered, he was reliable.
As he thought that, Akio suddenly felt another ripple in his chakra.
"Konan shouldn't be home yet… so this must be Kushina," he murmured. "Perfect timing, she succeeded today too."
"I wonder how strong her Sage Mode is…"
Meanwhile — Konoha Village
At Kushina's house.
She burst out of the inner room, practically vibrating with excitement, and stopped in front of Minato.
"Great-Grandpa's Sage Mode finally worked! Sunny, find somewhere we can test it!"
Minato blinked.
Then he saw her eyes burning crimson, sharp enough to tear into him
and immediately panicked.
---
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