"Lady Tsunade," Fujimoto Tōma said seriously, "the great toad's prophecy about a crisis threatening the entire shinobi world is close to becoming reality."
"This enemy is far beyond anything we've faced before. Even if the First Hokage were alive, he might not be able to resolve it cleanly."
As he spoke, Tōma clenched his fist. There was no fear in his eyes. Only hunger.
"My current strength still isn't enough."
"…That dangerous?" Tsunade frowned. She knew better than anyone how overwhelming her grandfather had been.
If someone else had said this, she would've dismissed it as ignorance.
But Tōma was different.
From her perspective, he was already approaching that level. If he said it, then it was likely true.
"Yes," Tōma said. "All three great sages have delivered similar warnings."
That made Tsunade lean back heavily in her chair. The shinobi world had barely enjoyed a moment of quiet. Compared to true war, Orochimaru's invasion and the Akatsuki's actions were still small-scale chaos.
"So it's coming again…" she muttered. "Looks like I'll need to spend more time training too."
Becoming Hokage hadn't dulled her edge. She'd reclaimed much of the experience she'd abandoned years ago.
Still, at her stage, growth was painfully slow.
"Well then, I'll be going," Tōma said, standing.
He paused mid-step.
"You're leaving already?" Tsunade asked. "What now?"
"There's one more thing," Tōma replied. "About Naruto."
That immediately caught her attention. Naruto reminded her too much of her brother for her not to care.
"He doesn't have any urgent missions right now," Tōma continued. "I plan to send him to Mount Myōboku to train in Sage Mode."
After careful thought, this was the best choice. With Flying Thunder God, logistics weren't a problem.
"Sage Mode…" Tsunade considered it, then nodded. "For Naruto, it actually fits."
She knew the requirements. And she also knew why she herself had no chance of learning it.
"If it's good for him," she said, "then I'll leave Naruto to you."
Not long after Tōma left, Yamanaka Inoichi arrived at the Hokage Tower and completed the memory probe on Yamato.
The results were decisive.
While still an infant submerged in nutrient fluid, Yamato had indeed seen Danzo standing beside Orochimaru. Combined with the scroll's contents, it was more than enough.
Inoichi even confirmed that Yamato had been seized by Root and delivered directly to the laboratory. An unexpected bonus.
Tsunade continued her work afterward, forcing herself to stay calm. Moments like this demanded patience, not haste.
Behind Konoha, in the forested training grounds, Tōma watched Uzumaki Naruto struggle with Wind Style: Rasenshuriken.
Honestly, Naruto's progress was slower than in the original timeline. And it wasn't his fault.
Back then, Naruto had always been pushed to the brink. Rasenshuriken had been tied to the Immortal Duo mission. Sage Mode to Konoha's survival itself.
Now, most dangers had been intercepted by Tōma.
Without that pressure, Naruto reaching this level was already impressive.
Tōma watched him train and smiled faintly. Naruto had that rare, straightforward resolve. Once he set his mind on something, he gave it everything.
The old Naruto had gone beyond "everything." He'd crushed himself forward.
Maybe this pace was healthier.
"Naruto," Tōma called.
"Huh? Tōma?" Naruto stopped, dispelled his shadow clones, and ran over, eyes bright. "You came!"
"How's Rasenshuriken training?" Tōma asked. Naruto really had grown.
Naruto's face immediately fell. "No progress at all. I can't throw it! Are you sure this jutsu is meant to be thrown?"
"If you can't do it, don't blame the jutsu."
"But I've trained forever…" Naruto complained.
Tōma thought for a moment. "Don't resist. I'll control your body briefly."
"…Huh?"
Naruto didn't understand how that was even possible, but he trusted Tōma.
The next moment, Tōma activated the Spirit Projection Technique.
"Wait, isn't this like Ino's jutsu? Then why is your body still moving?!" Naruto exclaimed from within his mind.
Tōma ignored him, focusing instead on Naruto's body.
The more he sensed, the more amazed he became. Naruto's physique was absurd. Even after his own modifications, Tōma couldn't guarantee superiority.
Inside were three chakra signatures. Minato's. Kushina's. And the vast, roaring presence of the Nine-Tails.
He searched deeper. Nothing.
As expected. Even from within, Asura's chakra couldn't be directly sensed.
"This isn't Mind Transfer," Tōma explained calmly. "Different technique. Don't worry about it."
"Oh." Naruto accepted that instantly.
Tōma felt the parental chakra signatures relax slightly. Good. He really didn't want to find out what would happen if Minato and Kushina decided to jump him.
"Pay attention," Tōma said.
He gathered Naruto's chakra into the palm. The density made the air tremble.
That familiar, high-pitched whine filled the forest.
A fully formed, violently spinning white Rasenshuriken bloomed in Naruto's hand.
Tōma exhaled in relief. Controlling another person's chakra was harder than expected. If he hadn't been deeply familiar with the jutsu, he might've failed outright.
Helping others cheat like this can't become a habit, he noted. Getting used to someone else's chakra is dangerous.
"Maintain it," Tōma said. "I'm pulling out."
"Got it!"
When Tōma withdrew, the Rasenshuriken wobbled, then stabilized.
Naruto stared at it in awe.
For the first time, he felt it.
He hurled it forward. The explosion tore through an empty clearing.
"…I think I got it!" Naruto said, staring at his hands. "I really got the feeling!"
"Good. Remember it," Tōma replied. "But I didn't come just for that."
"Huh? Then why?"
"That was just coincidence," Tōma said flatly. "Naruto, did Jiraiya-sensei ever mention Sage Mode to you?"
"Sage… Mode?" Naruto scratched his head. After thinking hard, he shook it.
As expected.
Tōma smiled. "It's a power strong enough to let you completely surpass Jiraiya-sensei."
Naruto gasped.
"And," Tōma added casually, "it's something I can't use."
Naruto's eyes went wide.
"That's impossible," he blurted. "You can't do it?!"
"I can't."
"I'LL LEARN IT!" Naruto shouted instantly, eyes blazing.
If he mastered something even Tōma couldn't use…
That alone made his blood boil.