Chapter 464: Naruto's Great Shortcut
The matter Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen were discussing was the application list for Impure World Reincarnation.
At present, the demand across the ninja world for Amegakure's Impure World Reincarnation service was entirely based on relationships between family and friends.
Even when the Mizukage, Terumi Mei, resurrected Hozuki Gengetsu, it was only for the sake of her own Kirigakure.
But Jiraiya did not care about developing ninja villages.
What Jiraiya cared about was peace in the ninja world.
Just as the Great Toad Sage's prophecy had foretold, and just as Otsutsuki Isshiki had once said about Koji Kashin, it felt as though Jiraiya's destiny itself existed for that purpose.
So Jiraiya had no interest in Konoha's development.
No matter how bad Konoha became, people there would not starve to death.
The survival of the ninja world, however, was what truly mattered.
Once the Otsutsuki descended, even the aftershocks of battle could cause massive casualties.
Not to mention, both Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen had personally experienced the power of the Otsutsuki Clan.
And those had only been Otsutsuki weakened countless times over.
Momoshiki, while merely possessing Boruto's body, had instantly killed Sarutobi Hiruzen as casually as crushing a stray dog by the roadside.
Shimura Danzo had spent half his life plotting schemes and assassinations, yet Momoshiki simply smashed through everything with overwhelming brute force.
Compared to Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was killed instantly in a sneak attack, Jiraiya had interacted with them longer.
He could fully feel the oppressive pressure Boruto emitted once possessed by Momoshiki.
Even that supposedly pathetic "fisherman" Urashiki could kill him in a single move.
Urashiki's issue was not a lack of strength. It was more a problem with his mentality.
He completely lacked the mindset of a true fighter.
In short, both of them had experienced the terrifying pressure of the Otsutsuki Clan firsthand.
The dead Urashiki and Momoshiki had come from the future, which meant the versions of Urashiki and Momoshiki from their current world were still on their way.
And besides those two, there was also another hidden Otsutsuki lurking somewhere in the ninja world.
That was why the Akatsuki and Orochimaru were constantly conducting research and developing new things.
They could not simply sit around doing nothing.
They needed to think of suitable candidates capable of fighting against the Otsutsuki.
Of course, Sarutobi Hiruzen still intended to exchange contribution points for the resurrection service rather than requesting free Impure World Reincarnation in the name of "protecting the ninja world."
First, he did not want to owe Orochimaru a favor.
Second, if someone was resurrected for free under the banner of protecting the ninja world, then just like the First Hokage, the Second Hokage, Kushina, and Rin, the best choice for them would naturally be to stay in Amegakure and help there.
Sarutobi Hiruzen genuinely did want to protect the ninja world.
But was Konoha not also part of the ninja world?
He wanted the resurrected individuals to prioritize protecting Konoha first. Then, if trouble arose elsewhere or everyone needed to unite in battle, they could contribute additional support afterward.
That was why he had to spend contribution points.
Free things were always the most expensive.
Sarutobi Hiruzen understood that very well.
And the first target they discussed was naturally Namikaze Minato.
"Minato won't work."
Jiraiya thought for a moment before immediately rejecting Sarutobi Hiruzen's suggestion.
"Why not? Didn't you once say that no one was more outstanding than Minato? I saw his excellence with my own eyes too. If only he hadn't died so young..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Jiraiya in confusion.
As Minato's sensei, Jiraiya was actually rejecting him?
"Old man, of course I understand how exceptional Minato was. But you forgot something. Against the Otsutsuki Clan, the best methods are Senjutsu or taijutsu."
Jiraiya let out a sigh.
"Minato's taijutsu was not particularly exceptional. As for Senjutsu, he could not maintain it long enough. He wouldn't be able to launch repeated attacks."
"Fighting the Otsutsuki is not just about speed. It's not enough to merely deal damage. The Otsutsuki are all absurdly tough. What's needed is high-damage taijutsu or Senjutsu."
"...Minato's lack of mastery over Senjutsu was only because he died too young. Give him enough time and he would definitely master it. Besides, doesn't Naruto have that special shortcut?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen thought for a moment before speaking.
"..."
Jiraiya's expression turned strange.
"Old man, did you forget again? Even if you install sensory formulas onto an Impure World Reincarnation body, it still can't enter 'Sage Mode.'"
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen closed his mouth.
He had almost forgotten.
He had specifically asked about this before.
If an Impure World Reincarnation body installed with sensory formulas attempted to "enter Sage Mode", it would remain forever stuck in the process of entering Sage Mode without ever truly succeeding.
"Even if it were possible", Jiraiya added, "do you really think someone with Minato's personality could bring himself to use that method?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen completely gave up at that point.
It was true.
Naruto and Jiraiya could use it without restraint because they were already that kind of people.
But Minato was a serious and proper man. Forget whether he would actually use it—if Minato were somehow forced into using it, even Sarutobi Hiruzen would feel heartbroken watching it happen.
In the future, Konoha's reputation was bound to be ruined by Naruto and Jiraiya sooner or later.
At the very least, though, there was still the moral role model Minato hanging on the wall.
They absolutely could not lose that role model too.
"Sigh..."
"Sigh..."
Inside the dim, steam-filled environment, the two perverted old men let out long sighs together.
"Hm?"
"Hm?"
The two suddenly thought of something at the same time.
"Old man, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"No. I didn't think of anything. My foot just suddenly got itchy."
Sarutobi Hiruzen firmly denied it.
Because he had suddenly realized his thoughts were far too perverted and completely incompatible with his image as a respected elder.
"Tch. Keep pretending if you want. If you won't say it, I will."
Jiraiya looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with disdain before continuing.
"We just mentioned Naruto's special shortcut. In that case, why don't we let other talented people use that shortcut to complete Sage Mode training too?"
"I heard Orochimaru is modifying genes and trying to create an artificial human capable of entering perfect Sage Mode."
"His method may not even succeed. And even if it does, it probably can't be mass-produced, not to mention the huge amount of time it'll take."
"Naruto's method may be primitive, but it's genuinely practical and fast. We'll know whether it works just by trying it."
The more Jiraiya spoke, the more excited he became.
"Well said. Then I'll leave this matter to you. I'll think about the list for Impure World Reincarnation and discuss it with you once I've finished."
Sarutobi Hiruzen patted Jiraiya on the shoulder.
"Got it! Leave it to me!"
Jiraiya nodded vigorously and immediately pushed open the sliding door before walking outside.
The moment he stepped out of the hot spring inn and sunlight hit his face, Jiraiya suddenly snapped back to reality, and the smile on his face froze.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
What exactly was he about to do right now?
He was about to promote Naruto's special shortcut method for Sage Mode.
So who was he supposed to approach?
Obviously the current person in charge of Konoha—the Hokage, Senju Tsunade.
"..."
Jiraiya immediately chickened out.
If he went to Tsunade and proposed this plan...
Would he even leave her office alive?
He needed to find another way.
(End of this chapter)