That very night, Nobita, wearing the Take-copter, flew off to the Pacific Ocean to find an island.
Given his playful nature, and with enough snacks, which were brought via the Small Light, it wouldn't be strange for him to enjoy himself so much he forgot home for three to five days.
So, compared to Nobita's situation, a message from a veteran member in the group caught Hattori's attention more.
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: @Dark Group Owner, Group Owner Mister, good news! Yesterday, I managed to condense a trace of White Snake Sage's Senjutsu Chakra! I can already perform some of its techniques!]
In Ryuchi Cave, Naruto was surrounded by white Chakra, a confident curve lifting the corner of his mouth.
In just one or two months, he had cultivated the embryonic form of the Snake Sage Mode.
This speed, even with the White Snake Sage's thousands of years of experience, was undoubtedly the fastest.
[Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It: What?! Damn it! You actually beat me to it! I was so close! Give me three days at most, and I'll be able to condense Toad Senjutsu Chakra too!]
[The Young Master of the Demonic Cult: Although I don't know what you're talking about, it sounds impressive. What exactly is this Sage Mode thing?]
[The Strongest Assassin of Xuanwu: Probably something similar to internal energy, but at a higher energy level. Not bad, you two.]
[Dark Group Owner: …]
Behind the screen, Hattori was stifling his laughter.
'He actually succeeded.'
'In the original anime, Naruto was lively with toad-like, enthusiastic and unrestrained personality, but now, he actually managed to cultivate the sinister Snake Sage Mode.'
[Dark Group Owner: @The Dead-Last Jinchuriki, Send a picture of what you look like training the Snake Senjutsu Chakra. I'm a bit curious.]
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: No problem.]
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki has sent a photo.]
Clicking on the image, Hattori's eyes curved into crescents as he laughed, rolling on his bed.
In the photo, Naruto's skin was pale, his demeanor gloomy.
Within his fox-like pupils, a trace of a cold, sinister light flickered, particularly unnerving.
He was wrapped in a white hooded robe, appearing mysterious and eerie.
It had the vibe of Orochimaru and Kabuto.
[Dark Group Owner: @Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It, Second Pillar, send a photo too. Let me see your training results.]
[Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It: Don't call me Second Pillar! I can send a photo, but I'll send it to the Group Owner privately. That dead la... I mean, Naruto, doesn't get to see it.]
As tsundere as ever, Sasuke privately messaged Hattori and sent a photo.
After looking at this photo, Hattori laughed even more exaggeratedly, his whole bed shaking.
"Bahahaha! Is this still the same Sasuke with that dead-fish expression? This posture, this expression... tsk tsk tsk, I'd believe he's a toad spirit if you told me."
In the photo, Sasuke's upper body was bare, covered in disgusting toad mucus.
His legs were spread apart in a toad-like cross-legged posture, palms and soles facing upwards.
Sasuke's nose was also slightly swollen, giving a hint of Jiraiya's Sage Mode feel.
[Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It: Uh, well... the Toad Sage said I have excellent aptitude, but it seems to clash somewhat with Toad Sage Mode. So he assigned me these... practices to increase my affinity with Toad Sage Mode.]
[Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It: It was pretty disgusting at first. But after a while, I got used to it slowly. And these practices are genuinely useful. I'm not lying, Group Owner. In three to five days at most, I'll be able to condense Senjutsu Chakra just like Naruto.]
[Dark Group Owner: Indeed, the effort you need to put into training Toad Sage Mode is a bit more than what Naruto needs.]
Looking at Sasuke's comical appearance in the photo,
Hattori laughed for a while, then his expression gradually calmed.
In the Anime, Sasuke often did things that seemed very stupid.
The saying 'I had a thought, and then I got beaten up' often applied to him.
But in reality, the reason he did those stupid things was that his obsession with revenge, his thirst for strength, was deeper than anyone else's.
Therefore, when Hattori recommended he go to Mount Myoboku to train in Toad Sage Mode, no matter what humiliation he suffered, no matter how arduous the effort, he persevered.
"One endured the world's cold shoulders, the other was brutally trampled by fate. So-called 'SasuNaru'... they really are a bond destined by fate." Hattori smiled and shook his head, shifting his gaze back to the group chat.
[Dark Group Owner: @The Dead-Last Jinchuriki, Now that you've made some progress in Sage Mode, any plans for the near future?]
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: Well, I do have a little plan, actually.]
[Dark Group Owner: I'm all ears.]
Naruto gripped the white Senjutsu Chakra in his hand, his body warping slightly.
In the void, he actually slowly concealed his figure!
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: Group Owner Mister, the Snake Sage Mode excels at concealment, tracking, and also reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance.]
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: With these abilities, even Konoha's Jonin might not be able to detect my traces.]
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: So, I want to try leaving Ryuchi Cave once, go to the place where my parents died in battle, and investigate where their bodies are.]
A determined glint flashed in Naruto's eyes.
The reason he had worked so hard, trained so desperately until now was to master that technique, to reincarnate his parents with Impure World Reincarnation.
To see them one more time, to hug them.