Magic Chakra.
It had taken Jiraiya decades of relentless training to truly master the power of natural energy. Even now, to enter Sage Mode, he still required about five minutes of intense ritual concentration. However, if he merely wanted to channel a little Senjutsu Chakra, he could do it anytime with ease.
Jiraiya extended his hand toward Logan.
"Touch my palm," he said with a grin. "You'll understand what makes Senjutsu Chakra special."
"But do you dare?" he added, his eyes sharp.
Without hesitation, Logan reached out and grasped Jiraiya's hand.
Pop.
Golden ripples shimmered from Logan's palm, clashing and intertwining with the sage chakra in Jiraiya's hand.
Both of them flinched slightly—eyes narrowing.
Jiraiya was stunned. Logan's power didn't follow any known pattern of chakra training. It wasn't elemental, nor was it tailed beast chakra. It was something entirely different—something... alien.
What shocked Logan, however, was that the golden ripples—the very core of his energy—actually resonated slightly with Jiraiya's Senjutsu Chakra.
"What... is this reaction?" he murmured.
His ripple energy pierced into the Senjutsu like a scalpel, dissecting it at a fundamental level.
"Chakra mixed with another unknown form of energy, forming something entirely new," Logan muttered, gazing at Jiraiya. "Is this why you call yourself a 'Sage'?"
Jiraiya coughed awkwardly and withdrew his hand. His original goal had been to impress Logan with his mastery—establish dominance. He hadn't expected the kid to deconstruct Sage Mode with a single touch.
"When chakra and natural energy are combined in the right ratio," Jiraiya explained, "you get Senjutsu Chakra. But mastering it is dangerous. If you mess up even a little… you turn to stone."
"Turn to stone?" Logan's brow furrowed.
Jiraiya nodded. "It's happened to many. Even a genius like me needed over ten years to perfect it."
Natural energy… stone transformation…
These concepts reminded Logan of the Pillar Men from the second arc of JOJO: Battle Tendency—immortal beings who turned to stone in sunlight.
Sunlight, too, was a form of natural energy.
And the ripple technique he practiced? It was derived from that very same principle. A form of energy that imitated sunlight.
"If I learn to absorb natural energy," Logan thought, "can I amplify the ripple to new heights?"
Jiraiya, ever the traveler and expert at reading people, saw the spark in Logan's eyes.
"You're interested, aren't you?" he grinned. "Want to learn? I'll teach you."
Logan tilted his head. "What's the catch?"
"No catch, no tuition," Jiraiya said with a wave. "Just one condition—come back to Konoha with me. I swear, no one will touch you. I still have enough pull in the village. Once we're back, I'll take you to Mount Myōboku so you can sign a contract with the Toad Sages. You'll meet Gamamaru himself."
Logan let out a low chuckle.
So that was the trap.
After all the friendly talk and bonding, here it was—the invitation back to the very village that hunted him.
"No thanks," Logan said flatly.
Jiraiya pounded his chest. "You don't trust me? Listen, in Konoha, I—"
Logan raised a hand and cut him off.
"It's not about trust." His tone was calm. "But if Konoha's so great… why are you out here roaming instead of staying there?"
Jiraiya froze.
"I… you… well…"
The words caught in his throat.
He looked down and sighed.
Of course. He had never been persecuted. He'd never experienced the tragedy of having his clan wiped out. But Logan and Sasuke had.
Sure, Jiraiya could take them back. But could he get them justice?
Could he give them revenge?
No.
So what right did he have to ask them to forgive, to forget?
"Don't tell others to let go unless you've lived through their pain."
After a long silence, Jiraiya smacked his lips, brought his hands together in mock prayer, and bowed deeply.
"I take it back," he said. "I spoke out of turn. Here—have a drink with me. As an apology."
He grabbed Logan's sleeve and hollered toward the corridor. "Boss lady! Bring out every signature dish you've got! I'm buying tonight!"
Logan couldn't resist the energy. He was curious about Jiraiya's knowledge of Orochimaru and Uchiha Itachi. Plus, the man had been honest—at least now.
He stayed.
Dishes began pouring in one after another, quickly crowding the entire table. Jiraiya's eyes widened as he nervously touched his nearly-empty coin pouch.
"Uh… Boss lady, this might be… a bit much—"
"Oh please," the lady chirped. "A man of your stature! Tall, powerful, rugged—clearly a hero among men! I cooked based on your mighty physique. If it's too much, I'll take some back."
The moment she called him "a man among men," Jiraiya puffed up with pride and grinned from ear to ear, forgetting his financial anxiety.
The food was served fast, and soon Logan and Jiraiya were eating and drinking, exchanging stories and intelligence. Jiraiya answered every question Logan threw at him about Akatsuki, Itachi, and Orochimaru.
After three rounds of drinks, everyone at the table was full and cheerful.
Jiraiya, flushed from the alcohol, raised his glass one last time.
"Brother Logan… don't go back to Konoha. Not now. The place is a mess. Danzo is a goddamn—"
He paused, catching the three young kids at the table staring at him.
He substituted the curse.
"A goddamn jerk..."
Still unsatisfied, he muttered, "Danzo is garbage."
He drained his glass.
---
Logan wanted justice. For Hope Village. For the people who'd been slaughtered.
Jiraiya was hunting down Orochimaru through the trail left by experimental androids.
With Logan's Hermit Purple technique and Jiraiya's tracking ninjutsu, the two realized that their goals aligned—for now.
They agreed to join forces starting tomorrow.
After parting ways for the night, Logan went out to purchase food and medicine for thirty people and rented a cart.
Amber pushed the supplies with determination. Though tired and still healing from injuries, her steps were light. She couldn't wait to deliver everything to the survivors.
Sasuke walked beside Logan, quietly watching him.
"Brother Logan," Sasuke asked, "that Sage technique Jiraiya mentioned… does it really power you up that much?"
Logan glanced sideways. "Why? Thinking of going back to Konoha just to get stronger?"
Sasuke didn't respond right away. He raised both hands and looked at his palms.
"All this time… all the people we've met, the things we've seen… I realized something. There are more important things than just revenge."
He clenched his fists.
"I want the strength to protect people like you do. So that nobody has to live in fear. No one gets hunted or sold like animals. If I can gain that power, I'm willing to set my hatred aside. At least for now."
Logan raised an eyebrow.
"Trying to be noble?"
Sasuke scratched his head awkwardly. "Is that wrong?"
Logan chuckled softly and shook his head.
"In the future… it might be right. But now? No. Not yet."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm still here," Logan said. "You don't have to make that choice—yet."
He stopped walking, and turned to Sasuke with a serious gaze.
"I don't want you becoming another Danzo—someone who thinks that a noble end justifies twisted means. Right is right. Wrong is wrong. Don't warp cause and effect just because your heart's in the right place."
Sasuke nodded slowly, as if absorbing every word.
"Then why might it be right in the future?"
Logan's expression softened.
"Because someday, I might die. I might not be there to protect you anymore. On that day, you'll have to make your own hard choices. But until then—"
He smiled and ruffled Sasuke's hair.
"Be someone with a clear heart."
Then, Logan extended his hand.
At the tip of his index finger, a glowing wisp of green energy condensed, swirling and radiant.
Sasuke's jaw dropped open.
"You… you really did it."
Logan grinned.
"I've mastered natural energy."
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