Mokuton Phantom in Naruto

Jiraiya stood tall, observing the young shinobi from Hoshigakure.

Ryuusei's expression remained closed off, the tension between them almost palpable.

Finally, the Sannin sighed and crossed his arms.

"What happened to Uzushiogakure… I questioned my teacher, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, about it many times."

Ryuusei's gaze lifted, his expression hardening.

Jiraiya continued:

"He told me it was a coordinated attack by Iwagakure and Sunagakure. The destruction of Uzushiogakure happened too quickly. If Konoha had acted immediately, we would've fallen into a trap, and the war would've started years earlier."

Ryuusei didn't react.

But inside, his blood boiled.

Jiraiya scratched the back of his head and sighed.

"Besides, the attack put Konoha in a tough spot. The Third Hokage said there were no resources to save Uzushiogakure without endangering the entire village."

He paused, letting out a bitter chuckle.

"But, you know… I never fully bought that story."

Ryuusei's eyebrows lifted slightly.

Jiraiya sat down beside him, arms crossed.

"I'm not here to give you empty excuses. No matter what I say, it won't change what happened."

He took a deep breath and stared at the ground for a moment.

"But, on behalf of Konoha… I apologize."

Silence hung heavily between them.

Ryuusei simply stared, unsure of what to feel.

He hadn't expected an apology.

And deep down… he wasn't sure if it even meant anything.

But before he could respond, Jiraiya changed the subject.

"Alright, kid… Let me tell you everything I know about this energy you're messing with."

Ryuusei narrowed his eyes.

"Natural energy?"

Jiraiya nodded.

"Exactly. Or, as we call it… Senjutsu."

Jiraiya picked up a fallen branch and began drawing in the dirt.

"The chakra a shinobi normally uses is formed by combining two energies: physical energy and spiritual energy. That's the foundation of our power."

He drew a circle, dividing it in half.

"But there's a third energy. Natural energy."

He sketched a larger circle around the first one.

"When someone learns Senjutsu, they learn to absorb this natural energy from the environment and merge it with their own chakra. It enhances everything—your strength, speed, stamina, and even perception."

He looked straight into Ryuusei's eyes.

"But here's the catch."

He extended a finger and snapped the branch in two.

"If you absorb too much natural energy… before learning to control it, your body can't handle it. One of the side effects? You turn into stone. Permanently."

Ryuusei's eyes widened slightly.

Jiraiya gave a humorless smirk.

"That's not a metaphor. It actually happens. I've seen it myself." Jiraiya recalled the moment during his own training when his arm began to petrify.

Ryuusei swallowed hard, remembering the changes he'd felt in his body back in the cave.

Jiraiya continued:

"The only way to avoid that is by maintaining perfect balance. The problem is, that balance is ridiculously hard to achieve. Even now, with all the training I received from a master of Mount Myōboku, I still need an intermediary to enter Sage Mode properly."

Ryuusei frowned.

"Intermediary?"

Jiraiya nodded.

"Wise animals. Certain creatures have a natural affinity with this energy and can help a shinobi control it."

He drew small dots around the circle in the dirt.

"From what we know, there are three mystical places famous for their connection to Senjutsu: Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest."

He pointed at Ryuusei.

"But there are many more. Hidden places, overflowing with this energy. Each one has its own secrets… and its own dangers."

He paused, studying Ryuusei for a moment before adding:

"Your case is strange."

Ryuusei raised an eyebrow.

Jiraiya leaned back, arms crossed.

"You absorbed natural energy without showing any side effects. That alone is rare."

Then he smiled faintly.

"Maybe your genetics played a role. The Uzumaki are notoriously resilient, and this so-called 'star energy' might've altered your body, making it more receptive to this type of power."

Ryuusei remained silent, processing everything.

Jiraiya stood up, brushing the dust off his clothes.

"Now you understand the risk?"

He looked at the young shinobi with unwavering seriousness.

"Messing with natural energy isn't a game. If you screw up, there's no second chance."

The wind blew softly around them.

Ryuusei closed his eyes for a moment.

Then, he lifted his gaze once more.

And for the first time… he truly grasped the weight of what he was trying to achieve.

Kousei adjusted the armor over his combat kimono and let out a heavy sigh.

The gray sky carried the scent of earth and blood, a constant reminder of the war around them.

After days of recovery under Tsunade's care, he was finally back on his feet.

And he was leaving.

Ryuusei, Misaki, and Seiryu stood before him, rigid like soldiers awaiting orders.

But to Kousei, they were more than just soldiers.

"Stay alert at all times."

His voice was firm, but there was something else beneath it. Something he tried to hide.

Ryuusei said nothing.

He watched his father's eyes scan each of them, as if trying to etch their faces into his memory.

Misaki clenched her fists at her sides, looking away.

Seiryu forced a grin.

"Don't worry, Kousei-san. We'll give the enemies hell, not ourselves."

Kousei smiled faintly.

He wanted to believe that.

But when his gaze met Ryuusei's, he saw the shadow of uncertainty.

His son was growing up too fast. And he knew why.

This war was stealing his youth.

Kousei placed a firm hand on Ryuusei's shoulder.

"You don't need to prove anything to anyone."

Ryuusei swallowed hard but nodded.

Without another word, Kousei turned and began walking away.

With every step, the weight of farewell grew heavier.

With every step, memories of years spent beside his son blurred into the present.

And when he finally disappeared among the other shinobi retreating from the frontlines, Ryuusei felt his chest tighten.

But there was no time for emotion.

War waited for no one.

Inside the central tent, Jiraiya stood, scrutinizing the maps scattered across the table.

Beside him, a Konoha officer read aloud the names of the shinobi under his command.

"You'll have a team of ten shinobi, Jiraiya."

The Sannin scratched his head, clearly bored.

"Yeah, yeah… Let me pick a few myself."

He scanned the list and smirked when his eyes landed on a specific name.

"Ryuusei Hoshi."

The officer raised an eyebrow.

"The kid from Hoshigakure?"

"Exactly."

Jiraiya tapped two more names.

"Misaki Uzumaki and Seiryu. They're coming with him."

The officer frowned.

"Isn't that favoritism?"

Jiraiya shrugged.

"I feel like I owe the Uzumaki. And that kid… He's got potential."

His mind flashed back to the fight against the Bakuton squad.

The moment Ryuusei tapped into his strange version of Senjutsu.

If Jiraiya hadn't saved the kid then… he'd have been blown to bits.

And that bothered him.

He wanted to understand this power better.

He wanted to guide him.

'Besides…' Jiraiya smirked to himself. 'If he keeps messing with natural energy like that, he's gonna end up as a statue.'

The officer sighed.

"Fine. They're your subordinates now."

Jiraiya stretched his arms and grinned, satisfied.

"Perfect."

He cracked his knuckles.

And with that, the fate of Ryuusei, Misaki, and Seiryu took a new turn.

A path that would draw them even closer to the heart of the war…

And place them under the wing of one of Konoha's most unpredictable and legendary shinobi.