488 jeanericuser

488: The path of strength

Sasuke is laying in a hospital bed sweating profusely writhing in pain as he grips his hands around a bandage on his eye. Madara is watching nearby as the process takes place. Sasuke leans up to look at Madara while gripping the rails on the side of his bed.
Sasuke: "How long is this process going to take? I never thought there would be so much pain involved."
Madara: "For me it took years to completely eliminate the pain but you never truly get past it some times."
Sasuke: "What is happening to me?"
Madara: "Right now your chakra network is undergoing an intense strain as it attempts to adapt itself to unlimited usage of the mangekyo sharingan. During that time your body will rewire your chakra network so that pathways near the upper part of your body are stronger while the rest are significantly lessened. This way the amount of chakra you can access is signficantly increased as is the regeneration process."
Sasuke: "So I will be even stronger than before?"
Madara: "To a degree yes but you must remember that chakra strength doesnt mean physical strength. In that department Naruto far exceeds you which is why you must keep the fight at a distance when possible otherwise Naruto will easily be able to defeat you."
Sasuke thinking: "I will kill you this time Naruto."
Sasuke screams in agony as veins begin to bulge near his eyes.

Naruto is laying in bed when he hears a tapping sound on his window. Naruto curiously looks out the window to see Fukusaku and Ma Toad. Naruto opens the window in surprise as they come in and sit next to him.
Fukusaku: "I heard about what is happening with Sasuke and Madara. You are heading into a dangerous situation."
Naruto: "I know. Im certain I can beat Sasuke but Im not so sure about Madara. I just can't hit him."
Fukusaku: "Madara is indeed a difficult opponent but that is why I have come here. I have come to give you this."
Fukusaku hands Naruto a scroll and he opens it to reveal some kind of odd map. Fukusaku points to an inscription at the top as Naruto opens the map.
Naruto: "This is my final will and testament to my young sons. If you are reading this than my efforts to defeat the juubi have failed. I made this scroll as a possible way for you to carry on my legacy and defeat the evil that has befallen us. Atop the mountain in this map is a cave containing all my knowledge I acquired from my years of training. If you wish to follow in my footsteps than you are best to visit this cave."
Fukusaku: "I had long believed that there would never be a need to unearth such a holy place as a depository of knowledge from the first sage but if there is a way to defeat Madara this place will help you find that."
The door to Naruto's room opens to reveal Kakashi and Yamoto. Kakashi looks at Fukusaku and then at the map.
Kakashi: "What is this?"
Fukusaku closes up the map and looks up at Kakashi. Fukusaku has a stern look on his face as does Ma Toad.
Fukusaku: "This map is only for those of the chosen path to see."
Kakashi: "I was just curious. I overheard what Naruto was talking about and wondered what was on that map."
Fukusaku: "Naruto I think the time has come for us to leave. You can not trust information like this to others. Ma are you ready?"
Ma Toad nods her head while Kakashi reaches for the map.
Fukusaku: "Reverse summoning Jutsu!"
Suddenly an explosion of smoke occurs as Kakashi tries to wipe away the smoke to reveal Naruto is gone with Fukusaku, Ma Toad, and the map.
Kakashi: "So do you think that map could in fact have been something from the first sage?"
Yamoto: "Its possible but then how are we gonna explain this to the others. Naruto has gone off on a treasure hunt?"
Kakashi: "Naruto has gone off to train at Myobuzokan."

Naruto finds himself with Ma and Pa toad at a small valley with a huge mountain in the distance.
Naruto: "Where are we? Is this it?"
Fukusaku: "This is as far as we have been able to go in terms of finding what is at the end of the map. The trouble is finding the cave which is suggested in there. It seems to be almost impossible to find."
Naruto: "I think I can fix that."
Naruto summons several hundred clones and they begin to search the mountain. The clones are searching all over when one of them suddenly disperses for no reason. The others investigate and suddenly Naruto smiles as he looks at Fukusaku.
Naruto: "Found it. It seems to have some kind of barrier jutsu protecting the entrance though so I can't get in."
Fukusaku and Ma Toad climb on Naruto's shoulders.
Fukusaku: "Lets all go to there."
Naruto climbs up the mountain and nearly falls once but manages to make it to the cave. Naruto looks at the entrance and Ma Toad looks at Naruto with an odd stare.
Ma Toad: "Something on you is glowing."
Naruto reaches over into his pocket and pulls out the map which is glowing.
Fukusaku: "The map must be the way past the barrier."
Naruto touches the map to the barrier and suddenly it vanishes away revealing a small cave with a lot of books and scrolls. Suddenly a movement occurs from the other end of the cave. An old voice calls out.
Voice: "Is that you boys? I have been awaiting a long time for you. What took you so long to....Hey who are you?!"
Out in the distance a large figure walks forward. A large turtle walks forward on its hind legs towards them.
Turtle: "Who are you and what are you doing here? This place is only meant for decendants of the first sage."
Fukusaku: "We came here in search of the knowledge of first sage."
The Turtle walks over and looks at Fukusaku.
Turtle: "Ahh now I can see you better. Ahh two decendants of the toad ninjas. I can see it was a good idea after all to train your people. And this is..."
The turtle looks Naruto in the eye and suddenly he jumps back in surprise his eyes wide with shock.
Turtle: "My great sincere apologies. I didn't recognize it after so many centuries of breeding. A decendant of the Senju. Im glad at least someone of your bloodline made it here instead of Uchiha."
Fukusaku: "And who are you exactly?"
Turtle starts to laugh and then winks at them.
Turtle: "I am just like you only several generations removed. I am the first turtle sage. The pet of the First Sage. I am Leatherhide."
Fukusaku, Ma Toad, and Naruto are all shocked at whom they are talking to. The turtle giggles to itself as it stands there looking at their reactions.

489: The path of wisdom