Chapter 25

The moment Hinata vanished it was noticed by the security team that took care of the barrier. The barrier around Konoha didn't just protect the land from physical attacks, but it also registered people that had permission to enter and it would send a warning when an individual entered illegally or left.

The security team informed the Hokage and it reached Naruto's ears. Arriving at the last location where she had disappeared from, none could find a trace.

It was obvious that teleportation had been used, but who did it. There was no one in the world that could teleport, except Naruto at this point.

'Was it Ishiki?' Naruto thought while directly discounting others as his mind was focused on the big threats.

"It could have been a reverse summon. We can't just think of the big threats, as there are smaller villains around the globe. Though, in this case you might be on the mark." Kakashi checked for any resistance or conflict, but it was clear that it was one sided.

Naruto almost thought Kakashi was going to prove him wrong, and started thinking how.

"But, why Hinata? Is he collecting the Bijuu?" Naruto hadn't considered it before, but now that possibility entered his mind. Once that thought entered, Naruto felt absolutely horrified and scared for Hinata.

"Calm down, acting like that won't make things better." Kakashi did say it, but even he had no idea how to search for Hinata when an Otsutsuki was involved. The range was amplified beyond the planet and even just searching the whole planet was extremely difficult.

"There must be a way. Give me a clue, just give me a clue and maybe I can test it out." Seeing Kakashi think, Naruto calmed his heart down and told him a way to find Hinata. Even if it was a theory, Naruto could test it out using his Six Paths power.

Kakashi closed his eyes and used all his knowledge about sensing to think of the ultimate ability that was theoretically possible.

"Okay, I have an idea. Nature is everything around us, and the whole universe is nature itself. So, everything is within nature and can't be outside it. Even time, space, darkness and light are part of nature, there is no exception. Meaning, if you could connect yourself to nature then there is nothing that could hide from you.

Can you make sense of what I just said?" Even Kakashi thought it was just some fantastical dream since no one had actually connected themselves to nature. Senjutsu was utilizing nature so it was still a step beneath it.

Naruto listened carefully and found the logic in what Kakashi mentioned. It made sense, but how could he extend his sensing abilities.

Using Sage mode, Naruto could sense attacks coming at him from all dimensions and he could sense life force across the globe. However, he was never connected with nature itself. It meant that he was taking data from all parts of nature, not just the life force or chakra.

"Thanks for the idea Teacher, I will go to the toads and see what I can do." Naruto left a clone in his place and went to Mt. Myoboku.

Arriving in the pocket dimension connected to earth called Mt. Myoboku; Naruto didn't have the time to be mesmerized by the beauty of the giant plant life.

He directly went towards his targets and found the two old sage toads having dinner.

"Grandpa Sage, Grandma Sage, I need your help." Naruto's tone and body language was very clear for them to see.

"What about happened, Naruto boy?" Fukasaku asked as he jumped towards Naruto and checked him for any problems.

"An unknown enemy has kidnapped a friend from Konoha, and it seems to be with the help of space-time jutsu. She could be anywhere at this moment, so my teacher suggested a new concept that could help in this task.

I want to know, if it is possible to connect with nature and use it to sense for a specific target." Naruto went directly to the point, but the two sage toads understood what he wanted.

"That is beyond our understanding of Senjutsu, but maybe the Great Sage might be able to help." Shima responded and her husband agreed on the point.

"Let's hurry up then, we don't want to delay this." Fukasaku hurried them along and brought Naruto to the Great Toad Sage.

The Great Sage was a large toad that had lived for thousands of years and had the ability to predict important parts of the future.

He was the person that had predicted that there would be a child who would bring destruction or peace to the world among Jiraiya's students.

Jiraiya had assumed it was Nagato at first and then Minato, and now the title seemed to have landed on Naruto's head. It had worked out since Naruto had truly been capable of destruction, but chose peace instead.

However, it didn't mention creating a utopia or an eternal peace. So, it was unknown whether he would be successful or not.

It was the second time Naruto met up with the smiling toad sage and once again he was greeted by a warm smile.

"Great Sage, we are in need of your guidance." Fukasaku spoke respectfully to the elder as the Great Sage was the center of their world in authority and respect.

The old sage looked towards Naruto, "You two can leave or stay, I will guide the young Sage."

It was clear that he knew what they wanted.

Fukasaku and Shima looked at each other, they were the only other sages on Mt. Myoboku and none of them had reached the level of the elder. Their abilities were first class and beyond Naruto's understanding of Nature, but not enough and it would be a great loss if they didn't learn it before anything happened to the Great Sage.

Normally they wouldn't have cared too much about power but after the fight with Pain and feeling the loss along with the powerlessness of the war, they decided to learn.

"We will stay."

"Do you know that my divination ability comes from my connection with the universe? In the grand scheme of the universe, we are non-existent. The Senjutsu that we learn is just a basic application and nothing more. It is our limited mind that narrows down our usage of such grand power.

Taking in nature and mixing it with chakra, creating Senjutsu chakra. That is just pure enhancement of energy and nothing more. However, Nature is the universe and everything within it. Why do we need to limit ourselves to just the energy?

Look at my hand, the air is following my command. Now all the natural elements are following my wish." Gamamaru the Great Toad Sage started his explanation in a slow tone while the children sat down in front of him.

He controlled wind, water, earth, fire, lightning, light and darkness with his hand.

"But, is this all? What about time, space, gravity, temperature, sound, life and death? If we are part of nature, then nature already knows about us. And from that understanding, I can find parts of the future.

This is not easy to understand through words, so I will guide you personally through the stages of understanding the universe and its grand power." Gamamaru smiled as he knew that they were lost.

Naruto found sense in the explanation, but he didn't get the how. Where to start? And, it was where the great sage came into place.