I'm not sure if Sasuke's utilized the same concept though... he more created a natural phenomenon and gave it a target. Sage mode seems to be actually drawing the external energy in, then moulding it and using it, rather than the energy being completely external.
In other words, Sasuke does everything outside, where Naruto actually acts like a conduit and lets the energy pass through his body. Both are a type of Nature energy, I'd think.