"So, the advantages are now balanced?" Orochimaru murmured thoughtfully.
Throughout history, ninjas seeking to master natural energy have always relied on the sacred lands because the external environment was too harsh for training. Many spent their entire lives searching for these places, but without the right opportunity, they never even glimpsed them.
"But with the snake-like hibernation technique and the beast-taming strategy, I no longer need a sacred land. In other words, I am my own sacred land!" Orochimaru declared, his eyes blazing with newfound determination.
Xu Ming observed quietly, allowing Orochimaru to vent his excitement.
Sage Mode was a pursuit of all powerful shinobi.
At the pinnacle of the ninja arts, there were only three paths to further strength—becoming a Jinchūriki, developing a Kekkei Genkai, or mastering Sage Mode.
The first two were largely dependent on circumstances and were difficult to achieve, while the third, though extremely rare, became attainable if one could access a sacred land and receive guidance. Even if the chances of success were slim, the power granted by Sage Mode was enough for ninjas to take the risk.
'After all, Senjutsu chakra surpasses ordinary chakra in quality. It can even penetrate the defense of Truth-Seeking Balls and cause irreparable damage to tailed beasts,' Xu Ming mused.
'This massive enhancement exceeds the limits of both Jinchūriki and Kekkei Genkai users.'
'Unfortunately, the conditions for mastering this power are extremely strict.'
Xu Ming glanced at the elated Orochimaru and sighed inwardly.
Even with all this progress, Orochimaru had not yet truly succeeded in mastering Sage Mode.
He recalled that in the original timeline, Orochimaru had sought out Ryūchi Cave and met the White Snake Sage. However, his body could not withstand the infusion of Senjutsu chakra. If he attempted to enter Sage Mode, the backlash would kill him.
This forced Orochimaru to abandon his pursuit of Sage Mode.
'But perhaps it wasn't that he couldn't handle it, but that his nature was too unstable and volatile,' Xu Ming thought as he studied Orochimaru.
When Orochimaru consumed the flesh infused with natural energy, Xu Ming had noticed something peculiar—his absorption was far too fast.
As soon as natural energy entered his body, it immediately began transforming on its own, without any resistance or adaptation period.
In other words, there was no digestion process.
Without proper digestion, he wouldn't integrate the energy but would instead be assimilated by it, losing his autonomy.
'A thousand years ago, Orochimaru would have been the perfect vessel for the Great Summoning Ritual,' Xu Ming thought with a wry smile.
A body that offered no resistance could easily be turned into a container the moment one's mind wavered.
Alas, this was the age of ninjas and chakra.
Orochimaru was not one to sacrifice himself to become a mere vessel.
"Xu Ming, I won't waste any more time. I'm going to start training in Sage Mode immediately!" Orochimaru exclaimed, barely containing his excitement.
"I'll be here to monitor you," Xu Ming reassured him with a smile. "If anything goes wrong, I'll use a purification talisman to dispel the effects. If you get injured, I can heal you with Yang Release. So don't worry."
"Alright!" Orochimaru nodded enthusiastically.
The two quickly made their way to the training grounds deep in the forest.
"Lightning Style: Shockwave!"
Orochimaru unleashed a burst of lightning at a herd of wild horses.
Crackling electricity coursed through the air, paralyzing the creatures. Some collapsed immediately, their limbs trembling, while weaker ones foamed at the mouth.
Hiss! Hiss!
The leader of the wild horses, recognizing its attackers, snorted in fury. It remembered these two two-legged beasts—those who had previously sliced off a piece of its flesh and fled.
Cursed two-legged creatures!
Despite the electric shocks coursing through its body, the horse leader charged at Xu Ming and Orochimaru.
Boom!
Orochimaru calmly stepped forward and delivered a powerful kick to the horse's head.
The massive force sent the beast reeling, knocking it unconscious in an instant.
"Done."
Orochimaru dusted off his hands, withdrew a needle, and jabbed it into the horse leader's hindquarters.
After extracting two tubes of blood, he swiftly retreated.
"You really lack subtlety," Xu Ming remarked with a sigh.
With a casual flick of his hand, he healed the injured horses before disappearing in a flash.
Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!
That day, the forest echoed with the enraged and aggrieved cries of wild horses.
Two months passed in the blink of an eye. Summer was drawing to a close.
When one is deeply focused, time often flies unnoticed.
Sage Mode required the perfect balance of spiritual energy, physical energy, and natural energy in a 1:1:1 ratio.
This was an incredibly difficult feat, as it demanded that a ninja simultaneously control and harmonize three different forces.
Orochimaru's natural talent prevented him from multitasking effectively. He could only rely on patience and meticulous practice to gradually achieve mastery.
Over the past two months, Xu Ming had frequently intervened to stabilize Orochimaru whenever he lost control.
Meanwhile, the leader of the wild horses had been repeatedly subdued for blood extraction. Though it resisted each time, its struggles had weakened, and it now seemed to have resigned itself to its fate.
"Let's take a break. We've been at this for two months straight," Xu Ming suggested after Orochimaru failed another attempt.
"Agreed. I need to clear my mind," Orochimaru exhaled deeply before adding, "Senior Mito mentioned there would be a festival soon. Let's visit the Senju clan for a few days—I have some questions for her."
"Sounds like a plan," Xu Ming nodded.
With that, the two packed up their belongings and left the training grounds, heading toward the Senju compound.
"You two are truly relentless."
When Uzumaki Mito saw them, her expression softened with nostalgia.
Children grow so quickly.
Though it hadn't been long since their last visit, Xu Ming and Orochimaru had matured. Their features had become sharper, their hairstyles slightly altered.
"Hashirama was the same way," Mito reminisced. "He trained day and night, completely forgetting that his wife was waiting for him at home."
She gave them a pointed look.
"And now, you two are following in his footsteps, aren't you?"
"Go wash up and come eat!"
Xu Ming and Orochimaru exchanged sheepish grins before hurrying off to the Senju clan's bathhouse.