A Path of Cultivation to the Six Paths Level?

[This is chapter 587; the title is incorrect.]

Sakura Haruno let out a long breath.

The ice mirror melted and dissolved, transforming into the white robes worn by the girl.

The rapidly escalating momentum came to an abrupt halt. The surging Chakra flow abruptly stopped, transforming from an unruly, flood-like force into a gentle, breeze-like one, flowing gently through the meridians, dividing into countless thin streams of warm energy that seeped deep into the body, nourishing the girl's flesh.

Although she couldn't achieve the "inner vision" imagined in martial arts novels from her previous life, Chakra wasn't some kind of health-preserving energy, Sakura Haruno knew that the active Chakra was indeed slowly strengthening and transforming her body, permanently enhancing her aptitude in some fundamental way.

She withdrew her hand, watched her right hand fingers move nimbly, and smiled slightly.

"It's just so-so."

A cognitive understanding and a breakthrough in one's realm will not immediately lead to a leap in strength; it merely signifies that Sakura Haruno's power ceiling has been raised considerably. However, the improvement of strength itself still requires step-by-step cultivation.

"I'm only slightly stronger now than when I fought Pain." She clenched her fist and said calmly, "I'm still a long way from my goal!"

The target... does the Sage Katsuyu know who Sakura Haruno is?

That was decades ago, when he was a spirited and ambitious man.

Hashirama Senju.

In the eyes of the Sage Katsuyu, that man bore a resemblance to Sakura Haruno: both were exceptionally talented, and both were growing in strength at an astonishing pace.

Similarly, although he signed a contract with it, he rarely, very rarely summoned it to fight.

The difference is that he is the only human that the immortal has encountered in all these years that makes it somewhat wary.

"The First Hokage," the Sage Katsuyu said slowly, his voice as loud and clear as ever, "He was indeed very strong, much stronger than you, but... he's no longer an unattainable goal for you."

"Um."

The girl nodded, admitting it without any modesty.

"What are your plans next? Are you going back to Konoha?" the sage asked. It was rare for someone to stay with it for so long, and it was somewhat reluctant to see Sakura Haruno leave.

"No rush." The girl smiled faintly. "Since I've made 'her' independent, then let her work harder for a few shifts, covering for me, so I can complete the next stage of my cultivation here with you."

After all, the clones are so valuable that it would be a shameful waste not to make the most of them!

The saying goes, "When there's something to do, you can multiply; when there's nothing to do..." cough cough

"At least we need to tame this energy first," she added, patting her chest as she looked down.

That powerful radiant energy is both her hidden danger and her opportunity.

"This is no simple cultivation..." the immortal warned, "What you need to do is create a Secret Technique even more powerful than Sage Mode! This is an extremely difficult and dangerous undertaking!"

Sakura Haruno shook her head.

Don't worry, I know what I'm doing.

Developing this Secret Technique is indeed very difficult, but the danger is still within a controllable range... If all else fails, she can use Clone Duplicate to take her place; she won't lose her life. Having finally managed to live such a wonderful life, Sakura Haruno certainly won't easily give up her life. She wouldn't be so confident without a certain degree of certainty.

Besides, could anything be more dangerous than fighting Pain and his Pain?

However, the words came out of the girl's mouth and became something else entirely. "Did you know, the Sage Katsuyu? Surpassing the First Hokage and becoming a figure comparable to the Sage of Six Paths, he has six paths."

During this time, she gained some insights while sorting out her own spiritual practice system.

"Oh? I'd like to hear more about it."

The Sage Katsuyu perked up.

Sakura Haruno gazed into the distance and murmured softly:

"The first option is to follow the traditional Chakra and Ninjutsu route."

"Cultivating any attribute to the 'Realm Two' level is roughly equivalent to possessing the power of Elite Jonin or even Kage Level. Those with talent can then begin to try mixing two attribute powers to form Kekkei Genkai."

"From here on, Chakra will gradually improve the ninja's body and enhance their life essence."

"Even more gifted individuals can develop the Kekkei Tōta, whose power almost crushes all other Ninjutsu. The First Hokage's Wood Release is essentially Kekkei Tōta of Tota, a fusion of Earth, Water, and Yang attributes. Due to his extraordinary talent, his Wood Release is even more powerful than ordinary Kekkei Tōta."

"But after reaching 'Realm Three,' these All Things in Nature Ninjutsu don't seem so special anymore—they're just different Chakra manipulation methods. Once you master one, you can easily apply that knowledge to other attributes and raise them to the 'Realm Three' level. As for the Kekkei Genkai above that, or even Kekkei Tōta, such as the 'Ice' Release composed of 'Water-Wind-Yin,' they're just natural progressions."

"Above that is the 'Kekkei Mōra' formed by the fusion of all attributes. Only ninjas who have reached 'Realm Three' are qualified to touch it. This is a bit difficult, but I myself have the talent to fuse attributes, so it won't be more difficult than breaking through from 'Realm Two' to 'Realm Three'. It took me nearly ten years to break through to 'Realm Three', and I estimate that completing the 'Kekkei Mōra' will take another one or two decades. If I have a special opportunity, it will be faster; otherwise, I'll have to grind it out slowly. Reaching this level is roughly equivalent to being half a Sage of Six Paths, right?"

She stopped talking.

With a hint of leisurely longing in his eyes, it was as if he had traveled through time and space to many years later, and saw Sakura Haruno, who had reached the pinnacle of the Road to Ninja and was like an immortal.

The Sage Katsuyu remained silent for a while, also immersed in the girl's words.

A figure who has been a myth for millennia is, in this young girl's words, merely someone she can reach in a short time? What arrogance!

Katsuyu instinctively wanted to rebuke Sakura Haruno for being too arrogant, but on the other hand, she felt that her words had a rather insightful quality, as if the Sage of Six Paths was personally commenting on the path of a ninja.

Without such insight and perspective, where would such nonchalant arrogance come from?

"Haha!" the Sage Katsuyu laughed. "You've got it easy! Since the Sage of Six Paths founded Ninshu, you're the only one in recorded history to have reached 'Realm Three,' truly mastering the essence of Water Release: Nature Transformation! Even Hashirama Senju himself ultimately failed to see through the surface of this All Things in Nature and grasp its true nature!"

Even if someone truly comprehends the essence and origin behind Chakra Nature Transformation like Sakura Haruno, applying this analogy to other attributes, or even Kekkei Genkai, elimination, and nets, would require an immense amount of time and effort to cultivate and overcome countless unimaginable difficulties. It is by no means as easy as the girl described, nor is it a matter of things falling into place naturally.

Unless... this person can grasp that essence at the age of sixteen.

Sakura Haruno smiled without saying a word.

Her current achievements are due to her possession of the wisdom of two worlds, making her an anomaly among transmigrators, unmatched by others. She is somewhat proud, but not to the point of being arrogant or looking down on others.

"Following this method, you only need to cultivate step by step, and sooner or later you will be able to surpass Hashirama Senju, and even become an existence like the Six Paths," the Sage Katsuyu asked again, "Why abandon this broad road and instead try to refine that extremely dangerous corrosive energy, taking this tortuous path?"

Good question!

The girl smiled calmly: Hehe.

"It's simple. This road, though flat, is far too long! Besides, the Sage of Six Paths has already traversed it; if I were to walk it again, I would simply become the second Sage of Six Paths. If this were the only viable path, I would have no choice but to press on, but I have other, better options!"

The Sage Katsuyu bent its antennae, and the eyes on the antennae looked the girl up and down, its expression like a human squinting.

An unexpected yet perfectly logical answer, it thought.

Previously, she had set her sights on Hashirama Senju, but now that she could rival or even surpass him, it was no longer a problem. So she immediately set an even higher goal!

Is she overly ambitious, or does she have lofty aspirations?

No, the Sage Katsuyu shook its tentacles, realizing it had been wrong from the start.

Sakura Haruno has never truly regarded anyone as a role model or goal...

Her goals and aspirations have never changed; they have always been about never being content with mediocrity and always striving to surpass herself!

What a... proud child.

[One more chapter to come]