Orochimaru's Transformation

When Orochimaru learned that Yemo possessed all Chakra natures, he could not hide the smile on his face. Only one person in hundreds of millions could be born with all natures. There were only two in the entire world, and his disciple made three.

There was no need to explain what possessing all Chakra natures meant. Anyone with even a little knowledge knew it meant one could learn every Ninjutsu except Kekkei Genkai.

His teacher, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, possessed all Chakra natures and could use thousands of Ninjutsu. He had honed everything from the basics of the five nature transformations to secret techniques, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu to perfection, and had studied all of Konoha's techniques thoroughly. Known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, he knew every secret technique, Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Taijutsu, Sealing Jutsu, and Kekkei Genkai in Konoha, including those of the Uchiha Clan.

Orochimaru himself also possessed all Chakra natures. He knew as many as a thousand Ninjutsu and had mastered their Chakra Nature Transformation and shape transformation.

Naturally, possessing all Chakra natures had its drawbacks. A person's energy was limited, and most Jonin mastered the nature and shape transformations of only two natures. Mastering the Chakra Nature Transformation of all seven was far too difficult.

Ordinary people could not do it, but his disciple was different. He had tremendous talent, and with that talent, mastering the transformations of all seven Chakra natures would present no difficulty.

Orochimaru was excited. Yemo's talent far surpassed his own, and he possessed all Chakra natures. That meant Orochimaru could pass everything he had learned on to Yemo. This disciple could inherit all his Ninjutsu.

At the thought, Orochimaru could not help stirring his tongue. He could almost see this exceptionally talented disciple becoming one of the brightest powerhouses in the future shinobi world under his devoted tutelage, stirring up the entire shinobi world.

Meanwhile, Yemo still had not quite recovered from the discovery that he possessed all Chakra natures. He had originally thought it would be good enough to discover another two or three, which would have been powerful with Yin and Yang added in. He had never expected to possess all Chakra natures.

Even after Yemo came to his senses, he could hardly believe it. What had just happened had felt like a dream, but it was not. It was all real.

Thinking of how he possessed all Chakra natures, Yemo could not help clenching his fists. The excitement and elation in his heart were beyond words.

Suddenly, Orochimaru said, "Yemo, don't get too excited. Possessing all Chakra natures is enough to prove your talent, but it isn't necessarily a good thing."

Hearing Teacher Orochimaru say that, Yemo looked up in confusion. "What do you mean, Teacher Orochimaru?"

"A person's life span is limited, and naturally, so is their energy," Orochimaru explained calmly. "You should know that your teacher and you both possess all Chakra natures and can learn every Ninjutsu except Kekkei Genkai. But that's where the problem lies."

"Suppose a person's energy is one whole. If you want to learn every Chakra nature, you must divide that energy into seven parts."

Hearing Teacher Orochimaru say this, Yemo began to understand.

"Meanwhile, someone else might possess two Chakra natures, or even just one, and wouldn't need to divide all their energy. Although you're a genius, if you devote all your energy to learning the seven Chakra natures, the result will be that you don't stand out in any one of them."

"I think I understand what you mean, Teacher Orochimaru," Yemo said, looking up in realization. "You want me to learn all seven Chakra natures, but focus most of my energy on one or even a few of them, rather than dividing it equally among them all."

"That's right." Orochimaru nodded. "You don't need to divide all your energy equally. With your talent, mastering the seven Chakra natures won't be difficult, but real battles aren't won by how many nature transformations you've mastered. With your talent, if you devote most of your energy to one Chakra nature, you could very well become the foremost person of this age."

"Of course, that doesn't mean you shouldn't learn the other Chakra natures. After all, you possess all Chakra natures and tremendous talent. Not mastering the nature transformations of all of them would be a tremendous waste of both your physique and your talent."

Yemo strongly agreed with Teacher Orochimaru. Rather than develop in many directions, it was better to follow one path. Yemo understood the principle that those who tried to do too much mastered nothing.

Naruto offered a profound lesson in this, such as the First and Second Hokage. The Second Hokage possessed all Chakra natures, could use thousands of Ninjutsu, and had even developed numerous forbidden techniques. But what of it? His combat strength fell far short of the First Hokage's. With Wood Release alone, the First Hokage stood above the entire world and was known as the God of Shinobi. One technique was enough to take him everywhere.

The Second Hokage, by contrast, not only met a somewhat undeserved death, but the Flying Thunder God Technique he developed only flourished in Minato's hands, earning him the title of the world's fastest.

There was also his Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, which Orochimaru later improved and Kabuto Yakushi brought to prominence. Kabuto Yakushi even used it to control the powerhouses of past generations and fight the hundred-thousand-strong Allied Shinobi Forces.

Yemo did not want to become the Second Hokage. Of course, he would not follow Orochimaru's advice and devote all his energy to a particular nature either. His future path was already decided: Yin-Yang Release.

Yin-Yang Release was the strongest release in Naruto. Cultivated to a profound level, it could even create all things. The Sage of Six Paths, for example, had created the Nine Tailed Beasts, and Yin-Yang Release could nullify all Ninjutsu.

Of course, Yemo could not yet achieve that. He had only just begun cultivating, and his use of Yin-Yang Release could only be considered the most basic application, though it was still powerful.

For example, his Wood Manipulation Technique used Yin Release to change the shape of inanimate matter, much like the Nara Clan's Shadow Manipulation Technique. Naturally, there was also Yang Release. Yemo used Yang Release to give tree roots life. He could not yet make the roots living, but he could make them sturdier and even enlarge them, much like the Akimichi Clan. After all, the Akimichi Clan's Multi-Size Technique was also considered a secret Yang Release technique. By combining the two, Yemo could control these roots at will and even withstand a Tailed Beast's powerful attacks.

In short, Yin-Yang Release was the direction of Yemo's future cultivation. Though he was still weak now, he believed that his use of Yin-Yang Release would one day rival the Sage of Six Paths'. By then, even creating life would be a small matter.

Suddenly thinking of something, Yemo asked Orochimaru in confusion, "Teacher Orochimaru, you also possess all Chakra natures. Which one do you specialize in?"

Faced with Yemo's question, Orochimaru smiled meaningfully. "I study the Chakra natures of every attribute."

"This..." Yemo looked astonished and utterly puzzled. Orochimaru had just told him to devote most of his energy to one or two natures, so why did he study all of them himself?

Perhaps seeing the confusion on Yemo's face, Orochimaru explained, "By the time I understood this, I had already gone too far down the wrong path. It was impossible to correct it. Over the years, I learned almost all the Ninjutsu of the seven natures, numbering in the thousands. But in the end, I gradually discovered that those secret techniques passed down for many years, as well as powerful Kekkei Genkai, were more interesting and could reveal more about the essence of the world."

"Every person's body contains a terrifying power, like the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan and the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan. Human potential is limitless, but a person might never be able to use that power in their lifetime."

"But as long as I have unlimited vitality, I'll have enough energy to learn every Ninjutsu and thoroughly master and integrate all seven natures."

At this point, Orochimaru made no attempt to hide the excitement and elation in his eyes, along with a hint of madness. Those were the things he pursued.

Hearing this, Yemo's expression changed drastically, but he instantly concealed it and regained his composure. He grew wary in secret. It seemed Orochimaru had already gone down the wrong path.

His thinking had changed. He believed that the human body contained power that could not be used in a single lifetime, so he wanted to gain immortality to learn every Ninjutsu in the world and master the truth of the world. Orochimaru might already have begun his experiments, pursuing the legendary immortality.

It seemed he would have to be more careful around Orochimaru from now on, lest this mad teacher make him a test subject. Yemo knew that the deeper Orochimaru fell, the less emotion he would have, until he gradually became a monster who would do anything to achieve his goals.

Though guarding against his own teacher like this was somewhat immoral, it was far better than carelessly losing his life at Orochimaru's hands.