Within Ryūchi Cave, Naruto was battling the giant snake Garaga.
For Naruto, mastering Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation was not difficult. As long as one could refine a large amount of Sage Chakra, even a Jonin could wield it with ease.
Watching Garaga battle the "earth" in the distance, Naruto condensed earthen spikes from the ground, intending to surround the giant snake and end this contest with a summoned beast.
Just then, Garaga leaped high into the air and sprayed purple corrosive acid from its mouth.
The moment the acid touched the ground, the earthen spikes shrank back one by one, abandoning their advance on Garaga.
Seeing this, Naruto gave a helpless smile. Although Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation granted life to inorganic matter, it also awakened in them the instinct of living creatures to seek fortune and avoid harm, causing them to evade attacks that might injure them.
He did not know whether that trait was good or bad.
With that thought, Naruto forcibly ordered the inorganic matter to attack Garaga. Before long, he trapped Garaga within the earth, leaving only its head exposed.
Garaga was not angered. Instead, it began playing in the soil.
After ending his contest with Garaga, Naruto dispelled Sage Mode and looked toward the entrance of Ryūchi Cave.
By his estimate, he had spent nearly two months in Ryūchi Cave, far exceeding the time he had agreed upon with the old clan chief. However, an Edo Tensei and its caster were naturally linked by a mental connection, so there was no need to worry about any major problems arising from it.
This Journey to Ryūchidō had been immensely rewarding.
Not only had he learned Ryūchidō Sage Mode, but the Nine-Tails had also mastered the ability to refine Chakra. He had even obtained information about Sage Arts