"Besides that, Orochimaru has mastered the Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave," Hanfu dropped another bombshell in the Hokage Office.
"Sage Mode?"
Namikaze Minato wasn't convinced. "The Sage Mode of the Three Great Sage Regions requires exceptional talent. There's no shortcut to make up for that, and even the Chimera Technique can't do it!"
The Chimera Technique could only absorb other people's Kekkei Genkai. It couldn't absorb their Sage Mode.
"Lord Hokage, do you remember Shisui's severed arm?" Hanfu reminded him.
Namikaze Minato paused. "The arm implanted with First Hokage Cells?"
"Yes. Back then, I only found that severed arm in Otogakure, but its owner was never found," Hanfu said.
"You mean...?" Namikaze Minato's heart stirred. He remembered the Third Hokage once telling him that Orochimaru had been researching Soul Reincarnation techniques to achieve immortality. Could Orochimaru have succeeded?
"I suspect Orochimaru reincarnated into the owner of that severed arm, then took advantage of the body's lack of rejection to absorb the White Snake Sage's Senjutsu Chakra and learn Sage Mode." Hanfu laid out his theory with confidence and sound reasoning.
Just as I thought!
But wouldn't that mean Orochimaru had achieved immortality?
Namikaze Minato frowned, then remembered Shisui's Wood Release. His expression changed dramatically. "If that's true, couldn't Orochimaru also awaken Wood Release by implanting First Hokage Cells?"
Hanfu nodded. "Some time ago, Orochimaru sneaked into the prison to see Danzo. He was probably after the First Hokage Cells!"
Namikaze Minato's expression grew even more serious. "The ninja guarding the prison said the intruder used Sharingan Genjutsu..."
Hanfu went along with it. "Orochimaru may already have acquired three Kekkei Genkai: Wood Release, Steel Release, and the Sharingan!"
"And on top of that, Sage Mode from Ryūchi Cave..."
Namikaze Minato looked up at Hanfu and asked, "How did you defeat him