Jiraiya: Brother Snake, Don't!

Although the process had a few minor hiccups, and he had been played by that old hag, nearly capsizing in the gutter.

But the result was still quite decent.

Orochimaru had not only successfully learned the Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave but had also incidentally signed a summoning contract with Ryūchi Cave.

Just like that, another month slipped away quietly.

During this month, aside from completing two missions, Orochimaru had devoted most of his energy to the study of Sage Mode.

To enter Sage Mode, it is generally divided into two steps.

The first step is to perceive natural energy.

This step requires the practitioner's body and mind to harmonize with nature, entering a state of "stillness."

It sounds mystical, but for Orochimaru, who had cultivation experience from the world of The Outcast, this was not difficult.

He closed his eyes and focused slightly, and he could clearly "see" the natural energy drifting everywhere in the air.

The second step is to absorb the natural energy and fuse it with his own spiritual energy and physical energy (which is Chakra) to reach a perfect balance.

Theoretically, once these two steps are completed, Sage Mode is considered mastered.

But the problem lies in... actual combat.

Combining these two steps and stably activating Sage Mode in the ever-changing flow of battle is not just generally troublesome.

It is practically an impossible task.

At least, for him at the moment, it is.

Every time he tried to absorb natural energy while moving or distracted, the result was always the same—his body would instantly lose balance, and he would nearly petrify on the spot.

To figure out this problem, he even made a special trip to Ryūchi Cave to consult the White Snake Sage, who had tricked him so badly.

The result? That old hag played dumb, acting as if she didn't understand. What did she say?

"Activating Sage Mode in battle?"

"Why would you even consider such a question?"

"Doesn't natural energy just actively drill into your body?"

"Do you even need to intentionally absorb it?"

That tone of taking it for granted almost made Orochimaru laugh in anger.

Fine.

Asking was a waste of time.

Orochimaru finally understood completely.

For a creature like the White Snake Sage, absorbing natural energy is like breathing or drinking water; it is an instinct imprinted in her genes.

Does a normal person need to think about how to walk or how to jump?

No.

But humans in this world are different.

Except for those with special constitutions like Jugo, who are born with a "natural energy absorption" cheat, the vast majority of people struggle even to perceive natural energy.

Let alone absorbing and controlling it.

Even a protagonist like Naruto Uzumaki had to rely on the toad oil from Mount Myoboku as an aid just to barely get started.

To put it bluntly.

Compared to creatures like the White Snake or the Toads, humans are like people born without legs.

Now that they want to learn how to "walk" (absorb natural energy), they naturally have to start from scratch.

It is inevitable to stumble at the beginning, or even end up bruised and battered.

As for when he will be able to stride like a normal person?

Heaven knows.

Thinking of this, Orochimaru couldn't help but recall some details from the original story.

The "original version" of himself, in the later stages, displayed the form of the Eight-Headed Serpent; besides pursuing greater power and twisted immortality, it was likely for the sake of researching Sage Mode.

After all, being able to develop the Cursed Seal to that extent, along with the method of injecting the power of the Cursed Seal, was exactly the same as the Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave.

Perhaps it was precisely because of this that after Kabuto Yakushi inherited his cells, he was able to master Sage Mode so quickly; it likely had a lot to do with this "legacy."

But that was a result piled up after spending a massive amount of time, using a massive amount of resources, and even sacrificing precious research materials like Jugo.

Right now, he has no manpower and no time.

Want to replicate it?

It is basically impossible...

"In other words..."

"In the short term, this Sage Mode is basically just for show; it has no real combat value."

Orochimaru rubbed his temples, arriving at a rather frustrating conclusion.

Given his level of Chakra, he couldn't compare to a Chakra monster like Naruto Uzumaki, who could casually churn out hundreds of Shadow Clones to spam Rasengans.

If he created a Shadow Clone, the individual Chakra volume of the clone would be insufficient to suppress the violent natural energy.

In other words, the path of using Shadow Clones to absorb natural energy was off the table...

Furthermore, he had confirmed with the White Snake Sage that the snakes of Ryūchi Cave could not cooperate to initiate Sage Mode the way Fukasaku and Shima could.

"However... it is precisely because there are so many problems that it is worth researching."

Thinking of this, Orochimaru smiled; it was exactly for this reason that it held research value.

The next day.

Orochimaru took the initiative to find Jiraiya.

At that moment, Jiraiya had just finished his morning training and was leaning against the windowsill, grinning foolishly at the female ninjas sweating on the training ground while scribbling in his notebook.

"Yo, Orochimaru, what a rare guest."

"What do you need from me?"

Jiraiya greeted him without turning his head, his pen tip still dancing across the notebook.

"Nothing much, just some new results I wanted to show you."

Orochimaru ignored his banter, walked to his side, and spoke calmly.

"Hm?"

Jiraiya was taken aback; he naturally knew that his teammate was conducting research.

But was it really necessary to specifically show it to a layman like him?

As the words fell.

Hum!

A massive and pure surge of energy erupted from Orochimaru's body.

Eerie purple eyeshadow rapidly appeared around his eyes, and fine white snake scales became faintly visible on his exposed neck and the backs of his hands, shimmering with a cold luster.

His entire aura instantly became powerful...

"Hm?!!!!"

The pen in Jiraiya's hand hit the floor with a clatter.

He whipped his head around, eyes wide, staring at Orochimaru in disbelief.

His expression was as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

"Sa... Sage Mode?!"

"You, you, you... how do you know Sage Mode?!"

Jiraiya's voice was slightly out of tune.

He had been put through the wringer by those old Toad Sages at Mount Myoboku for months just to learn the thing, and he hadn't even touched the threshold yet.

And yet, this thick-browed, big-eyed guy Orochimaru had learned it quietly without a sound?

This didn't make sense!

But the next moment, Jiraiya noticed the features on Orochimaru's body; they were not Toad features.

"You this..."

Having realized this, Jiraiya was about to press for answers, but was interrupted by Orochimaru.

"It is not from Mount Myoboku. The Sage Art I learned comes from Ryūchi Cave."

Orochimaru deactivated Sage Mode, the abnormalities on his body quickly fading away as he returned to his usual appearance.

He briefly explained the existence of Ryūchi Cave and how he had been "invited" there to learn Sage Art.

"...I see. So there is a place like Ryūchi Cave."

"So you came to find me today just to show off?"

After listening, Jiraiya wore an expression of sudden realization, followed by a hint of curiosity.

He hadn't expected Orochimaru to have an experience similar to his own...

"No, I simply wanted to invite you to research Sage Art together."

Orochimaru nodded, then shifted the topic.

"Huh?"

Jiraiya was stunned.

"Research together?"

"That's right. As of now, we should be the only ones capable of sensing natural energy...

Since you are also studying senjutsu, why don't we share our intelligence and verify our findings with each other?"

Orochimaru nodded; this was the reason he had come to find Jiraiya.

"I see~"

Jiraiya rubbed his chin, lost in thought.

Orochimaru's proposal was indeed very tempting.

He was equally full of curiosity and desire regarding senjutsu.

Moreover, he was dying to know how this guy, Orochimaru, had managed to master Sage Mode in such a short amount of time.

There had to be some kind of trick to it!

"Fine!"

"I agree!"

After a brief moment of consideration, Jiraiya nodded firmly.

"Follow me."

Orochimaru smiled noncommittally.

He turned around and led Jiraiya toward his laboratory.

Jiraiya followed out of curiosity.

When the laboratory doors opened, even someone as well-traveled as Jiraiya was shocked by the sight before him.

The space was wide and bright, filled with all sorts of machines that looked unaffordable, glass containers bubbling away, and the air was permeated with a faint scent of disinfectant.

"Tsk tsk tsk, you really outdid yourself, kid. Where did you get all these fancy things?"

Jiraiya looked around like a country bumpkin entering the city, peering here and there with a face full of wonder.

"I just put it together."

"Alright, stop looking."

"Take off your clothes and stand up there."

Orochimaru walked over to a platform and pointed at it.

"Huh?"

Upon hearing this, the look of wonder on Jiraiya's face instantly froze.

He slowly turned his head to look at Orochimaru, his expression becoming rather strange.

Take... take off his clothes?

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

Although that woman Tsunade had a short temper and a figure that was nothing to write home about, she at least had a pretty face, right?

In all these years, he had never seen Orochimaru show any interest in her.

So why today...

Does he want me to take off my clothes right off the bat?

This guy... he wouldn't be...

Holy crap!

Jiraiya instinctively took half a step back, crossed his arms over his chest, and looked at Orochimaru with a wary expression.

"Orochimaru, you... what are you trying to do?!"