Decoding the Snake Slough, Soul Sage Mode

Afterward, Orochimaru did not let Uchiha Ao ask any more questions.

He kicked him out of the house directly.

He was afraid that if they spent any more time together, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from expelling Ao from his tutelage; the questions this kid asked were more infuriating than the last.

After bidding farewell to Orochimaru, Ao headed to the outskirts of the Hidden Village where Manda resided, an area primarily occupied by various snake colonies.

Manda was coiled atop a towering stalactite, ruling over the entire snake population as their leader.

Upon receiving instructions from Orochimaru, Manda quickly summoned the younger members of the clan who possessed the talent to become ninja beasts.

"Come out, my kin!"

Following Manda's call, a vast number of snakes of various shapes and sizes crawled out from the shadows.

Among them were massive serpents with diameters of several meters.

There were also tiny snakes as thin as strands of hair.

And even flying snakes equipped with wings.

They formed a sea of snakes across the flat ground.

"Choose for yourself."

"After the contract is formed, you must provide me with ten blood sacrifices."

Manda glanced at Ao and said coldly.

Ten blood sacrifices?

Ao shot him a look, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan manifesting as he unleashed a cold wave of spiritual energy, his soul power piercing directly toward the serpent.

Manda felt a jolt in his heart and silently turned his head away.

It wasn't that he was afraid.

It was simply that he couldn't bear to watch his own kin and descendants spend the rest of their lives with a moody lunatic.

This was out of respect for the Sage.

Just you wait, you brat!

"I'll take that one."

Ao didn't make things difficult for Manda any further. He swept his Three-Tomoe Sharingan across the snake colony while simultaneously activating the Spirit Transformation Technique. Once his spirit vision was open, he spotted a small black-and-white snake displaying a hint of something extraordinary and pointed it out immediately.

Manda looked at the chosen snake in surprise and opened his mouth to say, "Why would you choose it... Little Silver is the physically weakest in the entire colony."

"It's not even as strong as some of the snakes under a meter long."

"Why don't you pick another one?"

Manda suggested cautiously.

Although he appeared arrogant on the surface, forcing Orochimaru to provide him with all sorts of live prey, he knew deep down that both of these Ryūchi Cave contractors were important pawns for the Sage to walk the mortal realm.

His status was high.

If he offended him, he might very well face the Sage's wrath.

Not to mention, this was Orochimaru's prized disciple.

"I'll take it!"

Ao did not take the advice and spoke again.

Hearing this, Manda said nothing more, only casting a complex look at the small, combat-incapable snake.

Manda did not understand why Uchiha Ao would choose it.

"Your name is Little Silver? A very nice name, it suits your physical characteristics..."

Ao examined the small snake coiled before him; its black-and-white body and flat head made it look rather cute.

In his previous life, this type of snake had another name—the Silver-Banded Snake.

It was highly venomous.

Moreover, it possessed a neurotoxin that targeted nerve cells, where even a tiny dose could be fatal.

To Manda, this Silver-Banded Snake was just a tiny speck, but in reality, it was nearly three meters long and as thick as a wrist, far exceeding its normal size.

It was just that compared to other types of snakes, its body was not robust, placing it at the bottom of the hierarchy within the colony.

"From now on, you'll follow me."

Ao stared at the small snake, reached out his hand, and spoke in a friendly tone.

"Master... my name is Yinqian!"

Yinqian twisted its body, quickly crawled in front of Ao, coiled into a ball, and raised its head to speak respectfully.

Snakes that possessed the traits of ninja beasts held a much higher status in Ryūchi Cave than ordinary, mindless giant snakes, and most of them possessed some talent for absorbing Natural Energy.

Ao nodded in satisfaction and asked again, "Do you know Snake Script?"

Yinqian nodded and replied, "I know a little; I once studied with Elder Zuijinji for a period of time."

"Very well, then we are partners from now on. If you need any help, feel free to ask me at any time!"

Ao said with a smile. Being able to read Snake Script was quite good; in the future, it could help him translate some of the snake clan's literature.

He wouldn't need to teach him again.

Although he now had Yinqian, Ao did not intend to slow down his progress in learning Snake Script.

After completing his teacher's instructions, he took Yinqian and left the outskirts of the Hidden Village, heading toward his residence in the central palace.

He found Zuijinji at the entrance of the hall once again.

He wasn't doing this to look at the beautiful snake woman, but simply because he enjoyed learning.

Three days later.

Ao finally learned everything written on the entire Snake Slough. After understanding it, he discovered that the application of Natural Energy in Ryūchi Cave was completely different from that of Mount Myoboku.

Ao finally learned everything written on the entire Snake Slough. After understanding it, he discovered that the application of Natural Energy in Ryūchi Cave was completely different from that of Mount Myoboku.

Ao sat cross-legged on the bed in the guest room on the side of the temple, staring intently at the methods for utilizing Natural Energy described on the Snake Slough, and could not help but fall into deep thought.

He recalled watching Naruto train in Sage Mode back then, which required applying toad oil, forcibly sensing Natural Energy, feeling nature during meditation, and maintaining a peaceful state of mind to create a perfect dynamic balance between Natural Energy, physical energy, and spiritual energy.

It relied on external forces to perceive Natural Energy.

However, the Sage Art training of Ryūchi Cave was a different form entirely.

Moreover, the training method provided by the White Snake Sage appeared exceptionally unconventional.

It actually involved merging with Natural Energy in a soul form, requiring absolutely no physical strength at all...

Using only the fusion of spiritual power and Natural Energy to form a unique Sage Art...

Wait a minute!?

Sage Art!?

Shouldn't one first condense Sage Chakra?

What about Sage Chakra!

This feels different from the Sage Mode in his memories!

Ao was suddenly startled, realizing that the training method he had mastered was completely different from the Sage Mode of his two future juniors.

Both Yakushi Kabuto and Mitsuki only obtained the power of the perfect Sage Mode after passing the three trials and receiving an infusion from the White Snake Sage.

The Sage Mode they mastered was merely a cheat code forcibly installed by the White Snake Sage, using external force to inject Sage Art directly into them so they could obtain Sage Chakra.

That was not the training method of Ryūchi Cave.

After obtaining the Snake Slough, Ao had never dared to hope that it contained the training method for the Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode.

Because he knew that to obtain the inherited Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave, one had to be bitten by the fangs of the White Snake Sage, who would then inject her own Sage Chakra, thereby granting a near-permanent state of Sage Mode.

And the prerequisite for being bitten was passing the trials of the Three Princesses while possessing an extremely strong body.

This required a body capable of withstanding the continuous erosion of the White Snake Sage's Natural Energy, maintaining one's own will without being assimilated by the White Snake Sage's spirit during the process of the body gradually scaling, deforming, and regenerating, so as not to lose one's sense of self.

Then, it would slowly combine with the physical body to form a unique Sage Mode with the characteristics of the Ryūchi Cave snake clan.

Finally, one would mutate completely into a snake-man with numerous snake-like features—a monster.

Losing one's human appearance.

No wonder...

In the entire Naruto World, apart from those bitten by the White Snake Sage, no one else had mastered the Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave.

Such harsh training conditions.

It was basically impossible for an ordinary person.

Furthermore, unlike the clumsy method of Mount Myoboku, which required sitting in meditation to fuse with Natural Energy, the Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave allowed for the absorption of Natural Energy anytime and anywhere while moving, ensuring the continuous operation of Sage Mode.

Mount Myoboku's Sage Mode was much gentler by comparison.

Is this a case of "to become strong, one must first become a freak"?

After realizing this, Ao could not help but look up at the massive figure of the White Snake Sage deep within the hall...

This Sage... could it be that she exists in a soul form?

After the Snake Kiss Ritual.

Are Yakushi Kabuto and Mitsuki, who obtained Sage Mode, still themselves?

Ao associated this with the Natural Energy contained within the terrifying white mist behind the White Snake Sage, and a trace of unease gradually welled up in his heart.

Connecting this to the soul transformation plan the White Snake Sage provided to Orochimaru...

His mind was even more shaken.

He had vaguely caught a glimpse of the White Snake Sage's research project.

"Sage... what exactly is your goal? To actually hand such an important training method to me... I wonder, which test subject am I?"

"And... Senju Hashirama... is his Sage Mode trained in this way?"

"White Snake Sage... she really is a damn immortal!"

"Isn't this just cultivation?"

Countless thoughts surged through the mind of Uchiha Ao.

At this moment, a thousand threads of thought flooded his heart.

Faced with this method of becoming stronger.

He dared not attempt it lightly.

There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

His relationship with Ryūchi Cave was not close; one could even say they were strangers, and he did not know the true intentions of the White Snake Sage.

The Sage Art cultivation technique in his hand, which was enough to alter his perception of reality, was far too precious.

It was so precious that he didn't even dare to try it.

Because as he was now, he could not afford the price of incurring this karma.

This was a form of cultivation that involved the soul.

Furthermore, it involved the most violent and dangerous Natural Energy, and he had no idea how many hidden perils lay within.

Ao pondered for a long time, hesitant and indecisive, before finally deciding to go there in person to be frank and ask the White Snake Sage about her true purpose.

He wanted to avoid wasting his energy on internal conflict here.

In any case, other than his own soul, which might hold some value to the White Snake Sage, he possessed nothing else worth her investment.

The worst-case scenario was simply being swallowed whole by the White Snake Sage.