Sage Art Ideation

Under the threat of the Cursed Seal, Shinnō dared not act rashly and obediently handed over his secret regeneration techniques, along with a portion of his medical research findings.

The hour was growing late, and fearing it might arouse suspicion from the village, Orochimaru decided to send him back first.

To avoid exposing the location of the laboratory outside the village, he summoned a python as usual to swallow Shinnō, then the two returned to the village and released him in a secluded spot.

The entire process was like a perfect infiltration.

Shinnō tidied himself up, feigning that nothing had happened, and went to the hospital to hold consultations and give lectures, looking refreshed. Honestly, his acting skills could truly be described as "exquisite."

Orochimaru watched the retreating figure and said, "I intend to study his research findings; you keep an eye on him. If there are any issues, contact me at any time."

"With your Cursed Seal on him, he wouldn't dare do anything."

"In any case, I leave him to you."

"Understood." Akashi nodded.

Inside the hospital.

Shinnō was as diligent as ever in his consultations. Having been tortured all night, his chest felt hot as if burning, and cold sweat occasionally broke out on his temples, yet he still disguised it well, wearing a gentle and polite smile on his face.

"Doctor, you seem very exhausted; you should pay attention to your rest," several patients said.

"Doctor Shinnō, your complexion isn't good; did you not sleep well?" other patients asked.

You lot are truly long-winded, what does it have to do with you? Shinnō smiled on the outside while cursing inwardly.

The mere mention of this topic brought back memories of last night's torment.

He no longer wished to recall it.

Although the intense pain had subsided, the occasional stinging sensation still caused Shinnō immense distress, as if constantly reminding him that his life was no longer in his own hands.

Until he completely deciphered the Cursed Seal, he dared not defy the orders of Orochimaru and Akashi.

After all, he was clinging to life for the sake of revenge, and before achieving his goal, he cherished his life. It was precisely because he cherished his life that he was held firmly in their grasp, with no room for resistance.

Where there is a burden, there is a weakness.

Akashi understood this principle and easily controlled him by exploiting the obsession of an avenger.

It was just like how Orochimaru would tempt Sasuke many years later.

But what truly concerned Akashi was not Shinnō's purpose, but the Cursed Seal planted by Orochimaru; it represented another kind of energy.

Sage Art.

The most primordial power of the ninja world: natural energy.

Aside from the three great sacred sites, the Dragon Vein and Moryo should also fall into this category of power. They belonged to nature, endless and inexhaustible; humans could utilize them, but they could not claim them as their own.

After chakra descended, the current ninja world was born, and utilizing chakra became the mainstream method of cultivation, flourishing everywhere.

The sages did not care, quietly guarding their own lands and watching the cycle of the world.

Whether it was the conflicts between Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju, the struggle between the Ninjutsu Sect's Asura and Indra, or the extraterrestrial Otsutsuki Clan, everything was still in the hands of that old man at Mount Myoboku.

However, Sage Art was not easy to learn, and natural energy was extremely difficult to master.

Furthermore, no matter which type of Sage Art it was, it seemed unable to exert much effect in the face of the god-like, powerful Otsutsuki Clan.

Akashi had long since formulated a hypothesis.

If one type of Sage Art was not enough, what about two? If two were not enough, what about three?

Was it possible to master three types of Sage Art simultaneously?

If so, how would the three types of Sage Art coexist? Would they each occupy one-third, or would they be divided by ratio? Simple addition certainly wouldn't work; perhaps through secret techniques to harmonize them? What kind of technique could blend Sage Arts together?

His previous reflections led to the conclusion—

The natural cycle.

Snakes overcome frogs, frogs overcome slugs, and slugs overcome snakes.

There was already a cyclical relationship of mutual restraint among the three. If the three great Sage Arts followed this principle, connecting head to tail in an endless loop, wouldn't they be able to merge perfectly?

As for the powers of the Dragon Vein and Moryo, they could be viewed as Yin and Yang, placed at the center of the cycle of the three Sage Arts to blend and evolve.

The only thing missing was the "One" from which all things originated.

Others might have no way, but he possessed that "One"—the seedling suspected to be the God Tree.

One gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things.

Everything was set.

Based on existing data and ideas, Akashi deduced a relatively feasible theory of Sage Art.

If he succeeded, he could possess a collection of all the Sage Arts on this planet, and he reckoned he would not fall behind even when confronting the extraterrestrial Otsutsuki Clan.

"But natural energy is something invisible and intangible; it's quite difficult to handle, isn't it?"

Akashi looked up at the sky and couldn't help but sigh.

Proper Sage Art had to be learned in proper places. Not to mention mastering natural energy, even just sensing it was not something one could figure out through mere trial and error.

The ninja world has never lacked geniuses; if everyone could perceive natural energy on their own, what would be the point of the sacred sites?

Currently, Orochimaru himself has not yet fully mastered Sage Art, so it is impossible for him to reveal the secrets of Ryūchi Cave to anyone; time is needed to wait.

"For now, let's analyze Shinnō's cursed seal."

Uchiha Akashi thought once again of that dedicated, selfless doctor.

Night fell.

As Shinnō finished his shift and stepped out of the hospital, he saw Uchiha Akashi standing at the entrance, smiling brightly as he waited for him.

"Good evening."

"Even... what are you trying to do again?" Almost as a conditioned reflex, the words blurted out of Shinnō.

Uchiha Akashi stepped forward slowly, smiling with an honest, guileless expression: "What kind of bad intentions could I possibly have? I'm just here to pick you up after work so we can go for a walk. Don't you like to clear your head after dinner?"

This smile made Shinnō instinctively feel a sense of danger, causing a cold sweat to break out for no reason: "No... that won't be necessary, right? I still have to go back and write those reports for you all; I'm afraid I won't finish in time."

"You can finish them tomorrow." Uchiha Akashi walked over and stood by his side; a snake had already silently slithered out from his sleeve and crawled into Shinnō's clothes.

Orochimaru's techniques are exceptionally useful when bullying the weak.

A chill ran down his spine, and Shinnō's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Where are we going?"

"The small woods outside the village, somewhere without anyone around."

Uchiha Akashi said calmly.

The small woods? Somewhere without anyone around?

Shinnō felt that things were not looking good, as if an ominous premonition were descending upon him. But what could he do? He only prayed that Uchiha Akashi would be a little gentler in a moment.

Arriving at the gates of Konoha, the two of them swaggered out under the pretense of gathering medicinal herbs.

The gatekeeper sighed: "The new doctor, Shinnō, is truly dedicated, going out to gather herbs even this late. But with the recent casualties... sigh, I hope he can stay for a while longer."

The person beside him nodded in agreement: "My illness was completely cured by him; now I've regained my vigor..."

"Hahaha, you really have no shame saying that out loud."

"But, isn't that child next to him Uchiha Akashi?"

"It's truly strange, why would someone from the Uchiha clan be following Doctor Shinnō? Could he be a new assistant? Forget it, forget it, what does it have to do with us anyway."

Under the silver moonlight, the two chatted incessantly.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Akashi had already dragged Shinnō into the small woods outside the village, his gaze fixed firmly on the Heaven Cursed Seal.