Seizing Treasure

Sage Chakra was a powerful force born from fusing natural energy, one's own chakra, and spiritual energy. Sage Arts released on the foundation of Sage Chakra could greatly enhance the power of ninjutsu!

But why was Sage Chakra appearing here?

Enkō frowned deeply. In the Shinobi World, there were three places where sage traditions had been passed down: Mount Myoboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest. Cultivating Sage Art came with enormous risks. Once the three energies within the body lost balance, abnormal conditions would arise.

Among them, berserk transformation was a side effect produced when Ryūchi Cave's Sage Art cultivation failed!

As Enkō continuously absorbed the Sage Chakra in the air, the energies within his body gradually fell out of balance. Yet the medicinal wine Tian Lao had given him seemed able to stimulate a unique kind of spiritual energy. Not only could that spiritual energy protect his eyes from the side effects of the Mangekyō Sharingan, it could even harmonize the fusion of the three powers within his body.

Of course, this was only temporary. Once the medicine wore off, the energies in his body would lose balance again. In other words, it would only last for an hour.

"This medicine is truly potent," Enkō sighed sincerely. After members of the Uchiha Clan awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, their chakra and ocular power would surge instantly. Yet because of the backlash, they could normally exert at most eighty percent of their strength in battle, and could not maintain it for long. The longer it lasted, the worse the Mangekyō's aftereffects became.

Yet at this moment, his eyes felt perfectly clear. Not only could he no longer feel the pain caused by the Mangekyō, allowing him to use his full strength, but even his sensory abilities had risen to a whole new level.

"What a pity. There are only about three mouthfuls left at most." Enkō shook the wine gourd and sighed with some regret. He then put it away. Just as he was about to carry the unconscious people out, he suddenly sensed an incomparably dense force of life coming from deep within the canyon!

"What an immense life force. Could it be that legendary fruit...?"

Enkō paused and glanced at the people on the ground. They would not die anytime soon anyway. He decisively turned and ran deeper into the canyon. How could anyone pass by a treasure without taking it?

Enkō followed the narrow passage deeper and deeper. The life force and Sage Chakra in the air grew increasingly dense, until they were almost tangible.

Whoosh—

After estimating that he had run another two kilometers, Enkō saw a light ahead in the passage. Clearly, he had reached its end. The moment he burst out of the narrow path, the view before him suddenly opened up!

The bottom of the enormous canyon was carpeted with dense, low vegetation. Everywhere he looked was lush and verdant. At the center of the greenery lay a round pool that occupied half the clearing. Its water was crystal clear, like a mirror set within an oasis.

At the center of the pool was a small patch of land, upon which grew a towering ancient tree. Its canopy spread like a magnificent parasol, blocking out the sky and sun like a silent guardian.

A green fruit the size of a basketball hung from one of the tree's branches, radiating a dense life force.

Enkō's heart burned as he looked at the fruit. In Naruto's world, chakra was equivalent to a mana bar, while vitality was equivalent to one's recovery rate. There were many things that could replenish chakra, but treasures capable of restoring vitality were rare. Hashirama was powerful not only because of his world-shattering Wood Release ninjutsu, but also because of his exceptionally vigorous life force.

However, Enkō did not rush forward to pick the fruit. According to what Takuya had said, a monster guarded it. And since the air was filled with Sage Chakra from Ryūchi Cave, it was highly likely that a giant snake from Ryūchi Cave was guarding this fruit.

"What a pity." Enkō withdrew his longing gaze. No matter how good something was, he had to consider the consequences. Snatching treasure from Ryūchi Cave was no different from pulling food from a tiger's mouth. Needlessly offending a sacred sage land was clearly unwise.

Just as Enkō was preparing to leave, an enormous surge of Sage Chakra suddenly erupted from the pool. The entire surface began to churn violently, as though some colossal creature was about to burst from the water!

Enkō's heart sank. He immediately flashed behind a large tree, concealing himself as he cautiously poked his head out to look.

Splash—

A white fountain rose from the water's surface. The first thing to break through was a triangular snake head as large as a millstone. Two dragon-like horns protruded from its head, and its scarlet snake eyes resembled the abyss of hell. The black scales covering its body were sharply ridged and jet-black, glimmering with a gloomy light beneath the moonlight, making it look savage and terrifying.

Below the massive head was a gigantic snake body thicker than a water barrel. Its entire body was covered in armor-like scales. Its upper half rose completely above the water, with countless thin streams cascading down its body, making it look like a Steel Behemoth capable of destroying the world!

The instant the giant snake emerged from the water, overwhelming Sage Chakra filled the entire canyon floor!

Even though Enkō had been mentally prepared, he was still stunned by such a shocking sight. After all, across both his lives, he had never seen a creature this large.

The giant snake slowly raised its body, its head gradually leveling with the fruit in the tree. Excitement flashed through its scarlet eyes. Its forked tongue flicked out, and it actually spoke in human language. "It is finally about to ripen again. As long as I eat two more, I will fully recover. Heh heh, that damned old hag... then it will be your end!"

Behind the tree, Enkō pondered to himself. It really is a giant snake from Ryūchi Cave. But judging from its tone, it seems to have a grudge against someone. An old hag? I remember that Ryūchi Cave is controlled by the White Snake Sage. Could it be referring to her?

"Hm? Who is there?" Suddenly, a deafening voice rang throughout the canyon. Before Enkō could react, an invisible chakra air cannon blasted toward where he stood!

Boom—

With a single strike, the entire tree shattered, and the attack tore through the earth, leaving a deep trench in the ground!

"Hm?" The giant snake's expression tightened. Its Sage Mode sensory abilities spread across the entire canyon, and it quickly found the intruder again!

Enkō stood atop another tree, his heart still racing. He truly had not expected the other party's senses to be so sharp. If he had not come to his senses at the last moment, that attack would have seriously injured him!

"A human?" As the giant snake looked at Enkō in the distance, it was actually quite wary. It was seriously injured, and could not exert even thirty percent of its strength. Anyone who could withstand the Sage Chakra it emitted and reach this place was either a snake from Ryūchi Cave as well, or a formidable expert.

"Brat, this is not a place you should be! Get lost!" The giant snake roared, and the surging chakra made Enkō's clothes flap violently.

"Tsk, tsk." Enkō calmly dusted off his clothes and said lightly, "What a big mouth. Haven't you brushed your teeth? Well, for the White Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave's sake, I won't argue with you. I'm leaving."

"Hm? You actually know about Ryūchi Cave?" The giant snake sounded surprised before angrily saying, "Do I need that dead old hag's favor? Brat! Don't you dare look down on snakes!"

"Oh?" Enkō halted mid-step, a glint of red lighting up in his eyes. "I see. In that case, I won't hold back!"

Boom—

The next instant, immense chakra shot into the sky!