Seizing the Treasure

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

But why was Sage Chakra appearing here?

Yan Hong frowned deeply. There were three sacred sites of Sage Art inheritance in the Shinobi World: Mount Myoboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest. Yet cultivating Sage Art came with immense risks. Once the three energies within the body lost their balance, abnormalities would occur.

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

As Yan Hong continuously absorbed the Sage Chakra in the air, the energy within his body gradually fell out of balance. However, the medicinal wine Tian Lao had given him seemed capable of stimulating a unique form of spiritual power. Not only could it protect his eyes from the side effects of the Mangekyō Sharingan, it could even reconcile the fusion of the three forces within his body.

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

"This medicine really is powerful," Yan Hong said sincerely. After members of the Uchiha Clan awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, both their chakra and ocular power surged dramatically. Yet due to the backlash, they could normally only wield eighty percent of their strength in battle, and not for very long. The longer it lasted, the worse the Mangekyō's aftereffects became.

Yet at that moment, his eyes felt utterly clear. Not only could he no longer feel the pain brought by the Mangekyō, allowing him to use his full strength, but even his perception had risen to another level.

"What a pity there's so little left. At most, three mouthfuls." Yan Hong shook the wine gourd and sighed regretfully. He then put it away and was just about to carry the unconscious people out when he suddenly sensed an incredibly dense force of life emanating from the depths of the canyon!

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

Yan Hong paused and glanced at the people on the ground. They would not die anytime soon anyway, so he decisively turned and ran deeper into the canyon. Who would pass by treasure without taking it?

Yan Hong continued deeper along the long, narrow passage. The life force and Sage Chakra in the air grew increasingly dense, eventually becoming almost tangible.

Whoosh—

After running another two kilometers or so, a ray of light appeared ahead. He had clearly reached the end of the passage. The instant he rushed out, the view before him opened up!

The bottom of the enormous canyon was covered in dense, low-growing vegetation, a lush sea of green as far as the eye could see. At the center of the greenery lay a circular pool that occupied half the area. Its water was crystal clear, like a mirror embedded in 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, blotting out the sky like a silent guardian deity.

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

The sight of the fruit made Yan Hong's heart burn. In the world of Naruto, chakra was equivalent to a mana bar, while vitality was equivalent to health regeneration. There were many things that could replenish chakra, but few treasures could replenish vitality. Hashirama was powerful not only because of his world-shattering Wood Release ninjutsu, but also because of his exceptionally vigorous life force.

However, Yan Hong did not rush forward to pick the fruit. According to Takuya, a beast guarded it. And since the air was filled with Ryūchi Cave's Sage Chakra, it was highly likely that a giant snake from Ryūchi Cave was guarding this fruit.

"What a shame." Yan Hong 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 taking food from a tiger's mouth. Needlessly offending a sacred Sage Art site was clearly unwise.

Just as Yan Hong was preparing to leave, an enormous surge of Sage Chakra erupted from the pool. The entire surface churned violently, as though some colossal creature was about to burst out of the water!

Yan Hong's heart sank. He immediately darted behind a large tree, concealing himself as he cautiously peeked out.

Splash—

A white fountain rose from the water. The first thing to break the surface was a triangular snake head as large as a millstone, with two dragon-like horns growing from it. Its scarlet eyes resembled the abyss of hell. Its black scales were sharply defined and dark as ink, gleaming with a sinister light beneath the moonlight, making it look ferocious and terrifying.

Below the enormous snake head was a massive body thicker than a water barrel, entirely covered in armor-like scales. Its upper body rose fully above the surface, countless thin streams of water running down its body. It looked like a Steel Behemoth capable of destroying the world!

The instant the giant snake emerged, overwhelming Sage Chakra filled the entire valley floor!

Although Yan Hong had been mentally prepared, the sight still stunned him. After all, across both his lifetimes, he had never seen a creature so enormous.

The giant snake slowly raised itself upright, its head gradually leveling with the fruit on the tree. Excitement flashed through its scarlet eyes. With a flick of its tongue, it actually spoke in human words. "It's finally about to ripen again. As long as I eat two more, I'll fully recover. Heh heh, you damned old hag. Then your end will come!"

Behind the tree, Yan Hong pondered silently. As expected, it's a giant snake from Ryūchi Cave. But from the way he talks, he seems to have a grudge against someone. An old hag? Ryūchi Cave is controlled by the White Snake Sage. Could he be referring to her?

"Hm? Who's there?" Suddenly, a deafening voice echoed throughout the canyon. Before Yan Hong could react, an invisible chakra air cannon blasted toward his location!

Boom—

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

"Hm?" The giant snake's expression tightened. The perception of Sage Mode enveloped the entire canyon, and it quickly found the intruder again!

Yan Hong stood atop another tree, his heart still pounding with lingering fear. He truly had not expected the other party's perception to be so sharp. If he had not snapped back to his senses at the last moment, he would have been severely injured by that attack!

"A human?" The giant snake stared at Yan Hong in the distance, deeply wary. It was seriously injured, and could not unleash 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 or an expert of considerable strength.

"Brat, this is not a place you should be! Get lost!" The giant snake roared, its surging chakra whipping Yan Hong's clothes wildly in the wind.

"Tsk, tsk." Yan Hong calmly brushed the dust from his clothes and said indifferently, "What a mouth on you. Didn't you brush your teeth? Well, for the White Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave's sake, I won't hold it against you. I'm leaving."

"Hm? You actually know of Ryūchi Cave?" The giant snake sounded surprised, then angrily said, "Do I need that dead old hag's favor? Brat! Don't underestimate snakes!"

"Oh?" Yan Hong halted, and a crimson gleam lit in his eyes. "I see. In that case, I won't be polite anymore!"

Boom—

The next instant, immense chakra surged into the sky!