On the Way

Orochimaru traveled alone nearly twice as fast as he had when he brought Kakashi to Ryūchi Cave.

In just one day, Orochimaru arrived at Ryūchi Cave, his traveling clothes looking exceptionally neat.

"Though I had expectations, you really gave me a huge surprise, Kakashi." Orochimaru looked at his disciple before him with satisfaction.

"I still have to thank you, Sensei, for giving me this opportunity." Having dealt with Orochimaru quite extensively, Kakashi did not beat around the bush and simply offered his thanks.

"Don't think I'm merely being polite. I tried it myself, after all, but I failed to master Sage Mode. So in some respects, you've already surpassed me." Orochimaru was not an envious person. Even years later, when the title of Fourth Hokage had not fallen to him, he had never resented Minato for it. He admired him more than anything.

"We all know where your greatest talent lies, Sensei: research. Whether one can master a single technique or a certain type of technique clearly cannot overshadow your excellence in other areas." Kakashi spoke from the heart.

"Hahaha, Kakashi, you won't need to say such things in the future. This trip got you what you wanted, and I gained quite a lot as well. Isn't that right?"

"That is still a gain that only someone with your abilities, Sensei, could turn into something useful."

"Heh heh, enough. Let's head back. You already said your farewells to the White Snake Sage and the others, right?"

"Yes. While waiting for you to arrive, I told Elder Tagitsuhime about our return journey and asked her to bid the White Snake Sage farewell on my behalf. The White Snake Sage began cultivating in her dreams several days ago, so it would have been inconvenient for me to disturb her." The sages of the three great sacred lands normally remained asleep. On one hand, this reduced their bodily consumption and sustained their lives. On the other, their level could no longer be improved through ordinary chakra cultivation; they could only slowly cultivate and advance over time while being nourished by natural energy.

The high platform where the White Snake Sage resided was, unsurprisingly, likely the spot in Ryūchi Cave with the densest natural energy.

Ryūchi Cave's extraordinarily dense natural energy was all because beneath that platform lay a spring of natural energy extending deep into the planet's ley lines. The White Snake Sage occupied the place to cultivate, but she was also blocking the spring's opening. Otherwise, if too much energy erupted from it, the ordinary snakes of Ryūchi Cave would be unable to withstand the erosion of natural energy, risking their complete annihilation.

As Orochimaru set out on the road back to the village,

the two traveled discreetly through the Land of Wind without lingering. Once they gradually entered the Land of Fire, they slowed down slightly.

After a month of cultivation, Kakashi's strength had clearly improved considerably from when he came. Both his endurance and speed had advanced noticeably.

During this journey, Kakashi happily came to a conclusion. Outside Ryūchi Cave, natural energy was indeed much scarcer. But it had not fallen to the point where Kakashi could no longer absorb it. He merely needed to focus his mental energy and intensify his absorption to quickly take in natural energy.

If Kakashi's rate of absorbing natural energy in Ryūchi Cave was 100, then outside it dropped to only around 50. In certain areas, it was not even 50, hovering around 40. However, because the natural energy in Ryūchi Cave was so dense, Kakashi did not need to deliberately focus his mental energy to absorb it. If he used that method while moving outside, he could achieve sixty to seventy percent of his efficiency in Ryūchi Cave.

In other words, if Kakashi completely exhausted all the Senjutsu energy in his body now, he would need nearly half a day to recover. This was already an ideal state.

Ordinary shinobi needed nearly that long to recover after exhausting their chakra as well.

Pleased with this conclusion, Kakashi stopped not far from Konoha.

The moment Orochimaru sensed Kakashi's movement, he stopped ahead of him as well.

"Sensei, would you like to test the results of my cultivation this past month?" Kakashi looked at Orochimaru with an eager expression.

"Tch, I knew you wouldn't be able to hold back. Come on, show me." Spreading his hands, Orochimaru gestured for Kakashi to attack, his confidence on full display.

The Senjutsu energy in his body surged. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" A dark crimson fireball shot toward Orochimaru in an instant.

After easily dodging it, Orochimaru had yet to launch an attack when he sensed the whistle of air splitting behind him. He raised his right arm to block a powerful sweeping kick. Using the force, he flew backward and opened up the distance.

Kakashi's kick had caught him somewhat by surprise, but it was still within his control.

The instant he landed, Orochimaru thrust both hands forward. Several long snakes, their mouths open to reveal fangs, shot out from his sleeves.

This was his signature ninjutsu, Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.

After signing a snake summoning contract, Kakashi could use this move as well. But normally, he would never have used it to clash with Orochimaru. The other man's control over snakes, as well as his grasp of timing and angles, far surpassed his own. Trying to show off before an expert was exactly this sort of situation.

But now, with Senjutsu energy, Kakashi did not hesitate to thrust out his hand.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!" At this moment, a ring of purple eyeshadow appeared around Kakashi's eyes, resembling Sage Kabuto's appearance, though he had no dragon horns on his head. This was a disguise he had prepared, formed naturally by simply attaching Senjutsu energy around his eye sockets.

Everyone who mastered Sage Mode underwent physical changes. If he could achieve something like this, that would be close enough.

The several long snakes Kakashi released had been infused with Senjutsu energy, giving them greater speed and lethality. They instantly tangled with Orochimaru's snakes in a deadlock. Thus, both men stopped their summons.

With Orochimaru intentionally giving way, Kakashi seized the initiative again.

"Sage Art: White Rage Technique!" After rapidly using Senjutsu energy to stimulate his corneas and shield his vision, Kakashi unleashed a weakened White Rage Technique. Dazzling white light burst from Kakashi's mouth. Having gained the first move, Kakashi closed in on Orochimaru and drew his blade. With his vision completely impaired and his hearing momentarily damaged, Orochimaru's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He failed to dodge completely, and Kakashi cut off a lock of his long hair.

Pressing the advantage, Kakashi leaped up and slashed downward with his next strike, cleaving Orochimaru from his left shoulder to the right side of his abdomen, cutting him in two!

With a bang, Orochimaru's corpse turned into a puddle of mud.

Not the least bit surprised, Kakashi did not hesitate. The instant he leaped, he had sensed Orochimaru activating the Substitution Technique, but his motion had already begun. Interrupting it midway would inflict greater damage on his blood and qi, so he could only carry his blade forward.

Though he had only possessed Senjutsu energy for a short time and lacked the immediate boosts of a conventional Sage Mode, his ceiling was higher. Kakashi had the potential to develop all the common abilities that other Sage Modes possessed. For instance, in order to use the White Rage Technique, he had tried stimulating his corneas with Senjutsu energy, and they had indeed mutated successfully.

He had deliberately tried to improve his sensory abilities during this time, and they had indeed improved greatly.

He released his senses and swept the surrounding area, but did not find Orochimaru.

They were still fighting. Orochimaru could not possibly be hiding too far away, and Kakashi had not detected any suspicious transformed body. That meant he could only be hiding underground.

His senses continued sweeping beneath the earth. Sure enough, a figure appeared in his sensory image, rushing upward from underground.

Kakashi pushed off with his feet and quickly leaped backward. The instant he left the ground, the attack came.