The Land of Wind, Orochimaru's temporary base.
" Naoki-kun, please look. This is the current Cursed Seal State One, which can elevate a Genin who has just gathered Chakra to the level of a Chunin the Five Great Shinobi Villages."
Orochimaru dragged in a test subject whose entire body was covered in black markings. To make it easier to demonstrate the characteristics of the Cursed Seal State One, the test subject's clothes had been completely stripped off.
In Orochimaru's eyes, the black markings all over the test subject's body were just a characteristic of the Cursed Seal, but in Naoki Senju's eyes, it was a method of efficiently utilizing Natural Energy!
Natural Energy, Chakra, and Senjutsu Chakra are different, but the differences are not significant. They are all types of energy and require a method similar to ' Ninjutsu ' to be used.
Strengthening various types of Ninjutsu is also one way to utilize Senjutsu Chakra.
For example, the " Frog Kata " of Mount Myōboku and the "Welcome - Thousand-Armed Murder " of Chiriku the Fire Temple are both unique attack methods that utilize Senjutsu Chakra and Natural Energy.
Cursed Seal One and Curse Mark Stage Two are also efficient methods of utilizing Senjutsu Chakra. As long as the underlying principles can be analyzed and imitated, Naoki Senju could activate 'State One' and 'State Two' without even needing the Cursed Seal.
Seeing that Naoki Senju was deep in thought and did not respond for a long time, the impatient Orochimaru coughed lightly:
"Ahem, Naoki-kun, how is it? Do you have any suggestions for improvement?"
Reluctantly, Naoki Senju looked away and asked directly:
"Has the experiment for state two been conducted? What was the failure rate?"
Orochimaru's expression was somewhat grim as he struggled to utter a set of data:
"98%, and the remaining 2% also turned into mindless monsters."
"That's 100%. Let's go, let's do another experiment with state two. This time I'll help you control the Natural Energy."
Orochimaru breathed a sigh of relief. Even though he didn't agree with the White Snake Sage's judgment, he had to admit that perhaps he really didn't have the talent to cultivate ' Natural Energy '. He had clearly researched the Cursed Seal State One and mastered a part of the power of ' Sage Mode ', but he still couldn't see the elusive ' Natural Energy '.
Naoki Senju followed Orochimaru into the laboratory, where the test subject was already strapped to the operating table, and Kabuto Yakushi was performing the final paralysis procedure.
" Lord Orochimaru, Lord Naoki, the test subject's vital signs are all good, and the experiment can begin at any time."
Orochimaru nodded in satisfaction. Having Kabuto Yakushi as an excellent assistant by his side saved him a lot of trouble.
"Then I'll have to trouble Naoki-kun later. I'll start implanting the Cursed Seal now."
Orochimaru selected a sample labeled ' Jūgo ' from among the densely packed test tubes and injected it into the test subject's body.
The current ' Cursed Seal ' system is not yet perfect, and Orochimaru dares not carry this thing with him at all times.
As the Jūgo cells modified by Orochimaru were injected into the test subject's body, the subject, who was under general anesthesia, began to struggle violently on the experimental table, and black markings flickered across the subject's body.
Black markings covered his entire body, from his neck to his abdomen, limbs, and finally his whole body.
"Luckily, phase one is complete; now it's time for phase two."
In Naoki Senju's eyes, the Cursed Seal, or rather the Natural Energy, was almost devastating to the test subjects. Before taming the Natural Energy Natural Energy, rashly absorbing it into the body would turn the test subjects into Toad statues on Mount Myōboku, snakes on the Ryūchi Cave, and then food for the 'half-dragon, half-snake' creatures.
As for Shikkotsu Forest, the cost of its failure is indeed unknown, but it's said that the Katsuyu population has been steadily increasing...
After the changes on the body surface were completed, without the restriction of the Cursed Seal, Natural Energy began to attack the interior of the experimental subject. This time, the experimental subject struggled more violently than ever before. If it weren't for the belt restraining the experimental subject, Naoki Senju would have no doubt that the experimental subject's aggressiveness had already made him lose his mind.
This time, Naoki Senju did not hesitate. He placed his finger on the test subject's forehead, and all the Natural Energy that came near the test subject's brain was completely extracted from the body by Naoki Senju.
Although Naoki Senju has not yet mastered Sage Mode, the difficulty lies not in controlling or absorbing Natural Energy, but in balancing Natural Energy with his own Chakra.
His Chakra was so vast that the Natural Energy he absorbed was simply incomparable, thus making it impossible to achieve a perfect balance.
Because the brain was preserved, the experimental subject's abnormalities stabilized, and the struggles were no longer as violent as before.
Under the expectant gaze of the three, the test subject's skin turned bluish-black and hardened. Even with his sharp scalpel, Kabuto Yakushi couldn't cut through it. Only his luminous blue Chakra Scalpel could barely cut off a portion of the test subject's body tissue.
Moreover, the experimental subject's physical deformities continued to change. Sharp blades grew on the outside of the arms, muscles bulged, and sharp fleshy spikes grew on the back and shoulders. But the most prominent change was on the experimental subject's waist, where circular jet holes had grown!
Even Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi had never seen such a form on a test subject. The only one who had ever exhibited such a complex change was the source of the Cursed Seal, the most dangerous 'Test Subject Zero'— Jūgo.
These signs of change greatly excited Orochimaru. The experimental subject's changes were getting closer to the prototype. Did this mean that the development of the Cursed Seal was about to take the next step?
We're one step closer to developing the perfect Sage Mode!
But the next second, Orochimaru realized he had completely underestimated the test subject. This wasn't approaching the original form at all; it was clearly a part that the test subject had deliberately evolved to escape its confinement!
The test subject lying on the operating table suddenly opened his eyes, his brown pupils wide open. The gas nozzles on both sides of his waist instantly spewed out a ghostly blue flame. Using this powerful impact, the test subject raised his arms, and the sharp arm blades instantly cut through the tough leather belts.
The moment the test subject was freed, he rushed straight towards the passage. Although he had little remaining intelligence and rationality, his monstrous intuition made it easier for him to judge the danger. Compared to fighting the two monsters, it was easier to escape directly.
Closer, closer! We're finally about to escape this hellish underground laboratory!
But just as he was about to rush out of the passage, Kimimaro, who happened to arrive, blocked his path.
"Get out of here!"
The experimental subject let out an unintelligible roar, and slashed down with its arm blade, intending to cut the human blocking its path in two.
Kimimaro's eyes turned cold, and a bone blade emerged from his palm as he charged straight at the experimental subject.
" Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Camellia "
Bone blades and arm blades clashed together in the hands of the two 'monsters,' the brutal force even sparking dazzling sparks that illuminated their faces in the dark passage.