Noon the next day
Katabami Gold Mine
"Boom boom boom!"
Hongshi led a team of twenty earth turtles back to the mining area in a grand procession, amidst the horrified gazes of the crowd.
Naruto, who was training in the Adamantine Sealing Chains, was also awakened by the commotion. " Hongshi?"
Kairyū came out of the room and saw Hongshi: "Boss, it's you again! Aren't you annoying?!"
A Kendon, who was repairing Mining Type One nearby, said with a Phillips screwdriver, "Huh? What's he still doing here? Sigh."
The Lord God: "You've been a terrible leader."
Hongshi: "(°ー°) I've decided not to leave! Do whatever you want!"
The Gold Mine Mountain was easily hollowed out by Mining Type One mining equipment, leaving only an empty shell.
Looking at the large quantity of gold ore displayed in the warehouse, Hongshi's eyes gleamed with intense heat.
With the strategist Kyōai Ai absent, the task of commanding everyone fell to Sōretsu Yachiru. He first sent Kendon, Kashirō, Ujin to lead everyone to Golden Shovel Beach to build a dock and investigate the cause of Kaneshovel Kazuo's mutation. Naruto, who was tasked with protecting the miners, also went along.
Kairyū used the excuse of a secret meeting in the Nuclear Ninja Village to send Hongshi and Rock Lee away, telling them to go play somewhere else, while he sat with Sōretsu and Tōhachi in the room.
"At that time, I did this, and he couldn't dodge it. Just like that, thud, he flew out. Then he did this again..."
Kendon: "(°ー°) I don't understand what you're saying at all."
Kairyū: "What the hell kind of bullshit are you spouting?"
Tōhachi mumbled incoherently about the scene, leaving the listener confused. In the end, it was his thermonuclear life form " Nozarashi " that spoke out.
Since Nozarashi has not yet fully merged with Tōhachi, it is still in its original spherical shape, but it can already communicate.
After listening to Nozarashi recount the battle, Sōretsu finally understood. "According to the information provided by the Golden Shovel Organization members, Kaneshovel Kazuo is missing-nin from the Land of Artisans Takumi Village in the Land of Takumi. Before becoming missing-nin, he served as Chunin for several years."
Nozarashi floated in the air, a cute girl's voice rang out. "The reason for that guy's transformation is that he absorbed a large amount of Sage Energy, but he didn't have the ability to control it, causing the Sage Energy to flow in uncontrollably."
Sōretsu still had some doubts. "The perfect ratio for Sage Mode is 1:1:1. Once it exceeds this ratio, one will be Sage Transformation. If it exceeds three times, one will be devoured by Natural Energy. It doesn't make sense that Kaneshovel Kazuo Kinshoku, a Chunin, almost made Tōhachi use his Limiter Release."
Sage Mode requires absorbing Natural Energy, which is then mixed with one's own Chakra in a perfect ratio to condense into Senjutsu Chakra. First, one's own Chakra must be sufficient. Once the Natural Energy exceeds this ratio, it is impossible to completely convert Natural Energy into Senjutsu Chakra, and the body will undergo a change in form, just like Jūgo's Sage Transformation.
After Sage Transformation, Natural Energy will gradually erode one's spirit, severely affecting it. However, if one's spirit is strong enough during this stage, it is still possible to recover.
However, if one's spirit is completely eroded by Natural Energy, it will be devoured. For example, the Senjutsu of Mount Myōboku, which absorb too much Natural Energy, will turn one into a stone frog.
Nozarashi was silent for a moment. "Logically speaking, Kaneshovel Kazuo shouldn't be able to withstand this level of Natural Energy. However, I've noticed something rather strange. While he was absorbing Natural Energy and undergoing a high degree of Sage Transformation, certain animal characteristics also appeared on his body."
Sōretsu seemed to have found the problem. "I see. Do you remember that Orochimaru once developed a beast-transformation drug? After taking it, one could be extremely enhanced, but at the same time, an irreversible beast-like transformation would occur."
Nozarashi: "Very likely, because from the very beginning, Kaneshovel Kazuo had already completely lost his will, and the only way to strengthen him was through being absorbed by Natural Energy."
After much thought, Sōretsu realized this was the only possibility. "It's just a vessel. If it's only strengthened, the spirit will be quickly devoured, turning into a monster with only impulses. What I don't understand is, who exactly caused Kaneshovel Kazuo to fall into an extreme Sage Transformation state in just a dozen seconds?"
Nozarashi: "Only ten men in black landed at Golden Shovel Beach that day; it's very likely them."
Sōretsu looked at Kairyū: "Fourth Elder, do you know Orochimaru's whereabouts?"
Kairyū: "Zzz..."
Tōhachi: "Zzz..."
Sōretsu: "(°ー°).."
Nozarashi: " Sōretsu, didn't Dad tell us to handle this ourselves? The Fourth Elder is just here to make a cameo appearance, although I don't know what that means."
Sōretsu shook his head. "Then we'll have to deal with it ourselves. I think this monster is definitely related to Orochimaru. Our trip to the Land of Rivers probably won't go so smoothly; there might be bloodshed."
Tōhachi's body stiffened. "What? Are you going to kill someone?"
Sōretsu gestured for Nozarashi to return to the seal. " Orochimaru's Otogakure was just destroyed by Konoha, but the losses were mostly insignificant figures; their strength remains formidable. Tōhachi, I have a bad feeling. Go and call the Grand Elder in."
Outside the mining area
Hongshi and Ranmaru sat on a rock, watching Raiga and Rock Lee researching a new Ninjutsu in the distance.
"Oh! Raiga! Shock me! Shock me!"
Lightning Release: Charge!
Raiga has been using Lightning Release to charge his Mining Type One I every day for the past few days, leaving him in a state of "overwork" by night. However, "Save You Three Thousand Curry Rice" allows him to recover quickly. Constantly oscillating between weakness and full strength, he has greatly improved his control, and can now summon heavenly lightning even without the aid of the Lightning Blade.
"Crackling sound!"
Two beams of lightning struck Rock Lee, spreading throughout his body. The lightning seemed to be absorbed and merged into Rock Lee's body.
Ranmaru's eyes remained Red Eye as he watched Rock Lee's Chakra grow increasingly dense. "Amazing! He can actually absorb this level of Lightning Release!"
Ten seconds later, seeing that Rock Lee still hadn't called for a stop, Raiga Kurosuki said, "Hey! Lee-kun! Isn't that enough?!"
Bathed in lightning, Rock Lee felt a tingling sensation throughout his body. "Not yet, keep going!"
"Hateful!"
With a ruthless resolve, Raiga Kurosuki instantly doubled the size of the two lightning bolts. "I won't be responsible if you get electrocuted!"
Hongshi picked his nose and said, "Tch, how could the dried fish I've been researching possibly satisfy someone so easily?"
Two more minutes passed, Raiga Kurosuki, Chakra exhausted all his chakra, collapsed to the ground, groaning, "Huff, huff, huff, I... I'm drained. Curry, I want curry rice."
Hongshi: "(°°) Feeling completely drained? Then you need to drink some kidney tonic."
Ranmaru: "What did you say, Hongshi-kun?"
Although Rock Lee felt that his body still showed no signs of saturation, he could already solidify Lightning Release Chakra on his skin. "Is this what it feels like to have Chakra?"
Hongshi flashed to Rock Lee's side. " Rock Lee, listen to me, this technique is called... Thunderstorm Unrivaled."
" Thunderstorm Unrivaled."
Hongshi nodded. "That's right. You only know the Eight Gates Released Formation, a forbidden technique. Although it's very powerful, it's affected by its duration and activation. But if you use Thunderstorm Unrivaled while the Fifth Gate is open, you can further enhance your speed and power. At the same time, as long as your Chakra isn't exhausted, you can maintain the Fifth Gate state indefinitely."
Rock Lee: "Wow! That sounds really impressive!"
Hongshi continued, "Now, control the Lightning Release Chakra within your body, letting it flow throughout your entire being..."
Just as Hongshi was preparing to give the next instruction, Tōhachi walked in from the mine gate, interrupting their cultivation.
"Hey! Stop playing around, Sister Sōretsu wants you to come in."