Chapter 125

As Kazuki followed Kuro towards the main temple atop the main peak, which housed the revered sage of the Hell Beasts, he couldn't help but admire the breathtaking scenery that surrounded them. After a few minutes of travel, they finally arrived at their destination.

Unlike the sacred lands of other clans, the position of sage among the Hell Beasts was determined by strength. If the sage lacked sufficient strength, they would be unable to maintain their position and could be challenged by any other Hell Beast who deemed themselves stronger.

However, such challenges were rare. The current sage had held the position for close to three millennia, a testament to their formidable power. Those who lost in challenges were given special status as grand elders within the community. Despite their wisdom, the Hell Beasts believed in the supremacy of strength.

As they ventured deeper into the sanctuary, they were greeted by a massive white Hell Beast, whose stature towered over any summons Kazuki's clan could currently conjure. Kazuki typically only summoned Kuro, as the rest of his Nara family lacked the chakra reserves to handle the strain of summoning such a massive beast.

"Kazuki-kun, welcome back. We have eagerly awaited your return. We've missed your cooking," the massive Hell Beast said softly. Despite Shikaku being the one who signed the contract with the Hell Beast clan as clan head, they only truly recognized Kazuki as their primary contractor, as it was his blood that had been used to unlock the original seals. Kazuki held the highest sway in the clan among the current Nara members, and he had nurtured his relationship with the clan since the days of the Old War.

"Shiro-sama, it's good to be back. It seems like you've put on some weight. Your recent harvests must have been plentiful," Kazuki jested, testing fate. The first time he had visited, he had nearly had his head ripped off for making a tasteless joke.

"Kazuki-kun, don't you know it's rude to talk to a woman like that?" Shiro-sama growled, though her tone held mock anger. Kazuki had a habit of pushing boundaries, but he narrowly dodged the repercussions. Despite her kind demeanor, Shiro-sama was one of the deadliest fighters among the Hell Beasts, second only to the current sage.

"Come now, Shiro-sama; you know me. I'm just looking out for you. I don't want you to eat all that raw food. Now that I'm here, I'll cater to your palate once again, so you can keep yourself in perfect shape," Kazuki replied, defusing the tension.

"Well then, follow me. I've been asked to escort you to the sage. I understand you plan to stay until you master the original Senjutsu. Is that right?" Shiro-sama questioned, gesturing for Kazuki to follow as they moved deeper into the sanctuary.

"Well, that's right, Shiro-sama," Kazuki affirmed. "I am planning to stay until I have completely mastered Senjutsu. And if possible, I would also like to access the clan's archives. I may need to retrieve information regarding the old world." Kazuki was clear about his goals this time around. His two main agendas were to master Sage Mode completely and to create a nature beast of his own. However, delving into the creation of nature beasts required mastery of Senjutsu in its original form.

Shiro-sama, who was leading Kazuki through the sanctuary, paused and turned her head towards him. "Kazuki-kun, it's fine about the Senjutsu, but for permission to access the archives, you might need to get permission from the old geezer himself."

Kazuki knew that even among the Hell Beast Clan, only Shiro-sama might have the courage to refer to the Sage of all Hell Beasts as "old geezer." This was because she was directly related to the Sage, being his great-great-great-granddaughter or something of the sort. The old Sage adored her due to her intelligence and fearlessness.

Kazuki nodded thoughtfully at Shiro-sama's words, understanding the significance of seeking the Sage's permission. Despite his confidence in mastering Senjutsu, gaining access to the clan's archives was equally crucial for his quest for knowledge about the old world and the creation of nature beasts.

"Of course, Shiro-sama. I'll make sure to seek the old geezer's blessing for accessing the archives," Kazuki replied with a respectful tone and a hint of playfulness. "I appreciate your guidance."

Shiro-sama smiled approvingly at Kazuki's response before resuming their journey towards the sage's abode, and she had a creeping smile as she noticed how Kazuki dared to call the Sage old geezer. The path ahead was fraught with challenges, but Kazuki was determined to overcome them in pursuit of his goals.

As they walked, Shiro-sama spoke again, her voice tinged with curiosity. "What specifically are you hoping to uncover in the archives, Kazuki-kun? The old world holds many secrets, some of which may have been lost to time. Even among the hell beasts, only the ones with enough contributions can access these records."

Kazuki pondered for a moment, considering his answer carefully. "I seek knowledge that may shed light on the origins of Senjutsu and its connection to the old world's mysteries. There may be ancient techniques or wisdom hidden within those archives that could aid me in my journey. And possibly I might have found a way to recreate the nature beasts."

Shiro-sama suddenly froze in her tracks as Kazuki mentioned the Nature Beasts, her expression completely betraying her usual grace. She appeared flustered, her voice roaring down. "Kazuki-san, the nature beasts you are referring to—are they the ones from the times of the Old War?"

Kazuki could sense the surprise and concern in Shiro-sama's reaction. He nodded solemnly. "Yes, Shiro-sama, they are indeed the same nature beasts. I may have some clues regarding their creation, but I need more information to perfect the method."

Shiro-sama took a moment to regain her composure, her mind racing with the implications of Kazuki's revelation. As someone with access to the clan's archives, she was well aware of the significance of the Nature Beasts in history. According to records, those with contracts with Nature Beasts could even challenge the gods from the Otsusuki clan head-on.

"I see," Shiro-sama finally responded, her tone more composed. "The archives hold vast treasures of our clan's history and knowledge. I'm sure the old geezer will recognize the importance of your quest."

Shiro-sama understood the gravity of Kazuki's goal. She knew that the Nature Beasts held the potential to shift the balance of power, especially in a potential conflict with the Otsusuki clan. The clan had been preparing for such a scenario for years, and having the Nature Beasts by their side could indeed tip the scales in their favor.

With renewed determination, Kazuki and Shiro-sama continued their journey towards the sage's dwelling. The quest for mastery of Senjutsu and the creation of nature beasts had taken on a new level of urgency, fueled by the knowledge that they possessed the potential to shape the fate of their world in the battles to come.

As we finally crossed the threshold into the dwelling of the Sage, Kazuki felt a surge of excitement coursing through him. His gaze fell upon the Sage of the Hell Beasts, and he was immediately struck with sheer awe. If there was one word to capture the essence of the Hell Beast Sage, it wouldn't be "wise" or "cunning." No, the first word that sprang to mind was "warrior"—a true warrior who had faced death's edge countless times.

The Hell Beast Sage stood before them, a majestic and awe-inspiring sight to behold. With three heads reminiscent of a Cerberus, his massive form was adorned with countless scars, each one a testament to his battles and victories. Unlike the sages of other forbidden lands, the Hell Beast Sage exuded an aura of raw primal power, hidden behind every sinew of his imposing physique.

As the Sage was lost in thought, Shiro-sama's voice broke the silence. "Oye, old geezer, what are you daydreaming about? Look who is here." The irreverent remark contrasted with the reverence that filled the air in the presence of the formidable Hell Beast Sage, adding a touch of humor to the solemn atmosphere of the sanctuary.

"Aiyaa, look who it is, if it isn't my favorite Shiro-chan!" The massive heads of the Sage all made goofy gestures, completely ignoring Kazuki. Kazuki almost tripped over himself, taken aback by the Sage's bizarre behavior. He couldn't help but wonder if all the Sages of the sacred lands were a bit bonkers. Even Katsuyu-sama, at times, had a peculiar habit of going a bit off-kilter.

"Geezer, stop your nonsense! Don't make our Hell Beasts lose face in front of our contractors," Shiro-sama growled threateningly, her tone sharp as she sought to put an end to the Sage's antics. After a minute of playful banter between the two, the Sage finally relented under Shiro-sama's menacing glare, which promised retribution later.

"Brat, are you sure you really want to learn the Senjutsu in its purest form?" The Sage finally turned his attention to Kazuki, his massive form now serious as he addressed Kazuki directly. Despite the serious tone, a playful smirk danced on the Sage's lips, adding a touch of mischief to his demeanor.

The beast's bloodthirsty aura seeped out as he carefully circled around Kazuki like a predator circling its prey, his massive form making Kazuki seem like a mere ant in comparison. Yet, Kazuki stood firm, undaunted by the pressure, as his own dark energy emanated from him, clashing with the bloodthirsty aura released by the Sage. By Kazuki's side, Kuro transformed into a giant Hell Beast, though it still only came up to a quarter of the Sage's height. Despite the vast difference in size, Kuro stood by Kazuki's side defiantly.

"No wonder he took a liking to you. You have quite the strong spirit, kid, especially for one so young," the Sage remarked, his tone filled with respect as he observed Kazuki's resilience. With graceful steps, the Sage returned to his throne and settled down, all three pairs of eyes now showing a curious glint.

Although the Sage knew that the Hell Beasts Clan had a new contractor in Kazuki, he had not interacted much with him. Over the years, most of his dealings had been with Shiro-sama, forging a close bond between them. Shiro-sama's prestige and status were second only to the Sage himself, further emphasizing their strong relationship.

"Honestly, I had never thought there would be another human with enough talent to learn the original Senjutsu, but you proved me wrong, child," the Sage remarked, his tone filled with a mixture of surprise and admiration. "At first, I thought you could only learn the watered-down version taught in the other sacred lands, but no, you have the raw talent. However, mark my words, child, you will suffer. You will suffer beyond your wildest imagination."

Despite his optimism about Kazuki's talent, the Sage didn't want to sugarcoat the reality. He quickly briefed Kazuki about the dangers of learning the untainted Senjutsu, emphasizing the immense challenges and potential hardships that awaited him.

"Sage-sama, in that case, are you saying that the other sacred lands also have access to this purest form?" Kazuki couldn't help but question, intrigued by the revelation. From what he knew, none of the individuals he was acquainted with who had access to Sage Mode practiced the pure version.

"Hmm, Katsuyu-sama sure is the oldest being still around. As someone from the time of the Old War, she surely has access to the purest form of Senjutsu," the Sage mused thoughtfully. "In Mount Myoboku, that old lava bastard should know about it, and even little Gamamaru knows, as I personally taught him back when he was just a small toad. As for the Ryuchi Cave, the cunning flood dragon should have a decent idea. Yeah, thinking about that flood dragon, I wonder if he has ascended to become a true dragon yet."

The Sage's casual remarks revealed insights buried within millennia worth of history, leaving Kazuki utterly taken aback. The mention of the Ryuchi Cave housing a flood dragon, potentially even the predecessor of the current Snake Sage, sparked a wave of intrigue within Kazuki's mind. Perhaps in the future, it could be a promising avenue to explore, maybe even assisting Kabuto in forming a contract with the Ryuchi Cave.

Kazuki listened intently to the Sage's revelations, each word opening up new possibilities and mysteries. The idea of other sacred lands also harboring the knowledge of the purest Senjutsu intrigued him deeply, challenging his understanding of the world and its ancient secrets.

As he processed the Sage's words, Kazuki couldn't shake the curiosity about the flood dragon dwelling within the Ryuchi Cave. The thought of a creature of such power and cunning existing in secrecy for millennia stirred his imagination. He wondered what wisdom and ancient knowledge the flood dragon held, and how it might shape the destiny of those who dared to seek its counsel.

Turning his attention back to the Sage, Kazuki spoke with a newfound resolve. "Thank you, Sage-sama, for your guidance and wisdom. I will heed your warning and face whatever trials lie ahead in my quest for mastery. And perhaps, one day, I will seek out the Ryuchi Cave and uncover the secrets it holds."