Chapter 150

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"Human experimentation? Orochimaru has been doing that lately?"

Hiruzen's expression grew tense when he heard Jiraiya's report. He had suspected Orochimaru of becoming reclusive. Originally meant to stay and support the village, he hadn't expected Orochimaru to conduct human experiments to study ninjutsu.

"Yes, but old man, all of Orochimaru's experimental subjects were death-row inmates from various prisons in the Land of Fire. He bought them. I've verified this."

Seeing Sarutobi put down his pipe with a grim face, Jiraiya quickly explained.

He didn't want any misunderstandings due to a lack of clarification.

"Death-row inmates? Tell me the details."

Sarutobi spoke to Jiraiya with irritation, almost ready to summon the Anbu.

Jiraiya recounted his tracking of Orochimaru, from starting in the village to leaving the research base. He left out only the questions about Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave.

"So that's how it is."

Sarutobi relit his pipe and packed fresh tobacco. After a moment of silence, he said, "If they're death-row inmates, then let it go. But Anbu hadn't received any reports of Orochimaru bringing people in. Perhaps the Security Division arranged it for him."

Jiraiya was astonished, "Old man, you're not going to say anything about human experimentation?"

"What would I say? If I criticize Orochimaru, then who will speak for the Second Hokage? The First Hokage?"

Sarutobi answered angrily, "If you'd seen my teacher researching forbidden techniques, you'd never think of such things. Orochimaru isn't wrong; he's only using death-row inmates."

Back when the Second Hokage researched forbidden techniques, enemy ninja in Konoha's prison rarely survived a month. Each new batch was used up quickly, otherwise where would all those forbidden techniques have come from?

While strong forbidden techniques could affect a ninja's psyche, studying them was just as risky. If Orochimaru invoked the Second Hokage's name, Hiruzen couldn't say much as a teacher.

"Death-row inmates are going to die anyway. Jiraiya, you've been a ninja for years. Don't be so startled by this."

Sarutobi scolded Jiraiya. Of his three students, he liked Jiraiya's temperament the most, but sometimes he was too naïve.

During the Second Shinobi World War, for instance, Jiraiya stayed in enemy villages to care for orphans, infuriating Sarutobi. Many orphans in Konoha needed help, yet Jiraiya remained with the enemy.

Over time, all three disciples developed similar bad habits.

"Fine, if you don't have a problem with it. At least I told you. By the way, Orochimaru said to keep an eye on our genin in the Chūnin Exams. They might surprise you."

Jiraiya finished and left through the window, planning to get Orochimaru drunk and extract more information.

"Use the door… that idiot."

Seeing Jiraiya leap out the window, Sarutobi tapped his pipe, annoyed, and then sat down again.

But recalling Jiraiya's advice, he couldn't resist checking on the Chūnin Exams.

He took out his crystal ball and used the Telescope Technique, revealing the Forest of Death.

"Hmm? Asuma? They're fighting… Team 8 for a scroll and lost?"

Sarutobi's face darkened. He had seen Asuma train hard and master two fire jutsu before the exams. Even Shinnosuke had high hopes for their team.

Yet, they were on the brink of elimination.

With two days left in the second round, finding the remaining two scrolls wouldn't be easy. If they couldn't get them from others, they'd be disqualified.

"That one… isn't that the genin recommended by the Root? Wood Release?!"

Sarutobi changed the view on the crystal ball and was shocked to see a Root genin using Wood Release jutsu to crush three Kusagakure ninja.

No wonder Orochimaru had told him to watch the exams. A Root member with Wood Release… Could Orochimaru have developed this?

Sarutobi knew Danzo couldn't have. Not even the Second Hokage could successfully cultivate Wood Release, so Danzo's Foundation was far less capable.

But Orochimaru was obsessed with researching ninjutsu and resembled the Second Hokage in his experimentation.

"Seems like I'll need to talk to Orochimaru."

---

In Ryūchi Cave

"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"

Enormous chakra flowed from Yōichi's Wood Release clone, causing the ground to tremble. A massive wooden dragon erupted from below and swiftly coiled around a rocky hill.

The dragon squeezed tighter until the hill shattered into pieces.

Garaga watching, revealed his fear. This wooden dragon was stronger than him, and this was just one of his master's clones.

Not far away in a clearing, four more Wood Release clones practiced ninjutsu.

After three days of practicing with clones, Yōichi had mastered most Wood Release jutsu.

He had learned nearly all Wood Release techniques from the Scroll of Seals, except for True Several Thousand Hands and Top Transformed Buddha. He even mastered Myojinmon.

Next time he encountered a Jinchūriki on the battlefield, Myojinmon alone could defeat them.

While perfect Jinchūriki could escape Sharingan genjutsu, they couldn't handle Wood Release. If they fully transformed into tailed beasts, Yōichi could handle them with Wood Dragon and Wood Golem techniques.

Wood Release's chakra-absorbing properties were a strong counter.

If not fully transformed, even a half-transformed Jinchūriki posed little threat to Yōichi, given his taijutsu expertise and Mangekyō Sharingan insight.

On the first day, his main body had nearly mastered Sage Mode without Ichikishima-hime's help.

His chakra was already close to Sage chakra.

This left Ichikishima-hime disappointed. Yōichi was the best meal she'd seen in centuries but wasn't meant for eating.

For three days, he practiced Sage Art: White Rage Technique and Inorganic Reincarnation—both powerful Sage techniques.

They were difficult to learn, and Ichikishima-hime wasn't a great teacher, having not taught anyone in centuries. In the end, Yōichi used the Sharingan to watch her and then mimic the techniques.

After observing her use them dozens of times, he finally got the hang of it.

"Sage Art: White Rage Technique!"

Yōichi spewed a red chakra dragon holding a black orb. The dragon vanished into the orb and released a blinding light and intense sound.

The sonic waves were unbearable without Sage Mode protection, and even with Sage Mode, Yōichi had to avert his eyes from the intense light.

"I told you to accept Ryūchi Cave's modifications. Human Sage Mode isn't enough. Without snake-eye corneas, White Rage will blind even you."

Ichikishima-hime floated beside Yōichi. The perfect Sage Mode of the other two sacred grounds only created facial patterns. In Ryūchi Cave, Sage Mode meant developing snake-like traits.

"Without snake-eye corneas, White Rage is useless. Your choice."

"I'll think about it."

Yōichi glanced at her, then asked, "What kind of snake are you?"

"I don't have a 'true' form. This is my real form."

Ichikishima-hime placed her hands on her hips and briefly displayed snake features before returning to her loli appearance.

"Aside from the White Snake Sage, we three have shed our snake bodies. In a few hundred years, even these features will disappear."

"What technique lets a snake turn into a human body?"

"Don't be naïve, kid. Ryūchi Cave existed before ninjutsu!"

Ichikishima-hime put on a smug adult demeanor despite her loli face, which gave Yōichi mixed feelings.

"The three sacred grounds each inherited a unique ability. Ours is transformation, but we three lack the White Snake Sage's resolve. Turning into a human is enough; becoming a dragon would take centuries."

She shook her head. This reminded Yōichi that there was extraordinary power before Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. Even the Sage of Six Paths learned Sage Art from Mount Myōboku.

He suddenly became interested in pre-Kaguya powers, though he doubted he could uncover them. Only the sages of the three sacred grounds would know, and they'd never reveal it.

Ichikishima-hime was only six hundred years old, not alive a thousand years ago.

"So, have you made a decision? Without changing Sage Mode, White Rage isn't for you."

Yōichi checked the strategy guide; her affection score hadn't changed, still in the 60s.

No malice—worth trying.

"Let's give it a shot."

As he finished speaking, Ichikishima-hime leaped into his lap. He instinctively flinched, but quickly restrained himself.

He was sitting, so even after she jumped into his lap, she had to bend down, emphasizing her youthful, delicate curves.

She bared her snake fangs and bit into his neck.

Yōichi felt her chakra merging with his.

She said, "Enter Sage Mode."

He drew in Sage chakra and sensed changes.

His skin lightened, a horn emerged on his head, and he gained greater control over Sage chakra. He could even shape it into various snake forms.

"See? If you'd hesitated, you'd have lost White Rage and all these benefits."

"This is Ryūchi Cave's transformation ability?"

Yōichi shaped his Sage chakra, formed a seal, and used Inorganic Reincarnation.

The hard ground softened like a swamp, and dozens of earthen snakes erupted like leaping carp before returning to the mud.

When he finished, the snakes turned into stone statues with lifelike scales.

Using Inorganic Reincarnation had never been this easy, and now he could restrain a tailed beast.

Ichikishima-hime asked proudly, "Well?"

"Very nice. I'll bring you some—"

"I'm not interested in such people, but if you've got Sage Mode—"

"Forget it. You won't starve."

Yōichi interrupted her. He was just being polite and never planned to deliver on his promise.

"You—"

Ichikishima-hime leaped angrily at Yōichi, trying to bite him.

But with Sage Mode, his sensory and Sage abilities were far stronger. He sensed her movement immediately.

Using Inorganic Reincarnation, he manipulated the ground and bound her with stone chains.

"You taught me Sage Art, so I'll teach you this: don't trust humans."

Sensing her struggle, Yōichi spanked her delicate backside several times as a lesson, leaving a visible ripple.

He then ordered, "Garaga, release the Reverse Summoning Technique."

Garaga obliged, sending Yōichi back to Konoha.

Once free, Ichikishima-hime saw Yōichi back in Konoha and yelled at Shinya, "You fool! How could you send him back?"

"I follow my master's orders. Don't complain, or I'll eat you!"

Garaga ignored her and slithered back to his snake den.

(End of Chapter)