I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 566 Dragon Cave Immortal Mode!

Ryuchi Cave Sage Technique—this is the "new path to power enhancement" that Orochimaru envisioned.

After all, his current body is the culmination of all his life's learning.

Improving the quality of this new body in a short period of time—simply put, improving its standard abilities such as "chakra level," "nerve reflex speed," and "self-healing speed"—is virtually impossible.

Orochimaru believed he had reached the end of the path of ninjutsu—he was proficient in seven different nature transformations, possessed Madara Uchiha's personal legacy, and had Hashirama Senju's special bloodline limit installed...

If Orochimaru wants to continue to improve his strength, he can only focus on "external things".

That is, natural energy!

In fact, Orochimaru was no stranger to natural energy.

This is not just because of Jiraiya, his "good teammate".

Orochimaru is also a summoner from one of the three great holy lands!

However, Jiraiya succeeded in learning the Sage Techniques of Mount Myōboku, while Orochimaru failed in researching the Sage Techniques of Ryūchi Cave!

In fact.

Orochimaru's special version of the "Cursed Seal" is essentially something formed by injecting his own Sage Chakra into the body of another person.

In short, Orochimaru's "Heaven and Earth Cursed Seals" (Heaven's Cursed Seal and Earth's Cursed Seal) are actually products of Sage Chakra.

It's not hard to see from this that Orochimaru himself possesses the ability to refine Sage Chakra!

(Of course, Orochimaru's special eyeshadow doesn't prove anything; it's just a natural physical characteristic of his and has nothing to do with Sage Mode or anything like that.)

however.

The "Sage Chakra" refined by Orochimaru did not originate from Ryuchi Cave, but from Jugo!

Jugo and his clansmen possessed a special talent for absorbing natural energy into their bodies.

After encountering Jugo and his clan, Orochimaru immediately launched an investigation into the incident and eventually discovered that the source of this power was Ryuchi Cave!

Let's summarize.

Orochimaru's attempt to master the Sage Mode of Ryuchi Cave back then ended in failure.

But later, he unexpectedly met Jugo and turned his focus on cultivating natural energy to Ryuchi Cave.

Finally, Orochimaru, based on the special talents of Jugo and his clan, developed the corresponding "Heavenly Curse Seal" and "Earthly Curse Seal".

These curse seals are actually inferior versions of Sage Chakra products!

Furthermore, if someone observes closely, they will find that Jugo's "Sage Mode"—if his transformation ability can be called "Sage Mode"—causes a terrifying physical transformation effect.

Now, Orochimaru has once again come to Ryuchi Cave, wanting to train in Ryuchi Cave's "Sage Mode" again.

That's because he now has a completely new body!

Based on Orochimaru's experience over the years, he believes that his failure to master the Sage Mode at Ryuchi Cave was not due to issues such as "talent".

Even a fool like Jiraiya was able to successfully master the Sage Mode of Mount Myōboku.

Orochimaru didn't think his brain was any worse than Jiraiya's!

However, Orochimaru's chakra reserves were weaker than Jiraiya's.

In order to train in Sage Mode, the amount of chakra is a very important metric.

Orochimaru believed that when he wanted to use Ryuchi Cave's Sage Mode, his physical abilities had not yet reached their peak, and his chakra reserves were insufficient. This caused him to be severely interfered with by the natural energy within Ryuchi Cave, leading to his failure in training.

In addition, the White Snake Sage's attitude was also one of the reasons that hindered Orochimaru's training in Ryuchi Cave's Sage Mode...

But now...

Orochimaru has been given a new body, a completely new, young, and incredibly healthy body.

In terms of chakra reserves alone, Orochimaru's assessment of his current body was—

Humanoid Tailed Beast!

With such physical talent, he is more than qualified to cultivate the Dragon Cave [Sage Mode].

Inside Longdi Cave.

The white snake sage, coiled in the cave, coldly surveyed Orochimaru standing below. It took a few breaths through its short, flat nostrils and then flicked out its long, narrow, crimson forked tongue.

"Hiss..."

The White Snake Immortal let out a hissing sound.

"Orochimaru, it's been a long time!"

"You actually dared to come to Ryuchi-dong in person!"

The White Snake Immortal sounded extremely angry.

The immortal's wrath seemed to affect the surrounding environment.

The entire Ryongji Cave trembled under the weight of those words.

Orochimaru didn't care at all.

Because he knew that the tremors in the surrounding environment did not come from the resonance of sound, but from the White Snake Immortal's special immortal technique—[Immortal Technique: Inorganic Rebirth].

Knowing the information already, people naturally won't panic easily.

"White Snake Immortal, please calm down."

Orochimaru spoke casually.

"Perhaps I was in a bit of a hurry when I left Ryuchi Cave and forgot to say goodbye to the immortal."

"But now, haven't I come back?"

Orochimaru personally went to the sacred site to practice the Ryuchi Cave Sage Technique.

Then, it failed.

Then, Orochimaru immediately ran away.

We have no choice but to run away!

Ryūchi-dō is not comparable to Mt. Myōboku, nor is it comparable to Shikkotsu-ryū.

The "Sage Mode" of Ryūchi Cave is an extremely dangerous training process.

As is well known, the Immortal Mode of the three holy lands provides certain "aid cultivation items" during the cultivation process.

These items are all designed to help practitioners perceive the existence of natural energy!

To be more precise, it helps practitioners perceive the natural energy seen through the eyes of the corresponding animals!

For example, there is the "toad oil" from Mount Myoboku and the "live slug mucus" from Shikotsu Forest.

Ryuchi Cave also possesses "aiding cultivation items," but it is "the venom of the White Snake Sage."

Ok……

In official terms...

"When visiting cultivators arrive, the White Snake Sage uses its fangs to infuse them with natural energy. If a cultivator's body cannot withstand this energy and turns into a snake, the White Snake Sage will swallow it whole..."

then.

If Orochimaru hadn't run away fast enough, he really would have been swallowed whole by the White Snake Sage!

"snort!"

The White Snake Sage slid its huge, winding snake body slowly closer to Orochimaru.

"So, you changed into a new body just to cultivate [Sage Mode] again?"

Orochimaru showed no sign of panic as the White Snake Sage approached.

He wasn't surprised at all that the other party had seen through his problem at a glance.

because……

Orochimaru's original body already contained some of the White Snake Sage's "venom".

The new body is now in a clean and tidy state.

It was to be expected that the White Snake Immortal would notice the problem.

"Yes, White Snake Sage."