Kabuto, having passed his trial, entered the main hall of the temple. He saw Itachi seated as a guest, complexion radiant, clearly having taken the immortality pill. A genuine sense of joy welled up within Kabuto.
The two exchanged a smile. Kabuto walked before the throne of the White Snake Sage and knelt on one knee.
HSSSS! Without further ado, the massive serpent coiled upon its throne lunged forward, its fangs sinking into the nape of Kabuto's neck. A torrent of pure, refined Sage power flooded into his body!
The methods of the Three Great Sage Regions differed. The Sage Arts of Mount Myōboku involved using toad oil to absorb natural energy, adapting to it, then mastering it through rigorous training.
The methods of Ryūchi Cave and Shikkotsu Forest, however, involved the ruling Sage personally injecting their refined Sage power directly into the recipient. Adaptation training came afterward.
The three Sage Arts each had their focus, their strengths and weaknesses. In the end, power depended on the user.
As the Sage power took root, Kabuto's right eye remained a sightless pale orb. In his left, a vertical snake-slit pupil appeared. Two asymmetrical horns sprouted from his hairline. The right half of his body became covered in shimmering white scales!
Whoosh! The White Snake Sage recoiled, resuming its coiled position upon the throne.
Kabuto shakily rose to his feet. His face twitched, muscles straining as if holding back a torrent.
The White Snake Sage asked, "Boy. Can you handle it?"
Kabuto raised a trembling pinky finger to adjust his glasses—and poked the lens instead.
"Ah… I-I'm f-fine. Hah… hah…"
The Sage chuckled. "Don't play coy with this old one. A wild, destructive urge is raging inside you, isn't it?"
Kabuto's face contorted. "YES…!!!"
"Outsiders call the Sage Arts of my Ryūchi Cave 'Mutagenic Sage Arts,'" the Sage explained. "They emphasize the balance between body, mind, and nature, prioritizing physical energy. This leads to significant bodily transformation… and, inevitably, accompanying violent emotions. As your mastery deepens, you'll gain control over the rage. But to be completely unaffected? That requires reaching this old one's level."
Listening below, Sasuke recalled his past life's battle alongside the reincarnated Itachi against a Sage Mode Kabuto.
True. Kabuto was emotionally charged throughout that entire fight. It clouded his normally icy judgment. That very agitation planted the seeds for his defeat via Izanami…
Kabuto, too, had seen that battle through Sasuke's genjutsu replay. To avoid repeating that future, he swallowed his pride. "I doubt I'll ever reach your level in this lifetime. Besides deepening my Sage Arts, is there any way to resolve this rage?"
The White Snake Sage leaned forward, its tone instructive. "In the past, this old one only imparted power, never methods. But for you, I'll make an exception. Kabuto Yakushi. Everything has two sides. Rage is not necessarily a negative…"
Its vertical gaze flicked toward Itachi.
"Katsuyu's Sage Arts are called the 'Silent' path. They seek mental cultivation, a state of placid stillness. Truly flawless."
"But if you cannot be calm… why force it? Why not accept that rage and forge it into a weapon uniquely your own?"
Kabuto was stunned. "You mean… this rage… can become a weapon?"
"Of course," the Sage hissed with amusement. "If calm is Katsuyu's treasure, then rage is our fangs. If you can truly harness that emotion, it may become a power rivaling the Sage Arts themselves. I can't speak for others, but having witnessed your battle with the little glasses… I believe you have the aptitude."
Kabuto bowed his head deeply. "I shall heed your teachings!!"
"Tenshi Hime," the Sage commanded. "Take Kabuto to Keiryū Mountain. You shall oversee his training from now on."
Tenshi Hime slithered before Kabuto, her forked tongue flicking. "Kekeke… You defeated my godson, Glasses. How about… becoming my new godson?"
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. A frenzied glint flashed in his visible eye as he, too, let his own abnormally long tongue unfurl. "Ke~… I must respectfully decline."
Tenshi Hime's tongue split and writhed erratically. "Kekekekeke… Spirited! I'll make sure to 'dote' on you properly later~!"
Kabuto's smile turned sinister. "Ah…" he chuckled darkly. "By all means~"
Ptui!
Tenshi Hime spat a glob of saliva point-blank into his face. Kabuto instantly petrified into stone. She hoisted the statue onto her shoulder.
"Kekeke~… Don't mind if I do."
Her form shifted into that of a giant serpent. She opened her maw and swallowed the petrified Kabuto whole.
Sasuke murmured, "That petrification technique is truly terrifying."
In my past life, Kabuto never used this. If he had… even with Itachi, victory wouldn't have been certain.
The White Snake Sage's voice cut through his thoughts. "For Kabuto to learn that technique… he'd have to become my godson-in-law."
Sasuke frowned. "Meaning?"
"You seem clever, boy, but you're a bit dense at your core. Tenshi Hime is my goddaughter. For Kabuto to learn it, he'd need to… combine with her. Ah, you're young. You probably don't understand what 'combine' means…"
Sasuke deadpanned. "I understand."
Beside him, a flicker of something—amusement? realization?—passed over Itachi's face.
The Sage blew a smoke ring. "So worldly for one so young. With Kabuto's talent, mastering the Sage Arts will take twenty-one days. You brothers may tour our domain as you wish. But for now… avoid Keiryū Mountain."
Sasuke and Itachi stood, offered slight bows, and exited the temple.
Ichikishima Hime and Taki Hime immediately approached the throne, questions practically bursting from them.
"Grandmother! You seem in such high spirits today! Not only did you grant Uchiha Sasuke the immortality pill, you're even considering that Kabuto Yakushi as a son-in-law? This hasn't happened in centuries…"
"Hmm? Is that so? You noticed, did you? Indeed, this old one is in rare good cheer. That Uchiha Sasuke is a truly exceptional talent. His future achievements will undoubtedly surpass even Indra's… perhaps even the Sage of Six Paths. However…" The Sage's massive head tilted. "What truly pleases this old one is the little treasure Orochimaru delivered. Quite delightful…"
The two lesser sages followed her gaze to the ornate box on the altar.
"You've lived a millennium! What rare treasure could possibly catch your eye now?"
Crackle!
Purple mist enveloped the throne. When it dissipated, the White Snake Sage sat there in the form of an ancient, wizened crone.
The Sage power of Ryūchi Cave could not halt the aging process. In human form, she appeared as a grotesque old woman. In contrast, Katsuyu's human form… was that of a lovely maiden.
Tap.
The crone shuffled forward with her cane, stopping before the box. She carefully picked up the single pink pill inside, cradling it with something akin to reverence.
"For a thousand years, this old one has experimented countless times. I even succeeded in creating a drug that reverses gender. But this… it was as if cursed."
"To think Orochimaru actually produced it…"
Her voice dropped to a husky, coveting whisper.
—"A pill that reverses aging. Who could possibly dislike such a thing?"
…
Mount Myōboku, Hall of Longevity.
Jiraiya had come to receive the latest prophecy.
Upon his throne, the Great Toad Sage stared down at the white-haired man bowing before him, his expression one of utter bewilderment.
—"Now then… who might you be?"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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