Chapter 45: Sage Mode
"Teacher, I heard you have already been listed as an S rank rogue ninja."
Kenichi Amamiya smiled as he spoke to Orochimaru.
Three days after their defection, rumors had spread through the shinobi world that Orochimaru, one of Konoha's legendary Sannin, had betrayed the village.
Konoha had no choice but to officially acknowledge it, releasing Orochimaru's information and labeling him as an S rank rogue ninja.
Kenichi had also caught wind of his own new status.
According to the reports, he had been classified by Konoha as an A rank rogue ninja.
That probably had something to do with that Root ninja he defeated.
"Hmm."
Orochimaru gave a noncommittal response. He clearly had little interest in bounties or labels. His attention was focused entirely on the cursed seal before him.
Kenichi glanced at the pattern etched onto the test subject's skin.
It was a mark Orochimaru had taken out some time ago. Kenichi had made sure to act appropriately shocked when he first saw it.
In truth, he knew this curse mark was the result of experiments on Jugo.
Right now, his teacher should be refining what would later become known as the Curse Seal of Heaven.
Speaking of the Curse Seal of Heaven, Kenichi could not help thinking of his junior.
Mitarashi Anko carried that same kind of mark on her body. Orochimaru had likely sealed away parts of her memory, which, in its own way, was a mercy.
"Kenichi, why do you think the Curse Seal of Heaven causes almost everyone who receives it to die?"
Orochimaru set down his tools and looked over at his disciple.
"Teacher, I think it is because not everyone can absorb natural energy," Kenichi said, shrugging lightly.
Under Orochimaru's guidance, he had gained a much clearer understanding of the Cursed Seal of Heaven.
To put it simply, it was a crude, dangerous shortcut toward becoming something close to a sage.
But since it was derived from Jugo, the natural energy it channeled tended to go berserk, tearing through the body and causing grotesque transformations.
In some ways, it was like a compound that could dramatically increase a host's capabilities.
The problem was that the conditions were harsh and the mortality rate was terrifyingly high.
It was, in its essence, very similar to Sage Mode.
But Sage Mode was not something one could just pick up.
It demanded talent.
"Speaking of which, you once said you wanted to learn Sage Mode, did you not?"
Orochimaru's gaze slid toward Kenichi. His disciple had brought this up back when they were still in Konoha.
He had even considered using the Cursed Seal of Heaven on Kenichi.
But since the boy was useful, obedient, and very much to his liking, he had ultimately given up that idea.
"Yes, teacher. I still want to try," Kenichi admitted frankly. He had made no secret of that desire before.
Orochimaru thought for a moment.
If he himself had mastered Sage Mode, he could simply teach it.
The problem was that he had not.
When he first ventured to Ryuchi Cave, he had attempted to train in Sage Mode, but failed.
Even so, he had not walked away empty handed.
"I cannot use Sage Mode, but I can tell you what I know."
Orochimaru's expression grew serious.
He might not have succeeded, but he was still Orochimaru. His memory for technique and theory was razor sharp.
Back then, even in failure, he had carefully recorded every detail he could.
This was as good a time as any to pass some of that knowledge on to his student.
Kenichi listened intently.
But the more he heard, the stranger his expression became.
According to Orochimaru, the key to cultivating Sage Mode was first learning to sense the natural energy in the air.
Each of the three great sage lands had its own method for guiding practitioners through that first step.
For example, Mount Myoboku used a special toad oil to help first time trainees sense and draw in natural energy.
Following Orochimaru's explanation, Kenichi tried reaching out the way he described.
To his shock, he immediately sensed that he was surrounded by a vast ocean of natural energy.
More than that, he found he could guide that power into his body at will, almost instantly.
"Is this because of the First Hokage's sage physique?" Kenichi wondered silently.
Among all known users of Sage Mode, Hashirama Senju stood at the very top.
Unlike Jiraiya, who had to actively gather natural energy to enter Sage Mode, the First Hokage could do so in an instant.
His talent had been nothing short of monstrous.
Kenichi had inherited that same physical constitution, so it was only natural that he could sense natural energy so easily.
However, what he had inherited was only the body, not the knowledge.
That was why he had not managed to take this step before.
Now, with his teacher's explanation, he had finally broken through that invisible barrier and stepped into a brand new realm.
Kenichi kept his expression carefully calm.
The moment he reached out, natural energy had surged toward him like an unhinged woman from a doujinshi, eager to throw herself into his arms.
He cut off his perception at once, preventing that wild flood of power from pouring into his body.
After all, his teacher was someone who could resurrect the dead.
If Kenichi showed this level of talent openly, Orochimaru might feel more than a little tempted.
So for now, he resolved to train in secret.
"Once you can draw in natural energy, the next step is to blend it with your physical and spiritual energy until the three reach a perfect balance..."
Orochimaru continued his explanation, and Kenichi listened without missing a word.
Knowledge like this simply did not exist anywhere else in the ninja world.
Kenichi now had a completely different understanding of Sage Mode.
The more he heard, the more eager he became to research it.
Even without actively absorbing natural energy yet, he could feel a deep, intimate connection with it, as if it were already part of him.
That had to be due to the First Hokage's sage physique.
"Teacher, can we apply for some research funding?"
Once Orochimaru finished speaking, Kenichi expressed his sincere admiration, then immediately followed it up with the real question on his mind.
In Konoha, Root had provided financial support.
Now that they were on their own, everything cost money. Even basic supplies and equipment had to be paid for.
Kenichi had not forgotten that he still had a "side mission" to build his own research laboratory.
"Kenichi, you are an A rank rogue ninja now. It is time you learned how to earn your own money."
Orochimaru smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
Kenichi's lips twitched.
One look at that smile and he knew.
His teacher had no intention of giving him a single coin.
"All right then, teacher. I will go take on some commissions or something."
Kenichi let out a helpless sigh.
It seemed he needed to find a way to join the strongest organization in the ninja world as soon as possible.
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