Chapter 155: Become a Sage, or Die!
As Orochimaru's words fell, Tsukasa's serpentine eyes suddenly narrowed.
Pure natural energy could be used?
But how was that possible?
For a human shinobi to master Sage Mode, the only way was to combine physical energy, spiritual energy, and natural energy into Sage Chakra, thus entering Sage Mode!
This was written in every ninja scroll—the fundamental rule of the shinobi world.
Under such absolute rules, Orochimaru was actually telling him this could be broken?
What was he supposed to do?
Tsukasa gritted his teeth, staring at the serpent barrier that was constantly being struck by wind blades, shaking and cracking with each impact.
It seemed this defense wouldn't last much longer.
He frantically racked his brain, desperately trying to recall everything he knew, searching for the answer, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't figure it out.
But then, he suddenly remembered Orochimaru's final words to him:
'Follow your instincts—find the answer!'
Those words were like a ray of light, instantly making Tsukasa look inward.
This reminded him of how he had withstood Orochimaru's injection of the Cursed Seal of Heaven. Back then, he had neither consciousness nor chakra—a situation far worse than his current predicament. How had he managed to dissipate the raging natural energy of Ryūchi Cave that had been poured into his body?
At this thought, Tsukasa's pupils contracted sharply as he examined his own body.
If there was a technique that could tame raging natural power, it could only be—
The Forbidden Technique: Flesh Metamorphosis!
This forbidden jutsu burned human life force, even capable of using a Tailed Beast's power as fuel!
At this moment, Tsukasa felt as if he had opened the door to an entirely new world. His Sharingan focused on the turbulent, writhing natural energy of Ryūchi Cave within him, constantly twisting his flesh and bones.
He took a deep breath, held it, and unleashed the Forbidden Technique: Flesh Metamorphosis.
Instantly, the dark patterns that had covered half his body, threatening to consume his entire being, began to twist and writhe wildly.
Then they retracted—retracted—retracted again!
The raging natural energy was captured, burned, and transformed into new power by the forbidden technique!
Like a roaring combustion engine, it shredded, collided, ignited, compressed, and exploded!
BOOM!
His heart pounded at a speed far beyond that of a normal human!
Scorching blood flooded throughout his body, and an endless stream of vitality surged forth like bamboo shoots after spring rain, continuously repairing his weakened form.
Wounds healed, his body revitalized, and an endless stream of his own chakra was extracted and then fed back into the forbidden technique.
Tsukasa suddenly straightened up, actually pushed upright by the surging chakra flowing through him.
His severed right arm frantically regenerated flesh and blood in an instant, reshaping bones, almost immediately reconstructing up to his elbow.
But this seemed to be the limit.
At this moment, the dark patterns of the Cursed Seal of Heaven that had covered his entire body had all retracted back to his neck, returning to their original seal formation.
The serpentine manifestations that had appeared on his body also quietly faded away.
The Cursed Seal of Heaven continued absorbing natural energy from the air, channeling it into his body as new fuel, but its speed had clearly slowed!
"Not enough—not enough—far from enough!"
"This is enough to save myself, but not enough for combat!"
Tsukasa gripped his white-bladed sword, staring intently at the flow of chakra within his body, teeth clenched.
Consuming the power of the Cursed Seal of Heaven could continuously provide chakra to support the operation of forbidden techniques, but at the same time, his body would revert to normal human form.
At this critical moment, more important than super-fast regeneration to constantly repair his body was raw combat power!
Even if it meant transforming into a monstrous serpent to gain those abilities at tremendous cost—infrared sensing, serpent scale protection, flexible serpent body manipulation, and enhanced speed modification—it was all worthwhile!
He couldn't let Ebizō escape!
If that old man got away, the precious opportunity that Uchiha Setsuna, Shisui, Inuzuka Rui, Root Operative B, and Aburame Ryōma had fought to create for him would be meaningless!
However—
At that moment, as if responding to Tsukasa's inner desire, a sudden bright light emanated from the Cursed Seal of Heaven on his neck!
Immediately afterward, the scene before him spun wildly.
When he opened his eyes again, Tsukasa found himself in a deep, enormous serpent cavern.
In the distance, the faint sound of rhythmic chanting echoed through the darkness.
Dimly visible through the deep shadows was a colossal temple, its scale seemingly endless, stretching beyond comprehension.
A gigantic, eerie emerald serpent, its head barely visible in the gloom and almost bursting through the cavern walls, suddenly emerged.
To Tsukasa's astonishment, with a twist of its massive body, this serpent—whose head and tail were indistinct and whose size seemed immeasurable—transformed before him into a beautiful young woman.
She wore pristine white robes and a golden circlet, topped with a gleaming golden jewel.
She possessed an otherworldly beauty, dignified and elegant beyond mortal standards.
Tsukasa blinked, still processing what had just happened, when the woman's clear, cold, and solemn voice rang out!
"New contractor of Ryūchi Cave!"
"You... desire power beyond humanity, beyond everything mortal?!"
Tsukasa looked up, startled, staring at the woman before him, surprise washing over him.
Wasn't this woman Tagitsuhime, one of the high-ranking members of Ryūchi Cave, hailed as the White Snake Sage's most trusted confidante?
Had he been pulled here by reverse summoning, or was this the Serpent Princess's illusion technique that could transform empty space into Ryūchi Cave's inner sanctum?
And what exactly was this Cursed Seal of Heaven?
In Sasuke's hands, hadn't it been a powerful tool for unleashing his full potential? How had it become a passive summoning trigger in his case?
However, upon hearing her question, without the slightest hesitation, Tsukasa turned back, his gaze urgent, his tone decisive:
"Give it to me!"
"No matter the risks—it doesn't matter!"
"As long as it's power! Give it all to me!"
Tagitsuhime looked at the boy before her, her gentle eyes instantly transforming into elongated golden serpent pupils, staring intently at Tsukasa's Sharingan, which even after the Cursed Seal had faded, still retained its serpentine characteristics.
A hint of astonishment flashed through her eyes!
Someone could actually achieve perfect fusion with natural energy while remaining in human form!
This was a feat unparalleled in millennia!
Recalling the White Snake Sage's words, Tagitsuhime suppressed the tremor in her heart. She quietly withdrew a green cat's eye jewel from within her robes.
Then, she couldn't help but narrow her eyes, hissing softly, her tongue flicking out to taste the air around her lips.
The disguised human facade changed, revealing the true form of a Ryūchi Cave serpent beneath!
Her delicate nose instantly transformed into serpentine nostrils, her lips into a fanged maw, and in the boundless darkness, she stared coldly at Tsukasa before sneering:
"Hehehehe."
"Since that's the case, then take it."
Tagitsuhime raised her hand from within her robes, revealing the green cat's eye jewel that emitted a faint glow in the darkness before Tsukasa.
Then, her indifferent and merciless voice echoed throughout the entire cavern of Ryūchi Cave!
"You have only one chance, human—"
"Either become a Sage of Ryūchi Cave,"
"Or die!"
End of Chapter 155
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