Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Information Leak! The True Sage Body!
Chapter 12: Information Leak! The True Sage Body!
Near Ishihara's base, Konoha's Anbu and Root members were on the move.
"Recently, there have been reports of Orochimaru's presence here. Everyone, be cautious!"
Kakashi, leading the team, warned solemnly. He knew the terror of Orochimaru, and even the smallest oversight could be fatal.
Whoosh!!!
A kunai suddenly shot out.
"Who's there?"
Kakashi grabbed it and quickly scanned the surroundings. Though he saw no one, he found a piece of paper attached to the kunai.
After inspecting it, Kakashi opened the paper and his face changed drastically.
"Orochimaru's base location?!"
Whoosh!
Instantly, the expressions of the other Anbu members also changed. Though they didn't know who leaked the information, they couldn't ignore it.
Kakashi and the Root captain exchanged glances.
"Act immediately!"
...
[You carefully study Jūgo's body and deeply comprehend the Heavenly Demon Tattoo and Lightning Instantaneous Body. You have created the Sage Art: Sage Body Refinement Method!]
[Sage Body Refinement Method: By bathing the body in natural energy, it eventually transforms into a Sage Body capable of merging with natural energy! Achieving the Sage Body grants a lifespan of 3,000 years! Further improvement can continue to increase lifespan!]
Three thousand years?!
Hiss!!!
Even Ishihara couldn't help but gasp at the sight of this number.
In his two lifetimes, he had lived only a little more than one percent of three thousand years. It was an unimaginably terrifying number!
"Hahaha!"
Even Ishihara's usually calm demeanor couldn't suppress his exuberant laughter.
Six years, six years since his transmigration.
He could finally embark on the path to immortality!
Although it was only the Sage Body for now, he believed that with continued effort, his physical form could become eternal and his soul could transcend time!
"Practice!"
Ishihara had planned to wait for Orochimaru to witness this, but now he couldn't wait another moment.
He immediately began practicing the Sage Body Refinement Method.
He felt the natural energy in the air!
These natural energies seemed to respond to his call, slowly drifting toward his body and then integrating into him.
The natural energy continued to flow through Ishihara's chakra pathways, merging with his cells.
Pop
Ishihara heard a crisp sound as the first cell merged with the natural energy. The life force within this cell was terrifyingly different from before, a level apart—almost like a different realm!
An overwhelming joy of evolutionary advancement surged within him, filling him with immense happiness. As more natural energy fused with his body, more cells began their transformation, intensifying his life force to a fearsome level!
This was the true Sage Body!
It differed fundamentally from the so-called Sage Bodies of the Uzumaki and Senju clans. Even the Sage Mode of Hashirama Senju couldn't compare to Ishihara's Sage Body.
One was merely a robust body with abundant life energy, while the other was a complete integration of natural energy, evolving the body to match the level of natural energy. It was a body fit for a Sage, akin to the Great Toad Sage or the White Snake Sage.
Time passed, and Ishihara finally paused, deep in thought.
"Just now, I only refined a very small part of my body. To transform my entire body into a Sage Body will likely take several years."
"But there are ways to accelerate this process!"
The concept of the Sage Body came from the Great Toad Sage and White Snake Sage, but in the ninja world, the only truly immortal being was Kaguya Otsutsuki, the Ten-Tails.
Thus, Ishihara's Sage Body also drew from the concept of the Ten-Tails' shell.
"If my theory is correct, mastering Bloodline Limits should speed up the completion of the Sage Body!"
"So, my focus now needs to shift to Bloodline Limits!"
"And I must also begin training in spiritual aspects!"
Ishihara frowned. In the ninja world, spiritual techniques are associated with Yin Release, such as genjutsu and dojutsu.
Currently, he lacked such techniques.
"If only I had a Uchiha corpse to study!"
"Wait, Orochimaru should still have spare Sharingan!"
Ishihara recalled that Orochimaru had once made a Sharingan arm for Danzo. Orochimaru must have a stock of Sharingan.
Ishihara's expression softened. Once Orochimaru returned, he could start studying dojutsu.
"Let's practice some ninjutsu for relaxation."
He picked up a ninjutsu scroll labeled [S-Rank, Water Release: Water Severing Wave].
At the same time, he began practicing the Sage Body Refinement Method, absorbing natural energy.
[You have read numerous Water Release scrolls. You have learned Water Release: Water Severing Wave and created Water Release Secret Art: Water Impact!]
[Water Impact: Creates super-speed water streams from any position, such as the mouth or hand!]
Not bad!
Ishihara was pleased. He didn't mind ninjutsu, but hand signs were tedious.
Fortunately, he didn't need hand signs.
Just as he was about to learn a few more ninjutsu, he sensed several life forms approaching through natural energy. He frowned.
It was unusual for so many people to come to Orochimaru's base, especially since it had been almost deserted recently.
"It seems this place has been exposed."
Ishihara sighed, stood up slowly, and prepared to move.
If visitors come from afar, it would be a pleasure to deal with them!