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Midorima had no mood for idle talk with Tagitsuhime. Instead, he hurried to Jūgo's side and looked down. He saw Jūgo clutching his thigh with both hands, blood seeping between his fingers.
"What happened?"
"Nothing…" Jūgo shook his head, but a fine layer of sweat covered his forehead.
Midorima gestured for Jūgo to remove his hands. The first glance revealed a deep, bone-exposing wound.
"Why did you hurt yourself so severely?" Midorima asked.
"I don't want to remain stuck… If I got lost here, what would be the point of coming?" Jūgo replied.
"I see, but you really went too far…" Midorima placed both hands over Jūgo's wound and performed the "Mystical Palm Technique" to heal him.
Tagitsuhime clenched her fists, once again sensing how different these two were from others.
Were they here for Sage Techniques, for power? Yes, they were. But compared to others, they seemed to understand exactly what they wanted and recognized that power wasn't their sole pursuit.
They remained rational throughout, exercising a degree of restraint even toward power.
Midorima had handled the three tests with ease. However, the tests had deeply affected Jūgo. The Ryūchi Cave, a place for Sage cultivation, was exceptionally saturated with natural energy.
For him to suppress his murderous impulses and maintaining sanity was immensely difficult. Yet he was willing to injure himself to earn the chance to pass the trials, demonstrating his dedication to Sage Techniques.
Seeing the wound heal, Midorima finally relaxed.
Truthfully, Jūgo's own physical constitution was extraordinary. Even without Midorima's help, the wound would have healed, though it might have taken longer.
However, this was the Ryūchi Cave, and keeping the Great White Snake Sage waiting too long wouldn't be polite.
Once Jūgo stood up and tested his leg, finding it didn't hinder his movement, he nod at Midorima.
"Congratulations to both of you for passing the trials. The Great White Snake Sage awaits above… You may present your requests to Her directly," Tagorihime said.
Midorima nodded and looked up at the long staircase leading to the Sage's seat.
The staircase was exceptionally high; from the bottom, they could barely see the Sage at the top.
The two stepped onto the red carpet and, under the watchful eyes of the three Ryūchi Cave leaders, began ascending the stairs.
Although tall, reaching the top was no challenge for shinobi.
At the summit rested a sofa suitable for reclining. An elderly woman lay on her side upon it. From between her barely open eyelids, two icy gazes, sharp as daggers, sent shivers down their spines.
"You must be the Great White Snake Sage?" Midorima asked.
"Indeed," the elderly woman nodded.
"As you are a Sage, you likely understand our purpose in coming here."
"No, I'm not quite sure," the elderly woman said, looking at Midorima with a half-smile. "Although I am aware of all that transpires within the Ryūchi Cave, there are
premise. If you do not tell me, how could I possibly know?"
"..."
Midorima thought carefully. He indeed hadn't mentioned their goal to any of the Ryūchi Cave Sages. Just as he was about to speak, the Great White Snake Sage continued, "However, even if you don't say it, I can guess your purpose. Humans are born with desires and are slowly consumed by darkness. Everyone who comes to see me abandons everything to satisfy their desires. You are no different."
The Sage's tone was firm, leaving no room for Midorima to argue.
Yet, facing the Sage's presumptive judgment, Midorima felt an explanation was necessary.
"Great Sage, you are only half right. It's true that from the moment consciousness arises, humans develop desires. But that isn't necessarily all bad. For progress to occur, one must become fixated on a certain point. The deeper the fixation, the greater the achievement. The very reason Sages overcome their most difficult hurdle is due to their fixation on their beliefs. Isn't that also a form of desire? In other words, if one doesn't abandon everything, how can a Sage become a Sage?"
The Great White Snake Sage's eyes opened slightly, fixed on Midorima. After a pause, she said, "Are you saying that cultivation itself is a desire?"
"If not, why do you cultivate?"
"To cast away desire."
"But isn't the very 'desire to cast away desire' itself a desire? If one fixates on that, wouldn't they similarly abandon everything?" Midorima pressed.
The Great White Snake Sage remained silent for over ten seconds before suddenly laughing. Her form shifted, transforming into a massive white-scaled serpent coiled upon the dais, a tobacco pipe dangling from her mouth. She looked down at Midorima. "Your perspective is quite unique… Now, state your purpose for coming here."
"Sage Techniques…"
"Exactly. How is that different from what I said?" the Great Sage asked.
"Wait, I haven't finished — Sage Techniques and Sage chakra," Midorima said.
"Isn't there no difference between those two?"
"Of course there is. Sage Techniques and ninjutsu have similar functions; the primary difference lies in the chakra required. Our goal here is straightforward. If we merely wanted to learn Sage Techniques, there would have been no need for this journey. After all, his body can naturally absorb natural energy. Sage chakra is different; it's more fundamental and critical. Our purpose isn't just to learn Sage Techniques; it's to master Sage chakra itself," Midorima explained.
"He can absorb natural energy on his own?" The Great Sage was taken aback, looking at Jūgo in surprise.
Jūgo nodded. Then his skin gradually darkened, and his expression and eyes grew increasingly fierce.
Just before losing control, he regulated his breathing; his skin returned to normal.
"I see… So this is the 'losing control you mentioned. That's why you injured yourself earlier, to stay sane."
"Yes," Jūgo nodded.
"Unfortunately, I cannot help him. This is determined by his bodily constitution," the Great White Snake Sage said, shaking her head.
Jūgo's face fell, and he looked at Midorima in panic.
The answer caught Midorima off guard too. He had wondered whether Jugo's constitution could effectively combine with senjutsu. But as time passed and his own strength grew, Jugo's control would improve—so the White Snake Sage's response seemed hasty.
"Great Sage, an answer like that will frighten him. He's still just a child in your eyes," Midorima shook his head. "You have seen all kinds of seekers and must have encountered individuals similar to Jūgo. After all, you are a Sage; your strength and experience far surpass that of humans. I believe there's no situation you cannot help with; it merely depends on whether you wish to help."
"The trials you just passed are only related to learning Sage Techniques. If you want my help for him… you'll have to accomplish something else," the Great White Snake Sage said, exhaling smoke rings.
Midorima blinked. Could this be related to Garaga?
"I have an irritable serpent here named Garaga. If you can make him more tractable, I can consider finding a way to help your friend," the Great Sage said.
Well, that confirms it.
Midorima took a deep breath, feeling the pressure mount.