Hibari nodded after hearing the White Snake Sage's words. "Then, Hakuja-sama, what's my first step?"
Unlike Ichikishimahime, Tagitsuhime, and Tagorihime, the White Snake Sage was a capable teacher. After all, she had trained the three Snake Sages herself.
The White Snake Sage didn't give Hibari a vague answer. Instead, she said, "The first step is to learn how to control this berserk natural energy. You must learn how to cut off the communication between you and the natural energy and stop this immense energy that you cannot currently handle."
This was exactly what Hibari had guessed. If he couldn't cut off his connection with the natural energy on his own and the state of absorbing natural energy went berserk as soon as he activated it, there was no way he could adapt to and master natural energy.
"How exactly do I do that?" Hibari asked.
The White Snake Sage looked at Hibari and said, "I don't know how that stinky toad of Mount Myōboku did it. As for the slugs, I'm on good terms with the Great Slug, and she familiarized herself with it by splitting her own body. She can split her body into countless clones, which means she has countless chances to experiment and master this power, and she succeeded in the end...
"As for me, I used molting. For us snakes, every time we molt, it's a new beginning. During the molting process, we can block the influx of natural energy. After molting countless times, I finally managed to control how to block the berserk natural energy. Once you get past this stage, the later stages aren't as dangerous."
The White Snake Sage then laughed. "As for how you humans can stop this berserk natural energy, I really don't know. Why don't you try to molt or split your body?"
Hibari was stunned. "If I could do that, would I even be called human? I don't think the Shadow Clone Jutsu would work either."
After saying that, Hibari paused. He remembered that Orochimaru had used his soft body modification to gain many snake powers and could molt.
But that was too disgusting. Hibari just thought about it and decided he didn't want to turn himself into that kind of monster.
The White Snake Sage also smiled. "That's true... If an ordinary person were in your situation, they would have to spend three to five years just figuring out a way to forcefully block their own outburst. Your Wood Release should be able to do it, but it seems you can only use it once or twice. If you do it too many times, it won't be able to withstand it."
Hibari smiled awkwardly. "That's still a method. When the time comes, I'll bother you again, Hakuja-sama, and ask you to help me recover like you just did."
The White Snake Sage rolled her eyes at Hibari. "That's too much of a hassle."
"There's no other way. It's not a hassle at all... I'm begging you, okay?" Hibari said, completely shamelessly.
The White Snake Sage was speechless. She then said, "Instead of that, why don't you just train here? I'll help you every time it goes berserk until you've mastered how to control and block the influx of natural energy yourself."
Hibari's eyes lit up. "You'd do that? Then I'll be in your care!"
"Hmph. If it weren't for your excellent talent, your Primeval Form, I wouldn't even bother with you. In the past thousand years, have I ever helped anyone train Senjutsu? You're the first." The White Snake Sage said.
She paused again. "But it's not without its benefits. When you leave, we in Ryūchi Cave will have trained another true 'Sage,' and we'll be able to get one over on that stinky toad of Mount Myōboku."
The White Snake Sage had lived for so long that she didn't have any grand ambitions. She just wanted to annoy Mount Myōboku and get the upper hand in some way.
The three great sage regions had always been in balance. Now that Ryūchi Cave suddenly had Hibari, who possessed the Primeval Form, if she trained him well, they would have one more 'Sage' than the other two places.
Wouldn't that be getting one over on the stinky toad of Mount Myōboku? This was very interesting to the White Snake Sage. It would also give her more face.
Hibari's eyes lit up when he heard the White Snake Sage's words. "Oh, that's right, Hakuja-sama. According to what you just said, I have the same potential as you. So, does that mean once I've trained and mastered the power of Senjutsu, I'll be as powerful as you? Can I be a 'Sage'?"
The White Snake Sage looked at Hibari as if he were an idiot. "You seem so smart usually, so why are you so stupid right now? Even if we have the same potential, can you make up for the thousands of years of difference in our training?"
Hibari was stunned. He covered his head. "Sorry, sorry. I was just so excited by the good news that I asked a stupid question."
That's right. They might have the same potential, but the White Snake Sage had lived for centuries longer than Hibari. The difference in their training was measured in millennia. How could Hibari be as powerful as the White Snake Sage just by mastering Senjutsu?
Even Ichikishimahime covered her mouth and chuckled, as if to mock Hibari.
Hibari didn't say anything else and quickly changed the subject. "Then, Hakuja-sama, how long do you think it will take for me to control this berserk natural energy?"
"The berserk natural energy is already massive, which means you have to learn how to control and suppress such a huge amount of energy from the start. This is much more difficult than a normal entry... Do you understand?" the White Snake Sage said.
Hibari nodded, showing that he understood.
An ordinary person learning Senjutsu, like Jiraiya, Naruto, or even his grandfather, Hashirama, would start by gradually introducing natural energy and mastering it. Hibari had to master a quantity that was ten or even a hundred times larger right from the start. The difficulty would naturally increase exponentially. So Hibari was ready for a long, difficult battle.
"In my opinion, it should take about ten years to master the basics," the White Snake Sage said after thinking about it.
Even though he had already prepared himself, Hibari was still shocked. Ten years? Just to learn the basics?
"Hakuja-sama? It will really take ten years just to get started?" Hibari asked hesitantly.
"Hmph. Ten years is with my help. It took me a lot longer, about thirty years, to master how to control and block the influx of natural energy. But after that, you'll see the benefits of the Primeval Form.
"Once natural energy understands what you want and can communicate with you, your training speed and intensity will greatly increase. It might only take you three to five days to master the power of Sage Mode, and that power will be stronger and more perfect than what an ordinary person can achieve.
"For you, natural energy will be as familiar and natural as breathing, and your Sage Mode can become a permanent state," the White Snake Sage said softly.
Hibari didn't pay too much attention to the other things, like the vague promises of strength and speed. But the last sentence, that his Sage Mode could become a 'permanent state,' made Hibari's eyes light up. He was incredibly excited.
For ordinary people, Sage Mode was a temporary state that had a time limit. Not even Hashirama, the God of Shinobi, could make it a permanent state. But Hibari now had that possibility. How could he not be excited?
Once Sage Mode became a permanent state for Hibari, it would no longer be a trump card, but a permanent passive state. He could use it anytime without worry. To put it simply, what was a trump card for others would be something Hibari could use casually. Who was more powerful?
With that in mind, Hibari gritted his teeth and stomped his foot. "Ten years it is! For the power of Senjutsu, what's ten years in this cave?"
In Hibari's opinion, nothing big would happen in the shinobi world in the next ten years that would have a major impact on him. The various schemers were all plotting in the shadows. Madara could lay dormant for decades for his plan. Hibari could endure ten years without causing any trouble for his own goals.
For the next few decades, nothing big would happen anyway. The Second Great Ninja War had been affected by Hibari's meddling, but it probably wouldn't break out during this time.
As for other things, Hibari could manipulate and arrange them from a distance. Besides, with the Flying Raijin Technique in his hand, it was easy for him to leave. Training Senjutsu didn't mean he couldn't leave. Even if a major event occurred that required Hibari to resolve, he could make time for it.
'It takes ten years to sharpen a sword. I just hope this sword... won't disappoint me when it's unsheathed,' Hibari thought to himself.
The White Snake Sage was very pleased to see Hibari's patience. The first quality a great person must have is the ability to endure and control themselves.
The White Snake Sage then said, "It's getting late. Go back and rest. Be here tomorrow morning on time to start the training."
Since Hibari had made up his mind, he wouldn't regret it or think about other things. He nodded. "Alright, Hakuja-sama. I'll go get ready."
The White Snake Sage didn't stop him. Soon, Hibari and Ichikishimahime left.
Ichikishimahime asked curiously, "What do you need to prepare?"
"I thought my training in Ryūchi Cave would take three to five months at most, maybe three to five years at the most. I never expected to have a 'Primeval Form' and need to build a strong fundamentals, which will take about ten years just to get started. I have to let my family and friends know so they don't think I died here," Hibari said with a smile.
"Ten years? Is that a long time?" Ichikishimahime murmured, then said, "Oh, right. For you humans, it's a very long time."
Hibari touched his chin and whispered, "Yeah, ten years is a very long time."
But it's worth it!
Ichikishimahime then asked, "Are you going back with the Flying Raijin Technique?"
Hibari waved his hand. "I've only been here for a few days. It would be a bit embarrassing to go back just like that. Before I came, I set a summoning point at the Senju clan's compound. It's a way to keep in touch. I just have to write a letter and give it to one of our little snakes in Ryūchi Cave, and it will send it back to Konohagakure. As for the other places, I'll have the people in Konoha do it for me, and tell my subordinates."
Ichikishimahime nodded and didn't say anything else.
Soon, Hibari and Ichikishimahime returned to her cave. In reality, Hibari also had his own personal cave in Ryūchi Cave. Tagitsuhime and Tagorihime had already prepared it for him.
But with Ichikishimahime here, Hibari would be crazy to go stay by himself. So he didn't even mention it. Ichikishimahime didn't seem to have any intention of bringing it up either. She might have forgotten, or she might have thought the same thing as Hibari.
Back in the cave, Hibari quickly took out a pen and paper from his large scroll and began to write his letter.
He wrote down everything that had happened to him in Ryūchi Cave, gave a brief explanation, and sealed it with the words 'For Tobirama-jiisan' before finishing.
After he was done, Hibari bit his fingertip slightly, and a drop of red blood appeared. He then made a summoning jutsu hand seal and pressed his hand on the ground.
With a 'bang,' a small purple snake was summoned. Hibari threw the sealed scroll to the snake, and it swallowed it whole.
Hibari then released the summoning jutsu. The snake instantly disappeared in a puff of smoke, traveling through space and time back to the Senju clan's compound.
"Alright, time to go into seclusion and train!" Hibari clapped his hands and said with a smile.
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