The Ryūchi Cave Contract scroll automatically opened. Orochimaru bit her finger, wrote her name on the scroll, and pressed her fingerprint. After she completed all of this, the scroll automatically closed and returned to the dragon's mouth.
"Now, let's see if you can endure it."
The White Snake Sage's body suddenly elongated, opening its mouth to reveal sharp venomous fangs, biting through Orochimaru's clothes and deeply piercing into her body, injecting Natural Energy!
Orochimaru let out a cry of pain, and white snake scales visibly grew all over her body.
The Natural Energy, having passed through the White Snake Sage as a conduit, clearly carried the characteristics of a snake. If Orochimaru didn't do something, she would quickly transform into a white snake.
At the same time, in the Laboratory and the Island Laboratory Base, Orochimaru's Shadow Clones were affected by the main body.
"Lord Orochimaru!"
The people assisting the Shadow Clones with research in various rooms of the Laboratory watched in horror as Lord Orochimaru's body became covered with fine white snake scales.
"Calm down, continue your research... Don't worry about me."
Orochimaru touched the snake scales on her face, looking at the fine white snake scales on the back of her hand.
Did the main body find Ryūchi Cave so quickly?
Bang—!
The Shadow Clones released their Shadow Clone Technique.
Laboratory Base
Orochimaru's Shadow Clone, transformed into Ms. Mi, felt extremely troubled. Uchiha Madara would be arriving soon. That guy would come to the Laboratory Base for a stroll every now and then.
Orochimaru suspected that Uchiha Madara was treating his visits to the Laboratory Base as a walk in the park.
"Ms. Mi, are you alright?"
Someone nearby noticed that Ms. Mi was not well.
"I have an urgent matter and need to leave for a bit. When that old Mr. Deng arrives, tell him I'll be away from the Laboratory Base for some time."
As Ms. Mi spoke, she released the Shadow Clone Technique. Affected by the main body's snake transformation, if she delayed any longer, she wouldn't even be able to maintain her transformation Jutsu.
In the temple hall deep within Ryūchi Cave, Orochimaru's snake transformation continued.
"If you don't want to become my mistake, then feel the Natural Energy within your body, combine body energy and spiritual energy to refine Sage Chakra. If you can't do it, you will quickly become a snake, and I will eat you before you become a snake."
The White Snake Sage extended its long forked tongue, licked the corner of its mouth, and its voice was full of anticipation, as if it couldn't wait to swallow Orochimaru, but because she hadn't fully transformed into a snake yet, it could only wait patiently.
"It's not that easy to eat me…"
Orochimaru opened her eyes, got up from the ground, and sat down, trying not to move around due to the pain. Scales were growing on her body every moment. The snake transformation of her body was not like Uzumaki Naruto's toad transformation when he learned Sage Mode, which was painless.
Orochimaru was well aware that in this situation, panic and fear were useless and would not slow down the snake transformation. She calmed her emotions, discarded the interference caused by the physical changes, and wholeheartedly felt the Natural Energy within her body, trying to combine Chakra with Natural Energy to refine Sage Chakra.
Slowly, the speed at which snake scales grew on Orochimaru's body decreased.
This child, as expected, is very talented… Has she already managed to control and guide Natural Energy to refine Sage Chakra?
The White Snake Sage saw the changes in Orochimaru's body, and a hint of surprise flashed in its eyes.
As I suspected… The Natural Energy of both Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave carries the characteristics of Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave… This is why the Sage Mode of Mount Myōboku more or less exhibits toad features.
Ryūchi Cave, on the other hand, requires shedding the skin of a snake to transform into a dragon!
Orochimaru concentrated, striving to master the Natural Energy within her body, and sensing the omnipresent Natural Energy, she attempted to absorb Natural Energy into her body and mix it with Chakra to refine it into Sage Chakra.
Time passed minute by minute. Orochimaru's snake transformation did not stop; instead, it began to accelerate. Dense white snake scales covered her entire body, transforming her from a human into a white snake.
"Did she fail?"
The White Snake Sage looked at Orochimaru, who had completely transformed into a white snake, and was about to open its mouth to swallow her. It noticed Natural Energy gathering on her body and stopped its movement.
"This is…"
Has she completed Sage Mode?
The White Snake Sage had thought it impossible for Orochimaru to achieve perfect Sage Mode. What surprised it was that Orochimaru had actually sensed the existence of Natural Energy using the Natural Energy it had injected into her body.
Orochimaru, having transformed from a human into a white snake, did not stop refining Sage Chakra. Her body gradually changed, transforming from a snake back into a human form, with the snake skin on her exterior becoming dull and lifeless.
Two pairs of horns pierced through the snake skin, and a pair of cold white hands extended from the snake skin, grabbing the edges of the snake skin and tearing it!
Orochimaru, covered in viscous liquid, crawled out of the snake skin. Her thick, dark hair cascaded over her body. Two pairs of porcelain-white pointed horns grew on either side of her head, and a white snake tail extended from her coccyx, resting on the ground.
"Lord White Snake Sage, I told you… it's not that easy to eat me…"
Orochimaru raised her head. The purple eyeshadow on her eyes did not change due to activating Sage Mode, but her sclera turned black.
This is Sage Mode?
Her sensory abilities have been enhanced severalfold.
The strength of her body, too… Sage Chakra, what a powerful force!
It's even more powerful than I imagined!
Orochimaru clenched her fists, carefully feeling the changes in her body. She looked at the Yin Seal on her wrist, which hadn't disappeared due to the transformation, then turned to look at the extra snake tail behind her.
Should I be grateful that you grew behind me?
Thinking of Yakushi Kabuto's Sage Mode, where a white snake grew from his abdomen, Orochimaru felt that it was more reasonable and aesthetically pleasing for it to grow at her coccyx.
The snake tail swayed, transforming from a snake tail into a white snake hissing with its mouth open.
Orochimaru suddenly had a feeling of controlling two things at once. She saw herself through the white snake's perspective, and she herself could see the white snake. This white snake was a part of her body, an existence she could freely control.
Perfect Sage Mode… Very good, very good!
The research can proceed to the next step.
Wait… I've become more mature?
Orochimaru only just noticed that her appearance had directly jumped from 14 to 18 years old, and her figure was also better. Fortunately, her chest size hadn't increased much, far from Tsunade's in the future.
Good, good. Growing up a bit is fine, as long as it's not as exaggerated as Tsunade's bust.
"Haven't adapted to your current body yet?"
The White Snake Sage watched the subtle changes in Orochimaru's expression, narrowing its eyes as if it had seen something interesting. It could see everything that happened in Ryūchi Cave, and naturally, it had seen how she passed the trials of Tagorihime, Ichikishimahime, and Tagitsuhime.
"I've adapted. The power of Sage Mode surprises me; it's even stronger than I anticipated!"
Orochimaru looked up at the White Snake Sage, a smile on her face.
"Lord White Snake Sage, I want to begin training in Sage Art! I don't have much time to waste."
Orochimaru was very worried that while she was training in Ryūchi Cave, Uzushiogakure would be attacked by the Allied Shinobi Forces.
Therefore, she could only complete her training in Ryūchi Cave's Sage Art as quickly as possible.
Ryūchi Cave's Sage Arts, whether it be White Rage Technique or Inorganic Reincarnation, are extremely powerful Sage Arts, their might far exceeding those of Mount Myōboku. However, Mount Myōboku excels in its variety of toads, with countless toads possessing special abilities.
In terms of combat power, there are the powerful toad brothers Gamabunta, Gamaken, and Gamahiro. For Sage Mode, the two Sages Fukasaku and Shima assist in refining Sage Chakra, and there is even the BUG-level musical Genjutsu.
Demonic Illusion: Duet of the Married Couple… No, it's Demonic Illusion: Toad Confrontation Chant.
In essence, it's Fukasaku and Shima, the old married couple, singing love songs, and those who listen are impaled by stone swords.
Toads with various abilities also emerge endlessly. Looking at Ryūchi Cave, on the other hand, it seems there is no notable combat power besides Manda and the Three-Headed Snake.
The three Sages who tested her earlier would likely not accept summons, otherwise, they wouldn't have been absent in the original story.
Orochimaru was more curious about how the Orochimaru in the original story dealt with those surprisingly childish trials, and also Yakushi Kabuto. Did they also fail to hold back like her?
"Impatience is useless."
The White Snake Sage knew what Orochimaru was anxious about, but there was no point in being anxious when learning Sage Art.
"I will only teach you two Ryūchi Cave Sage Arts. One is Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation, which imbues inanimate objects with life and controls them. The other is Sage Art: White Rage Technique, which, if not used properly, can affect oneself. It creates intense light and piercing sound, using air vibrations to paralyze the opponent's senses and seal their movements."
The White Snake Sage paused here, its gaze falling on Orochimaru's back, "This will be your most important training in Ryūchi Cave from now on: learning Inorganic Reincarnation and White Rage Technique, and they will assist you in your training."
They… Orochimaru had an ominous premonition. She turned around and saw Tagorihime, Ichikishimahime, and Tagitsuhime. She only hoped that with their assistance, she could truly master Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation and Sage Art: White Rage Technique as quickly as possible.
"Your gaze is quite rude. Please take care of me in the coming time. I am Tagorihime."
Tagorihime hadn't expected Orochimaru to truly pass all the trials and even master perfect Sage Mode. She was reluctant to assist her in her training, but she was bound by the White Snake Sage's command.
"I am Tagitsuhime. Please guide me."
Tagitsuhime had a gentle smile on her face.
"Lord White Snake Sage, why do I have to assist her in her training?!"
Ichikishimahime was very unwilling to assist Orochimaru in her training. Not only was her carefully prepared trial devalued to nothing, but Orochimaru also spoke to her with such an attitude.
"So noisy. Orochimaru has passed your trials and mastered perfect Sage Mode. It is your responsibility to assist her in her training. It is your incompetence that allowed her to pass the trials. No complaints allowed."
The White Snake Sage's gaze fell on Ichikishimahime, its voice carrying a hint of impatience.
"I understand…"
Ichikishimahime lowered her head. Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime, who were scolded along with her, were completely innocent victims.
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