Ryūchi Cave's Teachings
Zixu's studies in Ryūchi Cave progressed smoothly. With Sarutobi's extensive knowledge of ninjutsu as a foundation, understanding other Sage Arts wasn't too difficult for him. He simply meditated for days, absorbing knowledge.
During this period, he didn't forget his promise to release his draconic energy to the goddesses, but constantly doing so was too much of a hassle. Instead, Zixu shed a few dragon scales from his beast form and tossed them their way, ensuring they wouldn't disturb him while he was immersed in his studies.
"Sage Arts require mastery. Powerful ones aren't something you can just execute on a whim…" Zixu deeply understood the potency of these techniques. Even with his formidable physique, the backlash from a failed Sage Art could forcefully transform him into a snake—a stark reminder that controlling senjutsu chakra was no simple feat.
Like Kekkai Genkai or any advanced ninjutsu, Sage Arts depended on the strength of the user. The more powerful the practitioner, the greater the technique's potential. Conversely, if a mistake occurred during execution, the repercussions could be devastating. Mastery took time—there was no shortcut to perfection.
Currently, Zixu was focusing on the Sage Art: Mugen Seimei no Jutsu (Inorganic Reincarnation).
This ability granted life to inorganic matter, allowing the user to control it. It was the very technique Zixu had accidentally used on Ichikishima-hime before.
At first glance, it didn't seem particularly impressive—but that was a grave misconception. Ichikishima-hime's hair had remained unaffected that day not because the technique was weak, but because hair itself is organic. However, the inorganic salts within her hair had been manipulated, proving that even the smallest detail could be exploited.
Inorganic matter was everywhere. Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide—if these gases were given life, an enemy could be silently obliterated. The Shinden-shu (Divine Snake Clan) had never explored such applications before. This was the power of science.
"Come on… change already! Just change!" Zixu coiled around a stone, infusing it with senjutsu chakra day and night, but the experiment remained unsuccessful.
His earlier success might have been due to Ichikishima-hime's naturally rich Sage Chakra and the abundant senjutsu energy around her, creating a perfect condition for an accidental breakthrough.
"This isn't getting me anywhere. I should stop meditating in isolation." Deciding that progress required new experiences, Zixu ended his secluded training.
"I'll bring a few people who want to learn Sage Mode later. For now, I'm heading back." As he left, the goddesses barely reacted, lazily waving their hands. One of them, clutching a dragon scale, lay decadently in the air like a cat high on catnip, too intoxicated to open her eyes.
A Rebellion Handled… Sloppily
Upon returning to the village, Zixu heard about a recent rebellion. He laughed at the thought. In this era, people were still trying to start uprisings? He wanted to see just who was foolish enough to attempt such a thing.
"Where's the leader?" Zixu asked.
Aburame Hatsuizumi, who had been rubbing her hands absentmindedly, suddenly tensed. Her gaze fixed on her fingers, as if they were the most fascinating thing in the world.
Aburame Hatsuizumi shrugged, twisting a strand of dark blue hair around her fingers.
"I… accidentally killed him," she admitted.
Zixu raised an eyebrow. "So let me get this straight. You overheard their plot while on patrol, eliminated all the other conspirators in front of the leader, chased him down with a bunch of experimental pistols, 'accidentally' blew up the entire forest, and then 'accidentally' killed him?"
Aburame Hatsuizumi glanced at Zixu with an innocent expression, her eyes shimmering as if she'd suffered a great injustice.
"…Yeah. That's basically what happened. I might've been a little drunk at the time." Her usual carefree demeanor was gone, replaced by genuine regret.
Zixu turned to Hyūga Chinano. "She hasn't developed any bad habits, has she?"
Hyūga Chinano shook her head. "Aside from her tendency to kill people? No."
"That's good. He was just a rebel leader. Dead is dead."
But before he died, he had black markings all over his body. It looked kinda like a Bagua seal," Aburame Hatsuizumi added, now more relaxed after realizing she wasn't in trouble.
"Black markings…? Like a Bagua?" Zixu's mind raced. He vaguely recalled something similar in Sarutobi's memories. It wasn't clear, but it was worth investigating. He made a mental note to look into it.
"Where's Karin?" Zixu suddenly asked.
"She fainted from chakra exhaustion. She's resting at home," Hyūga Chinano replied.
Zixu coughed awkwardly. "…Well, that's not too bad. Anyway, do you two know about Sennin Mōdo (Sage Mode)?"
He explained the fundamentals of Sage Mode, accidentally revealing the details of the Shinden-shu's Sage Trials in advance. With that knowledge, they now had precise guidelines to follow—but without the required aptitude, success was impossible. At the very least, a firm will was necessary.
"Sage Mode? I don't know if I can handle it. It sounds really difficult. I haven't even mastered basic child-rearing jutsu yet. Can I really pull this off?" Hyūga Chinano muttered, looking doubtful.
"Sage Mode, huh? So if I use Sage Chakra instead of normal chakra, does that mean I can create Sennin-mushi (Sage Bugs)?" Aburame Hatsuizumi mused, her mind already racing with ideas.
The two left, each contemplating their own path forward. Meanwhile, Zixu began strategizing how to mass-produce Sage Mode users.
It was undeniable that a ninja who had mastered Sage Mode was exponentially stronger than an ordinary shinobi. A true Sage could take on hundreds. But high rewards came with high risks.
Many failed in Sage Mode training and were turned to stone. Zixu himself was an exception—his affinity for Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode was mediocre, but he had been born at the end-point of the transformation process, meaning his natural state was already imbued with senjutsu energy. For him, learning Sage Mode was relatively effortless.
But Hyūga Chinano and the others were ordinary humans. His ultimate goal was to make Sage Chakra accessible to all shinobi—even those without innate talent. A nearly impossible feat.
As he pondered, his gaze landed on the prototype pistol Aburame Hatsuizumi had placed on the table.
"Firearms… Sage Arts…" His thoughts suddenly collided, igniting a spark of inspiration.
"…Maybe."
He jotted down his idea, planning to discuss it with Orochimaru. It sounded absurd, but if chakra-infused firearms could work, then why not Sage Chakra pistols?
Zixu's expression relaxed. It was always good to have ideas. The rest… could be left to technology.
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