"Jūgo..."
Looking at the burly man before him, Yuzuru nodded without betraying any emotion.
In the original story, Jūgo possessed a constitution that allowed him to undergo Sage Transformation naturally, as well as absorb natural energy on his own.
However, once his body absorbed too much natural energy, he would find it difficult to control his emotions.
Orochimaru's forbidden Cursed Seal technique had been researched with Jūgo as its core.
Yuzuru had not expected that, in this shinobi world that had already completely deviated from its original course because of him, Orochimaru would still end up getting Jūgo into his hands.
Seeing Yuzuru studying Jūgo, Orochimaru spoke with excitement. "Yuzuru-kun, Jūgo possesses an extremely special constitution. He can absorb natural energy on his own and complete Sage Transformation."
"I already have some ideas. If I can realize them, I will definitely be able to greatly enhance the strength of many people."
"When the time comes, I will let your Uchiha clan use it first."
Hearing this, Yuzuru immediately waved his hand. "No need."
"Our Uchiha clan is known as the Clan of Gods. Any one of our clansmen can absorb natural energy and use Senjutsu without issue. We have absolutely no need for something like this to increase our strength."
Orochimaru looked at Yuzuru in surprise, inwardly shocked.
He knew Yuzuru had never been the type to speak without purpose. It was absolutely impossible for him to say something like this for no reason.
Could it be...
Could any member of the Uchiha clan truly absorb natural energy and use Senjutsu?
If it were only one or two people, he would not find it that strange. But what Yuzuru had just said was "any clansman"!
How was that possible?
One had to know that absorbing natural energy and cultivating Senjutsu chakra required a special constitution. It had nothing to do with talent in Ninjutsu.
Take Orochimaru himself, for example. Even now, he had no way of doing that at all!
Seeing Orochimaru fall silent, Yuzuru took out all the materials he had collected during this period from the Kamui dimension.
"Orochimaru, these are some cultivation methods related to natural energy..."
"Oh?"
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow and glanced at Kimimaro and Jūgo. The two immediately nodded and left.
Only after the two of them had gone did Orochimaru say in surprise, "Shikkotsu Forest, Mount Myōboku, the Shinigami, the Evil God, Fury..."
Orochimaru suddenly felt his mouth go dry.
If this had been in the past, taking out any one of these cultivation methods would have been enough to stir up a bloody storm across the shinobi world!
After briefly looking through them, Orochimaru asked, "I have heard of the Shinigami. It is said to be the legendary monster summoned by the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, capable of sealing anything."
"But what exactly is this Evil God?"
Hearing Orochimaru's question, Yuzuru briefly explained the matter of the Evil God.
When Orochimaru heard that, in ancient times, there had once been a group of native cultivators in the shinobi world, his eyes lit up.
In his entire life, what he loved most was exploring unknown secrets.
"Yuzuru, what do you mean?"
"Using these cultivation methods as references, compile a cultivation method suitable for humans!"
Thinking back to what Yuzuru had said earlier about the "Clan of Gods," Orochimaru's pupils suddenly contracted.
As expected, Yuzuru-kun must have done something that allowed every member of the Uchiha clan to gain a constitution capable of absorbing natural energy and cultivating Senjutsu!
At this thought, Orochimaru could not help trembling all over.
Following Yuzuru-kun really had been the right choice. There were definitely still countless secrets hidden on Yuzuru-kun that he did not know about!
As long as he was loyal enough, he would uncover those secrets sooner or later.
"Yuzuru-kun, come with me to Ryūchi Cave."
"Since we already have the Senjutsu cultivation methods of Mount Myōboku and Shikkotsu Forest, there is no reason to leave out Ryūchi Cave's Senjutsu cultivation method."
"The more reference materials I have, the greater the chance that I can develop a cultivation method suitable for humans."
Yuzuru had already had this idea to begin with, so he immediately nodded.
"Let's go."
"Good!"
Just like Jiraiya before him, Orochimaru and Yuzuru used the Reverse Summoning Technique to arrive at Ryūchi Cave.
"So this is Ryūchi Cave..."
Looking at the cave ahead, where the words "Ryūchi Cave" were written in scarlet, Yuzuru stepped inside.
The cave was dark and damp. As far as the eye could see, it was filled with densely packed snakes.
Some were coiled around the rocks inside the cave, while others were crawling across the ground.
There were even snakes eating their own kind!
Although there were no especially terrifying elements, it still gave off an extremely uncomfortable feeling.
As Yuzuru and Orochimaru went deeper, the cave also became wider and wider.
The snakes inside grew larger and larger as well.
Some snakes even flicked their tongues and stared fixedly at them, making no attempt to hide the desire to attack in their hearts.
Boom!
Suddenly, a violent rumbling shook the ground and mountains, and all the snakes withdrew one after another.
"Orochimaru, is this human the offering you brought for me?"
"Pay attention next time. One human is too little. It is not even enough for me to pick my teeth."
A massive purple snake blocked the path ahead, staring fixedly at Yuzuru with a pair of enormous snake eyes.
The next second, Manda shuddered and directly lowered his huge snake head to the ground.
"Lord Y-Yuzuru..."
"I did not know it was you. Please do not blame me."
As Orochimaru's summoned beast, Manda naturally knew Yuzuru very well.
Compared to Orochimaru, the person before him was many times more powerful.
Even though this was Ryūchi Cave, with the White Snake Sage presiding over it, Manda did not feel the slightest sense of safety.
If Yuzuru wanted to kill him, it would only take the movement of a finger.
"You are much more polite than that toad from Mount Myōboku."
Yuzuru smiled and patted Manda's snake head.
Manda's heart stirred, and he asked, "Are you talking about Bunta? He..."
"I killed him."
"Uh..."
"But he should have been revived by the Great Toad Sage by now."
After hearing Yuzuru's words, Manda secretly rejoiced at his own cleverness.
Sure enough, just as he had thought, if he angered this lord before him, not even a Sage would be able to protect him.
Moreover, Manda was very clear about one thing...
The White Snake Sage would not revive him after his death the way the Great Toad Sage revived others.
As the two were speaking, a woman wearing a golden crown and a white robe, with long dark-blue hair, slowly walked out.
"I am Ichikishimahime. Greetings, Your Imperial Majesty."
Ichikishimahime gave a respectful bow, looking like an adorable young girl as lovely as a flower.
Yuzuru looked at her curiously, and some memories he had originally forgotten resurfaced in his mind.
Right, Ryūchi Cave's Sage Art...
It seemed to possess the ability to allow cultivators to take human form!