"This is so unappetizing!"
Kurama, after swallowing the tasteless bear paw meat whole, glared at Orochimaru, who was flipping grilled meat nearby, with an expression of disgust.
"You finally have something you're not good at, don't you!"
Facing Kurama's post-meal scolding, Orochimaru smiled wryly and shook his head.
"You can't even control your mouth when eating, Kurama. That's not something a gentleman would do!"
Kurama snorted, using his paw to scrape a piece of meat from the grill and stuff it into his mouth. He squinted and retorted:
"I am a Tailed Beast. Such things as 'gentlemen' can go die for all I care!"
Orochimaru used a kunai to cut off a small piece of bear paw, tasted it, praised its chewiness, and then nodded in response:
"You speak the truth!"
"However, I'm not a professional chef. Just make do with what you have!"
Kurama thought for a moment and suddenly found it to be quite reasonable.
"That's true!"
"But next time you grill, remember to bring seasonings."
"Even the best meat wouldn't taste good grilled the way you do it."
Orochimaru chuckled and offered the grilled bear paw in his hand.
"Alright!"
"But I've heard that seafood has a natural salty flavor, like octopus tentacles."
"I wonder if it's true."
"If we have the chance, let's head south of Konoha. We might find something edible without seasoning."
Kurama's chewing motion paused, and his ears perked up.
"Octopus?"
"I actually know an octopus. Its tentacles can grow back quickly, and its meat is inexhaustible no matter how much you eat."
"I just don't know if it's willing to spare a tentacle for me..."
Orochimaru was surprised by Kurama's boasting and looked at him askance.
"You wouldn't be talking about Gyuki, would you?"
"Even though it looks like octopus tentacles, it's actually its entire body as the Eight-Tails, isn't it?"
"Kurama, you're truly something to even think about eating a companion just for the sake of novelty!"
Kurama was not surprised that Orochimaru knew the name of the Eight-Tails and merely snorted dismissively:
"Hmph!"
"So what?"
"As long as I like it, let alone the Eight-Tails, I could even chip off a piece of Son Goku's shell and taste it."
Orochimaru was speechless, shaking his head, and gained a deeper understanding of the creature's competitive nature.
After chatting and bragging for a while, Orochimaru finally managed to stuff nearly a ton of black bear into Kurama's belly.
Seeing Kurama look like he still wanted more, Orochimaru happily sat down beside him.
"Now that you've eaten, help me with something. I have an idea that needs verification."
Kurama picked his teeth with his claws and looked at Orochimaru dismissively.
"I knew it! You could have trained disciples anywhere, but you had to choose a place where no one comes. You're definitely up to no good!"
Orochimaru looked speechlessly at Kurama, who was showing signs of becoming an "Ancestral Fox" (a derogatory term for someone who is overly aggressive and uses vulgar language). He was probably the first person to be cursed at by a Tailed Beast.
"Stop learning from Tsunade. Don't corrupt my disciple!"
Kurama looked indifferent.
"Hmph hmph!"
"I only recently realized that you were talking nonsense when you told me to leave Konoha!"
"Look at me now, you've almost turned me into a nanny for these two brats. I have to follow them everywhere."
"You're full of schemes and not at all honest."
"Tsunade is a bit foolish, but I think she suits me better!"
Orochimaru patted Kurama's back with emotion and said earnestly:
"Kurama, don't underestimate yourself!"
"You're actually smarter than Tsunade!"
Kurama's tail twitched, and he contemptuously brushed Orochimaru's hand aside.
"You're indirectly insulting me again!"
"Tell me! How do you want me to help you!"
Orochimaru didn't get angry. He dropped the smile from his face and said seriously:
"I went to Ryūchi Cave before and obtained the training method for Sage Mode from the White Snake Sage."
Kurama's eyes narrowed slightly, and he let out a dismissive cold snort.
"That old white snake has also taken on the title of 'Sage' like that old man?"
" Summon her out. I'll see if she dares to call herself a Sage in front of me!"
Orochimaru looked speechlessly at Kurama, who had become arrogant again.
"I shouldn't have mentioned the White Snake Sage's name!"
In Kurama's eyes, besides Gamamaru, who had a good relationship with the Sage of Six Paths, there were probably no other beings in the ninja world who were qualified to be called "Sage" after the Sage of Six Paths.
"It's just a respectful title the people of the ninja world give to the leaders of summoning realms!"
"Even if the Sage of Six Paths heard it, he would probably just laugh it off. Why are you making such a fuss!"
Kurama glared at Orochimaru and said indignantly:
"That old white snake is not a good creature!"
"Back when I was the guardian of the Ninja Ancestor, she used the lure of Sage Art training to tempt humans to Ryūchi Cave and then ate those ignorant humans."
"If it wasn't for Gamamaru's plea, and the old man's consideration for the friendship forged in Mount Myōboku, there wouldn't be a Ryūchi Cave today!"
Orochimaru nodded in agreement and looked at Kurama with a meaningful gaze.
"I've heard similar things!"
"So, after obtaining the method for Sage Art training, I don't plan to return to Ryūchi Cave to train."
"Moreover, with you here now, I have even less reason to go back!"
Kurama finally understood the extent of Orochimaru's claimed omniscience regarding ninja world intelligence.
"You want me to help you gather Natural Energy to speed up your Sage Mode training?"
"Yes!"
Orochimaru nodded cheerfully.
"Gathering Natural Energy is not a difficult task for me."
"However..."
Kurama pondered for a moment, then frowned and looked at Orochimaru.
"The old man said that training Sage Mode requires maintaining Natural Energy, Body Energy, and Spiritual Energy in equal measure."
"Otherwise, the body will suffer damaged chakra meridians in minor cases, and in severe cases, it will be assimilated by Natural Energy!"
"We are only in a contractual relationship now. I cannot guarantee that I can control the Natural Energy and your chakra to the same level, like controlling the chakra within a jinchūriki."
"If anything unexpected happens, you might..."
Orochimaru felt a warmth in his heart and gently shook his head.
"It's alright!"
"Inside me, I have the Yin-Yang Release and the void-like Dark Origin that you bestowed upon me, which are enough to resist less intense erosion from Natural Energy."
"Combined with the Body Activation Secret Technique's complete control over Body Energy, I am confident that I can fully train Sage Mode with your help!"
"Let's begin!"
Kurama contemplated for a moment and nodded silently.
"Very well!"
"Then I will try my best to control the speed at which Natural Energy enters your body. The rest is up to you!"
Kurama was also a decisive individual. Once he confirmed Orochimaru's determination to train Sage Mode, he directly confined the surrounding Natural Energy around Orochimaru and controlled wisps of Natural Energy to flow into his body bit by bit.
"Hoo!"
The Natural Energy carried a faint whistling sound, traveling through the massive network of Sage Art training meridians that Orochimaru had meticulously prepared. In an instant, a thin layer spread through Orochimaru's meridians.
Orochimaru dared not be negligent. He first mobilized the Spiritual Energy from Yin-Yang Release and distributed it to every corner of his body. Upon direct contact, the Natural Energy and Spiritual Energy did not cause any discomfort to Orochimaru.
The Natural Energy seeds at each node pulsed, absorbing the external Natural Energy supplied by Kurama, and coexisted peacefully with the Spiritual Energy surrounding them.
The next part was the crucial one.
Orochimaru took a deep breath, nodded to Kurama, and cast aside all distracting thoughts. While maintaining a continuous output of Spiritual Energy, he activated the Body Activation Secret Technique, beginning to exert Body Energy.
The Body Energy, manifested in a manner similar to Yang Release, appeared at the nodes formed by Sage Art chakra. The Sage Art seeds, which had been coexisting peacefully with Spiritual Energy, seemed to be stimulated and frantically pounced on the two types of energy, devouring them voraciously.
"Ugh..."
The Natural Chakra, initially just seeds, rapidly grew after absorbing both Body and Spiritual Energy.
The fierce collision of energies created an energy storm within Orochimaru's meridians. A sharp pain shot through his chakra meridians, and patches of snake scales began to appear on his body.
Kurama's pupils contracted, and he was about to stop supplying Natural Energy. However, after Orochimaru let out a muffled groan, the chakra fluctuations within his body stabilized miraculously, and the snake scales on his skin slowly receded.
"This guy, just like that old man back then, instantly controlled the balance of the three energies?"
"Orochimaru, I've underestimated you again!"
Kurama praised silently and continued to supply Natural Energy.
Seeing the storm stirred by the newly formed Sage Art chakra slowly subside, Orochimaru breathed a sigh of relief.
"Fortunately, I had previously formed a network of Sage Art seeds throughout my body using the power of darkness. This allowed me to instantly detect imbalances."
"Otherwise, that sudden surge of Sage Art chakra just now would have probably assimilated me into Natural Energy!"
"Thankfully, it's finally successful!"
With the success of this attempt, the subsequent training process became much simpler.
Stabilizing the Sage Art chakra that had formed within his body, Orochimaru simultaneously controlled his Body Energy and Spiritual Energy. For every amount Kurama supplied from the outside, he would match it with the corresponding amount of these two energies.
Feeling the stable and growing Sage Art chakra within his body, Orochimaru couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
"As expected of Kurama. His control over Natural Energy is unparalleled in the ninja world, second only to the Sage of Six Paths."
It made sense, after all. If Tailed Beasts couldn't fully master Natural Energy, their Tailed Beast Bombs would be duds, or worse, explode in their mouths if they lost control, turning into a "Void Dog Cannon."
The Sage Art chakra in his meridians grew increasingly abundant. Orochimaru left some of the Yin-Yang Release energy to maintain the seal on the Dark Chakra within him, and slowly opened his eyes, signaling Kurama to stop supplying Natural Energy.
Kurama understood. He waved his hand, dispersing the excess Natural Energy from the surroundings, and looked at Orochimaru expectantly.
Orochimaru stood up, clasped his hands together, and shouted:
"Sage Mode, activate!"
The Sage Art energy flowing within him immediately surged, pouring out of Orochimaru's body in a rush.
A pair of azure rings appeared around his eyes. Orochimaru stood as if he were an immortal descending from heaven, bathed in azure light. His robes fluttered, and with every gesture, he exuded an extraordinary aura.
He closed his eyes slightly, activating the unique heightened sensory ability of Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode. Every rustle of leaves and every subtle movement within the entire Training Ground No. 44 appeared before Orochimaru's eyes, clear and transparent!
Nawaki, who was drenched in sweat and smashing at a large tree, Nonō, who was holding a fish and poking it with chakra, insects and ants crawling in the grass, fish peeking out of the river with bubbles...
Orochimaru's lips curved into a smile, and a sense of absolute control over heaven and earth washed over him.
"Is this the Sage Mode that my future self desperately sought?"
"Indeed, it's unbelievably powerful!"
"It's worthy of being able to counter the power of Yin-Yang Release. This enhanced sensory ability alone is something an ordinary ninja could never achieve in a lifetime!"
His senses extended along the Konoha River, as Orochimaru wished to test how far his perception could reach in Sage Mode.
What was the difference between the towering statues in the Valley of the End that he saw now and his usual perception!
"Hm?"
"Kurama, something strange seems to be happening over there. Keep an eye on Nawaki and Nonō for me. I'm going to see what's going on!"
A wave of emotion, tinged with the fear of death, suddenly appeared in his senses. Orochimaru gave a soft exclamation, exchanged a word with Kurama, and vanished from his original spot in an instant.
Kurama bared his teeth in annoyance, utterly despising Orochimaru's behavior of using and discarding him.
"Orochimaru, you just wait!"