After the slash, the entire sage land before Satsuki began to crumble completely. In the area cut by the Earth Wheel Reincarnation Destruction, the very fundamental laws of existence were distorted.
The entire sage land had begun to self-destruct and disintegrate.
"Host, this space is extremely dangerous. I recommend immediate relocation."
In her mind, the system's voice rang out after a long silence.
"No rush."
After replying to the system, Satsuki raised her hand to cancel the summoning of the giant stone statue.
That Earth Wheel Reincarnation Destruction had far exceeded her expectations in power. Even though she had intentionally held back, it still completely destroyed the foundation of this sage land in one strike.
The consumption of Tenseigan chakra for that technique was also terrifying.
Although the Giant Tenseigan could supply nearly infinite Tenseigan chakra and ocular power, recovery still required time, and excessive use placed a burden on it.
"Stop pretending. I know you're not dead."
Looking at the Dragon-Headed Sage several miles away, frozen in place with its dragon eyes wide open, Satsuki spoke impatiently. "If you keep stalling, this place will collapse completely."
"My apologies—adjusting to a new body took some time."
A spectral dragon head emerged from Satsuki's shoulder—none other than the shadow of the Candle Dragon she summoned in Aragami Form. It gazed at the sage land shattering like glass in the far distance and said with regret, "Even if this was an act, you struck too hard. The Tenryū Heart Cave is severely damaged. In three days, it may no longer exist."
The Candle Dragon shadow's eyes shone with intelligence. Judging from its voice, it was indeed the same Dragon-Headed Sage who had fought Satsuki moments ago.
"Isn't that exactly what you wanted?" Satsuki replied indifferently. "This way, they'll have no idea your soul entered this Candle Dragon shadow. They'll just think your body and soul were obliterated by that one slash."
To understand their conversation, one must turn back to the moment Satsuki unleashed the Veil of Light and Shadow.
At that time, pinned to the ground by the oppressive force radiating from the giant eye in the sky, the Dragon-Headed Sage quickly realized what that power was.
Dragon's Might.
The purest, most ancient, and most exalted dragon's might.
It immediately hatched a plan and used the last of its strength to convey its thoughts to Satsuki.
"Oh? You plan to fake your death and become my subordinate, just to regain your dragon body?"
As she wielded the Earth Wheel Reincarnation Destruction, Satsuki negotiated. "But if I lose the Candle Dragon shadow, my power will be greatly reduced, and my relationship with the sage clan will collapse. How will you compensate me?"
"I will not only aid you in battle as it did before, but I can also protect you from the mental erosion of natural energy, allowing you to train in sage chakra safely."
That offer intrigued her.
In the Naruto world, Sage Arts were a supremely powerful but demanding system. Upon learning about the mental side effects of training in Sage Arts, Satsuki had felt relief in avoiding it—but also regret at being unable to practice it.
While the Tenseigan and Giant Tenseigan already gave her Six Paths-level power, sage chakra was like a passive enhancement—perfect Sage Mode caused no conflict with other power systems, and boosted nearly all abilities, with immediate physical benefits.
It was the ultimate all-rounder skill.
Training both could be critical for Satsuki to break past Six Paths level and reach an even higher realm.
Perhaps even the "Kekkei Mōra" level Kaguya Ōtsutsuki once reached, with ocular powers rivaling the Rinne Sharingan.
Satsuki agreed to the deal and deliberately released her suppression of the Dragon-Headed Sage, allowing its soul to escape and merge into the Candle Dragon shadow beside her.
She wasn't worried about deceit. The moment it entered the Candle Dragon shadow, it became bound to the Giant Tenseigan. As the highest authority, she could see every thought in its mind. Any hint of betrayal, and she could erase Candle Nine Yin's will entirely—just like a puppet.
The surrounding sages had already been cleared out by her earlier techniques, so no one knew what had happened.
…
Back to after the battle—
With a sigh, the Candle Dragon shadow floated before Satsuki, lowering its head respectfully.
Having achieved her aim, Satsuki sat in the void. On her black robe, the image of a living dragon rippled vividly.
Taking advantage of the collapse of the Tenryū Heart Cave, Satsuki and Candle Nine Yin began drawing in the surrounding natural energy. The once-scattered energy now surged toward her under an overwhelming pull.
In the already-apocalyptic sage land, a vast storm of natural energy formed in the center, linking heaven and earth.
At its eye stood Satsuki.
Part of the energy streamed into the dragon pattern on her robe; another part rushed into the vermilion mark on her forehead.
She had suddenly thought to imitate Tsunade's Yin Seal technique.
Though Satsuki had not studied sealing arts in depth, her mastery over chakra and natural energy was unparalleled. Absorbing and storing such vast quantities posed no issue.
This absorption lasted for three full days.
Only as the space was about to collapse did she withdraw from the blissful cultivation. The vermilion mark on her forehead, infused with natural energy, condensed into a tiny crimson gem.
Using the spatial coordinates she had set earlier with the Giant Tenseigan, Satsuki warped back to the Ryūmyaku altar.
"Lady Satsuki, you've returned?!"
The delighted voice of Ranzuki reached her ears. For someone long accustomed to solitude, the warmth was unfamiliar, but she quickly suppressed the feeling.
"I'm back," she said calmly, meeting Ranzuki's gaze.
Her eyes soon shifted to the floating, half-starved "test subjects" nearby. Frowning, she asked, "These past days, you've kept them suspended with gravity like this?"
"Yes, Lady Satsuki. Without further orders, I maintained the gravity the whole time."
No wonder. Satsuki realized Ranzuki was still in Tenseigan Chakra Mode, sustaining the gravity for three days straight.
With a complicated look, Satsuki said, "Let them down. I'll have Kiyomaru handle the rest. You come with me."
"Yes."
Ranzuki happily withdrew the gravity. The starving rogue ninja crashed to the ground, all falling unconscious.
"It seems that while Tenseigan chakra can give human puppets a degree of intelligence and personality, they still require cultivation and growth afterward."
Turning away, Satsuki left with a new thought forming in her mind.