Sora's home.
Orochimaru transformed into a gynecologist and was examining Uzumaki Kushina's body.
An hour passed and the examination was complete.
After reviewing the results, Orochimaru said, "Kushina's body is very healthy.
The child in her belly is just over a month old, still an embryo at this stage.
We must ensure she maintains a regular lifestyle and proper nutrition.
I will prepare special nutrients when I return to my lab to ensure that Kushina's nutritional levels remain balanced. Kakashi, you can come to the base tomorrow to pick them up."
Kakashi listened even more attentively than Uzumaki Kushina. "I understand, Lord Orochimaru."
Orochimaru stood up and said, "That's all for today. My experiment is only halfway done, and I need to return to continue my work. From now on, I will examine Kushina once a month and prepare nutrients according to her body's needs."
Kakashi also stood and bowed gratefully. "Yes, thank you for your help, Lord Orochimaru."
Orochimaru smiled and replied, "No need to thank me. Kushina is Sora's wife. As his former master, I should do what I can. Until Sora returns, Kakashi, I'll trouble you to look after Kushina."
Kakashi stood straight and promised firmly, "I will definitely take good care of my master's wife!"
After Orochimaru left Sora's house, Kakashi said to Uzumaki Kushina, "Master's wife, it's getting late. I shouldn't disturb your rest any longer. I'll take my leave now."
Uzumaki Kushina nodded and smiled. "Alright. Thank you for everything today, Kakashi."
"It's my duty. Please get some good rest, Master's wife."
Kakashi left Sora's house—but not completely.
He summoned several snakes to stand guard near the house to prevent any possible accidents.
Not only Kakashi, but Orochimaru had also left several summoned snakes at Sora's house when he departed, guarding Uzumaki Kushina.
It could be said that Uzumaki Kushina was extremely safe now.
...
At this time, the father-to-be, Sora, was still struggling with the natural energy in his body in Ryūchi Cave.
After 15 days, half of Sora's body had transformed into a snake.
However, now Sora had gradually suppressed the violent natural energy in his body, and the transformation was no longer progressing.
At this point, it could be said that Sora's Sage Mode training was halfway successful.
The most difficult part was avoiding being swallowed up by the violent natural energy at the beginning, where the body completely transforms into a snake and then turns to stone.
Now Sora would attempt to generate the Sage Chakra in his body.
The core of Senjutsu is to inhale natural energy into the body, then control that energy to balance it with your own Chakra at a precise ratio of 1:1:1.
When Sora condensed his Chakra, he added a tiny amount of natural energy.
It didn't work because the amount was too small.
Since this was his first attempt, Sora had been very cautious.
On his second try, Sora added a little more natural energy.
This attempt also failed, but this time he exceeded the limit, causing Sora's snake transformation, which had halted, to resume.
Tiny snake scales appeared on Sora's neck.
Although Sora's eyes were closed, his pupils had transformed into snake-like slits.
Sora was shocked.
In this situation, his opportunities to try were very limited.
He had to successfully create the Sage Chakra before completely transforming into a snake.
Sora became even more cautious, preferring to add less natural energy rather than risk overdoing it.
Time passed day by day.
Another seven days went by.
Sora's attempts to create Sage Chakra had reached a critical point.
Only a part of his face remained untransformed, and he had just a few opportunities left.
If he couldn't succeed, the only option would be Plan B.
Sora calmed himself, condensed his Chakra, and then slowly added natural energy.
He could clearly feel that his Chakra and the natural energy began to repel each other, the repulsion becoming more and more intense.
Just when Sora was about to fail again, a special colored Chakra appeared at the intersection of his condensed Chakra and the natural energy.
Unlike the blue Chakra and white natural energy, this new energy was cyan.
Sora's spirits lifted. From this bit of cyan Chakra, he could feel that it contained immense power.
He immediately realized that he might have finally succeeded.
This was a fusion of Sora's Chakra and natural energy—unique Sage Chakra that belonged only to him.
Sora worked hard and continued to create Sage Chakra according to this ratio.
The amount of Sage Chakra in his body grew steadily.
Suddenly, Sora felt an itching sensation on his forehead.
In the White Snake Sage's view, two small horns were growing from Sora's forehead, becoming larger by the moment.
The White Snake Sage took a puff from his pipe and exhaled a cloud of smoke. "You've succeeded? Shedding the snake skin and sublimating into a dragon."
The tiny snake scales on Sora's body gradually fell away, and larger scales appeared in their place.
The cyan markings that represented the success of Sage Mode appeared around Sora's eyes.
Sora opened his eyes. They were Three Tomoe Sharingan, but in the center of each, there was now a vertical pupil.
He slowly stood up from the ground. The green Sage Chakra lingered on the surface of his body. A blue dragon tail formed from Sage Chakra appeared at his tailbone.
Sora took a deep breath. His body should have been very stiff after not moving for more than 20 days, but surprisingly, he felt incredibly light.
Suddenly, he punched the ground.
The powerful force smashed a large hole into the earth.
In Sage Mode, his physical strength was several times greater than before.
"Sage Art! Great Fireball Technique!"
Sora used the Great Fireball Technique in Sage Mode, adding Sage Chakra to his jutsu.
An extremely large fireball formed and shot toward the distance.
When it hit the ground, it blasted out a huge crater that continued to burn with intense flames.
The power of his ninjutsu had also been strengthened several times over.
Feeling his current strength, Sora sighed, "It's truly powerful."
However, his Sage Mode only lasted for about three minutes before automatically releasing.
The White Snake Sage said, "You have just mastered Sage Mode. Once you've fully mastered it, the duration will be extended, and the degree to which your ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu are strengthened will be even greater.
Our Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode doesn't have the silly flaw of Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode, which requires stillness to gather natural energy to create Sage Chakra. You can create Sage Chakra while fighting.
But now is when your real training begins. I will teach you all the senjutsu of Ryūchi Cave. Are you ready?"
Sora, who had finally successfully mastered Sage Mode, was in an excellent mood. He smiled and said, "Of course! Bring it on!"
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion