The White Snake Sage injected a large amount of natural energy into Chinya's body.
Part of Chinya's body had already begun transforming, with snake scales emerging.
Chinya concentrated his chakra, resisting the surging natural energy within him.
To master Sage Mode, first and foremost, the practitioner must possess immense chakra reserves. Without this, one would instantly be overwhelmed by nature's power.
Secondly, one must learn how to absorb natural energy. The methods used in Ryuchi Cave and Mount Myoboku differ completely.
Mount Myoboku's method involves initially using toad oil to grasp the technique for drawing in natural energy. Once accustomed, nothing else is needed. The next step is training to control natural energy, which requires absolute stillness to absorb it effectively.
Ryuchi Cave's approach, however, is extremely direct and forceful—just like what Chinya was experiencing now. An enormous quantity of natural energy is directly injected into the body, forcing it to endure and gradually adapt to this energy.
Therefore, there's a significant difference between the Sage Modes of Mount Myoboku and Ryuchi Cave.
In Mount Myoboku, Sage Mode requires complete stillness to gather natural energy. In contrast, Ryuchi Cave's version imposes no such restriction.
Currently inside Chinya, his chakra and natural energy were engaged in intense conflict.
Sage Chakra can only be generated when spiritual energy, physical energy, and natural energy achieve balance.
Right now, suppressing the wild natural energy inside him took priority over trying to harmonize all three forces.
Inside Ryuchi Cave, Chinya seemed to have lost track of time, fully dedicating himself to battling the wild natural energy coursing through his body.
...
Fifteen days passed quickly.
Kakashi, now temporarily leading Konoha Defense Unit, hadn't been having an easy time these days.
Although Root ninja obeyed his orders after Chinya left, the normal ninjas Chinya recruited gradually stopped listening to Kakashi. This wasn't necessarily due to any flaw in Kakashi himself, but rather because of Shisui Uchiha.
Knowing he couldn't command the Root Division, Shisui Uchiha simply bypassed Kakashi entirely, taking direct control of the standard ninjas instead. He integrated the standard ninja recruited by Chinya with those he himself had recruited.
Though officially under Kakashi's command, his actual orders had become ineffective.
Moreover, whenever Root attempted to arrest Uchiha clan ninjas, Shisui would intervene immediately upon their capture. Despite some being repeat offenders—even second or third-time arrests—Shisui would only require each to pay a basic bail of 100,000 ryō before releasing them.
Inside the office at this moment,
Shisui Uchiha approached Kakashi. He wanted to clarify and refine the boundaries regarding regulations about arresting ninjas suspected or proven guilty of crimes.
For instance, verbal arguments shouldn't warrant arrests—simple verbal warnings should suffice.
Additionally, Shisui wished to establish specific prison assignments for detained ninjas.
Kakashi listened carefully as Shisui laid out his points, his expression betraying a mix of emotions.
Once Shisui finished, Kakashi fixed him with his uncovered eye and said, "Deputy Captain, do you really believe that since my teacher isn't here, you can manipulate me as you please?"
Shisui Uchiha's expression stiffened. After a brief pause, he said, "How could that be? Am I not seeking your opinion right now?"
Kakashi looked outside the office at the busy ninjas and replied, "Seeking my opinion? You integrated those ninjas without consulting me. Also, some of those ninjas should've paid more than 100,000 ryo in bail money, yet you let them off after paying merely 100,000 ryo. Was that really consulting my opinion?
I remember my teacher once said that even though I'm just a temporary captain, I have all the authority of a full captain. What you've done exceeds your authority significantly."
Shisui defended himself, "I simply thought this was better for the Konoha Defense Unit."
Kakashi chuckled slightly before saying, "Better? Somehow I don't think so. You and I both know the truth, don't we? You saw my teacher's absence as a chance, but don't forget—he'll return. If I were you, I'd prefer to keep things as they are.
I indeed lack skills. You can integrate the ninjas however you like, and do whatever you want—I won't mind, because I know everything you're doing will collapse the day my teacher returns.
You cannot oppose my teacher. No matter how much you change now, it's useless.
My teacher holds a deep grudge against the Uchiha Clan, but I don't. That's why I can calmly talk with you about these things, and actually advise you to maintain the current status quo."
Shisui's face darkened with fluctuating emotions.
What Kakashi said was correct. No matter what he did now, everything would dissolve when Chinya returned.
Shisui had known this fact long ago, yet he was unwilling to do absolutely nothing.
With Chinya finally gone, Shisui was determined to achieve something—no matter how small.
He thought that if even one or two changes remained unchanged when Chinya came back, then he would have succeeded once.
However, Kakashi reminded him of this, implying that Kakashi would report everything he'd done to Chinya.
Kakashi completely shattered this last sliver of hope.
Kakashi could've simply stayed silent and let Shisui carry on. Regarding the regulations, unless Kakashi agreed, Shisui couldn't independently establish or modify them anyway. Once Chinya returned, everything would naturally revert to the original state.
Yet Kakashi warned him, suggesting he might genuinely wish to persuade Shisui.
Rumors say Kakashi and Obito Uchiha—who fell during the war—were once close friends. Perhaps Kakashi didn't harbor as much hostility toward the Uchiha Clan as Chinya did.
"Thank you for reminding me, Kakashi," Shisui expressed his gratitude before leaving the office directly.
Kakashi watched Shisui's retreating figure somewhat perplexed.
Kakashi had anticipated Shisui threatening him or cursing him, but never imagined that Shisui would actually thank him.
For Kakashi had said these words purely intending to make Shisui quiet down, advising him not to waste effort on futile endeavors. Once his teacher Chinya returned, the more changes Shisui made, the worse trouble he'd face eventually.
Shisui Uchiha had finally calmed down, so Kakashi could relax a bit too.
Although Chinya claimed not to care about the Konoha Defense Unit, he trusted Kakashi to handle things well—and that was precisely why Kakashi wanted to do his best. At the very least, he couldn't let Shisui Uchiha do as he pleased.
Kakashi muttered to himself, "I hope that guy doesn't actually think I was serious about convincing him. If he did, then just like Chinya-sensei said, he really is too naive. Well, whatever works. After work, I still need to buy some saury and eggplant—my wife wants to make salt-grilled saury and miso soup with eggplant tonight."
After work, Kakashi bought the saury and eggplant and headed to Chinya's home.
When Kakashi arrived, he found Kushina Uzumaki leaning over the sink, clearly throwing up with nothing coming out.
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