Bang, bang, bang!
In the dark cave, two shadows collided relentlessly. Snake statues, jagged rocks, and the ground itself bore the marks of their battle, while natural energy surged under their control.
It was the tenth day since Hayashi had mastered Sage Mode, and Tashin-hime, also a Sage Jutsu user, had joined him in his training.
Boom!
At the cave's edge, a stalactite formed over tens of thousands of years suddenly shattered, scattering countless fragments. From the debris emerged Tashin-hime, taking on her human form. Her eyes flashed black, yet no discernible target could be seen.
Bang!
Relying solely on her senses, she threw a punch, colliding with another fist that appeared out of nowhere. Cracks spread instantly across the cave floor. Cold sweat ran down Tashin-hime's forehead. After only a few days of training with Hayashi, she found herself being overwhelmed.
It wasn't that her Sage Mode application was inferior—she had mastered Sage Jutsu for hundreds of years, far beyond the young ninja's one month of practice. Sage Mode amplified physical abilities exponentially. Hayashi's already formidable taijutsu, combined with the power of Sage Mode, made his speed and strength several times greater than normal.
Furthermore, Sage Mode allowed precise manipulation of natural energy. Using Snake Style techniques, similar to Mount Myōboku's Frog Kata, he could enhance each strike. Naruto had once demonstrated the destructive potential of a single blow against the Preta Path. Hayashi, however, pushed the technique even further.
By focusing his energy, he increased the destructive force of Snake Style to terrifying levels. His attacks could obliterate an entire body, and the invisible nature of the energy made them almost impossible to defend against. He suspected the First Hokage might have designed Sage Mode to enhance such attacks, though the technique had been lost over time, as Tsunade couldn't utilize Sage Mode effectively. He silently acknowledged his luck in having her as his sensei.
"Lady Tashin-hime, thank you for accompanying me. I have almost mastered the basic applications of Sage Jutsu."
Tashin-hime wiped sweat from her temples and nodded. "I'm impressed you learned so quickly. Now, you must practice diligently."
Indeed, in such a short time, Hayashi had mastered perfect Sage Mode and Snake Style. How far he could push Sage Jutsu would now depend entirely on him.
"Is there… anything else?" he asked hesitantly.
Tashin-hime raised a brow. "Anything else? What do you mean?"
Hayashi wasn't asking for a trivial matter; he sought advanced Sage Jutsu, techniques of immense power. In the original stories, Kabuto had used Sage Jutsu against Itachi and Sasuke with devastating effect.
One technique, Inorganic Reanimation, could bring life to inanimate matter, functioning almost like an alternative Wood Release. Another, White Rage Technique, vibrated the surrounding air to such a degree that bones felt as if grinding against each other, capable of destabilizing even Susanoo.
Though Hayashi couldn't liquefy his body like Kabuto, Orochimaru's Soft Body Modification Pills had enhanced his flexibility to a level far beyond ordinary humans, allowing him to withstand such forces with ease.
After understanding his request, Tashin-hime agreed quickly. If she had taught him Sage Mode, a few advanced techniques were no challenge. Snake Sage Mode, besides granting extraordinary vitality and recovery, also had the innate ability to bestow life upon inorganic matter.
"Sage Art: Inorganic Reanimation. This is the most powerful Sage Jutsu of Snake Sage Mode. I will teach it to you now," she said.
"As the name suggests, this technique animates objects that lack biological functions, allowing you to control them. It is fundamentally different from chakra control," she explained.
Tashin-hime gestured toward the stone floor beside Hayashi. Without any visible motion, the slab twisted as if alive, transforming into stone snakes that coiled and struck menacingly.
Hayashi immediately sensed the transformation, even without Sage Mode active. Under Tashin-hime's control, the stone snakes rapidly became spikes, shooting toward the stalactites above.
"So fast…" he muttered. The speed rivaled even wind-based blade techniques.
After striking the stalactites, the spikes transformed back into stone snakes and merged with the floor, restoring the cave to its original state. Tashin-hime then guided Hayashi in using the technique himself.
In the dark cave, he began training in Inorganic Reanimation. Using Sage Chakra as a bridge, he communicated with inanimate objects, breathing life into them and controlling their forms at will. Ryūchi Cave's abundant natural energy accelerated his practice.
As he trained, Hayashi noticed a similarity to Yin-Yang Release. Both could bestow vitality upon matter, but Yin-Yang Release could also create matter from nothing—something Inorganic Reanimation could not do. However, Yin-Yang Release, though powerful, could not counter Sage Jutsu. This realization intrigued him, hinting at the hidden interplay between advanced chakra and Sage arts.
Hayashi's Snake Sage Mode, like Mitsuki's, lacked a chakra cloak but was even more versatile, granting life, enhancing strength, and amplifying natural energy manipulation. It was arguably more potent than Kabuto's or even Naruto's Sage Modes.
He felt the vast potential of Sage Jutsu spread before him. Techniques like Frog Kata, once limited and almost forgotten, now awaited rediscovery, and with his skill, they could be perfected once again.
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