Yao's body shuddered.
He felt a cold, violent, and unfamiliar energy—completely different from chakra—explode directly within his body.
This energy was bursting with vitality, yet it carried a domineering will to assimilate everything into itself.
Yao's skin turned pale, losing its color like that of a cold-blooded animal. Beneath the surface, white snake scales pierced through the skin, emerging into view.
Simultaneously, his body began to swell and twist uncontrollably, as if transforming into some serpentine form.
Even more terrifying, the skin on his feet lost its elasticity and luster, turning into lifeless, gray-white stone.
Petrification... had begun!
Natural energy was frantically eroding his body, threatening to turn him into just another one of the countless stone statues in Ryūchi Cave!
"As expected... it's domineering!"
Yao immediately focused his entire mind, relying on the terrifying chakra control he had honed over the years.
He began to capture and guide the wisp of chaotic natural energy rampaging inside him.
The process was excruciatingly difficult!
Natural energy was like a runaway wild horse—unruly, wild, and completely incompatible with his spiritual and physical energy.
The snake scales on his body continued to spread, and the petrification had climbed from his calves up to his knees.
Yao remained unmoved. He mobilized his spiritual energy and cellular energy, using them as a binding agent to wrap around that wisp of natural energy.
Guide, resonate, fuse!
Fortunately, this wisp of natural energy was very small. Under Yao's efforts, it was quickly tamed and merged.
Finally, it blended perfectly with his spiritual and physical energy in a flawless 1:1:1 ratio.
A trace of brand-new energy was born within Yao's meridian system.
Although it was only a wisp, it contained a terrifying power far surpassing that of normal chakra. It was Senjutsu Chakra!
And the moment this wisp of Senjutsu Chakra formed, the mutations on Yao's body came to an abrupt halt!
The spreading snake scales stopped growing and slowly receded. The legs that had petrified up to the knees saw the stone fade away like a receding tide, restoring the softness and sensation of flesh and blood.
Yao slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath. Although the process had been dangerous and draining, he had succeeded.
He had successfully harnessed the first wisp of natural energy and fused it into his very own first strand of Senjutsu Chakra.
The White Snake Sage watched quietly, its amber eyes calm and unruffled, as if it had foreseen this outcome long ago.
"Excellent control and temperament! You are indeed a genius!"
The Sage's ancient voice rang out: "Then, what you need to learn next is how to sense and absorb natural energy from the outside world on your own, and how to maintain it stably!"
Successfully controlling natural energy and fusing the first wisp of Senjutsu Chakra meant that Yao now possessed the qualifications to cultivate the Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave.
It also proved, preliminarily, that he had the potential to harness natural energy.
According to the rules of Ryūchi Cave, he could stay here and receive guidance from the White Snake Sage or other high-ranking snakes to learn Sage Mode.
For anyone thirsting for power, this was a dream opportunity, and Yao was looking forward to it as well. The immense amplification provided by Sage Mode was crucial for increasing his strength.
He wanted to press on and master the Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode as quickly as possible.
However.
Just then.
Swish!
A stream of unfamiliar information suddenly flooded into his mind. It was a transmission from the Shadow Clone he had left behind in Konoha:
Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame have appeared in Konoha! Return immediately!
Itachi has finally come!
Yao was jolted to attention. He immediately turned to the White Snake Sage on the high dais. "White Snake Sage, I am deeply sorry!"
"An emergency has occurred in Konoha. I must return to handle it!"
"Regarding the training of Senjutsu, may I ask to postpone it for the time being?"
The White Snake Sage was not surprised by Yao's sudden request.
"You have already earned the qualification to cultivate the Sage Arts of Ryūchi Cave. When you choose to cultivate is your freedom!"
"Thank you!"
Yao released the Reverse Summoning Jutsu and vanished from Ryūchi Cave.
Outside Konoha Village, on the river surface at the edge of the forest, the atmosphere was taut with tension.
Asuma supported the injured Kurenai Yuhi, retreating slowly. Both of their faces wore expressions of gravity and caution.
Kakashi stood in front of them, staring dead ahead at the two men before him.
Standing opposite them were two figures clad in black cloaks adorned with red clouds—Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame.
"Kakashi-senpai!"
Uchiha Itachi's voice was calm and rippleless, his gaze indifferent.
"Unlike Kisame, I won't waste too much time!"
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Naruto : I'm an Uchiha Who Can Use Wood (90 Chapters, Ongoing)
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Before his voice had even faded, the three tomoe in his crimson eyes suddenly accelerated, connected, and transformed!
They finally linked into a triangular pinwheel pattern—Itachi's unique Mangekyō Sharingan.
The moment he locked eyes with those pupils, Kakashi's body shook violently, as if an invisible heavy hammer had struck his head.
He went rigid for a split second, then, without warning, fell backward.
He dropped to one knee, propping himself up with one hand, gasping violently as cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.
His eyes were unfocused, his face still etched with lingering pain and terror.
It was as if, in that fleeting instant, he had experienced countless gruesome deaths and tortures.
"Kakashi!"
Asuma cried out in alarm.
"Itachi-san... is this the ability of your eyes?"
Kisame Hoshigaki grinned, revealing his jagged, shark-like teeth.
"Well then, let's take this opportunity to finish off this Copy Ninja!"
Kisame took a step forward and unraveled the bandages around Samehada. The scales on the great sword bristled, aiming directly at Kakashi, who had lost almost all ability to resist.
"Kakashi-sensei, you look like you need some help!"
A calm voice suddenly drifted from the forest to the side.
The voice wasn't loud, yet it instantly drew everyone's attention.
They followed the sound to a large tree nearby. Standing on a branch, a figure had appeared unnoticed.
It was a black-haired teenager dressed in standard dark, short-sleeved ninja attire, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows across his form.
"Yao!!"
Kakashi struggled to lift his head. Upon seeing Yao, he completely relaxed, his body going limp as he collapsed backward.
Whoosh!
Yao suddenly appeared beside Kakashi, reaching out to support him. "Kakashi-sensei, are you alright?"
"I'm... I'm fine," Kakashi replied weakly.
Asuma and Kurenai felt their taut nerves instantly snap loose.
Reinforcements had arrived!
They had witnessed Yao's strength with their own eyes. Since Yao was here, today's crisis would surely be resolved properly.
Uchiha Itachi's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. His eternally frozen expression finally showed a minute fluctuation, ripples stirring within his heart.
It's Yao... he's actually... he's grown so big!
Itachi stared silently at Yao, as if trying to etch his image into his memory.
Yet, the expression on his face remained cold, devoid of any visible change.
Kisame also noticed Yao. He tilted his head, looking at Itachi with a hint of amusement.
"Hey, Itachi-san, this brat has a pair of red eyes just like yours. Is he your younger brother?"
"He is my brother!" Itachi's voice was steady.
"He really is your brother?" Kisame found this somewhat novel.
Yao raised his head and looked at Uchiha Itachi, this 'paragon of filial piety.'
Unlike the bone-deep hatred that radiated from Sasuke, Yao showed no expression of bitter resentment. There wasn't even much anger visible as he looked calmly at Itachi.
"Long time no see, Itachi!"