On the tenth day of the new year, Xu Ming returned to the village.
Although he could secretly use Yang Release Chakra to heal himself when exhausted from traveling, he still needed proper rest to eliminate mental fatigue. As a result, Xu Ming slept for an entire day and night before returning to his usual state the next morning.
By then, the New Year holiday had ended.
The streets were once again bustling with people, and the village had regained its usual busy atmosphere. Many shops had reopened, welcoming customers.
Xu Ming wandered through the streets, eating and strolling.
'It's been ten days since I left the village, and the feedback from Orochimaru has essentially stopped.'
'It's time to give him something new to study.'
'Although I was prepared for this, the next subject is quite difficult. It may take a long time before I get any feedback on the results.'
As he wandered, Xu Ming contemplated his plans.
He had transformed into the Thief of Time, acquiring knowledge of various powerful techniques. He had already guided Orochimaru in developing abilities that yielded high rewards with minimal effort.
Now, only the most challenging techniques remained—those requiring extraordinary talent to master.
For instance, Kekkei Genkai, Kekkei Tōta, and Forbidden Techniques.
Even in later years, Orochimaru never succeeded in acquiring Kekkei Genkai through his own efforts. He could only obtain them by transferring into new bodies via Living Corpse Reincarnation.
"However, there is one ability that rivals Kekkei Genkai in value and defines Orochimaru's character throughout the series..."
Xu Ming murmured to himself before uttering a crucial term in his mind:
Curse Seal!
In other words, the use of natural energy to artificially trigger physical evolution!
'The development of the Curse Seal originates from a person born with the ability to use natural energy for physical enhancement—Jūgo. But he hasn't been born yet.'
'Still, research into natural energy can begin in advance.'
'This is a long-term project.'
Having made up his mind, Xu Ming nodded to himself.
He decided to introduce Orochimaru to the world of natural energy.
That afternoon.
At Sarutobi Hiruzen's residence.
With his decision made, Xu Ming acted immediately.
After lunch, he headed to the long-familiar library, where he found Orochimaru reading at leisure.
The medical ninja program was now well underway, and Xu Ming no longer needed to oversee every detail. The Senju clan had taken charge of the administrative work.
Tsunade, with her exceptional talent in medical ninjutsu and innate healing intuition, had successfully become the chief instructor for training medical ninjas.
Despite her young age, no one dared to underestimate her abilities.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, had no interest in teaching. He found it tedious.
In his view, many things should be self-explanatory, yet others failed to grasp them without repeated explanations. This frustrated him to no end.
"You're back, Xu Ming."
Hearing footsteps, Orochimaru turned, spotted Xu Ming, and smiled. "Did you find anything interesting outside the village?"
"It was fun, but I was on a mission." Xu Ming rolled his eyes.
"That still sounds nice. At least you got to see different scenery." Orochimaru smirked.
"Why? Are you getting tired of Konoha's sights?" Xu Ming teased.
"Not exactly. But as someone who has never left the village, I'm naturally curious about the outside world." Orochimaru shook his head and changed the subject. "So, did you come to see me because you have a new and interesting technique for me to study?"
"That's right." Xu Ming nodded.
Orochimaru sighed. "Why do I feel like you're setting me up for trouble again?"
Xu Ming smirked mysteriously. "There's something fascinating I want to share with you. Have you ever heard of…"—he paused for effect—"natural energy and Sage Mode?"
Natural energy?
Sage Mode?
Orochimaru touched his chin, deep in thought. "I might have come across the terms somewhere, but I don't remember much."
"Natural energy is a powerful yet dangerous force."
Xu Ming spoke unhurriedly, enjoying the moment. "If you can successfully absorb natural energy and balance it with Chakra, you enter a special state called Sage Mode."
"In this state, a ninja's strength is multiplied several times. Their ninjutsu becomes more powerful, their resistance to genjutsu improves, and their physical recovery accelerates dramatically."
Orochimaru's eyes widened. "Such an all-encompassing enhancement?"
"Yes. The First Hokage mastered Sage Mode, and there are three sacred lands in the world where those deemed worthy can train in it." Xu Ming nodded.
"Then why have I never heard of it?" Orochimaru asked skeptically.
"Because it's classified information. It may not even be documented in Lord Hiruzen's library, though he undoubtedly knows about it. The Senju clan certainly has records. You can look it up." Xu Ming explained.
Orochimaru's expression turned serious.
Even the Third Hokage's archives lacked this knowledge?
Just how secretive was natural energy and Sage Mode?
"Xu Ming, do you think I am suited for this path?" Orochimaru asked, intrigued.
"No, I'm merely informing you of its existence."
Xu Ming shook his head, his gaze steady. "This is a path to immense power—greater than most Kekkei Genkai. But whether you can walk it, and whether you even wish to, is up to you."
"I see..." Orochimaru murmured, contemplating.
But soon, he made up his mind.
"I understand. I'll try it."
Orochimaru took a deep breath, looking at Xu Ming with newfound determination. "But this time, I want to do it entirely on my own. No guidance, no directions—I want to see how far I can go with my own abilities!"
Xu Ming was momentarily taken aback. That was exactly his plan.
Natural energy was an arduous subject, bound to take years of research. Without the key material, progress could stagnate for over a decade. Xu Ming simply wanted to lay the groundwork early.
Unexpectedly, Orochimaru's thoughts aligned perfectly with his own.
"Of course, I won't interfere this time." Xu Ming said calmly, his face unreadable.