Xu Ming listened to Orochimaru's words, feeling a deep sense of awe. Over the past six months, he had followed Orochimaru closely, witnessing the birth of their results firsthand.
The three groups they had selected were quite special—each possessing extraordinary physical attributes. The leaders of these groups displayed physical fitness nearly twice that of their ordinary members, with noticeable changes in their appearances.
This was highly unusual. After all, they were consuming the same food as the rest of their kind. The only plausible explanation was that they had access to an additional source of energy that sustained their strength.
Under Orochimaru's guidance, Xu Ming helped manipulate their food sources, much like selective breeding in his previous life. By cultivating superior-quality food and supplying it to these three groups while erasing any traces of their own involvement, they subtly influenced the animals' behavior—making them more aggressive.
"Aggression is a manifestation of the survival instinct," Orochimaru had explained. "A strong survival instinct indicates vitality. In other words, increased consumption leads to a greater desire to grow stronger and seek out more nourishing food."
At the time, Xu Ming had been skeptical, merely observing out of curiosity. Yet, to his astonishment, Orochimaru's theory proved true.
Over six months, the transformation of the three leaders was remarkable:
The gray wolf leader's fur became stiff like needles, glistening under the sun and moonlight with a fluid, almost water-like sheen.
The falcon leader developed long, elegant tail feathers not typical of its species, resembling a legendary bird. Its speed had dramatically increased, and it seemed to possess an enhanced ability to manipulate air currents.
The mustang leader grew strange manes around its hooves, which appeared to blaze like flames when it ran.
Moreover, their intelligence had noticeably increased, making them far more cunning than they were half a year ago.
"It's starting," Orochimaru whispered.
Xu Ming focused his gaze. The three leaders had finally come into direct conflict, driven by the orchestrated competition for food and territory.
Now, through sheer force, they would determine dominance.
The battle began with tentative strikes, followed by fierce clashes of power.
The results shocked both Xu Ming and Orochimaru.
They had expected the herbivorous mustang to be the weakest, but instead, it emerged victorious. The gray wolf and falcon were both defeated. After its triumph, the mustang leader radiated an overwhelming energy, its aura shifting as though it had undergone an evolution. Though injured, it exuded an imposing presence.
"That's it!" Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Xu Ming simply nodded, silently absorbing the implications.
They patiently waited for the mustang leader to recover, and once its transformation was complete, they took a small portion of its flesh before departing.
"Xu Ming! It's real! It's really real!"
Orochimaru was ecstatic as he analyzed the flesh back in the village. "There truly is an enrichment of natural energy in the bodies of living organisms! Look at this piece of flesh and blood!"
Xu Ming, equally astonished, examined the sample. His own perception confirmed it—there was a mass of inert natural energy contained within it. It was similar to non-attribute chakra, capable of refinement into something entirely new.
Natural energy was inherently violent, yet after being absorbed and processed by a living body, it had become stable and carried additional properties.
"How do you plan to absorb it?" Xu Ming asked, pointing at the flesh. "It has already become somewhat inert, making direct absorption difficult."
"That's where the second step of my Snake Hibernation Technique comes in," Orochimaru explained confidently. "Just like how snakes consume large meals before hibernation, I will swallow this flesh, then enter a suspended state—simulating death—to focus entirely on sensing and absorbing the natural energy within my body."
Xu Ming frowned. "That's dangerous. If you miscalculate, absorbing natural energy internally could severely injure your organs."
Orochimaru smirked. "That's why you're here with your medical ninjutsu."
Xu Ming sighed, already knowing he had been manipulated. "You planned for this all along, didn't you?"
Orochimaru's smile deepened but remained silent.
"Fine," Xu Ming relented. "Let's begin before the vitality of this flesh fades."
Nodding, Orochimaru grabbed the piece of flesh and ate it. For ninjas, eating raw food was not an issue. Sashimi and similar dishes were common in this world.
Immediately after, Orochimaru formed hand seals, sinking into the ground and entering his feigned death-like hibernation state.
Xu Ming sat cross-legged nearby, keeping watch.
The room fell into absolute silence.
Time passed swiftly yet imperceptibly.
Half a day… one day… three days… seven days…
One lay still while the other remained seated. They had not moved in a week, resembling statues frozen in time.
Meanwhile, in the outside world…
The Third Hokage, having heard that his two disciples had returned from the mountains, was eager to see them.
Since dedicating themselves to their research, Xu Ming and Orochimaru had skipped ninja school, only appearing once a month to resupply. The Third Hokage had dearly missed them.
"But why?"
Standing outside Xu Ming's house, he stared at the tightly shut door in confusion.
"Why have my two disciples locked themselves inside for an entire week without seeing anyone?"