Maybe Chakra is a Leash

"What are you looking at?"

Just four simple words, yet they perfectly conveyed Fuma's attitude, instantly bringing immense pressure to everyone present.

It was clear—he was about to strike.

Even though Fuma had returned to his human form, the ferocious aura radiating from him hadn't diminished one bit. Instead, it carried an eerie sense of oppression.

The enormous serpent, Manda, flicked its forked tongue nervously, struggling to form a coherent sentence for quite a while.

It was aggrieved. Ever since Fuma descended from the sky, all the creatures present had locked their eyes on him. So why did this monster single it out?

"Is it just because I'm bigger? Come on, you're much larger than I am!"

"And what's with this guy Orochimaru? Where did he find such a monster? This thing isn't even human!"

"Maybe I should break the summoning contract and run back to Ryuchi Cave… No, that won't work. If this creature gets angry, not even the White Snake Sage can protect me. Besides, that old lady doesn't like me anyway..."

Manda's tiny brain whirred at full speed, and moments later, it made a bold move.

The massive snake leaped high into the air and then slammed its head into the muddy ground, sending splashes flying everywhere. Its enormous tail swayed submissively as it muttered nervously:

"Manda has wandered the Shinobi World for hundreds of years but has never encountered such a magnificent being. Overwhelmed by your presence, I acted rudely. Please forgive my transgressions!"

"If the great lord does not mind, I, Manda, am willing to become your loyal steed, sweeping away any enemies unworthy of staining your hands!"

Off to the side, Orochimaru's expression turned odd. He shook his head in slight displeasure.

Every time he summoned Manda, the serpent demanded hundreds, if not thousands, of sacrifices as payment. Without them, it wouldn't even consider assisting him and might even turn on him.

In Ryuchi Cave, Manda was notorious for being tyrannical. Aside from the one-eyed snake Shin'ya and the White Snake Sage, it looked down on even the three godly attendants of the cave. Its usual demeanor was arrogant and violent.

But now, this very same snake had its head buried in mud, its tail wagging, and not a trace of pride could be felt from it.

"Being my mount is unnecessary," Fuma said lightly, glancing at the submissive snake. "You're the summoned beast of my dear friend, my brother, Orochimaru. I wouldn't take away something so valuable to him. However, you should adjust your attitude toward him in the future. Do you understand?"

"With Orochimaru's strength, killing you would be easy. He simply doesn't bother stooping to your level. As his summoned beast, you should fulfill your role."

"Also, when you return to the White Snake Sage, let her know that I plan to visit Ryuchi Cave one day. I hope she will welcome me."

Fuma's tone softened as he added, "You seem reasonable enough. Perhaps we could even be friends."

He sighed inwardly. Although he had been looking forward to testing his strength, Manda's clever use of the "adoptive father technique" left him no room to act.

Off to the side, Orochimaru chuckled and patted Fuma's shoulder. While he wasn't someone who cared much about appearances, he couldn't help but feel warm inside at Fuma's defense of him.

"Though Fuma grows stronger by the day, he never treats me as inferior. This is why we get along so well…"

Manda slowly lifted its head from the mud, casting a reluctant glance at Orochimaru. Then, its snake face contorted into a fawning smile.

"You're absolutely right. Orochimaru and I are dear friends; we were just joking earlier."

"I'll be sure to pass your message to the White Snake Sage. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll take my leave to avoid disturbing your important work…"

With a loud *bang* and a puff of white smoke, Manda disappeared.

Orochimaru rubbed his chin thoughtfully before taking out a scroll and handing it to Fuma.

"This is Ryuchi Cave's summoning scroll. If you're interested, I can accompany you to visit the White Snake Sage sometime."

"This scroll can accommodate several signatures. While not all may earn the Sage's approval, they can summon snakes from Ryuchi Cave to aid them in battle."

"Though the Uchiha have their ninja cats and crows, when it comes to direct combat, the foolish snakes of Ryuchi Cave are far more effective."

Fuma chuckled as he accepted the scroll, then pointed to a nearby fortress.

"Don't mind Manda. Creatures like that can't perceive your true strength, Orochimaru. Let's take a look inside the fortress. I found something interesting there."

The two walked into the structure. Fuma casually smashed a large stone pillar in the control room, revealing several stones glowing with a blue-purple light.

He picked one up, sensing the enormous chakra it contained, and sighed.

"These stones that can store chakra are the true trump card of these Sky Ninja. For centuries, nothing besides human bodies or tailed beasts could solidify intangible chakra like this."

Fuma already had an idea of their origin—they were Grell Stones from the ancient era of the Shinobi World.

Legend has it that before Kaguya's arrival, a civilization called the Grell Empire thrived on this planet. However, their reliance on Grell Stones led to their downfall in a cataclysmic civil war, leaving only remnants of their bloodline surviving underground.

Orochimaru examined a Grell Stone, letting small white snakes from his wrist bite into its base.

"Hm… interesting. These stones not only contain massive amounts of chakra but also trace amounts of natural energy. Truly fascinating."

"If such divine objects powered their fortresses, then the Sky Ninja's technology isn't all that impressive."

Orochimaru's words sparked a flash of insight in Fuma, who fell deep into thought.

He had no interest in natural energy for now, focusing solely on chakra to evolve his technique, Blissful Devourer.* Mixing different energies too early could have unpredictable consequences.

But the traces of natural energy in these stones made Fuma wonder about their origin.

"Could these stones be like coal or oil in the Shinobi World? Perhaps they formed from the remains of ancient creatures infused with natural energy…"

Fuma's thoughts spiraled further.

"Ten Tails absorbs natural energy, and the God Tree might destroy a planet's existing energy system, replacing it with chakra to suppress resistance against the Otsutsuki…"

He exhaled deeply, cutting off his speculations. There was no point in overthinking. For now, he needed to focus on the road ahead.

"Can you repair the fortress, Orochimaru? I'd like to bring it back to Konoha as the new police department building," Fuma said, pointing to the structure.

"Although I've drained most of the stones' energy, the storage rooms still hold plenty. If we don't overuse the cannons, it should last us 30 to 50 years."

Orochimaru smirked confidently, his fingers toying with a Grell Stone.

"It's a simple repair. Three days at most, and it'll be as good as new."

"However, since you're already in the Land of Water, there's another matter you might want to address while I work on this."

"The Kaguya Clan has been causing trouble lately. Those brutes only understand strength—perfect for someone like you to deal with."

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