Chapter 155: Ascend to Immortality or Die!

Chapter 155: Ascend to Immortality or Die!

As Orochimaru's words fell, the snake-like pupils in Uchiha Ci's eyes suddenly contracted.

Pure natural energy could be utilized?

But how was that even possible?

For a human shinobi to master Sage Jutsu, the only way was to merge physical energy, spiritual energy, and natural energy to create Sage Chakra, thereby entering Sage Mode!

This was a foundational rule of the ninja world, documented in formulaic texts.

And now, under such rules, Orochimaru was telling him it could be broken?

How could he accomplish that?

Clenching his teeth, Uchiha Ci stared at the crumbling snake wall, which shook violently as wind blades continuously struck and carved into it with loud crashes.

It was clear the barrier wouldn't hold much longer.

He racked his brain, desperately recalling the manga and anime from his previous life, trying to find an answer. However, no matter how hard he searched, nothing relevant came to mind.

Then, a sudden thought struck him—Orochimaru's last words echoed in his mind.

"Follow your body to find the answer?"

This sentence was like a ray of light, making Uchiha Ci abruptly lift his head.

He suddenly remembered how he had survived when Orochimaru initially implanted the Curse Seal of Heaven in him.

Back then, he had no consciousness, no chakra—his situation was far worse than now. Yet, how had he consumed the rampant natural energy from Ryuchi Cave that was injected into his body?

As this thought emerged, Uchiha Ci's pupils constricted. His gaze turned toward his own body.

If there were a technique capable of taming such feral natural energy, it could only be—

Forbidden Jutsu: Body Revival!

A forbidden technique that burns a person's life force and can even substitute tailed beast power as a price!

At this moment, it was as if Uchiha Ci had opened the door to a new world. His Sharingan fixed intently on the raging, chaotic natural energy from Ryuchi Cave that distorted his bones and flesh.

Taking a deep breath, he suddenly held it, activating Forbidden Jutsu: Body Revival within his body.

In an instant, the dark markings spreading over half his body, about to engulf him entirely, began to writhe uncontrollably.

Then, they started to retract—shrink, shrink, and shrink again!

The raging natural energy was captured and burned by the Forbidden Jutsu, transforming into a brand-new power!

Like a roaring diesel engine, it shredded, collided, ignited, compressed, and exploded!

Boom!

His heart began to beat at a speed far beyond that of a normal human!

Blood surged throughout his body, and an endless vitality, like the bamboo shoots of spring, erupted, tirelessly repairing his weakened form.

Wounds healed, his flesh revitalized, and an unceasing stream of chakra was refined, then funneled back into Body Revival.

Uchiha Ci straightened his back, his body propelled upright by the explosive surge of chakra.

His severed right arm rapidly grew new flesh and reformed bone, regenerating to the elbow in just moments.

But that seemed to be the limit. The dark markings of the Curse Seal of Heaven covering his body completely receded to his neck, returning to their original "Heaven's Flower" shape.

The serpentine transformations on his body silently faded as well.

The Curse Seal of Heaven continued absorbing natural energy from the air, funneling it into his body as fuel, but at a noticeably slower rate.

"Not enough. Far from enough!"

"This might be enough to save myself, but it's not enough to fight!"

Gripping his incandescent longsword, Uchiha Ci tightly monitored the chakra coursing through his body, gritting his teeth.

Using the Cursed Seal's power to sustain chakra for the Forbidden Jutsu worked, but it caused his body to revert to that of an ordinary human.

At this critical moment, Uchiha Ci needed more than rapid regeneration to heal his body—he needed overwhelming combat strength!

Even if it meant transforming into a malevolent snake to exchange for abilities with immense drawbacks—infrared sensing, serpentine scales for defense, flexible movement, accelerated reflexes—it would all be worth it!

He couldn't let Ebizo escape!

If that old man got away, then the sacrifices made by Uchiha Shinichi, Shisui, Inuzuka Akira, Root ninja, and Aburame Ryoma to buy him this chance would all be meaningless!

But just then—

As if responding to Uchiha Ci's deepest desires, the Curse Seal of Heaven on his neck suddenly lit up!

Immediately afterward—

The scene before his eyes spun wildly.

When he opened his eyes again, Uchiha Ci found himself inside a vast, shadowy serpent cave.

From a distant corner of the cave echoed the faint sound of wooden fish being struck.

Through the dense darkness, he vaguely glimpsed an immense temple so towering it seemed to stretch endlessly into the void.

A massive green serpent, its head alone nearly collapsing the surrounding rock walls, slithered out of the shadows.

Under Uchiha Ci's astonished gaze, the colossal serpent twisted its body, transforming into a stunning maiden as exquisite as jade.

The maiden was clad in a white robe, adorned with a golden crown that bore a spherical golden gem at its peak.

Her beauty was divine, exuding an air of elegance and grace.

Uchiha Ci blinked, still trying to grasp what had just transpired.

Then, the woman's voice, cold yet dignified, rang out.

"The new summoner of Ryuchi Cave!"

"Do you seek power beyond humanity, beyond all limits?!"

Uchiha Ci stared at the woman in stunned silence.

This woman—wasn't she Ichikishimahime, one of Ryuchi Cave's leaders and the White Snake Sage's most trusted confidante?

Had he just been reverse-summoned here? Or had her illusions turned the barren land into this Ryuchi Cave palace?

And what was going on with the Curse Seal of Heaven?

Wasn't it supposed to be a tool for explosive transformations, as seen with Sasuke?

Why had it become a passive summoning mechanism for him?

Nevertheless, upon hearing her words, Uchiha Ci didn't hesitate for a moment.

He turned his gaze toward her, his expression resolute, his tone concise.

"Give it to me!"

"No matter the risk, it doesn't matter!"

"If it's power, I want it all!"

Ichikishimahime looked at the boy before her, her warm, jade-like pupils suddenly morphing into elongated golden snake eyes. She fixated on Uchiha Ci's Sharingan, which, despite the absence of the Cursed Seal, still maintained its snake-like form.

A flicker of astonishment flashed through her gaze.

He had actually managed to perfectly fuse natural energy into his human body!

This was an unprecedented feat in millennia!

Recalling the words of the White Snake Sage, Ichikishimahime suppressed her inner shock. From her robes, she retrieved a green cat's eye gemstone.

Then, narrowing her eyes, she hissed softly, her forked tongue flicking over her lips.

The maiden's guise dissolved, revealing her true form as a Ryuchi Cave serpent.

Her delicate nose transformed into a snake's snout, her cherry lips into a bloodthirsty maw.

In the endless darkness, she stared at Uchiha Ci and let out a cold laugh.

"Heh heh heh heh."

"Very well, then take it."

Raising the green gemstone glowing faintly in the dark, Ichikishimahime's cold and unfeeling voice reverberated throughout the cave.

"You have only one chance, human—"

"Either become a Sage of Ryuchi Cave..."

"Or die!"