Body Modification Technique!

Xu Ming found it hard to believe how easily he obtained the secret technique.

Puzzled, he asked, "Have you never considered what I might learn from the Doubling Secret Technique?"

"Never," Uzumaki Mito replied without hesitation.

Xu Ming was speechless.

"Although you are a genius, we all believe that you will surpass Tobirama eventually, but that will happen in the future," Uzumaki Mito explained. "You are still too young. The research on this technique has taken longer than your entire lifetime."

In short, expectations for the future exist, but the present remains unchanged.

Xu Ming sighed and created several Shadow Clones to carry the boxes back to Orochimaru's house.

…

Orochimaru was sleeping soundly.

Not wanting to disturb him, Xu Ming opened the boxes and examined the contents of the Doubling Secret Technique.

It contained a detailed analysis of the technique, its origins within the Akamichi clan, various versions throughout history, and past modifications and improvements.

Reading through these records was fascinating. They outlined a rough research trajectory—generations of small improvements accumulated into significant progress.

More importantly, the documents also included Second Hokage's research notes.

Though only a transcribed version, the notes detailed Tobirama's thoughts, structure, practical application, and development ideas, making it a comprehensive research project.

Xu Ming couldn't help but admire the talent of Second Hokage.

His deep insights and bold theories proved his brilliance as a researcher. Even in the constrained world of Hokage, bound by harsh reality, his work stood out, leaving an undeniable mark on history.

Xu Ming was completely engrossed in his reading until noon.

"It's rare to see you so absorbed."

Orochimaru had woken up and emerged from his room, surprised to see Xu Ming so deeply focused.

"You just never notice when I'm working hard," Xu Ming retorted.

"Right, right..." Orochimaru replied casually, picking up a booklet on the Akamichi clan's Doubling Secret Technique. After flipping through it, he asked, "Did they really just give you this technique? Were there any conditions?"

"No conditions," Xu Ming shook his head with a smile. "They believe the technique has reached its limit. Since even the Second Hokage failed to enhance it, they gave it to me as a favor."

"That's... surprising," Orochimaru said, shaking his head.

After grabbing a quick meal, Orochimaru joined Xu Ming in reading.

The entire afternoon passed as both immersed themselves in studying the technique.

Orochimaru jotted down various notes on blank sheets of paper, lost in thought.

Xu Ming eventually left in the evening.

Before he did, Orochimaru confidently remarked, "The Doubling Secret Technique shares similarities with the Senju clan's Yang Release techniques. Additionally, the Second Hokage developed the Shadow Clone Technique. I believe I'll fully understand the Akamichi clan's secret technique by tonight."

"Alright, good luck with that," Xu Ming replied, half-dismissing him as he left.

He estimated it would take a week or two.

Since the original work never described the Doubling Secret Technique in detail—let alone its theoretical basis—Xu Ming couldn't provide any hints.

To Orochimaru, however, this seemed like an intentional challenge, increasing the difficulty level step by step.

Rasengan came with a full solution.

Chidori only had the core concept.

Medical Ninjutsu contained only a fundamental idea.

Each technique Xu Ming introduced offered progressively less guidance.

But to Orochimaru, this signified growing recognition. He saw his ability to complete the research with minimal input from Xu Ming as a mark of independence.

…

…

Three days later, late at night.

Xu Ming finished his late-night snack, read some myths and legends from the Land of Fire, and prepared to sleep.

[Feedback on strength improvement...]

A system message suddenly popped up.

"Huh?" Xu Ming raised an eyebrow.

Could it be…? Had Orochimaru already made progress?

[You have perfectly mastered the S-Rank Yang Release Forbidden Technique: Body Modification Technique! — This technique allows the user to enter an active Chakra Mode through high-level, large-scale Yang Release Chakra, enabling modifications to body structure, hardness, angles, and more.]

[You have learned the following techniques from Body Modification: B-Rank Hardening Technique, B-Rank Regeneration Technique, B-Rank Body Replacement Technique, and B-Rank Soft Body Modification Technique.]

Xu Ming: "...?!"

"Isn't this... the future Orochimaru's Body Modification Technique?"

"What the hell?"

"Did Orochimaru already figure it out?"

Xu Ming was so shocked that all his sleepiness vanished.

He wanted to rush to Orochimaru's house immediately to see what was happening.

But then he remembered Orochimaru's last complaint about 'surveillance ninjutsu' and suppressed the impulse.

After some thought, he decided to head to the back mountain forest instead.

…

…

Late at night.

In the moonlit forest, a short-haired boy removed his shirt and leaped into a tree with agility like an ape.

Upon closer inspection, the boy had indeed transformed—his arms had thickened, his upper body muscles swelled, and his shoulders broadened like stone slabs.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

He leaped from tree to tree, grabbing branches effortlessly.

Astonishingly, he swung from vines like a natural-born primate, mimicking the movements of the apes that lived in the mountains.

Boom...

After a while, he landed on the ground.

Under the moonlight, his upper body deflated like a balloon, shifting from muscular to lean.

"Body Modification Technique?"

Xu Ming stared at himself in disbelief, as if something was stuck in his throat, making him unable to speak.

"Is this... the Seventy-Two Transformations?!"