Tsunade - Natural Energy? Give Up, It Takes Too Much Talent

Orochimaru left shortly after.

With him gone, Xu Ming remained in the library, leisurely flipping through various notes, enjoying a peaceful afternoon. Unlike his previous research into Rasengan and Chidori, he wasn't eagerly anticipating any immediate feedback.

Natural energy wasn't something one could grasp easily.

His current mindset was like planting a seed in spring and waiting for the harvest ten years later.

"I've been in the spotlight for too long," he mused.

"Last year alone, I developed Rasengan, Chidori, Medical Ninjutsu, and the Body Modification Jutsu. In the eyes of others, my talent is already beyond comprehension."

"It's time to lay low and let things cool down."

Xu Ming resolved to maintain a low profile—at least until graduation from the Ninja Academy. At just eleven years old, he had plenty of time.

The Senju Clan Compound

Instead of meeting Uzumaki Mito, Orochimaru encountered Tsunade, who was lounging in the courtyard, basking in the warmth of the winter afternoon.

"What are you doing here?" she asked lazily, barely opening her eyes to look at him.

"I wanted to ask Lady Mito for some information," Orochimaru replied.

"She's visiting the Hyuga clan and will be staying there for a few days," Tsunade informed him. "If you need anything, just ask me. I know everything there is to know about my family."

Orochimaru hesitated before asking, "Do you know anything about natural energy and Sage Mode?"

"Huh?" Tsunade bolted upright from her recliner, her eyes narrowing. "Who told you about that?"

"I heard it in passing," Orochimaru answered vaguely.

Tsunade didn't seem suspicious. Instead, she sighed and said, "That's an extremely dangerous path.

"Ninety-nine out of a hundred people who try to harness natural energy die in the process.

"The only one in my family who ever succeeded was my grandfather."

The 'grandfather' she referred to was none other than the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.

'So Xu Ming was right,' Orochimaru thought.

"I'm interested," he said. "Can you provide any relevant information?"

"You mean you want to research it?" Tsunade asked.

"Yes."

"Forget it!" Tsunade waved her hand dismissively.

"Why?" Orochimaru frowned.

"Sage Mode requires an immense amount of talent. Most people can't even perceive natural energy, let alone absorb it. The only ones who have developed methods to make it easier are the sages of the Three Great Holy Lands."

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. He wasn't afraid of difficulty—he was afraid of boredom.

"I still want to try," he insisted.

"You're so stubborn," Tsunade sighed, getting up from her seat. "Fine, I'll get you the records. They've been gathering dust anyway."

"Thank you."

A few minutes later, Orochimaru received a collection of documents on natural energy and Sage Mode.

He settled into the Senju clan's study and began flipping through them on the spot. The information was scattered and unorganized, mostly fragmented notes left by Senju ancestors. However, they were enough to give him a clearer understanding.

As he pieced together the historical context, he noticed something peculiar: natural energy and Sage Mode weren't necessarily connected.

In other words, mastering natural energy didn't automatically lead to Sage Mode.

Sage Mode required the integration of Chakra.

However, centuries ago, there were various schools of thought that solely relied on natural energy without utilizing Chakra at all. These ancient power systems were entirely different from modern ninjutsu.

But over time, these schools disappeared, leaving only ninjutsu to dominate the world.

Even so, remnants of these systems still existed.

For example, the monks of the Fire Temple in Kyoto practiced natural energy, developing a power called the 'Gift of the Immortal Clan.'

A past member of the Senju clan had once visited the Fire Temple and documented its decline.

"Natural energy became violent and chaotic?"

Orochimaru frowned as he read.

"Not only is it difficult to control, but it also becomes more dangerous during cultivation. There's a risk of the body rupturing and dying at any time?"

Many ninjas would have taken this as a warning to stop.

But Orochimaru's sharp instincts caught something else.

"Natural energy only became violent at a specific point in history. Before that, schools practicing it thrived and spread across the world…"

He traced the timeline and made a shocking discovery.

"This turning point coincides with the era of the Sage of Six Paths—the very moment Chakra was introduced to humanity!?"

Orochimaru's body trembled. He felt as though he had stumbled upon an earth-shattering secret.

Then, he recalled something Xu Ming had once told him:

—It's a gift.

—But if you trace it back, the gift becomes a curse.

"There's a massive secret hidden here," he whispered excitedly, licking his lips.

But he quickly took a deep breath, calming himself.

Those answers were still far beyond his reach.

For now, his priority was studying natural energy and Sage Mode.

"Let's see… Sitting quietly and calming the mind allows one to perceive natural energy?"

"Natural energy is the embodiment of life force, just like human vitality…"

"Wait… if natural energy has become violent, could it be because nature itself has been wounded?"

A flash of insight struck him.

He hurriedly recorded his hypothesis.

Though he hadn't yet unraveled the mystery, he knew these thoughts could be valuable in the future.

Outside the Study

Tsunade yawned as she stretched, looking up at the dimming sky.

Click.

She walked to the kitchen and instructed the staff to prepare an extra serving for dinner.

"Is someone visiting?" an elder asked.

"Orochimaru," Tsunade replied casually. "For some reason, he's obsessed with learning about natural energy. He's been holed up in the study all afternoon."

The elder's expression turned strange. "That's… certainly ambitious."

"Right?" Tsunade chuckled. "If not for Grandpa, most of the family would have dismissed natural energy as a myth. They wouldn't have even been able to sense its existence."

Countless Senju clan members had tried, only to fail at the first step: perception.

Internally, many had started doubting whether Sage Mode, the Three Holy Lands, and natural energy were even real.

Until Senju Hashirama successfully mastered it.

Unfortunately, before and after the First Hokage, not a single person had ever succeeded again.