Chapter 150 – Spirit-Filled Sage, Yin-Yang Master

Yamanaka Shinno, pretending to be struck by the Scorch Release, descended into the dense forest, watching as Rasa and Pakura vanished into the distance.

Three of Rasa's five limbs had been completely pulverized into bloody pulp.

With Sunagakure's current level of medical technology, if treated in time, his life could likely be saved.

But regenerating limbs—or even grafting new ones? They were at least a decade away from that level of medical ninjutsu.

He'd lost both legs and his left arm.

His mobility was crippled, and forming hand seals would be significantly limited.

Even if Rasa later equipped puppet prosthetics, his combat abilities would be reduced by seventy to eighty percent. There was no longer any chance for him to ascend to the position of Kazekage.

The most he could hope for now was to become a soulless gold-mining machine, endlessly extracting resources from the desert to support Sunagakure's finances.

"Well… it's not like he has no options left."

Shinno rubbed his chin, recalling the human puppet modification techniques used in Sunagakure.

If Rasa was willing to go as far as Sasori of the Red Sand—sacrificing his flesh and turning himself into a human puppet...

Then maybe—just maybe—he could stage a miraculous comeback and reclaim his path to the Kazekage's seat.

Hmm...

Should I go finish him off completely?

...

Ding—You've made a major alteration to the fate trajectory of a key side character. Worldline development has shifted. You've gained: Trait Extraction ×2, Random Associated Trait Extraction ×1, Trait Gift ×1.

The familiar system chime rang out.

Along with it came a surge of destiny energy, drawn toward Shinno by the blue trait [Fate Weaver].

Feeling that faint but noticeable boost to his personal fortune, Shinno's lips curled into a smile.

Now that Rasa's fate had changed…

That meant the man had truly lost his chance to become Kazekage.

Whether or not he pursued human puppet conversion didn't really matter anymore.

After all, the upper limit of a human puppet was fixed.

At best, the only difference was between a "soulless gold-mining machine" and a "more efficient soulless gold-mining machine."

Shinno could tear either one apart like scrap metal.

"A key side character, huh?"

He glanced at the system message again, his eyes gleaming as they locked onto the line: Random Associated Trait Extraction Opportunity.

Random Associated Trait Extraction: Selects a trait you've already unlocked and draws a new trait that is guaranteed to be related.

So...

It's time to test my luck again?

"System, use the Random Associated Trait Extraction."

Random Associated Trait: [Natural Sage Body]. Congratulations! You've acquired a purple trait—[Spirit-Filled Sage].

Spirit-Filled Sage (Purple): Nourishes the spirit through nature and calms the mind. This trait grants near-perfect mastery of the most suitable sage techniques for humans, as passed down from ancient temples. Your spirit and soul begin to undergo transformation—massively enhancing mental strength, resilience, resistance, maximum capacity, and perception. Greatly increases affinity with natural energy, speed and efficacy of sage technique use, and boosts to willpower, determination, and inner clarity.

!!!

Shinno's eyes lit up.

Not only had it linked to a red trait—it pulled a purple one!

More importantly...

This seemed to be exactly the missing piece he'd sensed earlier in [Natural Sage Body].

"System, activate [Spirit-Filled Sage]!"

Suppressing the excitement welling up inside him, Shinno pressed his lips together.

A torrent of sage training memories flooded his mind.

Meditation, spiritual clarity, visualization techniques—channeling the natural energy of the world to temper the spirit and refine the soul!

His prior understanding of [Natural Sage Body] began to intertwine and corroborate with the new influx of knowledge.

Through this mutual reflection and reinforcement...

New insights bloomed.

...

Fusion available: Detected synergy between Red Trait [Natural Sage Body], Purple Trait [Spirit-Filled Sage], Purple Trait [Yin Release Master], and Purple Trait [Graveyard Nurse]. Initiate fusion?

"Huh? Fusion?"

Shinno was a little surprised to see [Yin Release Master] and [Graveyard Nurse] listed, but he didn't hesitate.

All the sage-related memories surged and spun through his mind at blinding speed.

Natural energy from kilometers around responded to his presence, pouring into him like a tidal wave.

His sage chakra, which had been a clear azure blue, began to darken as it absorbed the gray-black hue of Yin Release, the vibrant green of Yang Release, and the golden brilliance of [Spirit-Filled Sage].

These powers twisted together—melding, transforming, absorbing more natural energy—until they became pitch black!

A deep, abyssal black that shimmered faintly with rainbow hues cloaked Shinno's entire body.

Then, slowly...

All the color faded—leaving behind a pure, colorless white glow.

In that cycle of black and white...

His body, already once refined through sage chakra—his skin, muscles, meridians, bones, and organs—was washed anew.

His vast, powerful spirit was compressed and tempered by the sage energy.

"Mmgh—!"

A suppressed groan escaped Shinno's throat.

His soul felt as though it were soaking in a hot spring, enveloped in a transcendent sense of bliss and clarity.

With a single thought, he could clearly visualize every meridian, every bone, every drop of blood in his body...

Unlike before, when fusing [Zero Frame Startup] had only offered simulated feedback through experience and memory—

This time, it was true internal vision!

...

Fusion complete. Congratulations! You've acquired the gold trait—[Yin-Yang Sage].

Yin-Yang Sage (Gold): A chosen sage who has fused multiple schools of sage techniques, tempering body, spirit, and soul to flawless perfection. Master of yin-yang transformation and the secrets of nature. When studying, improving, or creating yin-yang sage techniques, your efficiency is maximized. Dramatically boosts sage technique control, effect, bodily regeneration, resistance to sage energy, and affinity with nature. Enables permanent Sage Mode—while in this state, all stats receive massive amplification. After recovery from injury, permanent stat increases apply.

...

The system chime echoed again.

The strange sensations coursing through Shinno's body slowly faded. He raised a hand and conjured a water mirror before him.

Staring back from the mirror was a figure with jet-black dragon horns, wrapped in an aura of profound darkness, protected by shadowy dragons forged from sage energy.

The corner of his mouth twitched.

This form...

Definitely not the look of a "good guy."

With a thought, the black sage energy transformed into brilliant white light.

Shinno reached up, touching the slightly longer horns on his forehead and the now larger mark at the center of his brow.

This...

Am I turning into a white dragon?

He glanced again at the golden trait [Yin-Yang Sage].

As he sifted through the now-clear stream of memories and knowledge in his mind, Shinno's smile returned.

[Yin Release Master] and [Graveyard Nurse] had both been subsumed into the new trait. His control over Yin and Yang Release had surged as a result.

Even the special effects that had once come from [Graveyard Nurse] hadn't vanished.

They'd simply transformed into uniquely-shaped Yang Release sage techniques—ones he could now wield perfectly and effortlessly.

And that was just the part he could see from the system notifications and memory infusions.

There were likely countless other hidden benefits too.

As his mental power continued to climb, even the [Transmigrator] trait—previously weakened after being filtered—began to grow again, steadily restoring the massive spiritual loss he'd suffered.

[Wood Release Jinchuriki], which had always been closely tied to sage arts and Yang Release, would undoubtedly receive another huge boost as well.

"A unique path, huh?"

Clenching his fist, Shinno felt the surge of power coursing through his veins.

Before, to enter Sage Mode and use sage techniques, he had to combine natural, mental, and physical energy into sage chakra.

But now—he had broken free from that limitation.

He could directly absorb nature's energy, and use it—pure and unrefined—to cast Yin-Yang sage arts!

This kind of power...

Was he now a natural-born nemesis of the Ōtsutsuki?

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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