Sora successfully mastered and activated Sage Mode.
But his training wasn't over yet. Sora began to learn the senjutsu techniques that belonged exclusively to Ryūchi Cave.
The White Snake Sage personally taught him.
In Sora's opinion, the White Snake Sage's teaching methods weren't particularly strict.
But that was relative—Sora could quickly understand the Sage's requirements and follow them precisely.
After all, he had already mastered the most difficult part of Sage Mode.
The senjutsu of Ryūchi Cave represented advanced uses of Sage Chakra, similar to learning ninjutsu after mastering basic chakra control.
Although adding Sage Chakra to ninjutsu could also be called senjutsu, this was only the most basic application. It was merely adding Sage Chakra to regular ninjutsu, without any technical sophistication.
That's why Sora had been able to successfully add Sage Chakra to the Great Fireball Technique from the very beginning.
All three ninja arts—ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu—could be enhanced with Sage Chakra to become senjutsu.
What the White Snake Sage taught Sora was senjutsu that fully utilized the unique characteristics of Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode.
These included techniques like Inorganic Reincarnation and White Rage Technique that Yakushi Kabuto would learn in the future—exclusive senjutsu from Ryūchi Cave.
Under the guidance of the White Snake Sage, more than three months passed in a flash.
Sora wasn't only learning the senjutsu techniques taught by the White Snake Sage, but also becoming more familiar with and mastering Sage Mode itself.
At the beginning, he could only maintain it for three minutes, but now he had almost doubled that duration.
During these three months, Sora made full use of his time and minimized his rest periods, hoping to finish his training as quickly as possible and return to Konoha to reunite with Uzumaki Kushina.
One night, Sora successfully unleashed a senjutsu technique taught by the White Snake Sage, blasting the large open space in front of him into complete devastation.
He felt very satisfied when he saw the power of his senjutsu.
This technique had been completely mastered, and it was time for the next one.
Sora returned to the temple and found the White Snake Sage, who was now in the form of an old woman. "White Snake Sage, I've mastered this technique. It's time for the next one."
The White Snake Sage slowly took a puff from his pipe and said, "There is no next one. I have taught you all the senjutsu of Ryūchi Cave."
Sora's eyes lit up. "If you say so..."
The White Snake Sage nodded. "Yes, you can leave Ryūchi Cave now."
A smile unconsciously appeared on Sora's face.
After four months in Ryūchi Cave, he could finally go back.
But soon Sora realized something embarrassing.
How would he get back?
He had come to Ryūchi Cave through the White Snake using the Reverse Summoning Technique.
So who would use the Reverse Summoning Technique to summon him back to Konoha?
Absolutely no one!
In other words, he would have to set out from Ryūchi Cave and rush back to Konoha on his own two feet.
Sora asked with a stiff face, "White Snake Sage, how long does it take to get from here to Konoha?"
The White Snake Sage replied, "If calculated according to your speed, almost a month."
"Uh... okay..."
Sora had no choice but to accept reality. What else could he do? To return to Konoha as soon as possible, he would simply have to hurry.
Sora bowed to the White Snake Sage. "I am very grateful to you for teaching me Sage Mode and all these senjutsu techniques. Now, I will take my leave."
The White Snake Sage didn't answer. He just squinted at Sora and puffed on his pipe.
After Sora was no longer in sight, the White Snake Sage laughed sinisterly.
"Let's completely disrupt this ninja world."
...
Sora rushed toward Konoha at full speed. The journey that was supposed to take a month was compressed into 20 days, and he successfully arrived at the gate of Konoha Village.
It was already late at night.
Sora sighed.
The high-intensity journey had left him somewhat overwhelmed and very tired.
However, thinking about meeting Uzumaki Kushina soon, Sora felt energetic again.
"I'll give Kushina a surprise, then hug her and sleep comfortably."
After registering with the gatekeeper ninjas, Sora entered Konoha.
He walked briskly toward home.
It had been almost five months since he left Konoha.
By now, Uzumaki Miyuki should be several months pregnant.
Which meant that in a few months, Uchiha Obito would be ready to make his move.
Now Sora was well-prepared, having learned the Sage Mode that could maximize his strength at this stage.
If he wanted to improve further, he could only save witness points and unlock the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
And the Nine-Tails attack that was about to occur would be Sora's opportunity to obtain a large number of witness points.
Sora and the Nine-Tails had reached an agreement before. If they could ensure Uzumaki Miyuki's survival, then they would change the event and gain extra witness points.
Compared to merely witnessing events as a bystander, the extra witness points obtained by directly participating in and changing events were the real prize.
Currently, before those with truly extraordinary strength appeared, Sora's power could be considered absolute top-tier in the ninja world.
If he fought the Third Raikage again in his current state, they would be evenly matched—no, he should be stronger than the Third Raikage now.
Lost in thought, Sora was about to reach home, just a few steps away.
As he continued forward, a ninja sword suddenly appeared from the shadows and slashed toward him.
Sora took a step back and raised his eyebrows. "Kakashi, I haven't seen you for so long, and this is how you greet me?"
Kakashi looked at the person before him in surprise. "Teacher Sora?"
Sora asked in confusion, "Why are you here so late at night?"
After confirming it was indeed Sora, Kakashi became very excited. "Teacher, you're finally back!"
Sora hushed him. "Keep your voice down! I want to surprise Kushina!"
Kakashi hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no! Absolutely no surprises—Master's wife can't be frightened now."
Sora was confused. "Kushina can't be frightened now? What's wrong?"
"Master's wife is pregnant. It's been about six months."
Sora seemed to turn to stone, freezing in place.
He took a long time to digest the news, and his words came out stuttering: "K-Kushina is pregnant? Six months?"
Kakashi nodded and said, "Yes. During this time, Lord Orochimaru has checked on Master's wife every month and prepared nutritional supplements. Now Master's wife is in good health and the baby is also healthy. Teacher, you don't have to worry—"
Before Kakashi could finish saying "worry," Sora had vanished from the spot.