Ryuchi Cave, Serpent Pool.
Saitama had been seated at the heart of the Serpent Pool for two full days now, still deep in his absorption of natural energy.
Of course, as time passed, the absorption speed had decreased somewhat, but even so, compared to typical beginners of senjutsu, this rate was still terrifying.
According to Ichikishimahime's perception, Saitama's body now contained sage chakra levels that completely overshadowed them, reaching an utterly horrifying degree.
True, due to human physiology, sage chakra couldn't be maintained within a human body as long as it could in sennin like themselves.
But according to Ichikishimahime's thousand years of experience, this human ninja definitely had already achieved effortless command over sage chakra.
In other words, this man called Saitama could now instantly enter [Sage Mode] and utilize sage chakra whenever needed.
Over these two days, Hebihime had periodically left to report back to the White Snake Sage about what happened. The White Snake Sage found Saitama's transformation extremely fascinating—this was their shared realization during these two days.
Ichikishimahime rested her cheek on her hand, keeping her legs tightly together as she sat cross-legged on the stone slab. Their incredible flexibility allowed them to maintain seemingly impossible postures.
She felt rather bored, since there was nothing else to do besides staying here watching nonstop.
It wasn't that Ichikishimahime didn't want to leave, but rather because the White Snake Sage had explicitly ordered them three not to leave Saitama's side for even a moment, needing immediate reports about any changes.
"When is this kid gonna finish already?!"
While remaining motionless, the snake goddesses looked quite appealing—all youthful and energetic.
But when they spoke, those sharp, jagged teeth of theirs looked absolutely monstrous, even more hideous than Kisame's.
This was Ichikishimahime who had just spoken.
As she talked, she kept looking toward Saitama at the center of the pool.
At this moment, Saitama has completed his mastery of [Snake Sage Art]. A layer of sage chakra membrane, resembling a soul, covered his body surface. On his left forehead had appeared a small horn, its color pure white mixed with faint golden serpent patterns.
The horn wasn't very long, only a few centimeters protruding slightly from the forehead, without appearing particularly strange.
This appearance gave Saitama exactly the look of a living sage among mortals, exuding an aura of distant majesty.
Appearance-wise, the Snake Sage Art seemed far superior to Mount Myoboku's [Frog Sage Art], with enhancement effects clearly in another league altogether.
"Tch, you used to sleep for years at a stretch. Can't even wait a few hours now?"
Taketsunehime lowered her head, idly fiddling with her nails. Her pale crimson fingernails were seductively enchanting, perfectly fitting the snake goddess persona.
Tamatsukihime nodded in agreement, then opened her mouth wide to yawn. However, her jaw stretched wide open in a grotesque manner, nearly splitting sideways, revealing row after row of razor-sharp teeth.
"Something's happening again…" Before Tamatsukihime could close her mouth, Ichikishimahime spoke again, simultaneously rising to her feet!
Because Saitama's activity had intensified once more, the momentum of him drawing in natural energy now resembled a black hole devouring everything.
As Saitama underwent this transformation, the natural energy within the Serpent Pool began gathering toward him. The invisible energy even created friction in the air, producing a whistling wind sound.
"This kid..."
Tamatsukihime narrowed her eyes, tightened her lips, and revealed a complex expression in her golden pupils.
Soon, an energy vortex fully formed around Saitama's body. A visible white energy sphere—shaped like an oval—began wrapping around him, continuously absorbing energy from its surroundings.
This energy sphere tightly enclosed Saitama while rotating and rising upward. In no time, it lifted him about two meters above ground level.
Though the Hebihimes had lived for over a thousand years, such an extraordinary scene was something they had never witnessed before.
Nobody cultivates Sage Art like this—at least not that we know of!
Internally numb, the Hebihimes exchanged glances before taking a long breath to calm themselves.
This human boy could no longer be judged by ordinary standards. For now, they decided to treat him as a reincarnated Sage. Otherwise, there was simply no way to explain all this.
The Hebihimes continued observing Saitama's transformation while preparing to immediately leave and report everything to the White Snake Sage!
Time dragged as they waited in silence.
For beings like the Hebihimes who had mastered Sage Chakra, time was no longer something worth reminiscing about. Likewise valueless were those memories covered in dust.
Over countless centuries, they had grown temperamental and easily provoked. Of course, this was only the side they showed when facing the weak.
Crack!
A crisp sound rang out from that layer of Chakra surrounding Saitama.
That was the first crack in the Chakra shell. Soon after, countless tiny cracking sounds began continuously echoing from the spherical Chakra shell.
Boom! When the cracks reached an irreversible point, the shell finally shattered.
A faint ripple of Chakra radiated from Saitama's body, instantly breaking apart the layer around him.
Swish swish swish! The fragmented energy shell transformed into a sky full of glowing Chakra particles, gradually vanishing into the air. Countless white lights also began spreading across the top of the Serpent Pool.
Dap! Saitama landed on the ground with both feet, precisely stepping onto the Stone Platform.
At this moment, the transparent white Chakra membrane surrounding his body changed again, displaying a light golden glow.
Now it really looked like the Buddha Light from Saitama's memories—a holy glow he'd only seen in legends.
"This over-the-top display..."
The Three Hebihime's eyes widened, and she silently muttered to herself, because Saitama's Sage Mode was just too exaggerated.
If not for sensing that same-origin [Snake Sage Art] energy and Sage Chakra, they would think they weren't practicing the same Sage techniques at all!
Swish! Saitama opened his eyes. Golden eye shadow stretched from the corners of his eyes toward his cheekbones, with slight Chakra ripples continuously flowing across them.
His eyes were golden vertical pupils, extremely sharp. Looking at someone felt like being stabbed by a blade.
Boom!
The moment Saitama opened his eyes, a powerful surge of shock rippled through the minds of the snake princesses.
A very familiar pressure emanated from Saitama's gaze—one they had only ever experienced when the White Snake Sage entered Sage Mode!
And this pressure seemed even stronger!
Of course, they didn't believe that Saitama at this point in time could already surpass the White Snake Sage. Rather, they felt that the sage techniques Saitama had mastered might actually represent the true path—the one absolutely correct direction for development.
Barely managing to suppress their trembling legs, Tamatsukihime stepped forward after swallowing hard several times.
"Congratulations! We are the snake princesses of Ryuchi Cave, tasked with guarding you as you train in sage arts. You may address me as Tamatsukihime."
She pursed her lips, maintaining an air of composure.
Saitama still seemed a bit out of it, like he hadn't completely come back from his training state, and his expression looked slightly dazed.
Staring at the three "people" for a long time, he also sensed fluctuations of [Sage Chakra](the mystical energy used by sages for enhanced perception and power) within their bodies.
"Hello, my name is Saitama Uchiha. It's nice to meet you all!"
Deeply grateful toward Ryuchi Cave for offering him the opportunity to cultivate immortality, Saitama naturally maintained a respectful attitude.
"I am Ichikishimahime, one of the snake princesses of Ryuchi Cave!"
"Pleased to meet you, Saitama-kun. I am Taketsunehime!"
The other two snake princesses placed their hands to one side and bowed deeply, performing the refined lady's bow favored during Japan's Warring States period.
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