Uchiha Shigure clenched his fists as an unfamiliar yet exhilarating energy coursed through every fiber of his body. His skin tingled, his senses sharpened, and the world itself seemed to slow around him. Almost instinctively, he threw a punch.
The air split open with the strike, a shockwave rippling outward, forceful enough that Shigure could imagine it cutting through stone or even toppling a mountain.
"So this is Sage Mode…" he murmured, astonished by the raw power surging within.
"You're truly remarkable." The voice of the White Snake Sage echoed through Dragon Earth Cave, low and solemn. The great serpent's golden eyes locked onto him with a gravity that commanded respect. "In a thousand years, you are the only human who has not merely sensed natural energy, but directly absorbed it… and awakened Sage Mode immediately. To call you 'gifted' would be insulting—you are beyond that."
Shigure calmed his breath, nodding. "White Snake Sage, is there still more I need to learn?"
"Of course." The immortal serpent coiled its long body, lowering its head so their eyes met level. "To become one with nature is only the beginning. Now, you must learn to weave this vast natural power into your chakra. This cannot be rushed. Even talent such as yours requires patience."
"I understand." Shigure's tone was serious. This was no time for arrogance; the new strength running through his veins was not truly his until he had mastered it.
For the next several days, Shigure focused entirely on adjusting to Senjutsu chakra. He devised a method unique to himself: creating shadow clones to spar, allowing him to practice drawing and balancing nature energy in combat while simultaneously observing his own mistakes from a different perspective.
Progress was swift—frighteningly so. Within a handful of days, Shigure could wield Senjutsu chakra seamlessly, his techniques exploding with five times the destructive force they once carried. Fire Release roared brighter, Water Release carved deeper, and even his Lightning Release crackled with a hunger to strike the heavens.
But the true revelation came when he attempted the Flying Thunder God. In Sage Mode, his connection to natural energy allowed him to condense the teleportation technique at will, distance no longer bounded by kunai markers. As long as a space existed within his perception, he could leap there in an instant. The battlefield itself had become a canvas for his will.
At last, Shigure stood before the White Snake Sage again. "It's done. I've mastered Senjutsu chakra."
The sage studied him carefully, as though doubting its own eyes. "Only a few days… and already perfection. Child, you are a miracle."
But then its tone hardened. "Do not mistake success at one stage for completion. To wield Senjutsu chakra is not the same as grasping the truth of Immortal Arts. For that, there are three trials you must overcome."
Shigure's eyes narrowed. "Tell me what they are."
"The first two are related. At the waterfall's end lies a hidden cave, cloaked beyond the reach of natural perception. Inside dwells another immortal. You must obtain from him immortal fire, hot enough to smelt dragon fangs and dragon scales. Only with those can weapons and armor worthy of your power be forged."
"And the third?"
The White Snake Sage's gaze grew sly. "That will be told after you carry the weapons and armor back to me. Until then, your path remains incomplete."
Shigure did not question further. Bowing respectfully, he turned and departed immediately.
The journey led him swiftly to the cavern hidden beneath a heavy waterfall. Sage chakra faltered before its veil, so he opened his Sharingan instead. The tomoe swirled into clarity, revealing the cave's interior suffused with golden mist—pure natural energy, denser even than within Dragon Earth Cave itself.
"No wonder Senjutsu couldn't reach inside," Shigure thought.
Without hesitation, he plunged through the cascade. Water splashed against his skin as he landed before the cave entrance. Torchlight revealed a forge: bellows, anvils, glowing embers, and a lone figure.
A short, black-haired old man worked there tirelessly. His hammer rang against heated iron, each blow forging flawless perfection. In moments, he had crafted a spear so sharp it seemed it could pierce the heavens.
Shigure's interest was piqued. "So, this is the immortal craftsman?" Stepping closer, he spoke respectfully, "Honored one, might I ask your aid in forging a weapon and armor?"
The old man set his hammer down and turned. Shigure froze. It was the same face as the White Snake Sage's human guise—save for his dark hair and beard.
"Oh?" The black-haired immortal chuckled, voice carrying both mirth and menace. "After a thousand years, someone enters my cavern again. Did Bai-Phosphor send you here?"
Shigure nodded cautiously. "Yes, Immortal."
"Then you can die!"
The craftsman's form burst apart, limbs elongating, scales rippling across his skin. In an instant he became a massive serpent, black-scaled and coiling. The forge dissolved into an open field surrounded by darkness.
"Another snake," Shigure muttered grimly. "So be it. If you seek my death, don't blame me for being ruthless." Sharingan whirred. "Sage Mode!"
Golden pigmentation wrapped his eyes, the tomoe gleaming like three suns. Power flooded him once more.
The black-scaled snake lunged, constricting with crushing force. "Human boy! You think you can bend me to your will? Fool! I'll crush you where you stand!"
Despite the immense pressure, Shigure braced his arms outward, muscles solid as iron. "You underestimate me." With a surge, he forced the coils apart and vaulted into the air.
"Senjutsu Art—Super Large Rasengan!"
A colossal whirl of chakra spun in his palm, expanding larger than his own body. He slammed it directly into the snake's most vulnerable spot.
"ROAR!" The serpent howled in agony, spewing purple smoke as its body writhed uncontrollably.
Shigure reappeared in a flash before its eyes, seizing the snake's tail in his grip. "Yield, or I'll end this now."
"I give up! Enough!" the beast cried desperately, its form shrinking until the black-haired old man knelt once more, gasping.
Shigure dusted off his cloak, calm as though the battle had been trivial. "Now… will you forge my weapon and armor?"
The Black Snake Immortal winced, rubbing at his throat. "You might have said earlier you carried the mark of immortality. As it is, I'm injured—I cannot personally forge them."
Golden chakra still spun in Shigure's hand, his eyes cold. "Then you're of no use."
"Wait!" The immortal flapped his hands. "Even if I cannot forge them, you can. With my guidance, your success will double!"
Shigure paused, then slowly allowed the Rasengan to dissipate. "Very well. Tell me what must be done."
The illusory landscape rippled, the cavern forge reforming before them. Flames roared anew.
The immortal gestured. "Show me your materials."
From his pouch, Shigure retrieved the gleaming dragon fangs and glimmering scales bestowed upon him.
The immortal recoiled. "Dragon relics…" His voice trembled with awe. "Of all scaly creatures, none surpasses the dragon. Fangs and scales are divine in nature. To craft with them is to create artifacts worthy of legend—divine treasures."
Shigure's eyes glinted with determination. "Then let's forge them."
The forge's flames grew wild, the bellows breathing air like the lungs of the world itself. Shigure stood ready, hammer in hand, dragon fangs arrayed before him, the scales glowing faintly as if containing a hidden will.
The Black Snake Immortal leaned close, his voice a whisper. "Remember, to temper dragon relics requires more than fire. You must pour your Senjutsu chakra into every strike. Only when human will, nature's energy, and the dragon's essence merge, will true weapons emerge."
Shigure lifted the hammer. His Sharingan spun. This was no mere forging—it was another trial, one that would decide if he was worthy not only of Sage Mode but of the greater Immortal Arts yet to come.
Flames leapt skyward as the first strike fell.
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