Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 294 Orochimaru's Transformation

Upon returning to his training grounds, Hyuga Kanan immediately entered a state of deep meditation. He sat relaxed on the ground, eyes closed, breathing evenly, as if he had become one with his surroundings. His mind was as tranquil as still water, his thoughts gradually becoming clear, casting aside all distractions and focusing on enhancing his inner strength and refining his mental power.

As time passed, Hyuga Kanan's body was gradually enveloped in a faint blue light, indicating that he had entered a crucial moment in his cultivation. During this time, he remained completely focused, dedicating himself entirely to his training to accumulate sufficient energy for breaking through to the next realm.

Meanwhile, after Tsunade returned to Konoha and assumed the Hokage position, the ninja world seemed to have returned to its former peace. Other ninja villages that had previously harbored ill intentions towards Konoha restrained themselves in the face of Tsunade's formidable strength and authority. They realized that this newly appointed Hokage was no ordinary person, and that easily provoking her could bring unexpected consequences. Therefore, these ninja villages temporarily ceased their probing actions against Konoha and chose to observe.

Tsunade's appearance undoubtedly had a tremendous deterrent effect on the entire ninja world. Her fame spread far and wide, forcing other ninja villages to re-evaluate their plans. This subtle shift made the situation in the ninja world even more complex, with various forces secretly observing its development. However, for Hyuga Kanan, he was indifferent to the changes happening outside. At this moment, he was only focused on his own training, striving to improve his strength and prepare for a future breakthrough.

In fact, all the ninja villages were closely watching Konoha's movements, especially after Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage. They were eager to know how she would lead Konoha into the future. Everyone hoped that Tsunade could bring new life and vitality to this village that had suffered heavy losses and demonstrate strong leadership. Furthermore, people were curious whether members of the Senju clan would return to Konoha, which would undoubtedly add strength to the village. Although Konoha appeared to have suffered significant losses, no one dared to underestimate its hidden strength. The Senju brothers, Hashirama and Tobirama, laid a solid foundation for Konoha, ensuring that even in adversity, the village possessed formidable resources. Therefore, other ninja villages dared not easily attack Konoha, fearing the potential consequences. Moreover, if their own village wanted to challenge and defeat Konoha, they would likely have to pay a heavy price. Perhaps it was because of these considerations that other ninja villages preferred to wait for the right opportunity, observe Konoha's movements, rather than risk a direct attack. Thus, the tense situation gradually stabilized, and each of the major ninja villages seemed to be silently waiting for some kind of opportunity to arise. It was as if the entire ninja world had fallen into a delicate stalemate, with each village observing in secret, trying to find the best breakthrough.

While the entire ninja world's attention was drawn to Konoha Village, Orochimaru, leading his most important subordinates, traveled day and night to Hyuga Kanan's training grounds. When his men stepped inside the barrier and witnessed the scene before them, they were all astonished. This was the first time in their lives they had seen such beautiful scenery; not only was the environment pleasant, but it also possessed a unique tranquility and peace. Here, the pervasive bloody atmosphere of the ninja world was completely absent; it was like a secluded paradise, the ideal place they had always longed for deep in their hearts.

Orochimaru also had a special fondness for this place. Although he had visited three times, each time he felt the vibrant and energetic life force emanating from it, captivating him. Along the way, they encountered many members of the Hyuga clan. However, there was none of the tense and guarded atmosphere commonly found in the ninja world. On the contrary, everyone seemed very friendly and approachable, and their interactions were natural and harmonious, creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere.

Orochimaru has now largely severed his ties with Konoha, and feels incredibly relaxed and at ease. When he cut off his emotional connection with the village, it was as if a heavy burden had been lifted, leaving him feeling exceptionally refreshed. This liberation allows him to focus on his own development and growth, no longer disturbed or bound by external emotions.

Freed from the entanglements of external emotions, Orochimaru could finally devote himself entirely to his training. He knew that only by letting go of the burdens of the past could he better meet the challenges of the future. Therefore, he resolved to pursue a completely new path of training, explore unknown territories, and break through existing limitations.

Orochimaru was filled with anticipation, yearning to find a completely new path of training, one that would allow him to break free from the limitations of chakra. He understood that while chakra was powerful, it still had certain limitations and constraints. What he sought was a higher level of power, a training method that transcended conventional approaches.

Throughout this process, Orochimaru will continuously experiment, explore, and innovate. He will use scientific methods to study various possibilities and seek ways to break through existing frameworks. The appearance of Hyuga Kanan allows him to discover some mysterious forces hidden in nature, or to create unprecedented forms of energy through experimentation. In any case, he firmly believes that as long as he perseveres, he will definitely be able to embark on the true path of cultivation and achieve self-breakthrough and sublimation.

When Orochimaru and his subordinates entered the reception room, everyone's face was filled with anticipation and curiosity. However, when they saw that the person who came to greet them was Hyuga Neji, all eyes instantly focused on this young and mysterious figure.

Orochimaru's subordinates were all experienced and powerful ninjas, but at this moment they couldn't hide their astonishment. They could vaguely sense an immense pressure emanating from Hyuga Neji, a pressure that didn't come from his aura or strength, but rather a sense of suppression originating from a life-level perspective. This surprised them all, because this feeling only arose when facing an extremely powerful being.

Among these subordinates, Kimimaro's reaction was the most obvious. A hint of surprise flashed in his usually indifferent eyes, and his body trembled slightly involuntarily. As one of Orochimaru's most loyal subordinates, Kimimaro had always been confident in his strength. But at this moment, he felt an unprecedented challenge.

Kimimaro stared intently at Hyuga Neji, trying to glean some clues from him. He knew that this man was definitely not simple, perhaps hiding strength far beyond his imagination. His other subordinates were also lost in thought, secretly speculating about Hyuga Neji's true identity.

Orochimaru showed no surprise, instead revealing a meaningful smile. In truth, his initial shock upon first seeing Hyuga Neji far surpassed that of Kabuto Yakushi and Kimimaro. Although he frequently interacted with Hyuga Kanan, the latter's level was simply too high, and her spiritual power was incredibly strong, resulting in astonishingly powerful control over her own aura. Normally, Kanan rarely revealed her physical presence, making her difficult for others to detect. However, Hyuga Neji clearly lacked such control, especially at the crucial moment of his breakthrough, when he exuded a pressure stemming from his evolved life essence, impossible to ignore. Therefore, when Orochimaru first saw Hyuga Neji, a surge of joy welled up within him. He keenly sensed that Hyuga Neji's life essence had transcended that of ordinary ninjas, reaching a completely new level. This was undoubtedly an extremely attractive discovery for Orochimaru, who had always pursued ultimate immortality.

Orochimaru immediately recognized that Hyuga Kanan's training method was unique and mysterious, far from ordinary. Through in-depth exchanges and discussions, he gradually learned that Kanan's training method completely overturned traditional concepts, guiding people to achieve a fundamental transformation and evolution of life. This evolution not only enhances the body's strength and endurance but also significantly extends lifespan. This means that humanity will have more time to pursue higher levels of cultivation and explore deeper paths of spiritual practice. In this way, humanity's potential will be greatly unleashed, thus ushering in a new era.

That was the path Orochimaru had always pursued, so it naturally captivated him. His purpose in coming to Hyuga Kanan's training grounds was to obtain Kanan's training methods so that he too could embark on the path of evolution.

For Orochimaru, this was a rare opportunity. He knew the importance of Hyuga Kanan's training method to him; if he could obtain it, he believed he would definitely be able to evolve. To achieve this goal, he had to deeply study and master Hyuga Kanan's training path. Therefore, he did not hesitate to come to Hyuga Kanan's training ground, ready to embark on a difficult and arduous journey of exploration.

In this mysterious training ground, Orochimaru will face various challenges and difficulties, but he remains fearless. He knows that only through continuous trial and effort can he truly understand and master Hyuga Kanan's training methods. At the same time, he also looks forward to exchanging ideas and engaging in dialogue with Hyuga Kanan, hoping to gain more inspiration and guidance from him.

Furthermore, Orochimaru's research over the years led him to realize that the higher chakra reached, the greater the limitations and the stronger the will it contained. This discovery plunged him into deep thought, prompting him to contemplate the relationship between chakra and consciousness. Through in-depth research, he gradually understood that chakra was not simply energy; it also carried a certain will. As chakra increased, this will grew stronger, attempting to control the body and soul. This meant that if one could not control the will within chakra, they would ultimately be consumed by it and lose themselves.