The water mirror image dispersed.
As if seeing through his disciple's confusion...
Orochimaru took a small sip of tea and sighed.
"This method lacks spiritual resonance, yet it utilizes the Hozuki clan's Hydrification Technique..."
Motomu listened as Teacher Orochimaru rambled on and on.
Gradually, Motomu began to understand this body-tempering method.
To put it simply, this so-called body-tempering...
It was similar to the Raikage's Lightning Style Chakra Mode.
However, with Orochimaru's deep research into the Hydrification Technique and its associated full-body chakra-fication, this technique leaned more toward internal refinement.
It seemed quite compatible with the heart he had just acquired.
Using fire-natured chakra to temper the heart, combined with fire-type moves like Overheat, could his heart become a 'King's Engine'?
But considering that even Orochimaru himself was unclear about the technique's effects...
Motomu suppressed his curiosity and said tentatively,
"Your lecture was masterfully crafted, Master. I have gained much."
"However, this technique is incomplete..."
"That is exactly why I summoned you!"
Hearing Orochimaru's low voice, Motomu felt a shiver.
'He doesn't want me to be the test subject, does he?'
There were certain things only he knew.
Cultivation was something he had completely made up; heaven only knew how this thing would actually turn out.
Training with moves like Bulk Up was fine—at most, he'd just get injured—but if he ended up with a pointed head or something, he'd be finished.
No, no matter how he looked at it, it wouldn't work.
He definitely couldn't practice this himself, at least not as the first one.
"Master..."
"Disciple, when do you plan on returning my treasure?"
Motomu quickly glanced at Orochimaru and lowered his head in 'grief.'
"That demon was formidable. The treasure... the treasure was destroyed in our final clash."
Orochimaru's gaze froze.
He hadn't expected Motomu to give such an answer.
The Kusanagi Sword destroyed?
If he wanted to keep it for himself, he could have just said so. To come up with an excuse like that... it seemed his disciple was a genius in his own right.
If this disciple hadn't been the only one capable of understanding the technique in a short time...
A normal person would have already been subjected to every demonic method in Orochimaru's arsenal.
Orochimaru nodded and said indifferently,
"While treasures are powerful, they are ultimately external objects."
"Disciple, focusing on your cultivation is the true path."
"I want to see results within three months."
Hmm?
So, he just needed to see the results of the technique?
Hearing this, Motomu felt relieved, and his mind began to race with possibilities.
Orochimaru had outsourced the technique to him.
Could he not just outsource it to someone else?
In his previous life during university, he had taken on quite a bit of outsourced work from companies.
Now, he could let someone else practice the technique first to see the effects.
This would resolve Orochimaru's problem.
If it turned out to be useful, it wouldn't be too late for him to practice it himself.
Strengthening his body...
It happened to fill the gap in his close-quarters combat skills.
Although he wanted to focus on long-range combat, there would inevitably be times when he'd lose a jutsu clash.
Take the Tsuchikage Onoki's Particle Style, for example—losing a clash against that would leave anyone silent forever.
If such a time came...
He could just whip out a fist and blow the opponent away, then claim his strength was waning.
The thought alone was exhilarating!
Others tempered their bodies through brutal winter and summer training, striking their ribs with iron rods or pouring lead over their heads.
But he only needed to upgrade his heart and pick a few useful moves.
Returning home from Orochimaru's lair...
Motomu's mind began screening candidates for the experimental technique.
Obito was definitely out of the question.
The technique had three realms. In the first realm, using chakra to move blood and qi for simple exercise was fine.
But by the second realm, according to the descriptions of the will's profound mysteries...
Obito was naturally dim-witted and easily fooled. He'd likely end up broken, just like those Root members.
Among his current acquaintances, even the hardworking Guy wouldn't make it past the second stage.
Anko and Rin were girls; achieving the first realm within three months might be a struggle for them.
From the looks of it, only Kakashi could do it.
He just didn't know if Kakashi would want to learn.
This was a problem.
Motomu decided to observe him for a couple of days first.
...
After dinner, Motomu returned to his courtyard.
Poof!
He was once again summoned to Ryuchi Cave.
After greeting the cobra, he mounted a Big Eyeball and flew deeper into the cavern.
After flying for about half an hour...
The familiar underground cliff appeared before his eyes.
As Motomu arrived, Garaga poked his head out from the canyon.
Having been disturbed by Motomu so many times that he'd had to move three times, the snake was instantly enraged.
Without a word, he spat a stream of unknown liquid toward the Pidgey.
"Going all out right from the start?"
Having fought him hundreds of times, Motomu knew this 'saliva' was more than just disgusting.
What was even more troublesome was its petrification effect.
Once touched, anything would turn to stone.
Based on his understanding of the original series, Motomu knew this was Garaga's Senjutsu technique.
If he got hit by a surprise spit like that, he'd be finished.
As the saliva closed in...
Big Eyeball No. 1 and No. 2 unleashed invisible Psychokinesis, splitting the liquid and flinging it aside.
Simultaneously, the senbon Motomu carried accelerated through the air.
Amidst a metallic clatter, they struck Garaga's scales, kicking up sparks.
Failing to break through his defense, Motomu was about to perform his routine tactical retreat to gain experience...
When a flash of cunning crossed Garaga's eyes.
With a whip of his red tail, he smashed the rock wall, petrifying the path and blocking Motomu's retreat.
From his demeanor, it was clear he didn't intend to let Motomu leave so easily.
Staring into those cruel eyes, Motomu couldn't help but sigh.
"I thought we had an understanding—we always stopped when it was enough."
"I didn't expect you'd actually try to kill me today."
Garaga didn't reply, but the growing impatience and cruelty on his serpentine face said it all.
He and Motomu never had any real understanding.
Having been relentlessly harassed, he now only wanted Motomu dead.
Garaga didn't give Motomu any more time for trash talk.
He raised his head high, gathering a massive amount of Senjutsu chakra in his maw.
Just as he was about to spit out that glob of 'phlegm'...
Motomu's heart pounded as he instantly activated Arm Thrust.
A tide-like surge of chakra poured into his feet. The cliff edge within several meters shattered, and Motomu launched himself like a cannonball.
While Garaga was still stunned by the failed clash, Motomu's fist slammed into his lower jaw.
Gulp!
Garaga's gaping maw snapped shut.
The large glob of saliva mixed with Senjutsu chakra was forced back down his throat by Motomu's punch.
The petrification effect spread from the inside out, racing through his stomach and esophagus.
Although he could slowly neutralize it himself, he couldn't handle that sheer volume at once.
The snake's vertical pupils constricted as the extreme pain sent him thrashing across the ground.
At the bottom of the cavern canyon, a long, red, rod-like object twisted and writhed.
Seeing that the system prompt hadn't appeared yet...
Motomu controlled the Big Eyeballs to deliver a few more finishing strikes.
CURRENT GYM: RYUCHI CAVE GYM - LEVEL 20-30 AREA
CHALLENGE TARGET: ARBOK - GARAGA (TRAINER: THIRD KAZEKAGE)
CHALLENGE LEVEL: LV.35
RECOMMENDED CHALLENGE LEVEL: LV.36-LV.37
[TRAINER BATTLE VICTORY]
[ARBOK - GARAGA (LEVEL 35) IS AFRAID OF YOU]
[RIGHT EYE EXP +1500]
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