"Gakuya-sama, what kind of women do you like?" Tagitsuhime leaned in close, bombarding Hyuga Gakuya with questions, practically glued to his side. It was starting to wear on his patience.
He shot her a sharp look. "Can you just be quiet for a moment?"
"Even your annoyed face is handsome!" she gushed, eyes sparkling like a hopeless romantic.
Gakuya had already picked up on her odd tendencies. This woman was a full-blown masochistic snake spirit— the more he scolded her, the more she seemed to enjoy it.
Even someone like Gakuya, a transmigrator with memories of another life, wasn't sure how to deal with her.
After enduring the chatter for what felt like forever, they finally arrived at the deepest part of Ryūchi, where Garaga resided.
Gakuya activated his Tenseigan, and immediately spotted the massive crimson serpent coiled in wait. Its most striking feature was the single blind eye.
"That must be Garaga."
In the original story, the serpent had lost its eye due to a betrayal by a former summoner.
But Gakuya wasn't here for the history—he was here for the reverse scale under its jaw.
He drew in the natural energy around him, letting it flow into his body. In the blink of an eye, he entered Sage Mode.
Garaga sensed the unfamiliar chakra invading its territory and began slithering toward them.
Gakuya stepped forward to meet it head-on, staring at the serpent. "Garaga, I've come for the reverse scale beneath your jaw."
"No one's guarding Ryūchi anymore, huh? Even outsiders dare make a move now." Garaga's gaze shifted to Tagitsuhime, not far behind Gakuya, and sneered.
But Tagitsuhime didn't seem fazed by the insult. She was too busy swooning over Gakuya to care.
"You've mastered Ryūchi's Sage Mode?" Garaga's voice rose in surprise. It could sense the nature energy radiating off him.
"That's right. Sage Art: Thunderclap Palm."
No time for talk—Gakuya struck.
Garaga lashed its tail at him in response, but Gakuya's palm landed squarely against it.
"Gahhh! That hurts!" Garaga bellowed.
Even Gakuya was inwardly shocked. He'd never had this much power in his base state. The physical boost from Sage Mode was insane.
His ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu had all been pushed to new heights.
"Sage Art: Flame Fist."
"Sage Art: Exploding Palm."
He kept testing his techniques on Garaga, transforming his jutsu into Sage Arts and launching them in rapid succession.
By the end of it, Garaga was nearly unconscious.
Only then did Gakuya step forward and pluck the crimson reverse scale from beneath its jaw. He followed up with a healing Sage Technique to treat the wounds.
As soon as Garaga regained consciousness, it fled into the cave's depths like it was escaping a natural disaster.
Meanwhile, Tagitsuhime's eyes sparkled. "Gakuya-sama is still so cool, even when he's fighting!"
...
The two returned to the White Snake Sage's temple. Gakuya handed over the red reverse scale.
"Well done. You've adapted to Sage Mode much faster than expected."
Nothing in Ryūchi escaped the White Snake Sage's perception. Everything Gakuya had done had been seen.
"Next, let Tagorihime, Ichikishimahime, and Tagitsuhime train you further in Ryūchi's Sage Arts."
"Thank you, White Snake Sage."
"Go on, then."
...
Gakuya stepped out of the temple and saw the three women waiting outside.
He looked at Ichikishimahime. "It's time to fulfill your promise. Twelve Sage Techniques."
The petite Ichikishimahime pouted. "Tch. It's just twelve Sage Arts. I'll teach you, whatever."
"I want to help too!" Tagitsuhime chimed in with a raised hand.
"Then I'll be counting on you both."
"As long as Gakuya-sama's happy, I'm happy!" Tagitsuhime nodded eagerly.
Tagitsuhime, the eldest of the trio, watched the scene silently. These two had lived for centuries and still hadn't matured a bit.
...
From that point on, Gakuya dove headfirst into training again, constantly shuttling back and forth between Ryūchi and the Land of Rain.
Most of his time was spent practicing Sage Arts with the three women. Occasionally, he returned to the Rain to handle affairs and relay orders to Kabuto.
Kabuto had written to propose a new way to control Orochimaru. In his current state, Orochimaru was essentially a puppet—inefficient for many operations.
Gakuya approved without hesitation. "If you can make it work, go for it."
He wasn't worried about Kabuto betraying him. After all, Gakuya could offer things Orochimaru never could.
Kabuto had even brought him another surprise—Amado, a scientist from the Boruto-era Kara organization. Amado's only request was for help curing his daughter's illness.
Gakuya immediately had Kabuto agree. A genius like that was too valuable to pass up. His involvement would significantly accelerate their research.
...
November 13th, Year 59 of the Hidden Leaf Calendar
Gakuya had just returned to the Rain from training in Ryūchi when Zetsu appeared.
"The leader wants to see you. There are matters to discuss."
"Understood." Gakuya nodded, bid farewell to his family, and headed to the Akatsuki's meeting chamber.
Black Zetsu watched him go. "He's growing stronger by the day... He's even mastered Ryūchi's Sage Mode."
Pain was already waiting when Gakuya arrived. He handed Gakuya a dossier.
"Take a look—this is what the great nations have resorted to."
While Gakuya had been away, Iwagakure and Sunagakure had joined forces to pressure the Rain, demanding they hand over Takuya Kimura—the so-called murderer.
Otherwise, they threatened to launch a full-scale war to destroy the Land of Rain.
Of course, the Rain had neither Hanzō the Salamander nor Takuya Kimura.
"What's your plan, Leader?"
"Only through pain will they understand the value of peace."
Gakuya countered calmly. "There's no need for an all-out campaign. They're still recovering from their last defeat. If we show strength and the ability to bite back, they'll back off."
Nagato, listening from behind Pain, thought it over. Gakuya was right. Now wasn't the time to reveal the organization's true strength.
A strong warning would be enough.
"Then let's have Akatsuki strike. We'll wipe out their border outposts in the Rain."
Gakuya smiled. "Wise as always, Leader."
...
The next day, during the Akatsuki meeting
Pain announced the mission: "The border outpost elimination is split—Sasori of the Red Sand, Deidara, and Gakuya will handle Sunagakure. Kakuzu, Hidan, and I will deal with Iwagakure."
"Objective: leave no survivors. Send a message to the Five Great Nations."
Hidan grinned. "Now this is more like it. Time to let them feel the wrath of Jashin."
Massacres like this were right up his alley.
Deidara turned to Gakuya. "Yo, it's been a while. How's your art coming along?"
"Perfected," Gakuya said with a smirk. "I'll show you soon."
"You sly bastard—you're just trying to hog all the action!"
Deidara turned to Sasori. "Hey, you don't need to come. Gakuya and I got this."
Sasori didn't argue. It was his former homeland, after all.
As the three left the chamber, Deidara started bickering with Sasori again—this time about whether to fly using his clay bird or Sasori's puppet hawk.
Eventually, Sasori gave in. Deidara was just too damn loud—it was exhausting.
"Watch closely, Sasori. Gakuya, get ready for my ultimate art!"
Deidara shoved clay into the mouths on his palms, letting them chew and mold.
After five full minutes of prep, he was finally ready.
"Behold my masterpiece—C2: Great Dragon!"
He unleashed a torrent of explosive clay. With a burst of chakra shaping, the material formed into a massive white dragon, which grew even larger after the smoke cleared.
"Flashy but shallow..." Sasori muttered, unimpressed by the oversized, under-detailed beast. It couldn't compare to the puppet hawk he'd developed with Gakuya.
"Sasori, just wait. I'll show you the true power of art."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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