Yuto chuckled softly. When it came to who possessed the most chakra modes, he certainly wasn't at the top.
One of Naruto's protagonists, Naruto Uzumaki, had four chakra modes: Sage Mode, Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, Kurama Mode, and Six Paths Sage Mode, plus a fused power combining Sage Mode and Kurama Mode.
What was cheating?
Naruto Uzumaki was the embodiment of cheating—showing everyone that cheating once felt good, but cheating forever felt even better.
However, Naruto's ability to fuse Sage Mode with Kurama Mode sparked an idea in Yuto.
Take the Tailed Beasts, for instance. From One-Tail to Nine-Tails, each had its own unique chakra.
If Yuto gathered all nine Tailed Beasts' chakra within himself, could he recreate Six Paths chakra without becoming the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki?
In the original story, Naruto entered Six Paths Sage Mode by relying on chakra from the other Tailed Beasts, but that was only part of it.
The key was the gift from the Sage of the Six Paths—that was what truly enabled Naruto to access Six Paths Sage Mode.
Without the Sage's power, success would be highly uncertain.
For Yuto, though, this was worth trying. Gathering the chakra of all nine Tailed Beasts in one body was an utterly insane idea.
Even Madara Uchiha and Obito Uchiha only achieved Six Paths-level power by becoming the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki.
Yuto didn't believe Madara hadn't considered this possibility. After all, the world never lacked for geniuses. The only explanation was that the success rate was terrifyingly low.
As for why Naruto succeeded, Yuto speculated it was because, beyond having Kurama to suppress the other eight Tailed Beasts' chakra, Naruto's cheat-like charisma won their favor, ensuring they didn't resist.
Yuto's eyes flickered as he temporarily shelved the thought. For now, he was confident in his strength.
But against Six Paths-level opponents, he knew he wasn't yet a match.
Pulling his thoughts back, he decided it was too early to dwell on such matters. His immediate focus was mastering Sage Mode and Curse Seal Mode.
Some preparations would need to be made once he returned to the Mist Village.
Yuto withdrew his Sage Mode chakra and looked up, meeting Orochimaru's fervent gaze.
That look was like a beggar, starved for weeks, staring at a piece of cooked meat.
Terumi Mei and Ao, standing not far behind Yuto, also had awe in their eyes. The two powers Yuto had just displayed were each terrifying in their own right.
But their awe was mixed with excitement. The stronger Lord Yuto was, the better it was for the Mist Village.
"Orochimaru, what do you think of those two powers?"
Yuto looked at the enthralled Orochimaru, speaking casually.
"I'm very familiar with the Curse Seal's power—cold, sinister, and hard to control. But from what I just saw, it's clear Lord Yuto has already mastered it."
Orochimaru's tone grew heavy as he spoke. No one knew better than him how low the survival rate was for Curse Seal implantation. After a brief pause, he continued:
"As for the second power, it's far stronger and more refined than the Curse Seal."
He stopped there, leaving unsaid that this power closely resembled what they had studied in the lab—Hashirama Senju's power.
"So, want to get stronger? How about joining the Mist Village?"
Yuto wore a faint smile, looking at Orochimaru and speaking calmly.
Anyone who'd watched Naruto knew that, despite Orochimaru's unpredictable nature, he was undeniably a genius.
If someone like him joined the Mist Village, it would be a massive boon for Yuto, bringing him one step closer to unifying the ninja world.
Hearing Yuto's words, Orochimaru's expression turned odd. That line sounded like something he often said.
But he was genuinely tempted. The power of Sage Mode was something no one could refuse.
At this point, having been effortlessly defeated by Itachi, Orochimaru was obsessed with the Sharingan and the pursuit of immortality.
The power of Sage Mode offered him a safer alternative path.
"My apologies, Lord Yuto. I have some matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
After a moment, a flicker of struggle passed through Orochimaru's eyes, but he ultimately declined.
As his words fell, Orochimaru moved swiftly, summoning a giant snake.
The snake opened its mouth, swallowing the unconscious Sound Four in one gulp.
With a poof, the snake vanished. Having done this, Orochimaru used an Earth Release technique and disappeared in a certain direction.
He feared that if he stayed any longer, he might actually give in to Yuto's offer.
"The Mist Village's gates are always open for you!"
Looking in the direction Orochimaru fled, a trace of regret flashed in Yuto's eyes as he waved and shouted.
Terumi Mei and Ao, standing behind Yuto, exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of helplessness in each other's eyes.
Taking in a rogue ninja from the Leaf—and one as dangerous as Orochimaru—was probably something only Lord Yuto would dare to do.
"Let's go, Little Mei. It's been so long; I wonder how the village is doing." Yuto stretched lazily, turning to Terumi Mei.
"Ah!" Terumi Mei let out a sudden yelp, her face flushing as she quickly turned away.
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