Uchiha Ryun opened his eyes and emerged from the dream world. He felt a weight lift from his heart and licked his lips, noticing a salty taste.
This meant his senses had returned. It had truly been a memorable dream. At that moment, he suddenly felt an itch on his chest.
He instinctively reached to scratch it, but White Snake Sage quickly appeared in front of him, grabbing his arm. "Uchiha Ryun, don't move! Channel your chakra now, don't scratch your chest!"
Ryun was startled but obeyed, suppressing the urge to scratch as he circulated his chakra. The itch on his chest immediately lessened.
Soon, golden dragon scales spread across his chest, forming golden armor that covered his torso and back. At the center of his chest, one scale grew in reverse.
White Snake Sage's pupils shrank, and her lips curled into a smile. 'The reverse scale. A dragon's reverse scale—touch it, and death follows. Only a perfect Dragon Sage Mode can manifest this.'
Next, purple markings appeared, forming a closed loop from his temples along his jawline, resembling a helmet that protected the sides of his face.
Ryun's skin became noticeably fairer. If he had once been described as rosy-cheeked, now he was outright pale.
His black hair cascaded down his back, making him look like a war god descended from the heavens. White Snake Sage watched in excitement. 'Yes, this is exactly how he appeared in my dream!'
Ding!
"Congratulations, Host. Through your own will and combat instincts, you have passed an enhanced version of the Sage Chakra trial. Reward: 200,000 points. Current points: 300,000. Keep up the good work."
Ryun's spirits lifted. 'Wait, what? An enhanced version of Sage Chakra?'
"White Snake Sage, let me ask—was the amount of Sage Chakra you gave me normal?" Ryun asked.
White Snake Sage froze. "Of course! Didn't you use ninjutsu during the trial?"
"I had no memory, no chakra, and my senses were sealed. How could I use ninjutsu?" Ryun shot her an annoyed look.
White Snake Sage was dumbfounded. 'What? He passed the Sage Chakra trial without memory or chakra and even conquered the Serpent of Despair?'
She studied Ryun carefully, thinking, 'Does this guy have the protagonist's script?'
She had assumed Ryun relied on tricks or his Sharingan to overcome the trial. But he hadn't used anything.
This guy…
"White Snake Sage, regardless, thank you." Ryun clasped his hands in gratitude. Now in Sage Mode, he felt his stamina, strength, and speed multiply exponentially.
If Uchiha Ryun had been Kage-level before, now he stood at the pinnacle of the shinobi world.
Moreover, after mastering Sage Mode, he seemed to have awakened something extraordinary—the reverse scale on his chest.
The reverse scale granted him Sage Art: Dragon Soul Annihilation Technique, targeting the soul. Mastery of this technique could shatter spirits and annihilate souls.
White Snake Sage chuckled and leaned in, inhaling Ryun's scent, invigorated. "Hehe, little one, you must have realized the benefits of Dragon Sage Mode. But this isn't enough."
"Raw power without technique means Dragon Sage Mode can only elevate you to Kage-level. Compared to Madara Uchiha or Hashirama Senju, you're still lacking."
"Why not stay for a while? I'll personally teach you Ryūchi Cave's Sage Arts. What do you say?" Her tone was unusually warm. After all, Ryun was now Ryūchi Cave's representative in the shinobi world. He couldn't afford to be weak.
"Thank you for your guidance, Sage." Ryun smiled.
Under White Snake Sage's tutelage, he began training in the forest.
She intended to teach him two Sage Arts.
The first: Sage Art: White Rage Technique.
White Snake Sage exhaled three white Sage Chakra dragons, each clutching a dragon pearl. They surged forward in unison. Upon reaching their target, the air molecules vibrated violently. The pearls emitted blinding light before exploding with deafening force.
In an instant, an entire section of the forest was reduced to dust.
Ryun's pupils contracted. 'This technique is far stronger than the one Kabuto used!'
White Snake Sage, pleased by his reaction, nodded. "The White Rage Technique is one of Ryūchi Cave's Sage Arts. Only those who have mastered Sage Mode can learn it."
She then transmitted the training method and her personal insights directly into Ryun's mind.
If Kabuto had known about this, he would've cursed the heavens. 'Why did I only get the basic instructions? Unfair!'
Next, White Snake Sage led Ryun to another part of the forest.
"Stand still. I'll demonstrate the second Sage Art. Don't worry, I won't hurt you." She began gathering Sage Chakra.
"Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation!"
As she spoke, Sage Chakra dispersed across the ground and trees. In an instant, the trees came alive, their trunks elongating to bind Ryun.
Startled, Ryun didn't resist and was hoisted into the air. Then, a spike shot up from the ground, stopping a hair's breadth from his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Ryun paled, swallowing hard.
White Snake Sage quickly dispersed the Sage Chakra, and the spike vanished.
"Uchiha Ryun, are you alright?" she asked with concern.
Ryun shook his head. "I'm fine. Sage, can you teach me this technique?"
"Of course. You are Ryūchi Cave's successor. These Sage Arts are meant for you." She transmitted the Inorganic Reincarnation method and her insights into his mind.
"The Inorganic Reincarnation technique uses Sage Chakra to grant life to inorganic matter. Mastery allows you to animate both organic and inorganic objects."
"Now, practice. You may return to the shinobi world only when you reach half my proficiency," she declared firmly.
Ryun reviewed the techniques and White Snake Sage's notes in his mind and couldn't help but marvel.
"White Snake Sage is incredibly thorough. With such detailed guidance, even a pig could learn these."
Kabuto wept silently in the distance.