Manda was somewhat moved. This was the first time a human had proposed becoming brothers with it, especially such a top-tier genius.
"I, of course, am willing!" Manda said softly.
Uchiha Ryun smiled. "Then it's settled."
So Uchiha Ryun and Manda took dirt as incense.
"By the Sage of Six Paths above, today I, Uchiha Ryun, and Manda of Ryūchi Cave swear to become brothers. We do not seek to be born on the same day, but we vow to die on the same day." Uchiha Ryun said sincerely.
Manda repeated Uchiha Ryun's words, and thus the two became brothers.
Afterward, Manda coiled around the trees and brought them over. Uchiha Ryun used his kunai to cut them into pieces and arranged them into a bonfire.
Then, Uchiha Ryun clapped his hands together. "Fire Release: Great Fireball!" He controlled the fireball to a small size, lit the bonfire, and then ended the technique.
The bonfire crackled as it burned. Uchiha Ryun used a kunai to slice the meat, cutting the venison into pieces similar to the thickness of a steak.
He then skewered them with wooden sticks. He handed the meat to Manda while he went to set up a wooden stand. Holding the meat the entire time would have been too foolish.
Once everything was ready, Uchiha Ryun placed the skewered venison on the wooden stand. The meat visibly transformed from bloody and raw to fragrant and cooked.
Manda, watching from the side, couldn't help but swallow its saliva. It had always eaten raw prey in its life, but this was the first time it had smelled roasted meat. It seemed far more delicious than anything it had eaten before.
Noticing Manda's expression, Uchiha Ryun chuckled. He took out seasonings—salt, cumin powder—sprinkled them on, brushed a layer of oil, then flipped the meat. Once it was nearly done, he added more seasoning.
After about ten minutes, the venison steak was fully cooked. Uchiha Ryun took half of it, skewered it with another stick, and handed it to Manda.
Manda accepted the roasted meat without hesitation. "Thanks," it said before swallowing it whole. The perfectly cooked venison was tender and juicy, bursting with flavor, mixed with the unique aroma of cumin and oil. The taste was something anyone who tried it would praise.
Its eyes lit up. "Delicious! Hey, Ryun, how did you make this meat so fragrant?" It was far better than raw food. It licked its lips.
Uchiha Ryun picked up the venison with both hands, took a bite, and tore off a piece. He chewed while hissing. "Hot, hot, hot!" Not wanting to waste the delicious meat, he kept chewing slowly, waiting for it to cool.
Seeing this, Manda used its tail to fetch a bucket and drew water from the lake for Uchiha Ryun. Uchiha Ryun swallowed the meat and didn't bother with the bucket.
He lowered his head and took a sip. A refreshing coolness spread through his mouth, soothing the earlier heat.
Uchiha Ryun looked up with a smile. "Thanks, brother."
"It's nothing. You still haven't told me why your roasted venison is so tasty." Manda grinned.
Uchiha Ryun answered honestly. "Venison is naturally tender and juicy. Adding salt and cumin, then brushing it with oil makes it crispy outside and tender inside, full of flavor."
"In short, the meat quality is good, the seasonings are complete, and the cook knows what he's doing. Plus, the hunter did a great job catching it!" Uchiha Ryun credited both himself and Manda for the success of the roast.
Manda understood and chuckled. "Alright, Ryun, hurry up and eat. After this, we still have Sage training." Manda reminded him.
Uchiha Ryun nodded, eating while hissing and muttering, "So good, such great meat, so delicious!"
Manda shook its head and gazed into the distance.
A short while later, Uchiha Ryun was full. He rubbed his stuffed belly and let out a satisfied burp.
"So full..." he sighed.
Manda lowered its body. "Hop on. I'll take you to the training area."
Uchiha Ryun nodded. He quickly climbed onto Manda's head and sat down. Manda didn't even feel his weight—it was negligible.
Manda slithered swiftly toward the denser part of the forest. Uchiha Ryun used his Susanoo to shield himself and Manda from the branches.
In just two or three minutes, they arrived at the training ground. Manda lowered its head, and Uchiha Ryun jumped down.
"Ryun, start your training. I'll take my leave now." Without waiting for a response, Manda turned and left.
Uchiha Ryun composed himself. He closed and opened his eyes—Sage Mode, activated! Golden scales covered his body, his skin turned jade-white, and the Sage markings appeared on his face, resembling a helmet protecting his jaw.
He then began absorbing Sage Chakra. "Sage Art: White Rage Technique!" A dragon and a smaller dragon phantom flew out. The two dragon orbs collided, and instantly, white light, tremors, and explosions erupted.
A dozen trees were obliterated in the blast. But Uchiha Ryun was still unsatisfied. Recalling White Snake Sage's attack yesterday, which had destroyed nearly a hundred trees, his technique paled in comparison.
And so, Uchiha Ryun trained day after day—eating, sleeping, and repeating. On the fifteenth day, without even opening his mouth, he spread his arms, and three golden dragons materialized behind him.
Under his guidance, the three dragons flew toward a designated area and collided. Instantly, the entire forest trembled. A blinding white light shot into the sky, and the explosion shook the heavens.
White Snake Sage was startled and rushed out of Ryūchi Cave, arriving beside Uchiha Ryun in an instant.
She stared at the scene in shock. Nearly five hundred trees had been reduced to dust. The ground still quaked, and the white light persisted.
The culprit behind this destruction stood nearby, smiling. 'I did it! I finally mastered it! The White Rage Technique is now complete!'
Ding! "Detected host has mastered the Sage Art: White Rage Technique and reached perfection. Reward: White Rage Technique evolution, renamed as Nine Dragons Shining Heaven Technique."
"Nine Dragons Shining Heaven Technique: By channeling Sage Chakra, nine golden dragons are summoned instantly. Three sets of three make nine, hence it is the evolved version of White Rage Technique. Its power is also three times that of the original."
The system explained while inputting the techniques and methods of the Nine Dragons Shining Heaven Technique into Uchiha Ryun's mind.
"Uchiha Ryun, you succeeded. Mastering the Sage Art: White Rage Technique in just half a month is simply mon..." Before White Snake Sage could finish,
Uchiha Ryun raised his hands. Nine golden dragons, each holding an orb in their mouths, appeared behind him. White Snake Sage froze. "Holy—cheating?!!!"
The nine dragons soared into the distance. The nine orbs collided, and for a moment, the world fell silent. Then, a blinding white light erupted, annihilating everything in its path.
The range covered about fifteen hundred trees. White Snake Sage quickly said, "Ryun, Uchiha Ryun, stop this technique! Half the forest outside Ryūchi Cave is gone!"
"What? I can't hear you!" Uchiha Ryun's hearing was affected by the intense vibrations. He was confused. Trying to read White Snake Sage's lips was useless—human and snake mouth movements were entirely different.
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