Naruto: Eating Kaido's Azure Dragon Devil Fruit-Chapter 251: The Confident Tagitsuhime

Ryūchi Cave.

Within the dark, damp cave, the White Snake Sage was still coiled on her stone throne, a long-stemmed pipe emitting a wisp of smoke.

Below, the Great Sage Kōjinja, responsible for gathering information, was respectfully reporting the latest news gathered from all over the shinobi world concerning Sora.

"...That is all regarding the performance of ’Azure Dragon’ Sora during the decisive battle five days ago." Kōjinja finished speaking and gave a slight bow.

The White Snake Sage slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, a glint of light flashing in her golden serpentine pupils.

"Stopping the Third Raikage’s Two-Finger Hellstab head-on... Using a clone to intercept a Tailed Beast Bomb... Finally, that peculiar staff, and the energy burst far exceeding his usual level..."

She softly repeated the key information, her eyes growing brighter with each sentence.

"Such pure true dragon majesty... He is still growing rapidly. Moreover, are you certain that the vast energy he finally erupted with was mixed with dense natural energy?"

"Yes, White Snake Sage."

Kōjinja nodded affirmatively. "Although it was through the image from the memory crystal, the nature of that energy is unmistakable. It was definitely not ordinary chakra. It was full of the wildness and ferocity of nature, originating from the same source as the natural energy utilized by those from Myobokuzan and Shikkotsu Forest, but..."

She paused, choosing her words carefully.

"But the aura contained within it carried the majesty and antiquity of the ’dragon’ that our Ryūchi Cave seeks. It is absolutely not something those other two places can match."

The White Snake Sage nodded slightly, falling into thought.

Natural energy is the key to senjutsu training.

Myobokuzan, Shikkotsu Forest, and Ryūchi Cave, the three great sacred lands each have their own senjutsu inheritance, the core of which is guiding and harnessing natural energy.

The simultaneous appearance of pure dragon majesty and powerful natural energy on Sora inevitably made her have some associations.

"Have those old toads from Myobokuzan, or that slug from Shikkotsu Forest, had any contact with him?"

The White Snake Sage asked, a hint of urgency in her tone.

If the other two places got ahead and established a connection with this existence possessing the secret of the true dragon, it would undoubtedly be a huge loss for Ryūchi Cave.

Kōjinja answered cautiously.

"According to reports from our spies planted on the periphery of Myobokuzan, and cross-verification from multiple intelligence sources, no direct contact between Myobokuzan or Shikkotsu Forest and Sora has been discovered so far."

"Furthermore, the ’quality’ of the natural energy Sora utilizes is completely different from that of those two places. It is more violent, and also more... noble."

Upon hearing this, a flash of understanding appeared in the White Snake Sage’s eyes.

"It seems... this natural energy does not originate from external inheritance, but from himself."

She reached a conclusion, her voice carrying a hint of barely suppressed excitement. "It is the natural energy that his own awakened true dragon bloodline stirred and absorbed on its own."

This meant Sora’s potential was far more terrifying than she had initially estimated.

He did not need to rely on the inheritance of any sacred land. He himself was evolving towards the path of a "true dragon".

For Ryūchi Cave, which had been tirelessly seeking the path of becoming a dragon for countless ages but never found the way, this was like the only light in the darkness.

"We must bind him to our Ryūchi Cave before he fully matures, or before his true value is discovered by other forces."

The White Snake Sage made her decision.

She looked at Tagitsuhime standing in attendance below.

"Tagitsuhime."

"Yes, White Snake Sage-sama."

Tagitsuhime swayed forward a step, her enchanting face wearing an eager expression.

The White Snake Sage instructed.

"You go to the shinobi world again. Find Sora."

"Take our Ryūchi Cave’s highest-level goodwill and sincerity. You may appropriately reveal some information about senjutsu and natural energy to test his attitude."

"Tell him the gates of Ryūchi Cave are always open to him. The senjutsu knowledge and accumulation we possess might help him better control the power growing within him and take fewer detours."

She paused, then added.

"Remember, lower your posture. Approach him as a collaborator, not as a lofty envoy from a sacred land. This boy has a strong will and extremely high vigilance. Coercion and temptation will only backfire. If we can earn his trust, even just preliminary cooperation, it would be a priceless treasure for our Ryūchi Cave."

"Understood, White Snake Sage-sama."

Tagitsuhime responded with a coquettish laugh, licking her red lips, her eyes sparkling with a light of determination. "I will definitely let that little brother feel our Ryūchi Cave’s ’enthusiasm’ and sincerity."

She seemed to already see the rewards from the White Snake Sage after the successful mission, and the benefits that could come from close contact with that youth bearing the secret of the true dragon.

The White Snake Sage nodded and waved her hand.

Tagitsuhime bowed and left the cave.

The huge cave was left with only the faint sound of the White Snake Sage puffing on her pipe, and the increasingly fervent anticipation in her eyes.

"True dragon... The path of becoming a dragon... The hope lies with this child..."

...

Konohagakure, the Hokage’s office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind his desk with a pipe in his mouth, holding an urgent battle report just delivered by a messenger hawk from the Kumogakure frontlines.

In the report, Akimichi Torifu, in an extremely serious and even slightly awed tone, described in detail the process of the decisive battle five days ago.

Especially regarding the performance of "Green Snake", no, it should be "Azure Dragon" Sora now, who turned the tide.

"...Stood firm against the Third Raikage’s ’Two-Finger Hellstab’ without being defeated. Used a clone to intercept the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki’s Tailed Beast Bomb, indirectly creating the opportunity to heavily injure Killer B... In this battle, Azure Dragon deserves the highest credit. The strength he displayed is firmly at Kage-level. Truly a blessing for our Konoha."

Kage-level indeed.

Thirteen years old and Kage-level.

Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly put down the report, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the desk.

His heart was in turmoil.

Was he happy? Of course he was.

At a critical moment of the war, such powerful combat strength appearing on their side, single-handedly turning the battle situation, forcing Kumogakure to retreat, winning precious breathing space for Konoha, this was undoubtedly wonderful news.

But accompanying the happiness was a deeper shock and a hint of an indescribable... unease.

He knew Sora had exceptional talent and extraordinary perseverance, able to open the third of the Eight Gates at six or seven years old, which was why he exceptionally recruited him into the Anbu and nurtured him carefully.

But he never imagined the growth speed could be so terrifying.

In just a few years, he had leaped from an orphan he secretly looked after to a Kage-level existence capable of facing the veteran powerhouse Third Raikage head-on.

This already exceeded the category of "genius", bordering on "monstrous".

Moreover, that half-dragon, half-human form Sora displayed, that peculiar giant pillar transformed from his summoned creature, and that vast energy he finally erupted with, which even Akimichi Torifu found difficult to accurately describe...

All of this reeked of mystery and the unknown.

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