When it came to sensing natural energy, Masashi believed he was among the most adept of his geion.

  In the shinobi world, natural energy wasn't a force humans could directly harness. This external energy required perception, and the ability to perceive it came from mental or life energy surpassing the norm.

  Regarding chakra, senjutsu chakra, and even the so-called Yin-Yang Release, Yin-Yang Power, and Six Paths Power, Masashi, after gathering insights from separate lifetimes, had his own uanding.

  Chakra was posed of mental energy and physical energy, and every person in this world ily possessed chakra.

  For a ninja to use chakra, they must first draw upon their mental and physical energy, f chakra in a process called densatio came trolling the chakra to perform jutsu.

  For an ordinary person to use chakra, both densation and trol were essential.

  Chakra wasn't an alien force to this world, but it was first created by the God Tree. Through the God Tree, humanity came tnize chakra and began to study and wield it.

  The God Tree, during the formation of its chakra fruit, also absorbed natural energy from the earth, water, and air.

  The first chakra of this world was thus posed of the God Tree's mental energy, life energy, and the natural energy of this world. This principle was identical to that of senjutsu chakra.

  The inal chakra was first wielded by ōtsutsuki Kaguya. After giving birth to her two sons, Hagoromo and Hamura, Hagoromo ied more of the God Tree's power, while Hamura ied more of the ōtsutsuki 's inal abilities.

  Hagoromo's desdants further divided the God Tree's power. On this basis, Indra ied more of Hagoromo's mental energy, while Asura ied more of his physical energy.

  Whewo brothers densed chakra, their chakra was ily different, possessiraordinary effects.

  Indra's chakra, infused with an unusual level of mental energy, maed as ocur piving rise to the Sharingan.

  Asura, through arduous training, fully unlocked his physical potential. His chakra reserves rivaled those of the tailed beasts, he possessed exceptional regeive abilities and endurance, and, most importantly, he could turn any ordinary jutsu into somethiraordinary.

  her was ily superior; however, Indra's ocur pave him a higher starting point, whereas Asura, beginning as an ordinary person, had to achieve greathrough releraining.

  This uential passed down through their bloodlines, creating the Uchiha and Senju s.

  The Uchiha saw power in the eyes, the Senju in the body.

  her of these s had seen anyone like Masashi, who could successfully harhe strengths of both.

  In the past, circumstances simply didn't allow it. But the strength of Konoha and the unity of the Uchiha gave him the enviro o build his power.

  The result of harnessing both sides? His sensory abilities exceeded all normal limits. Without this advantage, mastering the Flying Thunder God would've been impossible.

  Seated cross-legged on the ground, he began to perceive natural energy. The process required absolute focus.

  One mistake with natural energy and I'll end up as garden decoration. ly the legacy I'm aiming for.

  There was no way to describe it precisely. He could se, but the 'flow' of natural energy seemed utterly chaotic, without pattern. It was simply there, moving wildly. Like trying to catch smoke with bare hands.

  He eve like he could absorb a bit—though whether that was an illusion or not, he wouldn't dare attempt it.

  In Mount Myōboku, the sequences of failing to trol absorbed natural energy were petrification. Ryūchi Cave likely wouldn't petrify someone, snakes probably weren't keen oing sto it couldn't end well either.

  Bold experimentation and reckless behavior were not the same thing.

  The natural energy began to take shape under Masashi's awareness, arranging itself into distinct patterns.

  He 'saw' it—arahe energy verged into a clear pathway.

  As long as he released his chakra, he could enter.

  He ceased his sensory efforts and stood up, brushing the dirt off himself. His clothes were coated in dust.

  After cheg his gear and stretg a bit, he grabbed the dazed jonin standing nearby and released his chakra.

  The enviro began to distort, as if the world was flipping upside down. Such distortion didn't faze Masashi, who was aced to the Flying Thunder God's effects.

  When the distortion reached its peak, the surroundings pletely ged. Moisture and stone, weathering together over time, had formed a cavern.

  Ryūchi Cave, true to its name, was an underground space—a massive cave.

  Unfortunately, it wasn't like a well-developed tourist spot oh, fitted with lights for people to admire. Here, the inhabitants were snakes, and they had no i in sic cave views.

  Still, there was light.

  It emanated from some lumi material embedded in the rocks, trated on the ceiling, resembling a starry sky.

  Before Masashi could grumble, sounds came from all dires in the darkness. His three-tomoe Sharingao life, illuminating multi-colored chakra trails before him.

  As the 'starlight' from above illuminated more of the space, the figures of the newers became clear.

  Snakes.

  Big ones.

  Small ones.

  They crawled in different ways—some slithered horizontally, while others, astonishingly, seemed to crawl upside down. Judging by the crowd, the tter wasn't moving by its own power.

  This sight was definitely not for ah ophidiophobia.

  Suppressing his impulse to strike first, he calmly said, "I've e to seek an audieh the White Snake Sage." Let's see if diplomacy works before we resort to force.

  The serpentine horde advanced. It seemed these smaller snakes had no intelligence. Just chakra-infused snakes. No value in keeping them alive.

  His attempt to call out had failed, so Masashi decided not to hold back. Besides, it was too dim in here for his liking.

  "Fire Style: Dragosu!"

  A jet of fire from his mouth morphed into a mighty dragon with powerful cws. The fiery beast spiraled through the air above the snake swarm.

  The dragon's massive frame ied those it touched. Snakes nearby were desiccated instantly, their water evaporating, leaving lifeless husks behind.

  In an instant, the horde, like a tide crashing onto the shore only to be pulled back by the waves, retreated in panic, scrambling to escape their natural predator.

  Masashi showed no mercy.

  Snakes incapable of uanding human words were of no value. Even if they were infused with chakra, this world's basic rule was simple: everyone had chakra; not everyone could use it.

  The same principle likely applied to Ryūchi Cave. These snakes were raised on natural energy, but that didn't guarantee much.

  Snakes probably birthed rge clutches at a time. He didn't know how many, but certainly more than humans.

  With his Sharingan, the entire cave was id bare before him.

  No snake could approach without his notice. The distant ones were burned, and those that came closer were sliced into pieces by wind, resemblily diced snake meat.

  Eventually, the juvenile snakes disappeared entirely, repced by a colossal figure. T high enough to nearly reach the cave ceiling, it was massive even at a distance.

  Masashi could feel the undisguised killing i radiating from the other side.

  Soon enough, simir figures emerged at other entrances of the cavern.

  The serpents had finally shown themselves.

  The killing i was overwhelming, thiough to make lesser shinobi freeze iracks.

  "You're finally out?" Masashi grinned as he observed. Through his Sharingaudied every detail of their movements, calg distances and angles.

  The body of the fire dragon faded slowly in the air, leaving behind only its seari.

  "Whie of you is takio the White Snake Sage?" His crimson Sharingan reflected the ferocious forms of the serpents.

  Their killing i crashed against his casual demeanor, but he didn't flinch.

  "This human is mine," hissed one serpent, speaking in human nguage.

  "Manda?" Masashi smirked at the familiar snake. "Did Orochimaru not feed you enough? Then again, if I actally kill you, I doubt he would mind."

  As the signature summon of Orochimaru, Manda was unmistakable to Masashi. After all, he was a shinobi of Konoha.

  But Manda did not sider himself allied with any Konoha ninja.

  Swinging his massive body, he lunged forward with an open maw, moving with ferocious speed, showing just how famished he was.

  And the into solid rock. The impact sent cracks spider-webbing across the cavern floor.

  As rubble scattered everywhere, Masashi, carrying the jonin, op Manda's head.

  "Damn brat! Stop jumping around!" he roared, shaking his head furiously, but Masashi stood firm, as if rooted to the spot.

  "You want to eat me? I am hungry too, w if sasted like chi like I heard." Masashi chuckled, further ing Manda's fury.

  Other serpents had already surrouhem. One among them articurly massive.

  The big snake shoved aside the others, hissing loudly, prompting the rest to withdraw. The golden pupils of the colossal serpent locked onto Masashi.

  Under him, Manda's body seemed to freeze momentarily.

  "You are a Konoha ninja, huh? Fine, I wo you," Manda sneered. "My wife seems to fancy you."

  "You snakes live in a matriarchal society, don't you?"

  "Wife?" Masashi g the colossal female serpent. "Manda, I didn't take you for such a sucker for love. Ma'am, you don't mind me bullying your backup husband, do you?"

  The enormous female serpent, ued in banter, stared greedily, her golden eyes fixated on Masashi. Her tongue flicked out, tasting his chakra in the air.

  This one would do, he nodded approvingly. Time to show them why the Uchiha are feared.

  If the Tailed Beasts were to rank their most disliked humans, the Uchiha would undoubtedly cim the top spot. Through geions of battle and domihey'd earhat hatred.

  The Uchiha 's aral teique was simple: domih their gaze. No fancy hand signs, no plex chakra manipution.

  No plex jutsu necessary—the Sharingan was the ultimate genjutsu.

  Though Masashi's ocur power could not pare to Madara's, these summoned beasts cked the willpower of a Tailed Beast.

  As their eyes met, his Sharingan overwhelmed the female serpent's will. The greed in her pupils disappeared, leaving behind a pair of golden Sharingan.

  With a light leap, he op the female serpent's head.

  Carrying the jonin was slightly inve, but this man o die somewhere discreet—not out here, aainly not in the bellies of the serpents.

  Some secrets o stay buried.

  The female serpent, now docile, lowered her head slightly, seemingly to make Masashi more fortable. Her submission was absolute.

  "Damn it! Damn it! What have you done?!" Seeing his goddess—or rather, her eyes—transformed into Masashi's shape, Manda was enraged beyond reason.

  His massive body thrashed, sending tremors through the cavern. "I'll devour you! Devour you!"

  "Annoying." Masashi clicked his tongue dismissively, watg the dispy.

  Poor Manda. Love made fools of us all.

  Even serpents found unreciprocated affe futile, though this one hadn't lear yet. Though not human, these serpents were far from mere beasts. Every male faced this paiually, regardless of form.

  The ws of love showed no mercy.

  Through the Sharingan's power, Masashi sent a simple and to the female serpent.

  She raised her head and hissed sharply at Manda.

  Manda's heart shattered as the serpent he adored hissed at him with ferocity. Heartbroken, he couldn't even process the betrayal before his goddess swuail with stunning force.

  The air whistled with the speed of her strike.

  With a deafening crack, the tail smmed into Manda's head, flipping him over entirely.

  The cavern trembled under Manda's sprawling body as it rolled away, saliva spraying, perhaps mixed with tears—if serpents could cry, that was.

  His massive form disappeared into the shadows.

  "Now that's more like it. 't grow without a little tough love, huh, Manda?"

  Masashi gave a thumbs-up to Manda's rolling form, then turo the other serpents, who now looked unsure.

  Grinning, he spread his fingers wide aured dramatically.

  "Go, Seviper!"

  "Hiss! Hiss!" The female serpent swayed eagerly.

  She barreled through the group with unbridled force, ramming and shing until the area was clear.

  Then, she charged deeper into the cavern with Masashi aboard.

  This ehe remaining serpents. Their hisses turned savage, eg off the walls.

  Perhaps some among them had their own affes for the colossal female serpent. Regardless, they refused to let her off and surrounded her with aggression, snapping fiercely.

  But such a challenge was no match for him.

  Though the female serpent's reflexes couldn't evade all attacks, Masashi's response was faster. Under his trol, she avoided every strike with slippery, uable movements, retaliating with equal ferocity.

  One by ohe other serpents were knocked away. They crashed into walls and each other.

  Suddenly, two more serpents emerged from another entrance, closing in from both sides.

  Before the female serpent could react, the serpent on the right was bitten by a rger one.

  It was Manda. His return was as violent as his exit.

  With cold, merciless eyes, he flung his unfortunate kin into the depths of the cavern.

  The other serpent, seemingly shocked by Manda's betrayal of his own kind, hesitated briefly before slithering away with even more dexterity than the female serpent had shown earlier.

  Now this is ued. Heartbreak makes monsters of us all.

  He couldn't hold bad shouted, "Manda, you're the MVP of Ryūchi Cave!"

  Manda wasn't amused. "Give me back my wife, you bastard!"

  Suddenly, a shadow was over them. A serpent coiled on the ceiling lunged with its maw wide open.

  The attack would crush both Masashi and the female serpent.

  Manda roared in rage, preparing to attack. His body coiled like a spring, muscles tensing.

  But before he could, Masashi leapt into the air and, to the attag serpent's surprise, nded a pun its jaw.

  The movement was too fast to follow.

  Boom!

  A thunderous explosion shook the cavern, sending shockwaves through the air.

  With that single punch, he drove the serpent bato the ceiling. Its body lodged into the rock, blood p from its maw.

  The serpent was dead. Its massive form went limp, suspended in the cratered ceiling.

  Years of Yang Release training had given Masashi this monstrous physical strength. One good punch was all he needed.