Naruto: Eating Kaido's Azure Dragon Devil Fruit-Chapter 295: The Passage of Time

After leaving the border of the Land of Keys, Sora slowed his pace, his mind replaying the strange ocular technique Hanare had used earlier.

’The waters of the shinobi world are indeed deeper than imagined,’ he sighed inwardly.

All kinds of bizarre Kekkei Genkai, secret techniques, and ocular techniques emerged endlessly.

If he hadn’t known a bit about Hanare today, and if he hadn’t held a shred of goodwill towards Hanare, a character who was relatively positive in the original story, and if it had been someone else daring to pry into his memories like that.

He wouldn’t have minded giving her a taste of, "Boro Breath".

...

Two days later.

Based on the intelligence obtained from the Land of Keys, Sora arrived deep in the dense forest near Kikyōyama.

He had already checked the first marked location, and the result was disappointing.

It had indeed been one of Orochimaru’s hideouts, but it was long abandoned, leaving behind only some insignificant experimental residue. It had clearly been relocated recently.

’Crafty rabbits have three burrows. Orochimaru probably has thirty or more.’

Sora was not surprised by this.

At this moment, he was concealed within the canopy of a large tree, blending with the surrounding natural environment.

His gaze was fixed on the entrance to a cave not far away, concealed by vines and a genjutsu barrier.

Sora activated his unique sensory ability, silently infiltrating the cave, bypassing the outer traps and alert seals, and delving deep inside.

The scene inside the cave slowly took shape in his mind like a three-dimensional map.

Several winding passages leading downward, a few spacious stone chambers.

In one of the stone chambers, several people with weak chakra fluctuations were busy.

And in a larger stone chamber next to it, several huge glass cultivation tanks were placed.

Inside the tanks floated indescribable biological tissues, some twisted into humanoid shapes, others mixed with beast-like features.

The air seemed to be filled with a strange aura interwoven with intense vitality and death.

Sora focused his perception on the experimental table in the center of the stone chamber, where a large number of scrolls and notes were scattered.

’That’s it. It’s the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique.’

Sora’s mind settled.

This was indeed one of Orochimaru’s core research bases.

These materials and equipment clearly pointed towards research on the forbidden art of immortality.

Unfortunately, Orochimaru himself was not here.

Moreover, the defensive barriers inside the base were layered, especially in that core stone chamber, which was filled with sensitive energy-triggering devices.

’If only I had a space-time ninjutsu like Uchiha Obito’s that allowed free movement...’ 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Sora couldn’t help but think.

Then he could infiltrate directly and examine all the materials without anyone knowing, but unfortunately, he couldn’t.

Sora withdrew his perception and quietly retreated.

Without stopping, he headed to the third location marked in the intelligence, located in the Forest of Death.

The result was similar.

’Two main bases operating simultaneously, data cross-referencing, possibly even backing each other up... As expected of you, Orochimaru.’

Although Sora had long wanted to eliminate Orochimaru, he couldn’t help but admire Orochimaru’s caution and scientific research spirit.

However, no matter how cunning the fox, it cannot escape a skilled hunter.

Now that the target was locked, all that remained was to wait patiently.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

Poof! Poof!

Two puffs of white smoke appeared, and two shadow clones identical to Sora materialized.

Sora ordered,

"Guard these two places. Monitor any personnel entering or exiting closely, especially Orochimaru himself."

"If there is any unusual activity, immediately dispel the clones and send the information back."

"Understood."

The two shadow clones nodded and proceeded to stealthily move towards the two bases.

...

Inside Konoha village, by the familiar small river behind the orphanage.

Due to Namikaze Minato’s activity on the front lines, Konoha had gained the upper hand in the war. Sora, this "severely wounded" soldier, was quite content with the leisure.

Taking off his outer coat, Sora began his daily, grueling training.

The awakening of the Azure Dragon Fruit still seemed distant, as if separated by an invisible barrier.

All he could do was continuously temper this body and excavate its deeper potential.

"Eight Gates, Sixth Gate: Gate of View, open!"

Boom!

A green energy aura erupted from his body.

Immediately after, lightning flashed within him.

"Lightning Release Chakra Mode!"

Crackle!

Silver lightning intertwined with the green energy, forming a violent and powerful energy cloak on his body surface.

A powerful sense of strength filled his limbs and bones.

In the next moment, Sora’s figure moved.

He didn’t use any fancy taijutsu, only the most basic dashes, punches, and kicks.

Each strike erupted with terrifying speed and power, the air bursting with sonic booms.

This high-intensity, compounded load training imposed monstrous demands on physical fitness.

Gritting his teeth, Sora persevered, feeling his muscle fibers becoming tougher amidst tearing and regeneration, and his chakra pathways slowly widening under the impact.

While he was training, in the shadows of the distant forest, an Anbu wearing an animal mask appeared silently. After observing for a moment, they quietly retreated.

...

The Hokage’s office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the scene of Sora training diligently in the crystal ball.

He put down his pipe and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke.

The Anbu’s report still echoed in his ears,

"Lord Azure Dragon is still training by the river. His chakra fluctuations are stable. His injuries... seem to be recovering well."

Recovering well?

A trace of complexity flashed in Sarutobi Hiruzen’s eyes.

Of course he knew Sora’s "severe injuries" were suspicious, and so did Orochimaru.

But now, the situation on the front lines was excellent. Sora’s prestige in the army was growing daily, even showing signs of surpassing the older generation of powerhouses.

This made him feel a hint of unease and a sense of being difficult to control.

’Forget it. Since he doesn’t want to go, let him stay in the village.’

’At least... within sight.’

Sarutobi Hiruzen finally shook his head and stopped paying attention to the scene in the crystal ball.

...

...

Time, like the flow of the river water, moved forward silently.

One year later.

By the small river behind the orphanage, the scenery remained the same.

"Eight Gates, Seventh Gate: Gate of Wonder, open!"

Rumble!

A more majestic, more intense blue steam than a year ago surged into the sky.

Sora’s skin turned crimson red, his entire body covered in terrifying blue energy, veins bulging, but his eyes were incredibly sharp.

Placing both fists at his waist, he compressed the air in front of him through extreme force and speed, then violently thrust them forward.

"Daytime Tiger!"

Roar!

A white tiger, completely formed from highly compressed air, roared as it blasted from his hands.

The tiger’s body was solid, its texture clear, carrying an aura to destroy everything as it slammed into the mountain wall across the river.

Boom!!!

A deafening roar erupted.

The solid mountain wall opposite instantly exploded into a huge crater dozens of meters in diameter. Rubble flew in all directions, dust filling the air.

The power and control were more than a step stronger than a year ago.

The energy slowly dissipated as Sora released the Eight Gates state, the blue steam around him fading.

He breathed slightly heavily, assessing his physical condition.

His muscles were somewhat sore, his chakra consumption immense, but the extreme fatigue that should have accompanied opening the Seventh Gate did not appear.

Moving his limbs, Sora looked at his clenched fist, a satisfied curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

’As expected of a Mythical Zoan... This body’s recovery and endurance are simply monstrous.’

A year of grueling training not only allowed him to completely stabilize and master the first seven gates of the Eight Gates, but his basic physical fitness had also made substantial progress.

Although the awakening of the Azure Dragon Fruit still had no clues.

But Sora could feel that the Azure Dragon sleeping deep within his bloodline had become somewhat more solid.

He looked up towards the directions of the two bases monitored by his shadow clones.

’Orochimaru... your Living Corpse Reincarnation should be almost complete too, right?’

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