"Fire?"
Xu Ming tilted his head in confusion.
His natural affinity with the fire element wasn't particularly strong, so why did his Sage Transformation manifest with fire-attribute changes in his eyes?
"This power is intense, with the same concentration and piercing quality as light. It feels as if it can ignite a target just by looking at it..."
Xu Ming carefully analyzed the abilities of his new eyes.
After a moment, he nodded in satisfaction, then took out a pair of contact lenses he had prepared in advance and placed them in his eyes.
Orochimaru might have needed time to contemplate, but Xu Ming didn't.
He dove straight into the process of Sage Transformation.
The knowledge provided by the system had already paved a path to divinity, allowing him to reach godhood in this era.
"A new powerful weapon at my disposal... but unfortunately, nowhere to test it."
Xu Ming sighed.
However, considering the timeline, the Second Ninja War was about to begin. Within a few years of his graduation, he would likely be heading to the battlefield.
"I'm looking forward to it," he muttered with narrowed eyes.
A Few Days Later
In the secluded forest where Xu Ming and Orochimaru trained, two unfamiliar figures approached.
"There, ahead," Uzumaki Mito said, glancing to the left.
Three kilometers away, a chaotic and violent aura rippled outward like a ferocious beast preparing for battle.
And not far from that presence, about three hundred meters away, another powerful energy surged.
This one wasn't chaotic or aggressive, but it burned with intensity, like a raging fire ready to consume everything.
"A second one?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Uzumaki Mito's face.
Had another young ninja mastered this strange power—similar to Sage Mode—in just three days?
Too fast.
No… considering who it was, perhaps it was expected.
After all, it was Xu Ming.
"Is something wrong, Lady Mito?" the Third Hokage asked.
"Your two disciples have given me quite the surprise," Mito replied with a smile.
"A surprise?"
"You'll see soon enough."
Without further discussion, the Third Hokage followed Mito as they pressed on.
Both were highly skilled ninjas, covering ground with speed and ease.
Within half an hour, they arrived at a small pool.
"Orochimaru?"
The Third Hokage's eyes locked onto a figure submerged in the water, his expression one of shock.
"What's going on with his aura and appearance?"
His gaze lingered on Orochimaru, who sat waist-deep in the pond. Two thin, horizontal scales, resembling snake skin, had formed around his eyes. A cold, damp aura radiated from him.
But beneath that cold exterior lurked something ferocious, something wild.
It was as if the young ninja before them had transformed into a ruthless, predatory serpent.
"Sensei, Lady Mito..."
Orochimaru slowly opened his eyes, revealing a pair of emerald-green, snake-like pupils. His hoarse voice carried an eerie, unsettling undertone.
"It's been a while."
He smiled, the chilling presence around him softening—though not entirely vanishing.
Even so, the Third Hokage felt his body instinctively tense, his muscles coiling, urging him to draw a weapon.
"You've mastered Sage Transformation quite well," Uzumaki Mito noted, her tone calm despite the astonishment in her eyes.
"You know about Sage Transformation?" Orochimaru's gaze shifted to her, curiosity flickering in his eerie eyes.
A shiver ran down Mito's spine.
For a split second, it felt as though she was being watched by a monstrous serpent in the wild.
"I heard about it from Hashirama," she said, exhaling to steady herself. "Aside from the Sage Modes of the Three Great Holy Lands, there exist creatures that can naturally absorb and refine natural energy, causing drastic transformations in their bodies."
"I see..."
Orochimaru nodded and stood up from the water.
As he emerged, the unsettling aura around him rapidly dissipated.
In mere seconds, his appearance returned to normal, and the scales faded from his skin.
The cold-blooded, feral presence was gone—leaving behind only a quiet, reserved young man.
"Incredible," the Third Hokage murmured, watching the transformation.
For a brief moment, Orochimaru's presence had made even a battle-hardened veteran like him feel threatened.
His power had undoubtedly grown—perhaps even approaching his own level.
"So, did you two develop Sage Mode on your own?" the Third Hokage asked.
"Our technique isn't Sage Mode, but Sage Transformation," Orochimaru corrected. "Sage Mode refines natural energy into Senjutsu Chakra by mixing it with one's own chakra. Sage Transformation, on the other hand, directly integrates natural energy into the body itself."
"...I see," the Third Hokage muttered, intrigued by the revelation.
But he set aside his questions and turned to Mito.
"Where is Xu Ming?"
"Training on the mountain over there," Orochimaru pointed.
The Third Hokage followed his gaze, then turned to Mito for confirmation.
"Shall we see your other disciple?" she suggested with a smile. "I'd like to speak with Orochimaru in the meantime."
"Alright."
The Third Hokage nodded and made his way toward the mountain.
On the Mountain
Thanks to chakra, even steep terrain posed no challenge for an experienced ninja.
In just a few minutes, the Third Hokage neared the summit.
However, about fifty meters from the top, a sudden wave of heat struck him.
The air became thick and suffocating, the temperature soaring as though he had stepped from cool autumn air into the peak of summer.
Hot. Dry. Scorching.
Beneath the sun's glare, the ground seemed to burn like a furnace.
"This change in temperature..."
The Third Hokage's eyes narrowed.
Looking up at the mountaintop, he saw what appeared to be a second sun—a blazing sphere of light radiating intense heat.
"Xu Ming," he called out, stepping forward.
Noticing his approach, Xu Ming slowly opened his eyes.
A strange cross-shaped pattern gleamed within his pupils, burning a brilliant orange as if light itself flickered within.
A golden ring surrounded his irises, emitting a radiant glow.
Boom!
The moment his eyes opened, the air seemed to combust.
The temperature soared to extreme levels.
Winds whipped outward, carrying waves of intense heat.
Crackle!
Grass withered instantly, insects shriveled, and moisture evaporated. Flames spontaneously ignited along the ground.
The Third Hokage's expression darkened.
He immediately leaped back, retreating dozens of steps—only stopping when he was fifty meters away, beyond the scorching heat's range.
"What terrifying heat!"
He glanced at his arm, surprised to find his skin reddened, as if lightly burned.
Sweat poured from his body. His robes clung to his skin, drenched.
For the first time in years, he felt as though he was standing before something truly otherworldly.
Xu Ming's power was unlike anything he had encountered before.
And it was only the beginning.