In the forest, Aoba moved swiftly through the treetops. He occasionally glanced back to ensure no one was following him.
He didn't trust Orochimaru—this guy was moody and a madman who defied humanity. Once targeted by him, Aoba feared he wouldn't even sleep well at night.
Wrapped in a whirlwind, Aoba moved like a master of ancient Chinese qinggong. With just a light step on a leaf, he could glide dozens of meters.
This was entirely different from ordinary ninjas who used Chakra to jump between trees.
After traveling dozens of miles and confirming no one was following, Aoba finally relaxed.
Finding a hidden cave, he set up a series of warning traps before sitting down to rest.
Tonight's entire operation—from manipulating the wind to send Orochimaru a message and arranging the meeting, to charging ahead in battle, and then staying fully focused during the transaction with Orochimaru—had left him utterly exhausted.
Aoba's original Chakra affinities were wind and lightning. He commonly used wind techniques, while lightning techniques served as his trump card, not to be used lightly.
So far, he had only used it once against the Raikage. Utilizing electromagnetic acceleration, he fired a steel pellet.
Unfortunately, the technique was still underdeveloped at the time, and the attack was too slow. It gave the Raikage time to react, ultimately only severing his little finger, which had little impact on him.
Still, the technique briefly intimidated the Raikage, allowing Aoba to escape.
However, this move wasn't very effective against Orochimaru, mainly because Orochimaru's shedding-style substitution technique was downright unfair.
Against Orochimaru, Aoba had prepared another trump card, but fortunately, he didn't need to use it in the end.
Because Aoba's Chakra was running low.
This world ultimately valued bloodline and background. As a civilian ninja without either, Kamikawa Aoba inevitably shared the same weakness as all civilian ninjas—too little Chakra.
The fundamental reason he used a sword and developed wind-based ninja taijutsu was precisely this. He also wished he could clap his hands and summon whatever he wanted.
But he couldn't. His Chakra wasn't enough to cast large-scale ninjutsu more than a few times, forcing him to rely on his sword and close combat.
This problem wasn't unsolvable. As a transmigrator, Aoba knew several ways to address his Chakra shortage.
The first option was a Tailed Beast. Becoming a Jinchuriki would naturally solve his Chakra problem.
But Aoba's current combat strength was still insufficient to face a Jinchuriki, so this path was temporarily unfeasible.The second method is the Sage Mode he is currently training in. As long as he can overcome the petrification issue caused by natural energy, he can absorb large amounts of it to enter Sage Mode. Natural energy will then partially replace his Chakra.
In this way, it indirectly increases his Chakra reserves. The key point is that after incorporating natural energy, the effects of all ninjutsu are significantly enhanced. Sage Mode offers comprehensive improvements, which is why it's currently Aoba's main focus.
Additionally, there's a backup plan: transplanting the First Hokage's cells.
The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, likely possessed an innate Sage Body. By transplanting his cells and acquiring some of the Sage Body's traits, Chakra would naturally no longer be an issue. Moreover, there's a chance to obtain the Wood Release Bloodline Limit—a two-for-one deal.
After all, no one ever heard of the First Hokage running out of Chakra.
However, this method carries extremely high risks. Out of countless test subjects, only Yamato survived. Aoba doesn't believe he'd be lucky enough to be among the survivors.
He actually knows ways to reduce the risks and increase success rates, but they're currently unavailable. Thus, this method remains a backup plan for future use—one that requires extensive preparation.
There are other feasible options, but they're all temporarily unattainable. For example, Tsunade's Strength of a Hundred Seal.
Forget even finding Tsunade. Mastering this technique demands not only exceptional Chakra control but also profound expertise in sealing jutsu.
And sealing jutsu is somewhat out of reach for a civilian ninja like Aoba.
Another idea Aoba once had was the Dragon Vein from the Land of Demons. He wondered if sealing the Dragon Vein within himself could grant him Tailed Beast-level Chakra without the risk of losing control.
Unfortunately, achieving this would require even more advanced sealing techniques—something he has little hope of accomplishing in the short term.
Alternatively, finding Kisame Hoshigaki and stealing Samehada could also compensate for his weakness. But searching the vast Shinobi World for Kisame is no easy task.
By the time Kisame joins Akatsuki, locating him would be easier—but then he'd be partnered with Itachi Uchiha, making any attempt futile.
After careful consideration, Kamikawa Aoba decided to focus first on completing his Sage Mode—a trump card of the highest caliber—before gradually pursuing other options.
For now, he'll strengthen himself through other means. The recently acquired Kusanagi Sword is one such example.
As a swordsman, obtaining a divine weapon like the Kusanagi Sword boosted his combat power by 30 to 50 percent.
The sword is not only nearly indestructible but also excels in Chakra conduction. Most importantly, the one Orochimaru gave him can extend or retract at will—a dream weapon for any swordsman.
After taking a Soldier Pill to restore some Chakra, Aoba had no intention of reuniting with his teammates.
After all, the current situation where everyone is out of contact was deliberately orchestrated by him—precisely so he could move freely.After resting for a while, Aoba immediately began meditating to train his Sage Mode.
At dawn the next day, fully rested, Aoba left the cave. However, he didn't head straight back to the Land of Fire but instead traveled in another direction.
The Five Great Nations themselves weren't directly adjacent to each other; they were separated by various small countries and villages.
For example, the Land of Waterfalls, which he had visited earlier, was a small country between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth.
There were many such small nations along the borders of the great nations, like the Land of Rice, the Land of Hot Water, and the Land of Grass, where Aoba was now heading.