In the silence and bitter cold, time flowed for an unknown duration, until the seated figure finally moved.
That cold gaze belonging to Takuno faded, replaced by the clear eyes unique to a youth, filled with a hint of bewilderment and confusion.
"Haku?" Jugo hurried forward, asking tentatively, his voice carrying a trace of nervousness.
"Yeah, Jugo, it's me." Haku shook his head, confirming the presence of his own consciousness, then immediately turned his head, his gaze eagerly casting toward Takuno's main body, which had already opened its eyes and regained consciousness.
He saw Takuno's brow slightly furrowed, seemingly lost in some deep contemplation, having encountered a difficult problem to solve.
"Lord Takuno—" Haku's voice dropped instantly, filled with deep disappointment, "Is it my body—"
"Did I fail to be of help to you?"
Takuno's brow relaxed slightly as he turned his gaze toward Haku, his tone affirmative. "No, you helped. I used your body to experience the fusion process of Ice Release; this will save me a vast amount of trial-and-error time later."
These were not mere words of comfort. Personally feeling the entire process of Ice-attribute Chakra from fusion to formation was like touching the blueprint of Ice Release fusion with his own hands.
Although this blueprint was already etched into Haku's genes, making it difficult for Takuno to experience the hardships a 'normal person' might encounter during the fusion process—which greatly reduced the effect—
Truly 'experiencing' the texture and flow of that Ice-attribute Chakra still held extremely high reference value for eventually fusing his own Ice Release.
At the very least, the direction was clear.
"Is that so—" The heavy stone in Haku's heart fell away, and a pure smile finally rippled across his face again.
Jugo watched this scene silently from the side, a trace of imperceptible envy rising deep within his heart.
He also yearned to become someone who could be needed and relied upon by Takuno.
Takuno's gaze turned toward Jugo. His core objective in coming here was to explore Haku's Ice Release, but since Jugo was also present, it wouldn't hurt to experience the other's physique while he was at it.
Seeing the trace of anticipation and faint unease in the boy's eyes, he asked, "Now, are you at ease?"
Jugo's cheeks instantly flushed. A sense of shame made him nod involuntarily, feeling deep regret for his previous doubts.
"Your concern is normal in my eyes. You should maintain this level of vigilance in the future, so do not be sad."
Takuno did not favor one over the other; he also reached out and gently ruffled Jugo's somewhat prickly hair, his movements carrying a sense of comfort.
"Mhm!" Jugo's body trembled slightly, and then he nodded vigorously, pouring all his trust and gratitude into that single action.
"Well then," Takuno turned back to Jugo, his voice returning to its calm state, "Next is you. Likewise, do not resist."
Before his voice had even faded, his hand seals had already shifted and set once more.
"Spirit Transformation Jutsu!"
A strange dizziness instantly seized Jugo's consciousness.
This time, Haku was able to clearly observe the entire process from a third-person perspective, which felt different from when he had watched his own 'body' move from a first-person perspective earlier.
He saw Jugo's body first stiffen, and then Takuno's calm aura spread out again, covering Jugo's own slightly nervous atmosphere.
Takuno controlled Jugo's body to slowly sit down.
Upon entering a meditative state, a completely different scene unfolded within his perception with a bang!
If Haku's body had nothing special about it when not using Ice Release, then Jugo's body was a wild vortex of energy!
In his current perceptual field, Jugo's body was involuntarily absorbing the 'Natural Energy' drifting in the space!
This pure and wild Natural Energy was being continuously absorbed by Jugo's flesh, skin, and bones.
Takuno understood that this was precisely the core curse of Jugo's rampages!
If he occupied the body for a long time, Takuno might have the ability to try and forcibly cut off this instinctual absorption, but with this brief research window, he was clearly powerless to do so.
Furthermore, he had his own plans; he had come specifically to experience this Natural Energy for himself!
With a researcher's mindset and under the active guidance of Takuno's will, 'Jugo' deliberately accelerated the absorption of the surrounding Natural Energy for the first time!
The surrounding Natural Energy wasn't particularly dense, but under this active draw, it quickly gathered into a trickling stream, frantically surging into this body that craved energy.
The moment the surging torrent of energy poured in, a primal impulse for destruction violently slammed into Takuno's mental core!
Violent, bloodthirsty, and primal bestiality that sought to destroy everything screamed frantically, attempting to drown his reason!
"Is this how you feel during a rampage, and the root of the problem?" Takuno calmly analyzed this primal destructive impulse.
With his tenacious will and powerful spiritual energy, he could naturally endure it easily, but what about the still-young Jugo?
In those difficult years of the past, how did this boy struggle out of this abyss of madness time and time again? That pain and loneliness were heart-wrenching.
"You've worked hard," Takuno said, looking at Jugo's spiritual form at this time.
Jugo shook his head and said with contentment, "Compared to before, I am already very happy now."
"Is that so?" Takuno's consciousness fluctuated slightly.
These words were extremely simple, yet they spoke volumes of the inhuman suffering of the past and the preciousness of the current peace.
"If that is the case, then that's good."
After the brief exchange, Takuno wasted no more time.
He focused entirely, guiding the incoming Natural Energy and the restless Chakra within Jugo's body to cautiously perform a dangerous 'fusion,' personally experiencing the moment 'Senjutsu Chakra' was formed.
The energy was violent and the balance fragile, like dancing on the edge of a blade.
After the experience ended, Takuno's consciousness withdrew without any lingering attachment.
Unsurprisingly, the moment Jugo's consciousness regained control, that violent Natural Energy became like a wild horse that had lost its reins, instantly pushing him into an inevitable rampage!
A roar rang out, and hideous rocky skin began to spread!
Takuno's main body acted instantly, his speed so fast he turned into an afterimage. The brilliance of Sealing Jutsu was precisely and sharply etched onto Jugo's body, ruthlessly suppressing his rampaging power.
Once Jugo's own consciousness cleared from the rampage once more, Takuno timed it perfectly and released the Sealing Jutsu.
The inhuman appearance receded like a tide, revealing the boy's pale and exhausted face, which had regained its sanity.
Haku seemed to have grown accustomed to Jugo's occasional rampages, supporting Jugo as he usually did.
Takuno sat back in his chair, eyes closed, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest as he repeatedly mulled over and reviewed that brief yet thrilling experience.
The perception of Natural Energy, the difficulty and turbulence of forcibly blending Chakra with it, and the violent texture when Senjutsu Chakra was first formed—
Suddenly, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly in a satisfied arc.
Because at this very moment, when he concentrated his mind, calmed his breath, and eliminated external distractions to try and perceive the surrounding space again...
Though the perception was still as blurry as if through a veil and difficult to grasp, the 'Natural Energy' that had once kept their doors closed to him, giving no response, he had truly—perceived them!
This was a qualitative change from 'nothing' to 'something'! It was the stepping stone to infinite future possibilities!
However, perception was only the starting point; the real difficulty lay ahead.
How could he safely utilize this untamable power?
In the original story, there were only a few ways to utilize Natural Energy, and among them, only 'Sage Mode' and 'Cursed Seal' were two paths that seemed feasible yet were riddled with thorns.
Sage Mode was undoubtedly the ultimate form, with power far exceeding the Cursed Seal.
But the problem was, he didn't have a summoning contract with the Three Great Sage Regions, which meant no one would lead him if he wanted to cultivate Sage Mode!
No one to teach him that life-line, the precise-to-the-millimeter fusion ratio of Chakra and Natural Energy.
One wrong step and the energy would lose balance; the consequence would be like those toads at Mount Myōboku turning into stone frogs, or the piles of bleached bones beside Ryūchi Cave!
Those were sobering warnings on the road to Sage Mode, shocking to behold.
If there was no one to guide the way in exploring Senjutsu, 'one chance in ten' wouldn't be enough to describe its peril.
In comparison, Orochimaru's 'Cursed Seal of Heaven' plan, which was not yet mature but had already shown its power, seemed to offer a sliver of hope.
The Cursed Seal itself was terrifyingly corrosive, and even more lethal was the cruel trial required when pursuing the stronger 'Stage Two' power: one had to actively embrace the brink of death and complete the metamorphosis in the narrow gap between life and death.
If you crossed it, you would be reborn and master the Cursed Seal Mode that allowed the use of Natural Energy;
If you fell, you would be beyond redemption!
Facing these two paths, the answer rose firmly in Takuno's mind.
Compared to Sage Mode, which was almost impossible to figure out alone without guidance, even if the Cursed Seal of Heaven was a Sword of Damocles, he decided to give it a try!
The path to power was never a smooth one.
He had already sweated and gambled his life for this, so how could he cowardly turn his back on the power within his reach just because he feared the abyss of falling?
That power within his grasp, there was no way he would discard it!
However, he had not yet finished his research on the Cursed Seal data he had obtained from Orochimaru.
Because before this, what Takuno needed to prioritize was the Chimera Technique, not the Cursed Seal, so naturally, the intensity of his research hadn't been high.
Furthermore, it was impossible for him to just take it and use it directly; that would undoubtedly be extremely irresponsible toward his own life.
Whether it was Orochimaru's cunning or the possibility that this research data might not yet be perfect, he had to verify everything completely before choosing to transplant it into himself.
After Takuno finished his thoughts, he intended to leave.
He had come here primarily to experience Haku's Ice Release and Jugo's 'Sage Body'; now that the experience was complete, he naturally wouldn't choose to stay longer.
Both Haku and Jugo were a bit reluctant, but they also understood that Takuno likely had many matters to attend to and didn't have much time to spend with them.
So, the two sensible boys didn't pester him and saw Takuno off.
And the leader here, after seeing Takuno off and seeing Haku and Jugo safe and sound, also breathed a deep sigh of relief.
This is good.