"Natural energy? What's that?" Anko asked in confusion after hearing her teacher's explanation.
"Natural energy is the power used for Senjutsu. You don't need to worry about it for now," Orochimaru briefly explained. "This place is full of natural energy, making it a good spot for training in Sage Jutsu. But it's useless for us."
"Why is it useless? Isn't Sage Jutsu really powerful?" Anko pressed on.
"Ninjutsu is powered by chakra. Do you know where chakra comes from?" Orochimaru, in a good mood, summoned a large snake and threw the unconscious Jūgo onto its back, while testing Anko.
"Chakra is a mix of physical and spiritual energy from the body," Anko replied without hesitation.
"Sage Jutsu is formed by balancing physical energy, spiritual energy, and natural energy. You can think of it as a higher level of energy above chakra. Ninjutsu powered by Sage energy becomes more destructive and deadly. And that's just one of its abilities," Orochimaru explained as they walked, motioning for Anko and the others to follow him.
As a teacher, Orochimaru was still very capable. Anyone he taught could learn exactly what they wanted from him.
"Then isn't this place really important?" Anko asked instinctively. If the natural energy here was so strong and Sage Jutsu so powerful, shouldn't they mark this place?
"Natural energy is dangerous! Just look at that boy. His body and mind have been eroded by natural energy so badly that he can't keep his mind stable. Honestly, I'm surprised he's still alive and hasn't been completely consumed by the natural energy," Orochimaru said, pointing to the boy on the snake's back.
"Natural energy is hard to control. Even the Three Sage Regions can't guarantee that someone will master Sage Jutsu perfectly."
"But Sensei, you still haven't told me why we don't need this place," Anko pouted.
"Because there are better places for us to choose from." Kagetsu, who was standing nearby, poked Anko's arm. "The Three Sage Regions—Mount Myōboku, where Jiraiya-sama has his contract, Shikkotsu Forest, where Tsunade-sama has her contract, and Ryūchi Cave, where Orochimaru-sensei has his contract."
"Orochimaru-sensei told you that?" Anko looked confused. Did Orochimaru secretly teach Kagetsu while leaving her out?
It's not impossible! After all, lately, Orochimaru had been mostly ignoring her.
"Kagetsu's right. But you're still far from being ready to learn Sage Jutsu," Orochimaru said, pouring cold water on Anko's excitement. The Sage trials in Ryūchi Cave weren't easy; they were extremely dangerous. Even Orochimaru himself wasn't confident about mastering Sage Jutsu.
However, he had seen Jiraiya practice the Sage Jutsu from Mount Myōboku, and he had witnessed the incredible power it brought. That strength was both fascinating and tempting.
The figures of the three gradually grew distant, disappearing into the dense forest.
Two days later...
In an inn.
Anko squatted down, suddenly bringing her face close to Jūgo's, who had just woken up.
"Why aren't you talking?" Anko asked, puzzled.
Since this boy woke up, he had been acting strangely—silent and withdrawn. He wasn't the same violent and crazed person he had been when they first met, shouting and attacking.
Nor did he ask who they were, where they were taking him, or what they wanted.
It was as if he had shut himself off, like a puppet with no will of its own. He didn't try to run away; he just blindly followed them.
"Ahhh! Why won't you answer me? Are you looking down on me?" Anko had tried countless times over the past two days to get Jūgo to speak, but he remained silent. She even started to think he might be mute! If not for the fact that he had spoken when they first met.
"Stay away from me."
Suddenly, Jūgo spoke, and Anko, who had been frustrated just a moment before, went quiet. She looked at him in surprise.
"Why do I have to stay away?" Anko leaned in closer.
"I'm dangerous," Jūgo replied, looking down at his open hands, his eyes filled with a sense of loss.
"Yeah, you're pretty dangerous. But Orochimaru-sensei told me that your violent outbursts are caused by natural energy overwhelming you," Anko said as she sat down facing him, trying to comfort him.
Over the past two days, Anko had sensed a kind and gentle nature in Jūgo. When they came across small animals in the wild, he would stop to gently pet them, and the animals responded by behaving calmly around him.
It was like he had a way of attracting animals. Some of them even brought him their food or stashes as if to offer it to him, which made Anko a little jealous.
During these two days, Anko kept trying to figure out how Jūgo managed to connect with animals, but she had hit a wall each time.
"You know about natural energy?" Jūgo looked at Anko in surprise.
"Of course!" Anko almost blurted out her connection to Orochimaru, but stopped herself. Instead, she shared a few things she could safely talk about to prove that she indeed knew about natural energy.
"I'm in so much pain. My body loses control from time to time, and when that happens, I want to see blood and hear screams.
In the past, there were people in my village who could restrain me when I lost control, but later on, no one could stop me. The only thing I can do now is run into the forest and release it when I feel it coming.
I don't remember much of what happens during those times. It feels like there's another 'me' inside my mind. I didn't mean to attack you guys. I'm really grateful that you knocked me out."
Jūgo hung his head, his voice full of guilt and pain.
"So, is this the reason why you didn't run away and cooperated after waking up?" Kagetsu's voice came from outside the door.
Anko and Jūgo turned their gazes to see Kagetsu entering the room with Orochimaru, who was carrying a large bag filled with food.
At that moment, Jūgo seemed to lose the ability to speak again and fell silent.
"Is it because you don't want to hurt others anymore and you're looking for someone who can control you when you go berserk? You're a very kind-hearted person, aren't you?" Orochimaru placed the food down, his golden eyes observing the uneasy Jūgo with admiration.
Of course, Orochimaru wasn't admiring Jūgo's kind and gentle nature. What he truly admired was Jūgo's ability to absorb natural energy and survive after using it.
Naturally, a kind-hearted person who doesn't want to cause trouble is far easier to handle than a rebellious one.
****
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