Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 308 Success

Orochimaru, who was originally on the verge of death, has greatly increased his chances of success after receiving support from Hyuga Kanan. Now it depends on whether he can persevere until the final refinement and transformation is complete.

Hyuga Kanan then withdrew his hand, ceasing the injection of his essence blood into Orochimaru to preserve his life force. This was the last bit of help he could offer Orochimaru; after all, injecting too much essence blood would assimilate Orochimaru's body with his powerful essence blood cells, severely limiting his growth potential and ultimately limiting him to the Nascent Soul stage.

Hyuga Kanan had high hopes for Orochimaru's potential and didn't want him to be stuck at the Nascent Soul stage, unable to grow any further. After all, he knew Orochimaru could become one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the ninja world, and it would be a great pity if his growth potential was hindered because of him. So even though Orochimaru was on the verge of death, Hyuga Kanan still chose to believe in him, trusting that he had the ability to survive this ordeal.

Furthermore, Hyuga Kanan was absolutely certain that Orochimaru, even if he were to die now, wouldn't want to sacrifice his future growth potential just to survive. Orochimaru had an almost obsessive obsession with immortality and power; he would never be willing to give up his potential for the chance to live. Therefore, even though Hyuga Kanan stopped injecting Orochimaru with his life essence, he believed the other would understand his actions.

After emerging from the formation, Hyuga Kanan sat cross-legged on the ground, eyes closed, entering a meditative state, attempting to recover the energy depleted from injecting Orochimaru with his life essence. This injection of life essence was a significant loss for him, requiring at least a year to fully recover. Despite this, he didn't regret his decision, firmly believing it would bring a turning point for Orochimaru and potentially gain him a powerful ally. Now, everything depended on whether Orochimaru could survive the final hurdle—whether Hyuga Kanan's year of time and effort would be wasted, or whether he would gain a powerful assistant with limitless potential.

Orochimaru remained in a state of semi-death within the formation, like a porcelain doll on the verge of collapse. Although the life force injected by Hyuga Kanan had only pulled him back from the brink of death, this power seemed barely enough to sustain his last vestige of life. At this moment, Orochimaru was like a candle flickering in the wind, his life force on the verge of being extinguished at any moment. However, he was not defeated by his predicament; on the contrary, he tenaciously clung to his last hope.

Despite the unfavorable situation for Orochimaru, he firmly believed that he could still achieve the refinement, thereby gaining new power and life. He knew that as long as he had a breath left, he could not give up easily. This belief sustained him, and even in the most difficult moments, he remained indomitable, striving to find a way to break through the predicament.

While the life force infused by Hyuga Kanan couldn't completely change the situation, it became a powerful weapon for Orochimaru in his fight against the Grim Reaper. Every drop of life force was a continuation of his life and the driving force behind his perseverance. At this crucial moment, Orochimaru's heart was filled with determination and resolve; he would use his last ounce of strength to secure his own victory.

At this moment, Orochimaru felt he had touched the dawn of victory. The chakra seed he had planted within his opponent, like himself, was on the verge of being refined at any moment. The battle had entered its most crucial phase; whoever could hold out until the very last second would be the ultimate victor.

At this moment, Orochimaru felt as if he were in an endless abyss of pain. Every cell in his body felt as if it were being torn apart by a merciless force, and the excruciating pain surged like a tidal wave, almost engulfing him. This pain not only came from his body but also penetrated deep into his bones and reached the very depths of his soul, bringing him to the brink of collapse.

He tried to concentrate and draw upon the power of his soul to overcome his predicament, but the endless pain was like an invisible hand, gripping his thoughts tightly and making it difficult for him to focus. Veins bulged on his forehead, and sweat poured down his face, soaking his clothes.

Time ticked by, and Orochimaru's consciousness began to fade. He felt his energy being drained away bit by bit. But he gritted his teeth, clinging on with sheer willpower, refusing to give up. He knew that if he collapsed now, all his efforts would be in vain.

Throughout this agonizing ordeal, Orochimaru remained steadfast in the advice given to him by Hyuga Kanan. Willpower was the key to this success, and perhaps his only hope now. He secretly rejoiced, grateful for Kanan's reminder; otherwise, he might have already been lost in this sea of ​​suffering.

He didn't know how much time had passed—perhaps a second, perhaps ten thousand years. Orochimaru felt as if he had experienced an eternity, a time as vast as the changing of the seas. He was utterly exhausted, even his once-strong willpower was gradually being worn away. His consciousness grew increasingly blurred, and everything around him became hazy and unreal. His breathing became weak, almost inaudible, each breath feeling like his last. His heartbeat slowed, as if it might stop beating at any moment.

Orochimaru's mind was a chaotic mess, as if swallowed by endless darkness. His consciousness gradually blurred, and his memories scattered like broken mirrors. He forgot his name, identity, and purpose; the world became strange and distant. His body lost control, collapsing helplessly to the ground, his eyes closed, his breathing weak and irregular.

Hyuga Kanan stared intently at Orochimaru, his brow furrowed. He could sense Orochimaru's life force rapidly draining away, almost imperceptibly. Surprisingly, however, Orochimaru's body continued to operate automatically, refining the chakra seed within him. This puzzled and worried Hyuga Kanan.

"What happened?" Hyuga Kanan wondered to himself, "He should have finished refining it a long time ago... Could something have gone wrong?"

He tried to approach Orochimaru, but an invisible force pushed him away, preventing him from getting closer. This force seemed to originate from Orochimaru himself, protecting him from external interference.

Time ticked by, and Orochimaru's condition grew increasingly critical. Hyuga Kanan was in a terrible mood, but helpless. He didn't know how to help Orochimaru through this crisis and could only silently pray that he would pull through.

"Sigh! I never thought that even with my help, Orochimaru still wouldn't succeed in the end?" Hyuga Kanan felt a sense of helplessness. He never expected Orochimaru to face failure so soon; it was truly a pity. He had thought he had made enough preparations, but reality always surprises us. Orochimaru's plan should have been flawless, but now it seemed that everything was beyond redemption.

Hyuga Kanan stood quietly, his thoughts drifting away. He recalled his time with Orochimaru, the legendary figure of the ninja world, those challenging yet hopeful days. He never imagined that after facing countless difficulties and exploring so many unknown territories, all of that would now vanish like smoke.

He couldn't help but recall Orochimaru's persistent and unwavering gaze, and his endless thirst for power. However, the twists of fate are always so cruel; even with great strength and wisdom, it is difficult to resist the capriciousness of destiny.

Hyuga Kanan took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. Although he regretted Orochimaru's defeat, he knew life had to go on. He had to learn to accept this fact and learn from it. Perhaps, this was part of growing up.

Deep down, Hyuga Kanan secretly vowed that no matter what difficulties he encountered in the future, he would persevere and never give up. Because only by experiencing setbacks can one truly understand how to pursue dreams and how to face the various trials of life.

Suddenly, Hyuga Kanan's lips curled into a smile, a hint of surprise on his face. He never expected that Orochimaru, whose life force was on the verge of extinction, would stop his dissipation and instead begin to strengthen. The chakra seed within his body had been completely refined, and the dissipated chakra transformed into countless amounts of physical and spiritual energy, nourishing his already damaged body once more. His life force ceased to drain, allowing Orochimaru to maintain a final sliver of life and avoid total death.

Hyuga Kanan was fully aware of the situation; he knew Orochimaru's current state. Orochimaru had passed the most critical moment, and now, as long as that last glimmer of hope remained, he would eventually recover. The physical and spiritual energy separated from the refined chakra seed was sufficient to sustain Orochimaru's life force and give him enough strength to continue.

Hyuga Kanan stood up, a hint of fatigue on his face, but his eyes remained resolute. He walked outside the array, slowly sat down cross-legged, formed hand seals, and began to regulate his breathing and recover his strength.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru lay quietly on the ground, a mysterious aura surrounding him. His eyes were closed, as if he were in a deep sleep. His body trembled slightly, as if undergoing a violent transformation.

Hyuga Kanan knew that Orochimaru's transformation was nearing completion; now all that remained was to wait for his consciousness to return. However, this process could be lengthy, and unexpected events might occur. Kanan understood that whether Orochimaru's consciousness would recover was still uncertain. Perhaps Orochimaru would never regain his consciousness, becoming a puppet devoid of self. But regardless, only Orochimaru himself could complete this process now.

Hyuga Kanan closed his eyes, focused his mind, and calmed his heart. He felt the flow of energy around him, becoming one with nature. In this tranquil moment, his thoughts drifted away, recalling the truth of this world.