Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 303 Gambling with Life

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with excitement and anticipation as he stared intently at Hyuga Kanan, as if trying to see beyond his outward appearance to the answers hidden deep within his heart. Hyuga Kanan nodded slightly, a mysterious smile playing on his lips, seemingly hinting at something. This nod filled Orochimaru with an indescribable joy. He knew his efforts hadn't been in vain; he had finally found a possible path to realizing his dream. However, Hyuga Kanan didn't immediately offer a concrete plan or explanation, only smiling at Orochimaru with a profound wisdom in his eyes. Orochimaru fell into deep thought, pondering the true meaning behind Hyuga Kanan's nod. Perhaps this method wasn't as simple and direct as he thought, but rather required more time, effort, and resources to achieve. Regardless, Orochimaru decided to give it his all and seize every opportunity.

As for the danger to his life, that was nothing to Orochimaru. He knew all too well that you have to pay a price for what you want to gain. Over the years, he had been researching forbidden techniques, which involved considerable risks, but he had never considered giving up. Moreover, he had absolute confidence in his abilities and strength, believing that he would definitely be able to successfully complete the transformation.

Seeing the unwavering and intensely confident look in Orochimaru's eyes, Hyuga Kanan wasn't surprised at all. He knew that Orochimaru's desire for immortality had reached its peak, and he would stop at nothing to achieve this goal. Even facing immense danger couldn't stop him.

For Orochimaru, the prospect of gaining longevity and immense power makes mere danger insignificant. He possesses an unwavering will and tenacious perseverance to face any risk, and would never easily abandon his pursuit for the sake of potentially losing his life. This determination is admirable, but also worrying.

Hyuga Kanan couldn't help but wonder, if Orochimaru truly mastered the art of cultivation, how would he utilize this power? Would he use it to explore unknown territories, pursuing deeper knowledge and wisdom? Or would time erode his passion? Whatever choice Orochimaru made, it would have a profound impact on the entire ninja world.

However, Hyuga Kanan had no intention of stopping Orochimaru. He believed that everyone had the right to decide their own destiny, and Orochimaru was no exception. Although he didn't agree with Orochimaru's actions, he respected his choice and was willing to offer help if necessary. After all, they were both men of strong will, each with their own mission and beliefs.

Hyuga Kanan no longer hesitated, took a deep breath, and began to speak: "The method of expelling and refining chakra as quickly as possible does indeed carry enormous risks, especially for ninjas like Orochimaru who have been refining chakra for decades. The danger increases exponentially. Therefore, I solemnly remind you all that you are prepared to face death at any time."

Upon hearing this, Orochimaru's lips curled into a faint smile. He was utterly indifferent to the danger to his life, one could even say he didn't care at all. As a ninja who had endured countless life-or-death trials, death was no longer something to fear for him. On the contrary, he believed that with his formidable strength and unwavering will, he would surely be able to complete the process successfully.

Orochimaru answered without hesitation, "How could a mere threat of death be a reason for me to give up on gaining greater power? I have already experienced countless life-or-death crises, and I have survived every single one of them, so this small crisis will not be an obstacle for me at all. Kanan-kun, please tell me the method quickly!"

Although the people around them were still young, they had actually been ninjas for many years and had experienced countless life-or-death crises. Being Orochimaru's subordinate was an honor in itself, so they naturally weren't afraid of death. In fact, they had already dedicated their lives to Orochimaru; for them, death wasn't the most terrifying thing. What truly terrified them was the thought that one day they would become useless to Orochimaru, thus losing their reason for living.

Seeing everyone's resolute attitude, Hyuga Kanan no longer hesitated. Although he had said this to Orochimaru, the truth was that as long as their will was firm, their chances of survival were still very high. Moreover, the stronger their will, the greater their future achievements would be.

Hyuga Kanan looked at everyone and said solemnly, “You have been refining chakra for many years. The best way to expel the deeply rooted chakra within you as quickly as possible is to first exhaust your chakra, then control your bodies to refine it again, and use your strongest willpower to refine the remaining chakra with the help of your soul power. However, this method will greatly deplete your physical and mental energy. When refining the last bit of chakra, because your physical and mental energy are almost exhausted, you may completely lose your last bit of chakra. You should be very clear that once all your chakra is exhausted, only death awaits us. Therefore, in the final critical moment, you must complete the refinement as quickly as possible to restore your physical and mental energy.”

"This process must be completed before death." Hyuga Kanan's voice was serious and firm, as if emphasizing the urgency of this method. "So you must understand that this is a race against death. You need to complete the final chakra refinement in the shortest possible time, return your life energy, and regain your vitality. If you can successfully complete the refinement, then you will have the opportunity to complete the final transformation and successfully complete the transition. But if you fail, you will die directly."

Orochimaru's gaze swept over those around him, his eyes filled with determination and courage. Everyone sensed his unwavering resolve; they knew this was a gamble with their lives hanging in the balance. Either they completed the final refinement before death arrived, or they perished.

Hyuga Kanan took a deep breath and continued, "This is a gamble with your lives, a gamble on whether you will die first or complete the final refining first. I believe that as long as you have a firm will and firmly believe that you will be able to complete the refining and return before you die, and be reborn. Let's do our best together!"

At this moment, everyone present was filled with gloom and despair. As experienced ninjas, they knew the situation all too well. What did it mean to completely exhaust all the chakra in their bodies? It meant certain death, and death would come exceptionally quickly. Yet, they now had to put themselves in a life-or-death situation, and complete the refinement of the last bit of chakra in the shortest possible time—no easy task.

Orochimaru's expression turned extremely grave, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes. He knew all too well the danger and difficulty of this method; it required not only a thorough understanding of the refining process but also overcoming the fear of death. When life was rapidly slipping away, yet one had to concentrate all their energy on refining the last wisp of chakra, it was undoubtedly a life-or-death race against time. The feeling of struggling in despair, searching for hope in darkness, was simply unbearable without an exceptionally strong will.

However, these dangers are still worthwhile for Orochimaru, as it allows him to expel and refine chakra as quickly as possible. After all, as a peak Kage-level shinobi, the amount of chakra within his body is simply enormous. If he were to refine it slowly using the safest method, it would probably take more than ten years to complete. And for someone who pursues ultimate power, every second is precious.

Ten years might be a short span of time for most people, but for Orochimaru it was an unbearable luxury. His ambition and desires drove him forward, seeking greater power, and this slow refining method clearly could not satisfy his needs.

Furthermore, as Orochimaru aged, his physical condition gradually declined. He knew his time was limited and he couldn't wait any longer. Therefore, despite the risks involved, he decided to take the plunge. He believed that with his strength and experience, he could handle any potential problems and ultimately succeed in refining his chakra.

Hyuga Kanan remained silent, leaving the choice to Orochimaru and his group. However, he knew perfectly well that Orochimaru would not easily abandon this seemingly dangerous method. Orochimaru had always been incredibly focused on his future growth and possessed immense self-confidence, making him inherently resolute. Even the threat of death would not shake his deepest convictions.

As expected, although Orochimaru's face was filled with solemnity, the determination in his eyes was like a burning flame, which everyone could clearly perceive. His gaze was firm and profound, as if it could penetrate the barriers of time and space, allowing people to feel the resolute determination deep within his heart.

Even Orochimaru's subordinates, including Kabuto Yakushi, could clearly sense Orochimaru's determination. They followed closely in Orochimaru's footsteps, without flinching. They knew that if they gave up this opportunity to become stronger, they would not be able to become Orochimaru's most loyal subordinates, and they would lose the value of their lives. Therefore, they chose to go with Orochimaru without hesitation, no matter what challenges and difficulties awaited them.

At this moment, Orochimaru and his subordinates formed a tacit understanding, supporting and trusting each other as they ventured together into the unknown. Their hearts were filled with a thirst for power and an anticipation of the future, willing to pay any price to pursue their goal. This determination and courage enabled them to remain steadfast and unwavering in the face of any hardship.