Orochimaru still vividly remembered the time when he stood before his parents' graves as a child, asking Sarutobi Hiruzen about the meaning of life. However, instead of a concrete answer, he only received words of encouragement—words that never truly satisfied his curiosity.
As he grew older and gained more experience, his understanding deepened, yet the question remained unanswered. A human lifespan is fleeting, barely spanning a few decades, making it nearly impossible to uncover all of life's mysteries.
But now, Chiba's words had sparked an idea within him.
"Chiba, are you suggesting...?" Orochimaru's voice carried a rare hint of excitement.
Uchiha Chiba nodded. "Yes, the secret to immortality lies within Sage Mode and natural energy." Then, he posed a question, "Orochimaru-sensei, do you know how long the sages of the Three Holy Lands have lived?"
Before Orochimaru could answer, Chiba continued, "According to the records of my Uchiha clan, the sages of the Three Holy Lands have existed for at least a thousand years."
To add weight to his claim, he referenced his clan's historical knowledge. As a teenager, his words alone might lack credibility, but the ancient records of the Uchiha clan were harder to dismiss.
"A thousand years? Chiba, are you certain?" Orochimaru asked, his breath slightly heavier.
Having previously verified the accuracy of Chiba's information—especially regarding the Uzumaki Mito incident—he had no reason to doubt him now.
"Of course," Chiba affirmed. "Sensei, you know that the Uchiha clan's history supposedly dates back to the Sage of Six Paths."
"Sage of Six Paths? Are you saying he actually existed?" Orochimaru asked, eyes gleaming with interest.
Chiba shook his head slightly. While he possessed knowledge of the ninja world's history, there were some secrets best left unsaid—especially when he knew the Sage of Six Paths was still observing the world from the afterlife.
Moreover, he had yet to reach the level of power where he could confront beings of such magnitude. Even in the present world, formidable individuals like Uchiha Madara—who had faked his death—and Black Zetsu, the third "son" of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, still lurked in the shadows.
"I can't say for sure," Chiba replied carefully. "Although our clan possesses some fragmented records about the Sage of Six Paths, the passage of time has made it impossible to verify their accuracy."
Orochimaru's initial excitement dimmed slightly, disappointment flickering across his face. He had hoped to learn more secrets about the ninja world from Chiba.
Despite being born to shinobi parents, his lineage could not compare to the long-established history of a clan like the Uchiha.
"So, what do your clan's records say about Sage Mode and natural energy?" Orochimaru asked.
"Sage Mode, as you know, is a fusion of natural energy and chakra," Chiba explained. "However, this energy cannot remain in the body indefinitely. But what if there was a way to preserve it inside the body permanently?"
His theory was influenced by fairy tales and fantasy novels from his previous life, but he saw no flaw in it. After all, when Gamamaru—the Great Toad Sage—encouraged Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo to stand against his mother, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, he used the natural power of this world.
"Oh? Do you know how to achieve that?" Orochimaru asked, intrigued.
Chiba shook his head. "Not exactly. This is just a theory based on my clan's ancient records."
Though momentarily disappointed, Orochimaru's expression quickly shifted to one of enthusiasm. Even if it was just a theory, it was logical—worth exploring.
"So, Chiba, you told me this because you want to collaborate with me, correct?"
Chiba smiled. "As expected of you, Orochimaru-sensei. Yes, that's exactly my intention. I can provide funding, and you can work on turning this idea into reality."
"I'm honored that you trust me, Chiba-kun," Orochimaru said. "However, the challenge remains—I do not yet know how to use Sage Mode myself. And I assume you wouldn't want to be the test subject, would you?"
He paused before adding, "Additionally, this research would require a significant amount of funding. How do you plan to secure the resources?"
"You don't need to worry about that," Chiba assured him. "Funding will not be a problem."
When it came to financial matters, the first person who came to Chiba's mind was Kakuzu. As the number-one financial expert in the ninja world, Kakuzu could certainly help him solve any monetary issues.
Moreover, when Chiba spared his life, Kakuzu acknowledged that he owed him a favor—one that could now be put to use.
"As for Sage Mode," Chiba continued, "Orochimaru-sensei, have you ever heard of the innate Sage Body?"
"Innate Sage Body?" Orochimaru repeated, frowning. "I'm not familiar with it."
Chiba smirked. "You know about the First Hokage, right? When I signed the contract with the Shikkotsu Forest, I asked Tsunade whether the First Hokage had learned Sage Mode from there."
"And do you know what she said? She told me that the First Hokage's Sage Jutsu didn't come from any of the Three Holy Lands—it was an innate ability."
"Moreover, the First Hokage isn't the only one born with a natural Sage Body. There's an entire clan in the Land of Birds—the Libra Clan."
"They live in seclusion, and all of them are born with Sage Bodies. However, they cannot control the natural energy they absorb, which causes them to go berserk. But unlike other Sage Mode users, they don't turn to stone."
Orochimaru's brows furrowed as he processed this information. "What are you suggesting, Chiba-kun?"
"It's simple," Chiba explained. "Go to the Land of Birds and find this clan. Bring a few of them back for research. Wouldn't that solve the problem of learning Sage Mode?"
For a brief moment, Orochimaru hesitated. A flicker of reluctance appeared in his eyes.
"Isn't that... too cruel, Chiba?" he asked, his voice unusually cautious.
Chiba was momentarily taken aback. He hadn't expected such words to come from Orochimaru—the man who would one day become infamous for his ruthless human experiments.
Then again, Orochimaru had yet to experience the pain of losing someone close to him. His obsession with immortality was not as strong as it would be in the future.
Chiba smiled slightly.
"Sensei, that's something you'll have to decide for yourself," he said. "I've given you all the solutions. The rest is up to you."