Toad oil?
Oh, it seems he tossed it into some unknown corner.
Mainly because the smell of that stuff is too strong—so much so that the kids at home don't like it, Pakura doesn't like it, and even the snake princesses don't like it.
No choice, after all, he's from Ryūchi Cave. He can't exactly offend those snake princesses.
In the end, Gekko Chizan didn't get any useful information. Instead, he had to listen to a long lecture from the Great Toad Sage.
Forget it. If this path doesn't work, just switch to another.
Just as Gekko Chizan turned to leave, the Great Toad Sage suddenly called out to him again.
"Young man, do you know why sages are called sages?"
"And also the Sage of Six Paths."
The Sage of Six Paths?
The Ten-Tails jinchūriki? Yin-Yang Release?
That single sentence from Gamamaru left Gekko Chizan completely confused.
"Young man, every path is walked by oneself."
"Before the Sage of Six Paths became the Sage of Six Paths, he was just someone a bit stronger, with a bit more talent than others."
"As for me or the White Snake, we merely found paths that suit ourselves—what you call senjutsu."
"So what about your path, young man? Will you follow the rules of the Sage of Six Paths, or carve out a path that belongs only to you?"
For a moment, Gekko Chizan couldn't process it. By the time he came back to his senses, snoring had already started.
The Great Toad Sage had fallen asleep just like that.
Seeing that the other party had dozed off, Gekko Chizan gave him a deep look, then pushed the door open and left.
At the moment he stepped out of the room, the Great Toad Sage woke up again.
"Hehehe, Gekko Chizan....."
"Hagoromo, this shinobi world is far more interesting than it used to be...."
...
"So? Chizan, isn't the Great Toad Sage super cool?"
Seeing Gekko Chizan come out, Namikaze Minato was the first to step forward and ask. After all, he greatly admired the Great Toad Sage.
Whether it was senjutsu or prophecy, both were incredibly mysterious powers.
"It's alright. But I didn't get any useful information."
"Looks like I'll have to make a trip to Ryūchi Cave after all."
Gekko Chizan was still replaying the Great Toad Sage's words in his mind.
Walk a different path… one that belongs only to myself?
What does that even mean? He was just a somewhat capable shinobi, but he clearly understood the gap between himself and the Sage of Six Paths.
That was a founding figure, someone who created the nine Tailed Beasts using Yin-Yang Release.
And the first Ten-Tails jinchūriki at that.
How could that even be compared?
He didn't understand. Not at all.
"Hey, no problem. I'll arrange for people to search the shinobi world again once I get back—we'll definitely find it."
"Heading back now, Chizan?"
After all, it was Gekko Chizan who had suggested coming to Mount Myōboku, so Minato had to ask.
"Yeah, let's go back. There's no point staying any longer."
"After we return, I'll prepare to go to Ryūchi Cave."
Soon, Namikaze Minato and Gekko Chizan left Mount Myōboku.
After returning to the village, Minato went back to work, while Gekko Chizan didn't go home. Instead, he directly used Flying Thunder God to leave the village.
...
Takigakure, Orochimaru's laboratory.
"Chizan-kun, why are you suddenly interested in the Sage of Six Paths?"
"Although I know he isn't just a legend, ordinary people know very little about him."
"Even I don't know much."
Orochimaru looked at Gekko Chizan, who had come to him for answers, and revealed a helpless expression.
After all, Gekko Chizan had just asked him about his thoughts on the Sage of Six Paths.
That was a difficult question.
"Uh, that's not what I meant, sensei. I know you have deep insights in research."
"I wanted to ask—do you think an ordinary person can cultivate to become a god? Something like the Sage of Six Paths."
Orochimaru looked at Gekko Chizan with interest, chuckled softly, and then slowly spoke:
"In theory, it's possible. Just like how I explore senjutsu."
"Senjutsu isn't exclusive to the three great sacred lands. Whether it's the First Hokage or Jūgo, whether innate or acquired, all of them prove the existence of such power."
"The Sage of Six Paths may have started at a higher point than us, but he still grew step by step. If someone with sufficient talent breaks conventions and develops a unique power system, they might also approach the realm of gods."
As Orochimaru spoke, he walked to a cabinet and looked at the scrolls inside.
"Like these forbidden techniques I research—their essence is also about digging deeper into the potential of the human body."
"Of course, the process comes with countless challenges and dangers, and may even go unrecognized. But so what? To pursue a higher level, these are things one must go through."
"Chizan-kun, what about your thoughts?"
Gekko Chizan waved his hand helplessly.
"What choice do I have? The path in front of me is only this one."
"I'll take bold steps. I'm not someone who's bound by existing rules—I need to find a path that suits me."
Hearing his answer, Orochimaru smiled again.
"That's the Chizan-kun I know."
"So, what are you planning to do next? Go to Ryūchi Cave?"
Gekko Chizan nodded. Before coming here, he had already decided to head there.
After all, as one of the three great sacred lands, it had authority when it came to senjutsu.
Not to mention, as a successor of Ryūchi Cave, he should consult his own sages.
"In that regard, I can't offer you much help."
"However, if you want to understand natural energy, my current research does cover that area."
Orochimaru's research spanned a wide range.
Among them was natural energy and senjutsu.
Back then, he failed the trials of Ryūchi Cave. But after years of effort, he finally found another path to senjutsu.
Jūgo—the one born with the ability to absorb natural energy—became the core. The Cursed Seal Orochimaru created based on him was a lower-tier form of a senjutsu body.
"Oh? Has the research on the Cursed Seal been completed?"
"Yes. It can already be mass-produced to a certain extent, though the upper limit of the Cursed Seal users still needs improvement."
Orochimaru handed a scroll to Gekko Chizan.
After opening it, the contents recorded Orochimaru's research direction on the Cursed Seal over this period.
At the very top were two names: Samui and Mabui.
As the holders of the Heaven Cursed Seal and Earth Cursed Seal, their strength had already risen significantly.
Of course, precisely because of the Cursed Seal, the two of them could no longer escape Orochimaru.
"Not bad, my sensei."
"Unfortunately, this doesn't help me much. And don't even think about planting some weird mark on my body."