Gekko Chizan didn't know why he suddenly entered Sage Mode.
The natural energy erupting within the Falls of Truth was simply too vast—so much so that even without intentionally absorbing it, his body was automatically taking it in.
Years ago, he had already reached the point where he could enter Sage Mode without relying on the help of the Snake Princess.
A dim blue glow covered his entire body, two horns grew from his forehead, and his aura became as ferocious as a titan python.
"Natural energy..."
"Snakes, huh?"
"A chilling feeling… even colder than what Orochimaru-sama gives me."
"You're a terrifying person."
At this moment, in Jūgo's eyes, Gekko Chizan had already transformed into a massive python, filled with a cold and murderous aura.
On the contrary, Gekko Chizan himself felt extremely comfortable—after all, this sensation of being filled with energy was simply wonderful.
"Alright, stop being curious about me."
"Let's go take a look at Kimimaro. I didn't expect my sensei to abandon the second-level curse mark."
"And instead let Kimimaro directly receive your cells' enhancement… Is he trying to give Kimimaro an even stronger Sage body?"
It had to be said, Orochimaru was truly bold and skilled.
Was Jūgo's naturally occurring Sage body really that easy to replicate?
Even the second-level curse mark was difficult to control, let alone going a step further.
The two of them walked into the interior of the waterfall together.
"Boom!"
The moment they stepped in, they were met with an attack.
A thick bone whip swept across violently.
Gekko Chizan didn't even think before moving to dodge—after all, in his philosophy, if an attack can be avoided, then it should be avoided. Only a fool would take it head-on.
But unfortunately, there was indeed a fool present.
Facing the sudden attack, Jūgo didn't dodge at all. Instead, he directly activated his curse mark, causing his arms to swell to an enormous size.
He met the attack head-on with both fists.
"Thud!"
A dull sound echoed as the two attacks collided.
"Ahahahaha!"
"Kill! Kill!"
Kimimaro noticed his attack had been blocked, and with blood-red eyes, he stepped out from within.
At this moment, Kimimaro resembled a demonic god—his entire body covered in protruding bone spikes, with half his body etched in strange patterns.
Clearly, those were the markings produced by a Sage body—similar to curse marks, but far more advanced.
"He's already entered a pseudo-Sage body state?"
"And because he can't control the natural energy, he's gone berserk."
"The only option now is to forcibly suppress him."
Jūgo analyzed the situation rationally, but his actions were anything but rational.
His previously calm face turned ferocious, and dense natural energy began to erupt from his body as well. His form started to change.
One after another, jet-like tubes appeared on his back, and his skin darkened from its original tone.
Clearly, he had also entered a Sage body state.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa."
"Don't get so violent. If both of you go berserk together, this place will be ruined."
"So… I'll handle it."
Gekko Chizan's Sage Mode was different from the two of them—his was far colder and more sinister.
His movements, however, appeared much gentler.
With his hands spread open, natural energy under his control transformed into two massive pythons.
These energy-constructed pythons lunged toward Kimimaro.
"Kill! Kill all of you!"
Kimimaro had already fallen into madness. He didn't care who stood before him—his mind held only one thought:
Kill! Kill everyone in his way!
"Slash!"
He pulled two bone blades from his body and charged toward the pythons.
Unfortunately, Gekko Chizan's pythons were made of energy—they had no fear of physical attacks.
As the bone blades struck, the energy pythons split into two, then multiplied into even more pythons that lunged toward Kimimaro.
This was a technique Gekko Chizan had learned by observing Nagato's summoning—the giant dog.
Though Nagato used a summoned beast, Gekko Chizan relied on Sage techniques. Fundamentally, the two were quite different.
"Kimimaro-kun, don't you recognize me?"
"Back in the Land of Water, I was the one who discovered you."
A wicked smile appeared on Gekko Chizan's face. Though he smiled, his attacks became even more ruthless.
Sage chakra transformed into python after python, appearing one after another.
"Snake Sage Art: Serpent Swarm Battle Technique."
"Kimimaro-kun, have you ever danced with snakes?"
His elegant voice contrasted sharply with the increasingly frenzied assault.
Sage chakra continuously formed into pythons, and in just a short moment, countless pythons had already coiled around Kimimaro.
Kimimaro was bound by countless pythons, yet he continued to struggle wildly.
He roared as bone spikes constantly grew from his body—but no matter how powerful they were, the pythons were all energy constructs. His attacks had no effect at all.
Jūgo originally intended to help, but upon seeing how effortlessly Gekko Chizan had completely restrained Kimimaro, he dispersed his own energy and stood aside to watch.
"An unimaginable combat ability… using natural energy to fill oneself and then convert it into attacks?"
"Though it resembles snakes, I have to admit—Chizan, you are truly powerful."
Hearing Jūgo's praise while standing still, Gekko Chizan burst into laughter.
"Thanks for the compliment, but it's nothing special. Not worth mentioning."
"Hurry up and let him recover."
Gekko Chizan looked at the still-struggling Kimimaro, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
The next second, he brought his hands together.
All the natural energy gathered and formed a massive serpent mouth that lunged toward Kimimaro.
In an instant, Kimimaro was swallowed whole.
But Kimimaro wasn't about to accept such a fate—he immediately began resisting.
However, a shocking scene unfolded.
No matter how he manipulated his bones, under the pressure of Sage energy, they couldn't pierce through the energy construct. Instead, Kimimaro himself was continuously compressed by an invisible force.
"My, my… Although the Shikotsumyaku bloodline can strengthen bones to a terrifying degree—"
"It still can't withstand the crushing force of a giant python."
"Kimimaro-kun, just go to sleep obediently."
"When you wake up, everything will return to normal."
Gekko Chizan continued increasing his chakra output, making the python's constriction even stronger.
At the same time, he used chakra to cut off the air, placing Kimimaro in a completely restrained state.
With both stamina and air being depleted, Kimimaro soon couldn't hold on any longer.