NOVEL NEXT New limits
Sato's ritual-like transformation continued for half a day. In that time, he drank all the hero water, sip by sip.
Sato's chakra kept merging with Matatabi's, changing his body beyond recognition after the ritual was complete.
"So, how do you feel?"
Third Raikage asked curiously; at this time, Yugito had transformed back into herself, while Matatabi was in the shape of a small chakra avatar.
Sato was admiring himself in a water mirror Itachi created for him; his two colored eyes were his most noticeable difference.
"I feel pretty good; I think I may have gotten better looking. My eyes are permanently like Matatabi's now."
"And my teeth are very sharp; I almost cut my finger on them."
Sato opened his mouth and looked at his hunter cat-like teeth. His changes were great but weren't just visual.
"I feel my body is more flexible, and my sense of smell has gone up."
"As for my chakra, it's 10 times more than I previously had. So around 10 jonin worth of chakra, I think I am as strong as you sensei."
Sato smiled at the third Raikage, who scoffed with a smirk on his face.
"Overconfident brat."
The third Raikage grumbled, although he didn't deny Sato's claim. With a chakra reserve this large, Sato was indeed as strong as he was.
Sato was the second ninja from the hidden cloud who could solo the eight tails. The first one was him.
"It's good that everything worked out; you can finally spend more time with Hinata instead of running around trying to become stronger."
Shi patted her chest in a relieved way, but Sato felt awkward.
'Stop? How can I stop? Super-Kage-level people exist. I am nowhere close to beating EMS Madara, much less someone stronger than him.'
Sato might not have said anything, but his mother knew him very well; she raised her eyebrows and yelled at Sato.
"What are you thinking, Sato?? Do you still want to continue training using these ridiculous methods?"
"How would you even become any stronger? You already reached your limit a while ago; this time you tried to use your lifespan to go beyond it. You lived just because of Matatabi."
"What else is remaining? What other possible way is there for you to get stronger? Why are you so obsessed with strength?"
Shi exclaimed with anger; she was sick and tired of worrying about Sato. Sato just sighed; he could understand her thoughts, but Kaguya wouldn't defeat herself.
Yugito hummed, and this time she agreed with Shi. Sato had already unleashed all his potential; even his future potential was unleashed by him using the hero water.
There wasn't a drop of potential remaining in Sato's body; he had used his lifetime worth of potential at once.
"Sato, mother is right; you can no longer become any stronger; this is it; it's not possible for you anymore."
Yugito tried to convince Sato, even she was getting worried for Sato. She was afraid Sato would do something deadly in his search for more strength.
Sato held his head. Their concerns were not wrong; his body really had no potential left. But he couldn't stop now.
Although he wouldn't ignore their good intentions,
"Okay, I won't do anything this dangerous again."
"Actually, I do have a rough plan for the future. I want to be like the gold and silver brothers; I was thinking of eating Matatabi's flesh."
Sato expressed his idea; this was his solution. He had the features of Matatabi, but he couldn't produce her chakra.
If he could do that, then he wouldn't have to care about his potential being exhausted. He would be adding new potential to his body by eating her flesh.
"That's not a good idea. To survive eating her, you need to be related to the sage of six paths."
The Third Raikage immediately denied Sato's idea, but Sato argued.
"But I have Matatabi's genes within me; I might survive eating her."
This was the reason Sato decided to eat her; he figured his newest change would help him digest her flesh.
"Sorry, Sato, that won't work. You do have some immunity to my chakra, but you cannot digest it."
"You need to have a body related to the sage of six paths to digest my flesh. It is not possible to do so without it."
"Just like it is impossible to open the Sharingan without Uchiha's bloodline, no matter how high your yin chakra is."
Matatabi explained slowly, which made Sato look up with helplessness. His plan failed before it could even begin.
Now what was he supposed to do? This was the most reliable solution he could think of.
"Guess you are right. I won't try to become stronger unless I find another reliable way forward."
Sato patted his forehead; maybe he was being too hasty. Maybe a solution exists somewhere; he would need to search for it.
His current strength was more than enough to deal with any threat, even the Akatsuki. Only Nagato at this stage would give him trouble.
"Yes, we are right! Now stop trying to train and spend some quality time with your wife."
"No more ninja business; your previous vacation was a joke!"
Shi said with her hands on her hips, and the third Raikage gently nodded at Sato. He didn't refuse, Shi.
"You are a veritable S-class Ninja Sato. You don't need to run around unless it's an important mission."
"Take a break; after Konoha's chunin exams, A will promote you to Jonin. Your next mission is to win the chunin exams."
"Chunin exams are important to our reputation. Of course, if anything feels off about the exams, do as you see fit."
Raikage knew some secret information; hidden sand was acting suspiciously. He had a suspicion that they wanted to attack Konoha in the upcoming Chunin exams.
If that was true, then Sato needed to be careful; none of the great ninja villages should be underestimated.
"I'll be careful; I remained a genin so I could participate in the chunin exams; I know the dangers of this exam."
"Chunin exam is important for my reputation as well; if I prove my strength to everyone, I can become the Raikage much sooner."
Sato smiled confidently but remained cautious internally.
He knew the Chunin exams were not that simple; a weakened Edo Hashirama, Tobirama, and an unnamed fourth Edo would be revived in the exams.
Orochimaru will be there as well; his endless snake jutsus were a total headache.
'Whatever, he is a snake, and I am a hunter cat. Cat's win against snakes.'
'I'll meet him in 6 months. I can no longer become stronger; why not enjoy life until then?
Sato shrugged and got up. Six months were not long; time will pass soon.
He couldn't wait to meet Orochimaru; who knows, maybe that madman had something that could help him.
