The members of Jūgo's clan possess a special ability called Sage Transformation which causes their bodies to constantly absorb natural energy and allows them to regulate this energy to perform a myriad of shape-shifting feats. However, as they are unable to control the flux of power that comes with this, they are prone to randomly going berserk. Orochimaru also figured out how to utilise natural energy thanks to Jūgo's abilities and his discovery of the Ryūchi Cave, but was also unable to use it properly because he did not possess strong enough host bodies to use such power. Failure to control this energy leads to petrification or to the transformation into a snake that is subsequently eaten by the White Snake Sage.