"I didn't expect you to actually defeat the White Snake Sage."
Hearing the Great Katsuyu Sage's words, Shishou immediately caught the key point.
He grabbed the small Katsuyu in his hand, kneading it as he asked:
"Defeated?"
"Didn't I successfully kill the White Snake Sage?"
Logically, the White Snake Sage's body was being devoured by his chakra bugs.
And within the sealed barrier, there were no traces of the White Snake Sage.
This would mean that the White Snake Sage should be completely dead.
Sensing Shishou's confusion, the Great Katsuyu Sage explained:
"Although I saw the White Snake Sage dissipate into dust in your hands, I can't shake the feeling that she might not be truly dead."
"That's why I haven't dared to lift the barrier around Ryuchi Cave."
Hearing this, Shishou frowned and said in a low voice:
"I've already searched the entire barrier and found no trace of the White Snake Sage."
"So where do you think she might be hiding?"
The Great Katsuyu Sage shook her head:
"I don't know."
"If you are certain the White Snake Sage is dead, I'll lift the barrier. Maintaining it is quite a burden for me."
The Great Katsuyu Sage did not know all the secret techniques and sage arts of the White Snake Sage.
So even she couldn't answer Shishou's question.
Hearing this, Shishou frowned deeper, feeling uncertain.
The White Snake Sage was powerful, and if she was secretly plotting against him, it would be a significant threat to his safety.
Perhaps guessing Shishou's thoughts, the Great Katsuyu Sage said:
"Actually, you don't need to worry about revenge from the White Snake Sage because she can no longer pose a threat to you."
"The White Snake Sage's immortal snake body is now in your hands. Even if she has some fallback plans, without her thousand-year-old snake body, her power will greatly diminish. It would take countless years to regain her strength."
"She couldn't defeat you with her original body, let alone without it."
"Even if the White Snake Sage is still alive, she can't threaten you or those around you."
Hearing this, Shishou paused and then understood.
In the ninja world, a person's strength is closely related to their physical body and bloodline.
The stronger the physical body and the more chakra one has, the stronger they are.
Even someone as powerful as Uchiha Madara wouldn't be able to achieve much with a frail civilian body.
This was why Orochimaru in the original series was so obsessed with obtaining Sasuke's body.
Without her thousand-year snake body, the White Snake Sage was no longer a threat to Shishou.
Then Shishou said to the Great Katsuyu Sage:
"Keep maintaining the barrier. I'll have Rimei and Kushina thoroughly check it with their Tenseigan."
"If there's no issue, you can then lift the seal around Ryuchi Cave."
With that, Shishou created two clones to bring Hyuga Rimei and Kushina to search the sealed barrier for any traces of the White Snake Sage.
After that, Shishou asked the Great Katsuyu Sage:
"The natural energy around Ryuchi Cave has been depleted by me and the White Snake Sage, causing severe desertification."
"Can this situation be restored?"
Shishou planned to use Ryuchi Cave as his Sage Art training base.
The Great Katsuyu Sage looked at Shishou:
"Don't worry. The three Sage Lands are chosen because their space nodes are rich in natural energy."
"And the natural energy you absorb into your body and then release with jutsu also returns to the land as natural energy."
"In a few years, Ryuchi Cave will recover. If you actively release natural energy absorbed from elsewhere here, it will speed up the recovery."
Hearing this explanation, Shishou raised an eyebrow.
It sounded similar to the conservation of energy law he learned in his previous life...
While Shishou and the Great Katsuyu Sage discussed how to restore Ryuchi Cave, Shin Hime, Island Hime, and Tsun Hime gathered all the remaining items from Ryuchi Cave and brought them to Shishou.
"Master, this box contains all the ninjutsu and sage art scrolls from the White Snake Sage's secret chamber."
"It includes the scroll on Inorganic Reincarnation that you wanted."
Shin Hime presented a small box to Shishou.
"Master, this is the inventory of all the treasures in Ryuchi Cave."
"Master, this is the list of all the training methods in Ryuchi Cave..."
Behind Shin Hime, Island Hime and Tsun Hime similarly presented scrolls.
Seeing this, Shishou glanced through them and then stored the scrolls in his storage scroll.
Next, Shishou used his chakra bugs to check Shin Hime, Island Hime, and Tsun Hime's bodies. Finding no issues, he dismissed them.
Not long after.
Hyuga Rimei and Kushina, who had been using their Tenseigan to check the sealed barrier, returned to Shishou, shaking their heads:
"Shishou, we didn't find any trace of the White Snake Sage."
"It seems the White Snake Sage was indeed killed by you."
Hearing their report, Shishou nodded.
If even the Tenseigan couldn't find anything, the White Snake Sage was likely truly dead.
After checking Hyuga Rimei and Kushina with his chakra bugs and ensuring they were fine, Shishou smiled:
"I'll send you two back first. We'll discuss the details later."
"Alright."
Both Rimei and Kushina agreed without objection, nodding obediently.
After sending them back to Fire Source City, Shishou returned to Ryuchi Cave.
Next, he created several clones to devour all the dead or living snakes in Ryuchi Cave.
Not only that, but Shishou also had his clones eliminate and consume all the wild animals within a hundred miles of Ryuchi Cave.
Although the White Snake Sage was most likely dead, Shishou decided to be cautious.
After this, he went to Tsunade, Mei Terumi, and the others to prepare to send them back before continuing with his plans.
Seeing Shishou appear, Tsunade and Mei Terumi were surprised.
Yugito Nii immediately threw herself into Shishou's arms, saying excitedly:
"Shishou, you're amazing! Even the White Snake Sage wasn't your match."
Seeing Yugito Nii's actions, Tsunade and Mei Terumi's eyes twitched, their brows slightly furrowed.
They hadn't expected that a moment of hesitation would let someone else take the lead.
It was truly a case of 'quick hands win'...
Meanwhile, Miko Miroku and Uchiha Mikoto, both already married, looked at Shishou with bright eyes.
If not for the many people around, they would have thrown themselves into his arms as well.
Although they had always known Shishou was powerful,
Shishou continued to surprise them with each battle, rekindling their admiration.
Even though they were already his women, they couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for him.
"Hmph!"
"You're such a playboy!"
Konan, seeing the scene, pouted and walked away.
With Shishou meeting his wives and concubines, she felt it was inappropriate to stay there any longer.
**********
This fanfiction is complete on my Pa treon. If you want to read it, you can find it at patreo n.com Betek.