Inside the temple of Ryūchi Cave.
The White Snake Sage studied the young man before her with amused interest.
This little one not only breezed through her trials with ease but also toyed with her subordinates, leaving them in disarray.
Clearly, he was a promising candidate—perhaps even worthy of serving Ryūchi Cave.
Or... perhaps he would make a delightful high-quality dinner tonight.
With that thought, the White Snake Sage chuckled, a chilling "kekeke" escaping her lips.
As the sage examined Obito, he was also observing her.
At the moment, the White Snake Sage had taken on a human guise: a kindly-looking elderly woman with orange hair, golden eyes, and a purple silk scarf wrapped around her head.
Of course, the "kindly" demeanor was just a façade.
The sages of Ryūchi Cave were notorious predators, unflinching as they consumed their prey. The mountains of skeletal remains lining the path here testified to that grisly fact.
Over the centuries, countless humans had met their end within their bellies.
Compared to them, Obito found himself holding much more respect for the Toad Sages of Mount Myōboku. (At least from a human perspective.)
Ryūchi Cave... did not deserve such reverence.
After a while, the White Snake Sage yawned lazily before speaking.
"Little one, you saw through their disguises right from the start, didn't you?"
Obito shrugged nonchalantly, answering honestly.
"Yeah, they couldn't stop chattering the whole way here."
"Oh?"
The White Snake Sage straightened slightly, her interest piqued.
"You managed to pierce through the fog I laid down? Quite impressive for someone so young."
She licked her lips and motioned for him to come closer with a smile.
"Come here, little one. Let me grant you senjutsu."
[To those who come to train, the White Snake Sage injects natural energy into their bodies using her fangs. Those who cannot endure the transformation into a snake are devoured on the spot.]
Obito shook his head, staying where he was.
With the power of the Ten Tails soon to be his, he already had one Sage Mode. Betting his life on Ryūchi Cave's senjutsu wasn't just reckless—it was utterly pointless.
Calmly, he responded in a tone mimicking a famous tycoon, "I'm not interested in senjutsu. My purpose here is something else entirely."
The White Snake Sage narrowed her eyes, her voice carrying a hint of melancholy.
"Humans are born of desire and destined to sink into darkness.
"Everyone who seeks me out does so to satisfy their desires, forsaking all else in the process.
"So, tell me, little one—what is it you hope to gain from me?"
Obito scratched his head and asked curiously, "So, if I tell you, can you really grant me my 'desires'?"
"Ahahaha! Of course not," she replied with a laugh.
"The trials you endured merely earn you the right to inherit senjutsu. Beyond that, I concern myself with nothing."
Obito's expression froze.
"…Excuse me??"
What was the point of asking, then?!
Suppressing his irritation, he took a deep breath and explained, "White Snake Sage, I'll be honest. I'm here for Orochimaru."
"Oh?" she responded with mild interest. "That little one? And what business do you have with him?"
Adopting an expression of heartfelt sorrow, Obito lamented, "Orochimaru is my beloved comrade, my brother-in-arms. I heard he fled to Ryūchi Cave, gravely injured.
"But several days have passed without word from him. I couldn't sit still, so I came to check on him myself."
The White Snake Sage burst into laughter, the entire temple shaking as she did.
"Ahahaha! Such lies from such a small mouth.
"Your malice is practically radiating from you… Wait!"
Suddenly, the sage stiffened, her nostrils flaring as she sniffed the air intently.
Moments later, her golden eyes narrowed, glinting with menace.
"You carry the scent of that foul toad!"
Obito sniffed his sleeve, bewildered.
"Really? You can smell that? And in this day and age, why are you still hung up on… wait."
Before he could finish, his body tensed. His Sharingan flared to life, glowing a vivid crimson.
The White Snake Sage, now revealed in her true form, loomed over him. Her massive serpentine body stretched tens of meters long, her gaze predatory and sharp.
The aura she exuded was suffocating—an oppressive, bone-chilling pressure.
Most would have already collapsed, begging for mercy.
But Obito remained calm.
"What's the meaning of this, White Snake Sage? I followed your rules, and now you want to fight me?"
Hidden in the shadows, the Three Snakes chuckled darkly.
"Mount Myōboku's heir dares trespass here and speak so insolently to the White Snake Sage?"
"What a bold little human. Such a pity he won't end up in my belly—kekeke."
"Oh, but watching the sage crush and devour him bit by bit will be quite the spectacle."
The White Snake Sage glared at Obito, his composed demeanor grating on her pride.
She sneered. "That foul toad never taught you respect, did it? You dare speak to me this way?"
Her voice rose to a thunderous growl.
"What gives you such confidence? Is it your pitiful Sage Mode?"
As her fury surged, her chakra erupted like a tidal wave, crashing down on Obito with unrelenting force.
A massive invisible weight locked him in place, cutting off his access to natural energy.
"So, she's trying to disable my Sage Mode," Obito mused inwardly.
The White Snake Sage coiled tightly, her vertical pupils fixed on him.
She wanted to see him break, to shatter under her gaze before devouring him, savoring his despair and chakra.
But to her disappointment, Obito remained unbothered, his expression unreadable.
Even without Sage Mode, he didn't seem fazed.
Was he truly so foolish, or simply fearless?
Her irritation deepened as his indifference robbed her of any satisfaction. Killing him outright felt like such a waste.
Instead, she hissed menacingly, "Ignorant child, you think your meager tricks will save you? Kneel now and beg for mercy, and I might spare your life."
Obito dug at his ear casually.
"Enough with the chatter already. If you want to fight, just fight. You're giving me a headache."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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