Visiting Ryūchi Cave

Uchiha Toko returned home. After washing up, he went back to his bedroom, bit his finger, and formed the hand seals for the Summoning Technique.

A puff of smoke dispersed, revealing a small white snake before Uchiha Toko.

"Please inform Ryūchi Cave that Uchiha Toko has come to pay a visit." Uchiha Toko teased the little white snake with his hand before speaking.

The little white snake vanished instantly. Not long afterward, Uchiha Toko sensed the fluctuations of a Reverse Summoning Technique's Space-Time Ninjutsu beside him. He relaxed his mind, and in the blink of an eye, his entire body arrived in a strange place.

The sight before Uchiha Toko was very similar to the ancient-town tourist attractions he had seen in his previous life. Rows of ancient buildings stood in neat succession, and an enormous, classically styled archway bore the sign: Ryūchi Cave.

Orochimaru stood beneath the archway, accompanied by a woman dressed in miko robes with a magatama necklace around her neck.

"Lord Toko." Orochimaru respectfully bowed to Uchiha Toko, while the woman beside him studied Uchiha Toko with great interest.

After a moment, the woman spoke. "Uchiha Toko, welcome to Ryūchi Cave."

"Hello. And you are?" Uchiha Toko asked with a smile.

"Tagorihime." The woman beside Orochimaru smiled softly. "The White Snake Sage already knows why you have come. However, if you wish to meet the White Snake Sage, you must first pass Ryūchi Cave's trial."

"I understand." Uchiha Toko nodded and followed Tagorihime.

The two headed deeper into the ancient city, but Orochimaru formed hand seals and released the summoning at that moment.

"He isn't coming with us?" Uchiha Toko asked curiously.

"Everyone only gets one chance to walk this path in their lifetime. Although Orochimaru is a partner of Ryūchi Cave, he failed when he attempted this path once, so he is no longer qualified to enter." Tagorihime explained as she walked.

"By the way, are you so certain of why I came here?" Uchiha Toko was somewhat curious as well. "I heard that Mount Myoboku has a Toad Sage capable of foreseeing the future. Does the White Snake Sage possess a similar ability?"

"Don't put those stinking toads of Mount Myoboku on the same level as us." Tagorihime looked displeased.

"My apologies for the offense." Uchiha Toko apologized with a chuckle.

"The White Snake Sage does not possess the ability of that old toad from Mount Myoboku." Tagorihime glanced at Uchiha Toko before continuing. "However, your reason for coming to Ryūchi Cave is easy enough to guess."

"For thousands of years, people have come to Ryūchi Cave for no more than two reasons. One is to find a Summoned Beast partner, and the other is to cultivate Sage Mode." Tagorihime said, "Unlike people such as Orochimaru, who came to Ryūchi Cave before their strength had fully taken shape, your fighting habits have already been established. Unless you learn specific ninjutsu, most of Ryūchi Cave's contracted snakes cannot participate in battles at your level."

"So, your goal can only be the latter."

Uchiha Toko nodded noncommittally and continued following Tagorihime.

"By the way, what is Ryūchi Cave's trial for those seeking to cultivate Sage Mode? Is it something like testing one's character? If so, I doubt I could pass." Uchiha Toko said.

"Mr. Douhuan, you jest. Ryūchi Cave treats everyone who wishes to cultivate Sage Mode equally." Tagorihime smiled. "All the trials have only one purpose: to see whether the participant can adapt to Natural Energy. As for character and willpower, things humans care about, Ryūchi Cave does not."

"I see. No wonder rumors call this a place only crazed people obsessed with seeking power would come to." Uchiha Toko said with a smile.

"I'll take that as praise, Mr. Douhuan." Tagorihime said. "Besides, since you have come here, haven't you already made your preparations?"

"That's true." Uchiha Toko nodded. "Then when does the trial begin?"

Tagorihime led Uchiha Toko to a restaurant-like building in the city. She clapped her hands, and several young women soon brought Uchiha Toko all manner of delicious food.

"Mr. Douhuan, before the trial begins, please enjoy Ryūchi Cave's hospitality." Tagorihime said with a smile.

"Is that so?" Uchiha Toko sat down at the table and picked up his utensils without a second thought.

At the sight, Tagorihime revealed a peculiar smile.

However, in the very next second, Tagorihime suddenly discovered a long blade with a pale blue metallic sheen resting against her neck. Uchiha Toko, who had been seated at the dining table before her, had vanished from his spot at some point.

"What do you mean by this, Mr. Douhuan?" Though a blade rested against her neck, Tagorihime remained calm as she spoke.

Behind Tagorihime, the lightning-shaped tomoe within Uchiha Toko's Mangekyō Sharingan slowly revolved. "The illusion was quite convincing, but ever since awakening these eyes, everything I see is absolute reality."

"I see." Tagorihime nodded. The scenery around them began to shift. The lavishly decorated restaurant and the ancient town outside vanished together, becoming a gloomy stone cavern. The abundant food that had covered the table turned into piles of white bones.

Tagorihime's figure vanished along with them.

When Tagorihime appeared again, her tranquil and elegant face had disappeared, replaced by a ferocious snake face. Her vicious vertical pupils, sharp fangs, and long tongue exposed when she opened her mouth made Uchiha Toko frown slightly.

Chakra began to stir around Tagorihime. Its fluctuations were extremely unusual, completely unlike those of anyone Uchiha Toko had fought before.

"So this is Sage Chakra?" Uchiha Toko held his blade across his body and assumed a fighting stance. Deep blue arcs of lightning began gathering around him, crackling sharply.

Just then, a voice rang out from deep within the cave.

"Tagorihime, bring him directly to me. Before his Dojutsu, the remaining trials have little meaning."

"I understand, White Snake Sage." Tagorihime turned and bowed toward the depths of the cave. Her face then returned to its previous appearance, and she said apologetically to Uchiha Toko, "I'm sorry, Mr. Douhuan. I was discourteous, but this was also part of the trial."

"I understand." Uchiha Toko nodded and sheathed Swift Lightning before asking, "Was that the White Snake Sage?"

"That's right. Please follow me." Tagorihime said.

Dear readers, once again, please keep reading.

If you want to let chapters pile up, could you still spare a few minutes each day to use your lucky little hands and scroll the new chapter to the end?

Keeping up with the latest chapters is truly important during the new book period.

Once again, I salute you, dear readers!

Loy! Al! Ty!