Inside Ryūchi Cave's temple.
The White Snake Sage sat cross-legged atop a stone platform, sensing the Chakra erupting in the distance. She let out a soft sigh. "Sometimes, I truly envy humans. With only a few short decades of life, they can master power comparable to that of a sage."
Ritsuhime said from the side, "Humans may be formidable, but they do not have a Great Sage's long life. You have lived for several thousand years. You were already living on this land before the Sage of Six Paths descended."
"Even after the Divine Tree crisis and the war against those from beyond the heavens, Ryūchi Cave still remains."
Hearing this, the White Snake Sage seemed to recall something. Her expression darkened as she shook her head. "Before the Otsutsuki clan, neither I nor that old toad had the power to resist. Otherwise, there would have been no need to rely on the strength of the prophesied one."
Ritsuhime fell silent. She had never seen anyone from the Otsutsuki clan and had no idea just how powerful they truly were.
Yet if even the White Snake Sage considered herself inferior, the strength of that clan was likely beyond imagination.
At that moment, violent tremors rose from deep underground. Sensing the distant disturbance in Chakra, the White Snake Sage smiled. "It seems our guest has mastered Sage Jutsu and is taking part in Ryūchi Cave's hunt."
"Ritsuhime, shall we make a wager? Will the number of giant snakes slain by the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki be odd or even?"
Ritsuhime glanced at the White Snake Sage and said weakly, "Lady White Snake, may I refuse this wager? You promised that as long as I cultivated into a sage, I would not be treated as food."
The White Snake Sage snorted. "Do you take