White Snake Sage
The White Snake Sage sensed Kazashiro's use of Ice Release.
"Sigh." The White Snake Sage in her true form sighed, waving her enormous tail. Powerful Natural Energy erupted, and an invisible barrier blocked the ice current's advance.
"Tagitsuhime, go and welcome that distinguished guest in."
Upon hearing the White Snake Sage's words, Tagitsuhime, who was behind her, nodded, shattered the ice layer with a wave of her hand, and flew away.
Kazashiro sensed the immense Natural Energy unleashed by the White Snake Sage and guessed that it must be the White Snake Sage's technique. He then led Uchiha Hikari towards the location of the White Snake Sage.
Not long after, Kazashiro met Tagitsuhime.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame..."
Uchiha Hikari had no intention of communicating at all. She had an innate aversion to the people from Ryūchi Cave and was about to unleash Fire Style.
"Please stop. I am Tagitsuhime, sent by the White Snake Sage to greet you both. I mean you no harm."
Tagitsuhime stood still and quickly explained her purpose.
Kazashiro reached out to stop Uchiha Hikari, looking at Tagitsuhime with a half-smile, "Is this how Ryūchi Cave treats its guests—by serving them that kind of thing?"
"You've misunderstood," Tagitsuhime shook her head and explained, "The previous scene was merely a test of the visitor's strength. You have already demonstrated extraordinary combat power, so the so-called test has naturally ended."
"Really? You're not going to suddenly jump out and bite me or something, are you?"
Kazashiro's expression remained unchanged, but his tone was not very friendly.
"Of course not." Tagitsuhime shook her head even faster.
She did have that intention at first, after all, Ryūchi Cave had never taken the initiative to welcome human cultivators before.
Therefore, these three capable subordinates of the White Snake Sage initially harbored the intention of testing Kazashiro's strength, and the White Snake Sage was happy to see this happen, as she was also very interested in Kazashiro's strength.
Although I've heard countless rumors, rumors are just rumors. Some things can only be concluded after seeing them with my own eyes.
By doing this without using Natural Energy, Kazashiro has already proven his worth with his strength.
Lead the way.
Kazashiro agreed with Tagitsuhime's explanation and gestured for her to lead the way.
This time, nothing unexpected happened, and Kazashiro soon spotted the old lady sitting in her seat, smoking a pipe.
"You must be Shimura Kazashiro. Welcome to Ryūchi Cave."
The White Snake Sage squinted his eyes and greeted Kazashiro warmly.
"Um."
Kazashiro accepted the greeting without hesitation, which sent a chill down the spines of the three Snake Princess hiding behind the White Snake Sage Immortal.
Does this guy really know what kind of being he's facing?
That's a great immortal who has lived for over a thousand years.
If Uchiha Hikari could read minds, he would definitely scoff and say, "A thousand years is nothing. I've lived for about that many years."
"I already know your purpose. You want to integrate the Senjutsu of the Three Great Sage Locations to fight against the descent of the Ōtsutsuki. To be honest, this strategy is both useful and useless."
The White Snake Sage, with a pipe in his mouth, uttered some incomprehensible words.
Kazashiro understood what the other person meant.
"Yes, when the Ōtsutsuki descended, even the Three Great Sage Locations couldn't stop them. Our hope of fighting them is naturally slim."
These words clearly struck a chord with the White Snake Sage. Seeing that the other's expression softened, Kazashiro continued, "But you have no other choice, because Isshiki is not dead, Kaguya is waiting to be resurrected, and the Ōtsutsuki from beyond the heavens is also a huge threat."
The days of complacency for the Three Great Sage Locations are over. You must now humble yourselves, or you will lose your last vestige of peace once other Ōtsutsuki descend, and the entire Shinobi World will be destroyed by the Ōtsutsuki."
Kazashiro's words revealed the predicament of the Three Great Sage Locations.
After Kaguya was sealed away, she lived a peaceful life for a period of time with the help of the Sage of Six Paths and the Three Great Sage Locations.
But the situation is different now. The Sage of Six Paths is dead, and his descendants are constantly fighting and unable to cope with the new threat. In order to live a peaceful life, the White Snake Sage must contribute to the fight against the Ōtsutsuki.
This is why she took the initiative to send people to contact Kazashiro.
"You're much smarter than the rumors say."
Although Ryūchi Cave has limited contact with the outside world, the White Snake Sage has been actively gathering information about the Shinobi World, making her the only sage to realize that the situation was different.
"We still have plenty of time, so let me, you, and that little girl with the Mangekyō Sharingan behind us tell you a story from a thousand years ago."