Orochimaru's Acceptance, the Trial of Ryūchi Cave

"Let's go..."

"I will take you to the new research site first..."

Orochimaru's low voice rang out, carrying a heavy sense of exhaustion.

The schemes of these past few days had drained a vast amount of his energy, so he did not conduct a more rigorous test.

Uchiha Ao had, in fact, gotten off easy.

After being hurt by Anko's hesitation, Orochimaru had become somewhat wary of his own disciples.

Uchiha Ao's choice made him feel quite gratified.

Although Ao did not say a word.

His actions represented his decision.

Upon hearing Orochimaru's instruction, he stood up abruptly, lightly brushed the dew off his clothes, leaped with both feet, stepped onto a stone statue with one foot and the water surface with the other, and followed behind Orochimaru as they departed.

"Habits in the use of Chakra must be cultivated in daily life!"

"No matter the time, you must constantly train the way you manifest Chakra."

Orochimaru reminded him softly.

He had officially begun his instruction of Uchiha Ao.

At this moment, his control over Chakra had undergone a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering change.

Within ten days, he had perfectly mastered his surging Chakra power.

He had successfully promoted to Chunin.

Perhaps it was due to the fusion of two souls.

Ao's progress in the practice of the Spirit Transformation Technique was rapid.

With just a single glance, he had detected the weakness in Orochimaru's soul.

Five wounds in different areas and that soul form resembling a white snake proved that during the time Orochimaru had disappeared, he had quietly completed a major transformation.

"Progressing quite quickly..."

Orochimaru's golden vertical pupils constricted, a flash of surprise hidden within them.

He pondered for a moment.

A decision was made in his heart.

"I have taken in a few orphans in the Land of Rice Fields; this time when you go, help me train them well."

"At the same time... I am entrusting you with a research project!"

"Do you know about Kekkei Genkai?"

Orochimaru walked in front, speaking as he moved.

"I do..."

Ao nodded and followed.

"Your next research direction will be related to Kekkei Genkai."

Seeing this, Orochimaru laid out a detailed plan for what was to come.

He deliberately slowed his pace, guiding Uchiha Ao's stride, using the journey to train his Chakra control.

Although Ao possessed some of his predecessor's ninja training experience, in terms of actual combat, he was far inferior to some experienced Genin.

In the last battle, he had only been able to seize a sliver of a chance at survival by trading his life for another's.

Orochimaru's guidance.

Allowed him to quickly achieve a further improvement in his control over Chakra.

Five days passed.

The two left the Land of Fire and arrived within the borders of the Land of Rice Fields.

They finally stopped on a desolate plain.

Orochimaru formed hand seals and slammed a palm onto the ground.

A black Cursed Seal instantly manifested on the earth.

The aura of a barrier was released.

In the blink of an eye, a giant snake rose from beneath the ground, opening its blood-red maw before the two of them.

Orochimaru led Uchiha Ao into the snake's mouth.

Stepping onto the moist snake tongue, they followed the slippery water trails into the snake's belly.

Feeling the warm, soft ground beneath his feet, Ao knew clearly that this was not an illusion.

Walking to the base of the tongue.

He suddenly felt his body sway.

The next moment.

The snake's jaws snapped shut.

The surroundings plunged into total darkness.

Then, a heaven-shaking upheaval followed.

When light returned, they discovered that the surrounding environment had undergone a massive change.

A woman dressed in a high-collared, emerald-green furisode robe appeared before the two of them.

The woman's sleeves were wide, with dark gold cloud patterns branded onto the fabric.

A white ribbon floated behind her, moving of its own accord despite the lack of wind.

The woman wore a languid expression and a gentle smile, appearing entirely devoid of malice as she cast a glance at the two, secretly sizing them up.

"Lord Orochimaru, why have you broken our agreement and brought an outsider into our Ryūchi Cave so casually? If the Sage were to find out..."

"Little Tagorihime..."

Orochimaru flicked his snake-like tongue out without a trace, gently licking his lips.

"I have brought this disciple here to participate in the trial set by the White Snake Sage."

He pointed to Uchiha Ao at his side to introduce him.

"This little brat? Can he handle it?"

"From him, I sense a familiar aura..."

Tagorihime's expression shifted, the smile on her face fading as she lifted her eyelids slightly to scan him.

"Little one, you look quite fair and tender! What is your name!?"

A rich, seductive charm radiated from the woman's golden slit pupils, and her soft, gentle inquiry seemed capable of melting a person on the spot.

She clapped her hands lightly.

A line of scantily clad, voluptuous women filed out from the dark gate behind her, surrounding the two men completely.

Before they could react, the women swarmed them, rubbing their soft limbs against them in intimate physical contact.

Uchiha Ao, however, remained unmoved, his eyes watching everything with calm detachment.

A trace of contempt appeared in his eyes.

Genjutsu...

Is this it?

They didn't even take their clothes off; how is this supposed to test a cadre?

He focused his spirit in an instant, his willpower erupting to pierce through the illusion.

The four beauties surrounding and embracing him vanished in an instant.

His vision cleared once more.

What came into view was Orochimaru's expression of watching a show.

And the surprise hidden deep within his eyes.

This soul power... it was already slightly deeper than his own.

Just how did he train?

Ao's talent on the spiritual level is truly exceptional!

Orochimaru felt a slight stir in his heart.

He silently calculated the upcoming training plan in his mind.

"Hmph..."

Tagorihime let out a cold snort and stepped aside from the gate behind her.

She did not take any further action.

She was giving Orochimaru some face.

She would let him off a little easy.

"Please..."

With Orochimaru right there, she dared not go too far.

After all, Orochimaru was a contractor highly regarded by the Sage.

If it had been any other ordinary person, She likely would have eaten them as a blood sacrifice.

There would have been no chance for a trial at all.

After the two entered the gate, They passed through a dark corridor, Another secret chamber appeared before them.

The gatekeeper was once again a petite, loli-like snake princess.

She wore a pair of golden spherical hair ornaments atop her black, double-bun hairstyle, and a pair of blue teardrop pendants hung from her ears.

Dressed in a dark blue kimono-style miniskirt, her chest was flat beneath the white lining, revealing her fair, delicate collarbones.

A cyan ribbon floated and circled behind her.

"Lord Orochimaru, is this the successor you were looking for? He looks a bit weak!"

Ichikishimahime's soft, sweet voice rang out.

Her eyes were filled with disdain for Uchiha Ao.

Chakra at the Chunin level was simply insufficient to pass her trial.

"Begin."

Orochimaru didn't say much else, tossing out only a single word.

He then stepped aside to make room for Uchiha Ao.

Seeing this, Ichikishimahime didn't waste any more words and went straight to explaining the rules of the upcoming trial to Uchiha Ao.

"You must fill the grooves on the stone gate using the gravel on the ground within ten minutes."

No sooner had her voice fallen, than Uchiha Ao had already followed the pattern and easily filled all the grooves on the entire stone gate.

A test of spatial geometry posed no difficulty for him whatsoever.

His speed of movement had also been honed by Orochimaru over these past few days.

It was no slower than that of a Chunin.

The only difficult part lay in the need to use Chakra to secure the stones when embedding them.

It placed high demands on both the quantity and control of one's Chakra.

Uchiha Ao's Chakra was barely enough.

He had collected all the stones in advance.

It was only when his Chakra hit rock bottom that he finally completed the trial.

"How is this possible..."

Ichikishimahime widened her eyes, asking in utter astonishment.

A child with barely enough Chakra to reach the Chunin level had actually managed to pass the assessment she had set.