"You injected yourself with the First Hokage Cell Serum?"
Orochimaru immediately noticed the changes in Uchiha Ao.
Just as Ao's Chakra was about to run dry,
a whole new power suddenly surged through his body.
The intense vitality of the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai was impossible to miss.
Orochimaru recognized it at a glance.
Ao didn't deny it. He nodded slightly.
This was the first time he'd used up all his Chakra in such a short time.
He hadn't expected to discover a new function of the Hashirama Cells.
Like a withered tree brought back to life in spring, he'd been reborn.
After this experience,
his Chakra had risen another step, firmly reaching elite Chunin level.
It simply made no sense.
Was this what a world built around bloodline inheritance was like?
Just a faint response between two bloodlines inherited from Otsutsuki Kaguya
had caused a qualitative evolution in his body.
He felt the Hashirama Cells fusing more tightly within him, while a dull ache spread through the cells all over his body.
It was the result of his cells being pushed too hard.
As the Chakra produced by the Hashirama Cells merged with his own, his Chakra had undergone a subtle transformation.
At the same time,
his soul had finally merged completely with the soul of the body's former owner.
Many memories buried deep within his body surfaced.
During the process, Ao also sensed a special power hidden in his bloodline.
"The Sharingan?"
Feeling that power surge toward the area around his eyes, Ao pictured a pair of eyes in his mind.
A faint sense of anticipation stirred within him.
He wondered what abilities his Mangekyō Sharingan would have...
They said the Uchiha bloodline was the eye that reflected the heart.
It could manifest power based on the spiritual nature of each Uchiha,
revealing the deepest desire in their heart.
Then—what was his deepest desire?
Ao asked himself.
The instant the thought crossed his mind, a question surfaced instead.
Why did the Naruto World exist?
Deep down, he felt an intense curiosity about the nature of this world.
"Congratulations..."
Ichikishimahime gritted her teeth and replied coldly.
She lowered her head and stood rooted to the spot.
Orochimaru glanced at her. "All right. Thank you for your help, Ichikishimahime... I'll arrange some special blood food for you soon."
Ichikishimahime had clearly gone easy on him during this trial.
She hadn't used her abilities on a large scale.
Otherwise, with Uchiha Ao's current strength, he wouldn't have stood a chance.
She could have sucked him dry with ease.
"Hehe, Lord Orochimaru, you'd better keep your promise... This time I want three hundred blood food! More than that brat Manda gets, so he can't brag to me every day!"
Ichikishimahime hopped excitedly, waving her arms as she spoke.
Her behavior was a complete departure from her usual sweet and well-behaved manner.
He had passed the second trial.
The two stepped into another corridor and crossed through it, arriving in a completely new place.
This time, Tagitsuhime was waiting at the gate.
She was the strongest of the Three Princesses.
In a white robe that accentuated her slender figure, she wore her long, straight black hair in a high bun, with a small headband atop her head. Her dark golden, slit-pupil eyes studied the young man beside Orochimaru.
"Lord Orochimaru, I never expected you to take an Uchiha as your disciple..."
The woman shook her head slightly. A ruby pendant swayed gently against her chest as she turned and pushed open the stone door of the enormous temple behind her.
"Come in..."
"The White Snake Sage says there's no need to continue with the third trial."
She extended a hand and bowed slightly, inviting them in respectfully.
"Kid... what's your name?"
After Orochimaru stepped through the door,
Ao heard Zuijinji ask in a barely audible voice behind him.
"Uchiha Ao."
He nodded slightly and gave her his name.
Uchiha?
Zuijinji watched Uchiha Ao's retreating figure thoughtfully.
Interesting...
The two stepped through the door.
The world spun around them.
When Ao came to, he was already inside a dim cave.
Darkness surrounded them.
Only a few rays of light illuminated the scene before them.
An enormous temple stood in front of them.
Following Orochimaru, Ao walked along a neat row of blue stone slabs and entered the temple.
At the center of the temple stood a throne carved from a massive rock. The White Snake Sage's true form—a snow-white serpent with scales that gleamed coldly—was slowly coiled upon it.
The snake's body stretched farther than the eye could see. Two golden rings hung from the tip of her tail, swaying gently with every breath and scattering tiny flecks of light.
A pure white mist filled the area around them.
It was rich with Natural Energy.
Ao discreetly glanced at Orochimaru. From the White Snake Sage, he sensed a spiritual power similar to Orochimaru's.
So this was the source of Orochimaru's spiritual transformation?
He thoughtfully studied the mist behind the White Snake Sage.
No one but the White Snake Sage could have helped Orochimaru transform from human to snake in such a short time.
It seemed Orochimaru had become the White Snake Sage's true successor.
But the sage seemed to have held something back.
Orochimaru hadn't learned Sage Mode or how to control Natural Energy.
Ao lowered his head and bowed deeply alongside Orochimaru before the White Snake Sage.
"Orochimaru, are you certain you want his name added to the Ryūchi Cave Contract Scroll?"
The White Snake Sage's aged voice rang out. Her slit-pupil eyes, heavy with the weight of history, slowly turned toward Uchiha Ao.
With a single glance, she saw right through him.
"I... cannot see your future."
"Descendant of Indra, your growth is full of uncertainty... Sss!"
The White Snake Sage's eyes opened a little wider. The mouth around her pipe slowly parted, exhaling a cloud of white smoke.
"I approve."
As her words fell,
a scroll dropped from above and landed in front of Orochimaru.
Orochimaru stepped forward, opened the scroll, and spread it out before Ao.
"Bite your finger and write your name."
He pointed to the blank space after Orochimaru's name on the scroll.
Ao saw only Orochimaru's name written there.
They really were strict!
In more than a thousand years, they'd accepted only Orochimaru as their human agent.
Mount Myoboku's contract scroll was nothing like this. In their search for the prophesied Child of Destiny, they'd filled page after page with names—an entire scroll's worth.
Ao did as instructed.
Using his own blood, he wrote "Uchiha Ao" on the scroll.
"From this day forward, you are Ryūchi Cave's second human successor."
The White Snake Sage's voice rang out.
The scroll rolled itself up and floated into the air before disappearing into the white mist.
"White Snake Sage, can he stay here in Ryūchi Cave for a while?"
"I've run into some trouble in Konoha. Once I've dealt with the problems outside, I'll come back for him."
Orochimaru bowed his head and asked in a gentle voice.
Ao lowered his head, watching him from the corner of his eye. He perked up his ears, waiting for the White Snake Sage's answer.
This was the first time he'd seen Orochimaru act so deferentially. He was even more submissive than when he faced his own teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
It seemed he deeply respected the White Snake Sage.
"That's fine. I'll teach him for a while."
The White Snake Sage paused as if deep in thought, but then a snore suddenly came from her.
Orochimaru bent at the waist to show his gratitude.
Then he turned to Uchiha Ao and instructed him, "Stay here and wait for me to come get you. While I'm gone, train hard under the sage... When you have time, learn more about Kekkei Genkai... It's related to the mission I'll be giving you next!"
Before you continue