I Taught You Spirit Communication, Who Told You to Summon the White Snake Sage?

"Troublesome teacher, is there something you need from me?"

His pupils darted around, a flicker of impatience crossing his expressive eyes before being replaced by indifference and calm.

"Don't say that. For an excellent disciple, a teacher must pour in greater effort, allowing a crawling snake to transform into a dragon, hehehe."

A pale purple tongue flicked across his lips, his cold, rigid features becoming all the more repulsive.

"Let's end the small talk. During my training outside the village, I found a very interesting place. Shall I sign your name on this?"

On the purple and white scroll, several names signed in blood came into view; the most recent one made Hanazuki's mouth twitch.

"Anko Mitarashi... A summoning scroll? From where?"

"Why don't you test it yourself and find out? When Anko performed her first summoning, she summoned a creature half the size of the Hokage's office building."

"As an Uchiha, I wonder what kind of existence you can summon. I'm looking forward to it."

With a cold snort, the two figures vanished instantly, reappearing high above Training Ground 3.

"As expected, your Body Flicker technique is as excellent as ever. Shall we try?"

Orochimaru's smile was chilling, his serpentine slit pupils filled with anticipation, as if wondering what kind of summon his beloved disciple could produce.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Bang! The white mist dissipated, and his black-and-white eyes quietly shifted into the intricate, elaborate Mangekyo. The Black Nine-Tails, bound within his body and unable to perceive the outside world, frowned slightly.

Kid, you've summoned a formidable character. This guy's aura is hard to deal with; she's much older than me, judging by her age.

Whether it's the world on that side or this side, they are equally troublesome. You're in for it now. If I'd known, I wouldn't have converted my chakra into yours just now.

Pray for your own luck, brat...

The Black Nine-Tails hurriedly hid himself, deeply wary of the figure in the white mist, and no matter how Hanazuki tried to communicate, he received no response.

"What kind of creature could it be? This feeling... could it be..."

His pupils shrank to pinpricks. Orochimaru stared in disbelief at the figure in the smoke, a long-forgotten chill creeping up his spine for no reason.

"Goodness, it's you again, little snake. Haven't I warned you once already that your constitution is not suited for practicing Sage Mode?"

The corners of his mouth twitching violently, the usually cold and rigid Orochimaru found it rare to lose his composure, turning his head to give Uchiha Hanazuki a deep, lingering look.

I only asked you to summon a beast to assist in battle, not to summon the White Snake Sage of Ryuchi Cave, and without permission at that!

"My deepest apologies, White Snake Sage. This summoning was not led by me, but by my most prized disciple, Uchiha Hanazuki."

Stepping back two paces, Orochimaru's expression clearly said that he was on his own to deal with the trouble he'd caused, as he was powerless to help.

"Not you, but your disciple? A chakra even more vast and ominous than yours, little snake. This power... is he of the Uchiha clan?"

The white mist cleared. An elderly woman with a kind expression, dressed in a long white robe, was now gazing with smiling eyes at the figure in black robes, who had donned a Three-Eyed Demon Fox mask at some point.

"Is it you? That ominous power from just a moment ago, even greater than the little snake's—what are you hiding? The power contained within your body, the power residing in your eyes... they all make me feel a hint of danger."

"I see. What an interesting child. In that case, why don't you try a challenge? If you pass my test, you shall obtain power that even your master has never attained."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The white mist vanished, and both Hanazuki and the White Snake Sage disappeared without a trace. Orochimaru stood rooted to the spot, silent for a long time, the composure he had barely maintained long since replaced by shock.

"To think the White Snake Sage would actually respond to a summoning. I had assumed that whoever was summoned to this world would be that fellow, Manda..."

"The White Snake Sage, who has lived almost as long as the birth of ninjas and has existed for at least a millennium, is not a being easily pleased."

"Good luck, my dear disciple. It is a pity my constitution is ill-suited for Sage Mode, otherwise I would not have spent so much effort searching for any trace of a path to becoming a Sage."

As Orochimaru walked away, he had already written Uchiha Hanazuki off as a dead man in his heart. The so-called White Snake Sage was a troublesome existence, regardless of whether one pleased her or not.

It was a pity that the youngest Jonin in Konoha Village was likely about to become a meal for a snake. Truly regrettable.

The world of ninjas has three great holy lands for training. In Ryuchi Cave, known as a legendary place of inheritance, a guest forcibly invited by the master stood in the mist, looking left and right.

"Is this Ryuchi Cave? Sage Mode... I have no interest in growing scales all over my body, yet I've been dragged here by that troublesome old hag."

Choosing a direction at random, Hanazuki looked around, feeling the mist thickening until his visibility was limited to a few meters.

"Is that the one? The one who came seeking power?"

"Ah, the interesting little brat the Sage mentioned. Shall we begin the trial?"

"Let me go first. That child has a very pleasant scent; he must be delicious to eat, hehehehe..."

Various feminine voices, each with a different tone but all equally seductive, faded into the thick fog as graceful figures vanished from their spots.

At the same time, within the eerie mist, flickers of firelight appeared, revealing a magnificent and spacious courtyard.

"Welcome, guest. Have you also come to Ryuchi Cave to seek the power of the Sage?"

Hanazuki tilted his head slightly. The figure that appeared before him had delicate features, green hair that was almost black, and pale skin that looked as if it had never seen the sun.

"No, that old hag insisted on bringing me here. Sage power or whatever—it's of no use to me for the time being."

The moment these words left his lips, the green-haired woman was left speechless, though the veins bulging on her forehead betrayed her true feelings.

To dare call the White Snake Sage an old hag... you impolite brat. I will make sure you suffer a painful death later.

"In that case, please rest in my humble abode for a while. Soon you will be able to see the White Snake Sage and ask her to send you away from Ryuchi Cave."

"Why not rest for a moment and take this opportunity to fill your stomach?"

Under the green-haired woman's radiant smile, Uchiha Hanazuki replied with a smile of his own.

"I refuse!"