You are the foremost researcher in the ninja world!

Waterfall Grass.

As the name suggests, it grows behind waterfalls. It can be ingested, but it is more commonly used for medicinal baths. The effect is similar to an ice bath, but it provides additional nourishment from the herbs compared to pure ice.

Due to its rarity and the difficulty of harvesting it, the price remains high, at about 200,000 ryo per plant.

With all these conditions in mind, Shinmoku chose it as his excuse.

"I know where there might be some," Anko said. "Follow me."

Truth or pretense—who can really tell the difference? People are complex by nature.

The destination was a large body of water with many waterfalls of varying sizes.

"Let's search together."

With that, Anko threw a kunai attached to a steel wire, hooked it onto a tree above, tied the other end to her waist, and leaped into a waterfall.

Shinmoku performed the same set of actions.

However, as he disappeared into the waterfall he had chosen, Waterfall Grass appeared right before his eyes, tucked into a crevice in the rocks and being washed by the current.

"..."

His luck was a bit too good.

After plucking the Waterfall Grass, Shinmoku cut the rope.

"Splash!"

The sound of him hitting the water caught Anko's attention. She had just emerged from behind her waterfall after a fruitless search.

Seeing Shinmoku crawl out of the river looking like a drowned rat, she burst into merciless laughter.

"You're so clumsy, how do you manage to fall while hanging from a rope?"

"Cough, cough—I just got a little excited."

"What do you mean?"

"I found it."

"..." Anko's smile gradually faded. "Two hundred thousand ryo... your luck is just too good."

"We can head back now."

"Fine."

The Clone drifted down the river for five minutes, leaving a Flying Thunder God mark when it crawled out of the riverbed.

The Hidden Sound was beginning to move; in all likelihood, the Kazekage had already been killed.

Orochimaru would disguise himself as the Kazekage to attend the Chunin Exams, and Shinmoku intended to intercept them on their route.

The Land of Fire and the Land of Wind did not share a border; the Land of Rain and the Land of Rivers lay between them. The Land of Rain was closed off year-round, so they had to be coming through the Land of Rivers. Although there was no single "must-take" path, the Kazekage wouldn't be taking backroads, so he just needed to head to the nearest main road.

He took off his forehead protector and, while passing through a commercial district, casually bought a mask.

It wouldn't matter if Orochimaru saw through his identity, but it would be troublesome if the accompanying Hidden Sand ninja recognized him.

After sprinting at full speed through the dense forest beside the main road for over ten hours, Shinmoku sensed five chakra signatures. The strongest one was in the middle, and based on the height, he could tell the person was sitting in a carriage.

This had to be them.

Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique.

The convoy turned onto a side road, and the corners of Orochimaru's mouth curled into a smile inside the carriage.

"Boom—"

"Watch out! It's poison gas! Protect Lord Kazekage!"

After a flurry of fighting sounds, the carriage curtain was pulled back. The newcomer removed his mask and sat down opposite him.

"Who are you!?"

"...Stop pretending, Orochimaru."

"Heh," Orochimaru said, reverting to his own voice. "Can't you play along with me for a bit?"

"There's no audience, so what's the point?"

"Ah—that's true." Orochimaru agreed, then asked, "So, you've come to find me... are you planning to join the embrace of the Hidden Sound?"

"No."

"Then have you come to stop me?"

"If that were the case, I wouldn't be the only one here. Besides, I can't really be counted as a person... I want to sign a contract with Ryūchi Cave."

"I see... and why should I help you?"

"What do you think?" Shinmoku countered.

"..."

Orochimaru fell silent for a moment, a flash of killing intent in his eyes. After it subsided, he summoned the contract scroll. "Just sign it with your blood."

"Hmm..."

On the surface, it looked like the real deal, and the last person to sign the contract was indeed Anko Mitarashi, but if he wanted to, Orochimaru had countless ways to backstab him.

"Can you tell me more?"

"Tell you what?"

"Everything. For instance... can Anko Mitarashi choose the contractor? What are the differences in your authority? Is this scroll of yours authentic? What exactly is Ryūchi Cave? And what is the situation with Sage Mode?"

"..."

"As the premier research talent in the ninja world, only you can resolve these doubts of mine."

"Heh—"

The flattery worked. Orochimaru gathered his thoughts and said:

"As far as I know, there are two contract scrolls: one main body, located in Ryūchi Cave, and one branch, which is the one right in front of you.

"Therefore, Anko cannot choose the contractor.

"Ryūchi Cave is one of the three sacred places; it is a snake den, and its leader is the White Snake Sage.

"If you want to learn Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode, you must first pass the White Snake Sage's trial, and then have her inject energy into you. The difficulty is extremely high; if you fail, you will turn into stone and become one of her ornaments."

Shinmoku nodded repeatedly.

"Thank you... so, where is Ryūchi Cave?"

"Do you want to learn Sage Mode? Sage Mode is..."

"No, I want to sign a contract with the main body of the contract scroll."

"You don't trust me?"

"...What do you think?" Shinmoku smiled.

First of all, this scroll might be fake.

Secondly, he suspected that through this scroll, he could only summon temporary workers or the summoning beasts that Orochimaru had already contracted with.

The temporary workers might be very weak and not necessarily willing to sign a contract with him, so regardless, a trip to Ryūchi Cave was necessary.

"Fine." Orochimaru gave the general location of Ryūchi Cave and added, "I hope you die there."

"I'll take that as a blessing."

He released the seal.

"Poof!"

The Clone dissipated, and Orochimaru expressionlessly awakened the Kazekage's guard unit.

"Lord Kazekage!"

"It's nothing. Continue moving forward."

"Yes! Lord Kazekage! You are too strong!"

"Heh—"

The Clone returned with its memories.

"Knock, knock—"

At night, he knocked on Shinna's door.

"I need to go out for a while. Can you use the Clone Technique to disguise yourself as me for a few days?"

"You're not taking me with you?"

"I can't take you this time."

"Be careful."

"Mm."

After saying that, Shinmoku's figure vanished.

Shinna remained silent for a moment before using the Shadow Clone Technique.

"Hiss—"

Shinmoku's figure appeared on the riverbed.

It still hurt a little, but it no longer affected his physical agility.

He leaped onto a tree branch, identified his direction by the moonlight, and sprinted toward the location provided by Orochimaru.

After a night of rapid travel, he arrived at a dense forest and, as the first rays of morning sunlight appeared, found the entrance to Ryūchi Cave.

It was low-key and hidden; moss covered the stone platform, and traces of time were everywhere.

Passing through a dark, long tunnel, the view suddenly opened up, and a magnificent, golden temple instantly filled Shinmoku's entire field of vision.

There were many karst caves on both sides of the temple, with paths leading in every direction—it truly lived up to its name as a snake den.

Just as Shinmoku was wondering which path to take, the temple gates slowly creaked open, and mist began to billow out.