Ryūchi Cave Welcomes a Newcomer

"This shipment is all Explosive Tag." Cat Granny took out one, examining the intricate runes on it, then carefully looking at the material of the talisman and the luster of the runes. She nodded with satisfaction, "Indeed, no one's Explosive Tag can compare to the Uchiha Clan's."

"He makes a living using Fire Release," Uchiha Shingen chuckled.

To be fair, the Uchiha Clan's ability to create Explosive Tag is unparalleled in the Ninja World.

The quality of Explosive Tag can be easily determined by looking at the runes.

The more complex the texture, the stronger the power and the longer the shelf life.

Creating such Explosive Tag requires a high level of Chakra control and Sealing Jutsu from the maker, as well as the quality of the materials.

In the Ninja World, even in large ninja villages, the Explosive Tag that are provided to their Genin for free are mostly of inferior quality, with mediocre power and short shelf life. Their advantages are low cost, simple production, and if the power is insufficient, they can be mass-produced, making them suitable for the vast majority of Genin ninjas.

The Uchiha Clan's Explosive Tag are at least ten times more powerful than those low-grade ones, and their quality won't decrease due to Chakra leakage even after a year.

The price is naturally exorbitantly high.

The customers who purchased the product were Jonin, and these individuals used it themselves.

Wealthy merchants and nobles would also buy them, for use by their trusted bodyguards.

In addition, there are middlemen.

In peacetime, the Uchiha Clan could generate nearly 100 million ryo annually from Explosive Tag alone.

During times of war, supplies will drastically decrease, and the stock will primarily be used for personal purposes.

Nearly 100 million taels is nothing; the Uchiha Clan targets the high-end market, so the volume is limited.

In terms of the market, the person who sells the most Explosive Tag is the Hokage.

That's the Hokage sitting in the Hokage Building.

If we continue the ranking, we get the four elements: wind, thunder, earth, and water.

Then it's the turn of the others.

In terms of transaction volume, the Uchiha Clan doesn't even make the top ten.

If we're talking about quantity, then he's not even a younger brother.

The Explosive Tag sold directly or indirectly by the Five Kage account for nearly 90% of the annual trading volume in the entire Hokage world.

Half of them are Hokage. There's no way around it; Leaf Village has the most people who Fire Release. The only difference is that the Uchiha Clan have their own channels in the black market, while the others can only use the Hokage Building's channels.

Therefore, for a ninja clan, especially a ninja clan from Konoha, selling Explosive Tag is never a big deal, and if something happens, it's not really because of selling Explosive Tag.

The Uchiha Clan used to have a bad relationship with the Hokage Building, and they were criticized for that. It wasn't for anything else, but because of their involvement.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the Uchiha Clan didn't even make the top ten. What kind of characters are on that list? They represent the entire continent!

For a ninja clan, this income is incredibly substantial.

However, the Uchiha Clan's business had been suspended since the Third Shinobi World War, but now it can finally reopen.

"These are all top-quality goods; there will be many buyers." Cat Granny put the Explosive Tag back into the box. "Supplies are tight lately, so they'll fetch a good price."

She didn't test anything else. She knew the Uchiha Clan Uchiha Clan; they never played tricks on this, which was one of the important reasons for the good relations between the two clans.

"You can handle it as you see fit." Uchiha Shingen nodded. "I'm sorry to have bothered you today. I should take them to the next location now."

"Ninjas are so busy..." Cat Granny sighed. "Go on, go on, and let the children come to play here more often when you have time."

"Definitely." Uchiha Shingen nodded in agreement, then led the three of them to leave.

Before leaving, Cat Granny gave Mitarashi Anko and Shiro, who were visiting for the first time, a high-quality Kunai as a greeting gift.

Uchiha Shingen gestured for the two to accept the gifts, then thanked them and left.

As soon as I exited the Empty Zone, I saw a ninja about to enter.

Both sides remained silent and avoided each other, pretending not to see one another.

The customers in the Empty Zone come from all over the world. They either come here to sell something or to make a purchase, and they don't want to cause any trouble.

Regardless of strength, this is neither a battlefield nor a mission area.

Mitarashi Anko and Haku had both been instructed to follow the rules. Mischievous Uchiha Sasuke had been to the Empty Zone several times and knew the rules, so he behaved himself.

After leaving the Empty Zone for a distance, Uchiha Shingen stopped.

He used Summoning Technique.

The giant black serpent descended, its heavy body pressing down a layer of earth beneath it.

As soon as it came out, it was very excited, its big head looking around.

But it found it to be a desolate place, with no enemies around.

"Lord Shingen?"

"Black, there's no battle this time." Uchiha Shingen smiled.

He and the three little ones stood on Black's head.

"Today I need to use your connections to go to Ryūchi Cave."

"Okay, Lord Shingen."

Black sensed that there were other people on his head.

However, it is very weak.

But since this was someone Uchiha Shingen brought along, it wouldn't say a word.

"The three of you maintain your Chakra, hold onto the black, and don't let it break," Uchiha Shingen said to the three.

Although they haven't been allowed to step on trees Water Walking yet, Chakra control has always been a key lesson in Uchiha Shingen's classes, so the three kids still know how to perform this basic absorption technique.

This is also an advantage that traditionally belonged to Jonin clans.

With a solid foundation, there's no need to take detours.

Non-ninja clan ninjas, unless they have a renowned teacher to guide them, will inevitably have deficiencies in their basic skills.

The three little ones recovered from the shock of riding the giant and obediently released Chakra from the soles of their feet. Seeing this, Uchiha Shingen began to Hand Seals hand seals and cast a spell.

Smoke once again enveloped the Black Snake.

When the smoke cleared, Uchiha Shingen was now in the underground landscape of Ryūchi Cave.

This time, there wasn't a large group of small snakes trying to make their presence known, since the Black Snake was there.

"Black, please take me to see the sage," said Uchiha Shingen.

The Black Snake responded and began to swim.

As soon as the giant snake moved, the three little ones began to demonstrate their talent in Chakra control.

Bai performed the best, remaining completely still – after all, he used his hands, showing he was a pragmatist.

Uchiha Sasuke is a typical "I'm a cool guy" type with a serious idol image to maintain. He pays special attention to his appearance. However, he started Chakra control from Uchiha Shingen very early on. Although he was a little unsteady at first, he became quite stable after getting used to the rhythm.

Mitarashi Anko was not as good as the two in this respect, of course, the fact that she started receiving instruction the latest was also one of the reasons. Uchiha Shingen needed to hold her back and prevent her from shaking.

The Black Snake grew faster and faster, quickly swimming deeper into the Ryūchi Cave.

Chapter Seventeen: Ryūchi Cave Welcomes a Newcomer

The giant snakes of Ryūchi Cave are becoming increasingly familiar with Uchiha Shingen.

After all, Uchiha Shingen fought the giant snakes on his first visit, and then signed a contract with them in front of the White Snake Sage, making quite a scene.

They are snakes, not fish; their memories don't last only a few seconds.

At that time, the giant snakes remembered this human.

However, Uchiha Shingen never summoned any other giant snakes besides the Black Snake, which made everyone somewhat dissatisfied.

This is an insult to their professional capabilities.

The giant snakes of Ryūchi Cave are generally fond of watching a good show and enjoying the excitement. The Toad of Mount Myoboku might be a bit proud of being called out to fight, since Toad especially love rituals and things like "chosen ones," always feeling that they must have a special mission to leave the mountain.

The giant snakes of Ryūchi Cave actually looked down on this.

What kind of nonsense is this? If you're going to fight, just fight! Stop making such a fuss!

The giant snakes said they were actually not troublesome at all; they loved fighting, and they felt very happy if they could get something to eat.

The claim that Ryūchi Cave is dangerous and that the giant snake is difficult to deal with is pure fabrication; it must have originated from Mount Myoboku.

Although they eat people, curse people, and sometimes even curse their contractors, they are good at heart; they are all good snakes.

Shouldn't someone like Orochimaru be criticized? Every time he shouts, isn't he just a human shield?

On this day, the giant snakes saw the Black Snake suddenly disappear and then quickly reappear, behaving as if to say "Get out of my way!" They knew then that the biased male human had returned.

The giant snakes thought that perhaps because they hadn't been enthusiastic enough on the previous two occasions, Uchiha Shingen had assumed that only the Black Snake in the cave was willing to let him ride it.

Everyone decided to correct this misconception so that this biased male would know that the cave culture of Ryūchi Cave is hospitable.

There's no way around it; even Orochimaru has been summoning less lately, he's practically going stir-crazy.

The Black Snake sped forward, and in the shadows, more and more giant snakes followed its serpentine movements, appearing and disappearing around it.

This terrified Uchiha Sasuke.

The Indra cub's idol image vanished instantly, and he, like Bai, became a four-legged creature, sticking his butt out and lying on the snake's head. Although the action was a bit ugly, he found it surprisingly safe when he actually did it.

As Orochimaru's former beloved disciple, Mitarashi Anko has seen many snakes. Although she can only play with small snakes herself, it doesn't stop her from sincerely loving those majestic and powerful giant snakes.

So she wasn't afraid at all. In fact, she thought the scene was incredibly cool, and her mouth was practically watering.

As for Bai, he didn't really think that much about it. He just felt that none of these giant snakes were as big as the one he was currently lying on.

And even with the teacher right next to him, he wasn't afraid at all.

Uchiha Shingen was puzzled.

These giant snakes used to look down on him, what's wrong with them today?

Are you in heat?

Everyone wants to have sex with Black?

The "Wan" in Wan She's name may be worthy of its name.

The giant snakes were unaware of Uchiha Shingen's thoughts; they displayed their magnificent bodies before Uchiha Shingen, as if afraid he wouldn't be able to see them clearly.

This made Uchiha Shingen even more certain that his idea was correct.

Today's Ryūchi Cave might be the Love Snake Festival.

He's come at a rather inopportune time!

But it doesn't matter, the giant snakes celebrate, but the White Snake Sage certainly doesn't.

He was looking for the White Snake Sage.

The vast swarm of snakes surged toward the White Snake Sage's dwelling, waking White Snake Sage from his sleep.

After his eyes darted around, the White Snake Sage, now fully alert, immediately thought—"Are you little brats trying to shed your skin prematurely?"

How dare you disturb my sleep?

Who taught you?

Then, it saw the blackness at the very front of the snake swarm.

Suddenly I realized.

With his pipe in hand, the White Snake Sage exhaled a puff of smoke, which swept towards the snake swarm like Wind Release. The "fragrance" of nicotine sobered up the group of intoxicated giant snakes.

The giant snake ahead changed course at an even faster speed than it had come, and was then pushed forward by its idiotic brethren behind it—rolling forward.

Then, under the helpless gaze of the White Snake Sage, a large group of giant snakes surged into the plaza.

"Children, quiet down."

The White Snake Sage's voice was deafening.

All the giant snakes lowered their heads, not daring to look at their ancestor.

Oh no, I got carried away and couldn't stop.

It's all Orochimaru's fault!