Entering Ryūchi Cave

A flash of white light flickered, and Itachi Uchiha's figure appeared directly in this dark, damp place.

His gaze remained fixed on his surroundings. He could vaguely sense little snakes constantly slithering and writhing nearby.

The ground was littered with stark white bones. Some had already decayed and had likely been there for centuries. Most of them were probably powerful people who had come to inherit the legacy but lacked the strength to do so. The air was filled with a moist, vigorous mist, and droplets hung faintly beside the enormous stalactites, slowly dripping down.

So this was the legendary blessed land.

It seemed he hadn't come to the wrong place.

[Ryūchi Cave]

A place of inheritance as famous as Mount Myoboku and Shikkotsu Forest, with the White Snake Sage as Ryūchi Cave's founder.

Legend had it that Ryūchi Cave's founder was a great white-scaled serpent that had lived for over a thousand years since Kaguya's era, revered as the "White Snake Sage." Everything that happened in Ryūchi Cave would reach the White Snake Sage's ears.

The sage snakes who ruled the secret realm of Ryūchi Cave, which stood alongside Mount Myoboku and Shikkotsu Forest, possessed immensely powerful Sage Chakra. For those who came to train, the White Snake Sage would inject natural energy into them with her fangs. It was said that she would devour whole anyone whose body couldn't withstand the serpentine transformation, and they would have to undergo all manner of trials in the process.

Rumor had it that only a few people every few decades managed to complete the inheritance, given all the hardships and suffering involved.

After all, to outsiders, humans were nothing but filthy, untrustworthy creatures.

Their habit of going back on their word was even more infuriating.

Only those chosen by the White Snake Sage, as well as powerful people blessed with great fortune, could receive the appropriate recognition.

Unlike Shikkotsu Forest and Mount Myoboku, Ryūchi Cave's world lay hidden underground. Cut off from the outside world, they had no need to concern themselves with the struggles of dynasties or the survival of this world.

"Heh heh, I never expected it to be a human infant."

Faintly, he heard the sound of a snake slithering nearby. Itachi Uchiha paused slightly, but his black eyes saw no sign of any creature wriggling around him.

Suddenly, a little snake slid down along a droplet from a suspended stalactite above.

With a smack, it fell to the ground.

"Heh heh, could it be that you've gotten lost, little human? If so, that couldn't be better. You'll make a perfect snack for me."

The Little White Snake circled Itachi once, its forked tongue flicking out. Its exquisitely armored cheeks scraped against the ground, producing a constant clanging sound. Its outer shell was actually forged from pure steel.

Itachi Uchiha narrowed his eyes. Could even an ordinary nobody possess so many good things?

Still, being able to speak human language meant it was definitely no simple creature.

But this was far more surprising than he had expected.

"I came to Ryūchi Cave specifically to train. I haven't gotten lost."

Itachi's voice was quite confident. This time, he was determined to obtain the White Snake Sage's inheritance.

Only by obtaining the inheritance, enduring the harsh recognition, and receiving the corresponding permit could he proceed into their underground world. Naturally, he would also need to build good relations with all sides.

"Oh, you're here to receive the inheritance? That makes things even easier."

The Little White Snake suddenly opened its bloody maw, and a row of fangs lunged at Itachi in an instant!

[Snake Technique, Ten Thousand Fangs Strike!]

In an instant, countless fangs shot from its mouth like a rain of swords. The howling wind surrounded Itachi Uchiha from every direction.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Those attacks struck the young man directly. Blood flowed from the wounds in an eerie dark purple. He hadn't expected this venomous snake's poison to be so vicious—at the slightest contact, it sealed the victim's throat with blood!

"With strength this weak, you want to come to our territory and receive the inheritance? You're really overestimating yourself... Still, you can fill my belly. I really wonder what a human infant tastes like. If it weren't for all that crap happening in the clan, I wouldn't have gone hungry for so long."

The Little White Snake stared at the pale corpse lying on the ground, flicking out its tongue as it excitedly circled around him.

Judging by this guy's appearance, he should be one of those powerful ninja from the human world, right? Could he really be this weak?

He didn't seem as terrifying as those old men in the clan repeatedly claimed. It looked like he was the hidden genius after all. When the time came, he could secretly slip away from those old fogies and sneak into the human world. Maybe there really would be fine wine and good meat offered up to an immortal like him.

At that thought, a string of white saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth.

But the next second, the trophy that had been lying on the ground vanished with a bang.

This was...

Substitution Technique!!!

He realized he'd been tricked, but several kunai stabbed into the ground around him the next second. Their sharp blades cut off his retreat, while a person hung upside down from the stalactite above, attached to it with chakra.

His expression was utterly calm.

"You actually ambushed me. Isn't that too despicable?"

"Who are you calling despicable?"

Hearing the other's furious accusation, Itachi Uchiha shook his head slightly. This little snake was merely an immature creature still in its infancy.

But that was perfect. This fellow could become his tongue.

After all, he knew nothing about this place.

"Humans have some excellent ingredients called snake skin and snake soup. With refined techniques, they use a blade to peel away a snake's flesh before it's completely dead, preserving the useful parts. Tell me, haven't I hit the jackpot today?"

Itachi waved the kunai in his hand, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

He was quite experienced in Anbu interrogation techniques.

"Wh-what do you want... Don't do anything reckless. If you show even the slightest disrespect toward snake spirits in this sacred place, disaster will befall you."

Sensing the threat from the other party, the white snake immediately tried to intimidate him.

Yet it could feel the killing intent surging from him. It was absolutely not an act. Who could have imagined that such a childish boy possessed an ability that could make even it feel despair?

It really had been too careless!

"I don't want much. I merely want to get the information I need from your mouth. Of course, you can choose to tell me now, or you can let me pry it out myself."

Itachi bared his white teeth. It seemed his method was indeed effective.

That fear was like darkness, continually shrouding the other's heart.

And that was exactly what he wanted.