From Now On, Ryūchi Cave Is Forbidden to Eat People. If I Catch You, You're Dead

"W-Wait... I was wrong. Don't kill me."

In an instant, the White Snake Sage realized how vast the gap in strength was between them.

For the snakes of Ryūchi Cave, fear of the hierarchy of strength was practically bred into their bones.

Anyone too weak who entered Ryūchi Cave would only become food for its giant snakes.

Those who met the standard, on the other hand, could gain plenty of benefits there.

And those who far exceeded it...

Why did you think Aoda, the snake Sasuke Uchiha summoned later in the original story, had been so obedient? Because Manda had already been killed, of course.

By the same token, the White Snake Sage submitted completely when she faced Uchiha Ensei.

"Get up and talk. If I wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead."

Uchiha Ensei gave her a calm glance, yet it filled the White Snake Sage with immense fear.

Yes. That was it. That look that disregarded everything. How long had it been since I'd seen it?

"I don't actually know much about what happened a thousand years ago."

"Back then, most monsters had little contact with humans. Half-monsters born from unions with humans were treated almost like curses."

"But that's all history now. Monsters no longer exist."

"Even the legendary dragons..."

The White Snake Sage shuddered, then continued, "Ryūchi Cave exists to seek even the slightest chance of becoming dragons in these desperate circumstances."

"But after all this time, we've still found nothing."

Uchiha Ensei interrupted her. He already knew roughly what she was telling him.

"Enough. Focus on the monsters. A thousand years ago, could monsters take human form?"

The question left the White Snake Sage at a loss.

In truth, she did not know the answer. She had barely seen any of the so-called great