Dragon Cave Sage Art

"You mean... Dragon Cave?!"

Jiraiya's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.

Minato Namikaze, standing nearby, wore the same stunned expression. As a genius ninja of Konoha, he naturally understood what Dragon Cave represented.

Dragon Cave, Mount Myoboku, and the Wet Bone Forest were known as the Three Great Sage Lands, and each possessed a powerful Sage Art inheritance!

Among them, Dragon Cave was in no way inferior to the renowned Mount Myoboku.

Moreover, the Sage Arts mastered by Dragon Cave were rarer and more unique.

Thinking of this, Minato Namikaze could not help being secretly astonished. If one could learn such Sage Arts, it would undoubtedly be an enormous improvement for any ninja.

Orochimaru nodded slightly and said evenly, "That's right, Dragon Cave!

"But I wonder whether our little Obito is willing to go there and learn Sage Arts?"

As he spoke, he turned his gaze toward Obito Uchiha once more.

At that moment, Obito Uchiha's heart was filled with conflict and hesitation.

On one hand, he had to admit that Dragon Cave did seem better suited to his needs than Mount Myoboku.

But on the other hand, Orochimaru had always left him with a poor impression. He always felt that the man harbored ulterior motives.

Besides, he had read Boruto, so he knew all too well about Dragon Cave's three trials.

Those vicious Snake Princesses could eat people at the drop of a hat. Compared to that, Mount Myoboku seemed much friendlier—at least he would not have to worry about dying for no apparent reason.

As Obito Uchiha fell into thought, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Everyone's eyes were fixed on him, waiting for him to make his final decision.

"I choose Dragon Cave!"

Obito Uchiha spoke slowly, his gaze firm.

Orochimaru smiled upon hearing that, as if it were exactly what he had expected!

Jiraiya was slightly surprised, and Minato Namikaze also stepped over to Obito Uchiha's side.

"Obito, at least Mount Myoboku has me and Master Jiraiya. But Dragon Cave..."

Minato Namikaze's eyes were clearly full of concern.

Obito naturally had confidence in choosing Dragon Cave. With Dual Kamui, he could definitely escape unscathed.

He truly craved Dragon Cave's Sage Arts, such as the White Rage Technique and Inorganic Reincarnation.

Compared to becoming a frog, he wanted to become a dragon more!

"Don't worry, Master Minato. Lord Orochimaru is family from Konoha. How could family harm family?"

Obito Uchiha answered obediently.

Jiraiya narrowed his eyes slightly, his piercing gaze fixed on Orochimaru before him.

He knew this former close friend all too well.

If Obito had nothing that interested Orochimaru, then with Orochimaru's arrogant and cold nature, he would never have taken the initiative to approach him.

Yet now, Orochimaru had not only taken the initiative to draw close to Obito, but had even personally offered to guide him. There had to be some unspeakable motive behind it, like a weasel paying respects to a chicken.

"Orochimaru!"

Jiraiya suddenly raised his voice and warned,

"Obito is the disciple of my disciple, Minato Namikaze. By that count, he is also my grand-disciple. And you, at the very least, are his martial granduncle."

"If you dare entertain any crooked thoughts or try to harm him, I advise you to abandon that idea as soon as possible!"

With that, Jiraiya stared hard at Orochimaru.

Faced with Jiraiya's stern warning, Orochimaru remained exceptionally calm. The corners of his mouth curled upward into an unfathomable smile.

He merely waved a hand and replied in an unhurried, breezy tone,

"Jiraiya, how could I possibly harbor ill intentions toward the great hero of the Battle of Kannabi Bridge? I merely wish to become the wind and turn the windmill..."

Hearing Orochimaru's ambiguous explanation, Jiraiya still had his doubts, but seeing that the other man's attitude seemed fairly sincere, he relaxed his guard somewhat.

After pondering for a moment, he looked at Orochimaru again and solemnly instructed, "Fine, Orochimaru. Since you've said so, I'll believe you."

"However, I'm entrusting Obito to your care now. You must watch over him properly and never let him suffer the slightest harm or fall into danger."

After saying that, Jiraiya continued staring unblinkingly at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru smiled. "Jiraiya, don't worry. I've always treated the village's geniuses quite well."

As he spoke, Orochimaru licked his lips.

Obito Uchiha met Orochimaru's gaze head-on without changing expression.

He did not understand why Orochimaru had recommended that he study at Dragon Cave.

There had to be something about him that tempted Orochimaru. Otherwise, even if he had sought Orochimaru out himself, Orochimaru would not have given him the time of day.

Orochimaru was the kind of person who never got up early without profit.

An extreme egoist.

Soon, Obito Uchiha followed Orochimaru as they prepared to head for Dragon Cave.

"Obito Uchiha, only ten years old, yet already possessing a Three-Tomoe Sharingan. You were also one of the key ninja in the Kannabi Bridge Meat Grinder Campaign. Your bloodline truly makes even me drool with desire~"

After Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya left, Orochimaru spoke without any restraint.

Obito Uchiha's expression did not change when he heard it.

"Lord Orochimaru, you flatter me. You were a genius from childhood as well. During that era, there was no ninja in the Uchiha Clan more gifted than you."

Obito Uchiha replied calmly.

Orochimaru smiled faintly.

"Still, if I had been your contemporary, I'm afraid I would not have measured up to you."

Orochimaru said.

Obito Uchiha felt a little smug upon hearing that. Orochimaru was quite self-aware.

"However, even if you are a peerless genius, I still need to explain Dragon Cave's rules to you..."

Orochimaru walked ahead on his own.

Obito Uchiha had already heard about them. After all, he had read Boruto, and he knew Dragon Cave's three major trials like the back of his hand.

"If you make a mistake, I'll do my best to save you..."

Orochimaru turned his head and said to Obito Uchiha.

Obito Uchiha nodded.

That was what he said, but Obito did not expect much from Orochimaru. If he were in danger, Orochimaru would definitely run away.

Expecting Orochimaru to fight Dragon Cave head-on for his sake was a little too wishful.

Still, with Dual Kamui in hand, he could make a run for it too.

"Over the past thousand years, many people have gone to Dragon Cave to cultivate Sage Arts, but none passed the trials, so they were eaten..."

"I went in once myself, but my body was not suited for it, and I could not cultivate Sage Arts.

When he mentioned being unsuited because of his body, a trace of regret flashed through Orochimaru's eyes.

Obito Uchiha suddenly recalled the Living Corpse Reincarnation that Orochimaru had been researching.

In the original story, Orochimaru had been obsessed with Itachi Uchiha because of Itachi's talent and bloodline.

Wait!

Obito Uchiha suddenly thought of a possibility. Could it be that Orochimaru had taken a liking to him?

Could it be that Orochimaru wanted him to become the first body for his reincarnation?