Uchiha Gen ignored the little slug. There was no way he could learn Sage Arts that quickly; even he needed a quiet environment, and there had to be sufficient Natural Energy nearby.
This place might have been a passage connecting the Three Sacred Lands, but there was still far too little Natural Energy for him.
A minute slowly passed. Uchiha Gen raised his hand and slammed it against the stone door. With a rumbling roar, the door slowly opened to both sides.
"This..."
The little slug looked at Uchiha Gen, then at the stone door, unable to figure out what had happened.
Uchiha Gen's appearance had not changed at all, but that strike had undeniably contained Sage Chakra.
"You don't necessarily have to learn Sage Arts to use Sage Chakra, Slug Sage. You only need to control the ratio at which Chakra and Natural Energy blend, and then..."
"Th-that's how it works? Ama-amazing! Plant friend, you're even more talented than little Hashirama!"
The little slug's tentacles stiffened. It was the first time she had heard of such a concept.
"Ah... I forgot to introduce myself."
Uchiha Gen smiled and placed the slug back atop his head.
"My name is Uchiha Gen, from the Uchiha Clan!"
"Then I'll call you Gen-Gen."
"...What kind of nickname is that?"
Uchiha Gen inexplicably felt a sense of embarrassment, but names were a small matter. Now that the door was open, he could proceed to Ryūchi Cave.
As he drew closer, the cold, sinister aura unique to snakes grew stronger. Rustling sounds came from all around him, making it seem as if he had entered a snake nest.
He activated his Mangekyō Sharingan again and observed the long snakes lurking in the corners on both sides. Did this place really have enough food to sustain