Inside the temple of Ryūchi Cave.
The White Snake Sage studied the little fellow before her with interest.
Not only had this child easily passed the trials she had set,
he had also run circles around her subordinates in the process.
Clearly, he was a promising prospect who might serve Ryūchi Cave.
Or... provide her with a high-quality dinner tonight.
At that thought,
the White Snake Sage let out a cackle.
While the White Snake Sage sized up Obito,
Obito was observing her as well.
The White Snake Sage had also disguised herself as a human.
She had taken the form of a kindly old grandmother with purple silk on her head, orange hair, and yellow eyes.
Of course, that kindly appearance was surely an act.
Every one of the sages in Ryūchi Cave was a man-eater who would not bat an eye.
The mountains of bones piled along the way offered a glimpse of that.
Over the past thousand years, the humans who had ended up in their bellies... probably numbered in the tens of thousands!
By comparison, Obito had far more respect for the venerable toads of Mount Myōboku.
(From a human perspective.)
Ryūchi Cave... truly did not deserve it!
A little while later,
the White Snake Sage yawned and asked lazily,
"Little fellow, you saw through all three of their disguises long ago, didn't you?"
Obito shrugged and answered honestly,
"Uh-huh. I heard them chattering the whole way here."
"Oh?"
At that, the White Snake Sage straightened slightly.
After shifting her position, she said with some surprise,
"To think you could see through the mist I laid down. You really are no ordinary little fellow."
She licked the corner of her lips and beckoned to Obito with a smile.
"Come. Come over here, and I shall grant