With the testing complete, Lin Ze turned into a streak of five-colored light and returned to Ryūchi Cave.
The moment he landed, the White Snake Sage came forward and said respectfully,
"Master, your sage arts have reached perfection, their might bearing down on heaven and earth. Congratulations, Master!"
The other Snake Princesses also bowed in turn.
Lin Ze waved a hand. "It's only an initial success. Perfecting it will still take time."
He looked at the White Snake Sage. "Did anything major happen in the shinobi world during my six months in seclusion?"
The White Snake Sage hurriedly replied,
"I was just about to report to you, Master."
As she spoke, she took out a scroll and reported the past six months' intelligence on the shinobi world, item by item.
"During your seclusion, Master, there were no major changes in the situations in the Lands of Lightning, Earth, and Wind."
"Kumogakure continued expanding, Iwagakure was still searching for its two rogue jinchūriki, and Sunagakure accumulated considerable funds through its low-price strategy."
The White Snake Sage paused, her tone turning slightly grave.
"But the Land of Water... continued putting pressure on Konoha. Border clashes persisted, with three sizable conflicts breaking out within a single month."
"Under Shisui Uchiha's leadership, the Uchiha Clan retaliated with extreme force. Every provocation from Kirigakure met with a devastating blow. Shisui's two monikers, 'Body Flicker Shisui' and 'Pure-Heart Shisui,' have already spread along the Land of Water Border."
Lin Ze nodded. This was within his expectations.
Uchiha Fugaku had only just taken power and had to show strength, while Shisui, as the Uchiha's strongest publicly known fighter, naturally had to lead the charge.
"However..."
The White Snake Sage shifted the subject. "Shisui Uchiha... died a month ago."
Lin Ze frowned.
"He died? What happened?"
With Shisui's