Orochimaru blinked. He had expected Naruto to strike, maybe to summon something flashy. But this casual, godlike domination was something else entirely.
"…What the hell was that…" Orochimaru whispered, eyes slightly widened. "To suppress Manda… without a jutsu? Without hand signs?"
He knew Manda's strength firsthand; the beast could fight some Tailed Beasts, even if he did not win, devour even many strong ninjas, and could even take on some S-rank jutsus.
And yet here he was… planted like a daikon radish.
GRRAAAARRRRGHH!!
Manda let out a pained roar, shaking his head violently and dragging his crushed face out of the rubble. Blood leaked from his jaw. His massive body thrashed in rage, but even as he lifted his head, Naruto's eyes glinted, and he moved his hand down.
BOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The air folded inward as gravitational force slammed into Manda's colossal body with unimaginable pressure. His scales cracked. His spine bent under the weight.
KR-KRRRRRKKK!!
With a guttural scream, Manda's body was driven into the ground. The earth beneath him fractured, forming a crater several meters deep.
His tail twitched, flailing uselessly. His forked tongue dangled from his crushed snout.
He was pinned, crushed by invisible hands, his pride and might buried under raw, absolute power.
Tap... Tap... Tap...
Naruto snorted and stepped forward without a care in the world. His footsteps echoed softly, a stark contrast to the chaos behind him.
"Let's go," He muttered to Orochimaru. "I don't like noisy snakes."
Orochimaru, still stunned, followed slowly, a cold sweat forming at his temple. "…Fascinating…"
Behind them, Manda hissed in agony, his body twitching beneath the crushing weight. He tried to rise, but the pressure only intensified, like the air itself had turned to stone.
"You… b-bastard…!"
Naruto didn't even look back.
"I told you," He said with a grin, voice like silk wrapped around steel. "I don't ask for things. I take them. Be a good pet and stay down."
As Naruto and Orochimaru prepared to proceed, a new presence slithered into their path, silent yet undeniable. From the darkness ahead, a snake emerged, her scales glistening like polished amethyst under the cave's faint glow.
Her voice was soft, melodic, and almost enchanting.
"Esteemed Sannin… and the young one who humbled Manda… welcome. The Great Elder Snake has summoned you. He awaits your presence within the sacred chamber."
Her long, serpentine body shimmered with hues of violet and pearl, her eyes a serene shade of moonlit silver. Elegant horns curled back along her crown, giving her an almost regal look, like a priestess of the serpentine world. Her forked tongue flickered briefly as she bowed her head with reverence.
Naruto offered a playful smirk. "That's so? Alright then… lead the way, pretty lady."
With a graceful turn, she slithered forward, her smooth body gliding over the ancient stones with barely a whisper.
Naruto and Orochimaru followed close behind, their footsteps echoing faintly in the vast and winding corridor, the walls humming with natural energy and the distant sounds of breathing stone and dripping water.
As they walked, Orochimaru narrowed his golden eyes and glanced sideways at Naruto. "That technique you used on Manda… what is it?... Is it something like Gravity Release, was it?"
Naruto laughed lightly. "You're curious, huh? You've been itching to dissect it from the moment I raised my hand."
He leaned in slightly, his grin sharp. "Tell you what… once I'm done here, I'll give you a sneak peek. Assuming you impress me."
Orochimaru's lips curled in amusement. "How terrifying… yet how thrilling."
After a few more minutes of silent descent, the tunnel opened up into an enormous cavern—an underground coliseum of awe-inspiring scale.
Massive stone pillars rose like fangs from the floor, each one carved with ancient runes that glowed faintly with sage chakra.
The walls were coated in intricate murals, depictions of colossal snakes, primordial battles, and the birth of the Ryūchi Cave itself.
And at the very center of the room… was him.
The Great White Snake Sage.
He reclined atop a colossal stone dais carved in the shape of a coiled serpent throne. His body was impossibly massive—easily longer than ten Mandas put together—and his scales were a luminous, faded white, like moonlight filtered through fog. His flesh looked ancient yet durable, as if time had merely brushed against him but dared not erode him.
His face was broad and solemn, with long whiskers like translucent threads of silk that shimmered with spiritual energy. His eyes were bottomless pools of silver and gold, reflecting the flow of natural energy itself. A long mane of ethereal feathers trailed down the back of his neck, fluttering without wind, resonating with a power too deep for the mortal eye to measure.
Curved horns spiraled from his head like golden branches of a divine tree, and his breath, slow and deep, caused the very air to thrum with pressure. Every inhalation seemed to draw in the cave's chakra. Every exhale bent the space around him.
This was no ordinary beast.
This… was a god of serpents.
The Elder Snake's eyes locked onto Orochimaru first. His voice came not through air, but as a vibration within the bones—low, heavy, and full of ancient weight.
"Orochimaru… I see you have returned. And you bring with you… a child?"
Before Orochimaru could respond, Naruto stepped forward without hesitation.
His grin was gone. He stood tall, calm, his eyes sharp with focused intent. The air around him pulsed once, like the heartbeat of a dragon lying dormant.
"I'm not just a child," He said, his voice clear and confident. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I came here for one reason."
He raised his hand slowly and pointed at himself, a faint swirl of pressure coiling around him like a coiled shadow.
"I'm here… to learn Snake Sage Mode. And I'm not leaving until I master it."
The Elder Snake's pupils shrank for a brief moment, and the room rumbled faintly as the ancient being stirred, interested now. The stone beneath Naruto cracked ever so slightly from the weight of his declaration.
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips.
And the regal female snake bowed again, whispering reverently, "So bold… even before the Great One…"
The Elder Snake's massive head shifted downward, his golden tongue flickering once.
"Brave words… human. But Ryūchi Cave is not for the weak. Our path devours those who seek power without understanding the price... You stand before the Will of the Serpents. Let us see if your ambition… is worthy of our blood."
Naruto simply smirked.
"Then let's stop talking… and start testing."
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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