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Fifteen minutes had passed
Naruto now stood tall at the center of the Ryūchi Cave, his expression calm but alert. The eerie silence was only broken by the occasional hissing of snakes slithering across the stone walls, watching him with gleaming eyes.
In front of him was the throne of the White Snake Sage, a majestic creature whose sheer presence carried the weight of centuries. Its gigantic, coiled form rested over an ancient slab of stone, and its glowing red eyes narrowed as they studied the blond-haired boy who had just cleared both trials without hesitation.
Orochimaru stood to the side, arms folded, and a small smirk playing on his lips.
"Well done, Naruto," Orochimaru said, his tone uncharacteristically respectful. "To pass both trials with such ease… even I am impressed."
Naruto gave a small shrug, flashing a confident grin. "Told you I wasn't here to play games."
He took a few steps forward, staring at the massive snake with burning curiosity.
"So," He said with a slight tilt of his head, "let's not drag this out. Start the last trial already."
The White Snake Sage's tongue flicked out, sensing his eagerness.
"You are quite straightforward," It said in a voice that rumbled like distant thunder. "But power—true power—comes with rules."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "What kind of rules?"
A deep, eerie laugh echoed through the chamber.
"Hahaha… impatient, are we?"
The Sage slithered slightly closer, its voice more deliberate now.
"In this final trial, I will inject my blood into your body. It carries the nature chakra. It will flood your system, alter your chakra pathways, and awaken certain traits."
"Traits?" Naruto asked, his expression serious now.
"Flexibility like a serpent," The Sage said. "Heightened senses. Enhanced reflexes. Even transformation. A connection to nature itself—like a second skin."
"But," It added slowly, "there is a risk."
Naruto didn't flinch. "Of course there is."
The Sage's eyes narrowed. "Your body may reject the blood. If that happens, your insides will be torn apart by the force of the nature chakra. And according to the laws of this sacred place…"
It opened its massive jaw slightly, revealing rows of dagger-like fangs.
"…my children will feast on your remains."
Naruto was silent for a second. Then he let out a low whistle.
"Harsh."
"Such is the price of power," The Sage replied. "We give… and we take."
Naruto grinned again, that fearless spark in his eyes never fading.
"Then you'd better hope I survive," He said, stepping closer. "Because I'm not going down without a fight."
The White Snake Sage's mouth curved upward in something resembling a smile.
"Very well…"
Without another word, the Sage lunged forward.
Slick!
Its long fangs bit into Naruto's neck, faster than lightning. He didn't even have time to react.
A strange sensation flooded him, warm at first, but quickly burning. The Sage's blood entered his veins like fire laced with lightning, crawling through his body, twisting and expanding with every heartbeat.
Naruto staggered slightly. His hand moved to his neck, fingertips brushing the twin puncture marks.
His vision blurred for a second. His chakra trembled.
BOOM!
A pulse of pressure erupted from his body, shaking the ground slightly.
"Ghh—" Naruto grunted, dropping to one knee, teeth clenched.
It felt like his blood was boiling. His muscles twitched, and his breath hitched.
But then he closed his eyes and sat down cross-legged.
He was back to calm and steady, exhaling slowly.
He began to refine the blood.
Around him, the snakes hissed and watched in eerie silence.
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
The White Snake Sage lowered its head slightly, observing him with deep, ancient eyes.
The moment Naruto sat cross-legged to refine the Snake Sage's blood, something unexpected stirred inside him.
He suddenly felt… weightless.
The air around him twisted and shimmered.
And then, without warning, he slipped.
Not physically, his body remained in Ryūchi Cave, but his soul drifted into the deep abyss of his consciousness, pulled by an unknown force that felt ancient, powerful… and very curious.
Darkness surrounded him at first. Then came whispers. They were faint, like echoes carried through time. Words in an old tongue, scrambled and unfamiliar.
He floated, and then a light flashed.
A slow, majestic pulse of warm white light appeared ahead. As it grew brighter, Naruto squinted, raising his hand to shield his eyes.
The world around him shifted.
The dark void changed into a vast space that looked like the night sky—stars twinkled beneath his feet, and a soft wind brushed across his skin despite there being no real sky.
Floating calmly at the center of it all was an old man.
The Sage of Six Paths.
Naruto's eyes narrowed as he took in the figure.
The old man looked timeless—like he'd been born before the world even began.
His long silver-white hair flowed down past his waist, held in place by a thin, black band wrapped around his forehead. Two horns jutted from his temples like a crown carved from moonlight. His face was marked by age, but his gaze held more wisdom than any mortal should possess.
His Rinnegan eyes shimmered with cosmic energy—like galaxies spinning inside them—and above those legendary eyes, a third eye rested on his forehead, glowing faintly with otherworldly power. His long robe fluttered without wind, marked with the six magatama beads across his collar and the sun-and-moon symbol glowing faintly on his back.
Behind him floated ten black orbs—Truth-Seeking Balls—that hummed quietly like sleeping stars.
He was serene. Calm. Like the ocean before a storm.
And yet… something in his presence made even someone like Naruto pause.
"…Yo," Naruto muttered with a lopsided grin, but his fingers twitched with instinctive caution.
The old man opened his mouth, and a stream of strange, ancient words came out—soft, broken phrases spoken in a long-forgotten dialect.
Naruto blinked.
"Uhh... I don't speak caveman," He said, scratching his cheek. "Try again, Gramps. Slowly this time."
The old man stopped. He blinked once. Then gave a small smile, gentle and wise.
"…Ah, forgive me," He finally said in a clear, calm tone. "It has been a long time since I've spoken with anyone… living."
Naruto folded his arms.
"Alright. Now we're getting somewhere."
The Sage gave a respectful nod.
"I am Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki… though some call me the Sage of Six Paths."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, though there was no shock in his eyes; he had sensed the man's identity the moment he arrived.
"Figured as much," Naruto said smoothly. "You have that whole ancient ghostly mentor vibe."
Hagoromo chuckled softly.
"Tell me," The Sage said, his tone turning curious, "you… are not from this world, are you?"
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