"That's right. Is there some significance?"
Gusion asked, curious.
"Isn't this the cultivation method for Ryuchi Cave's Sage Arts?"
Garaga sounded perplexed. It cleverly tapped the screen with its nose to switch to the next image, and grew even more confused. "No, that's not quite it."
Gusion felt like he'd been put through a rollercoaster. The first sentence left him puzzled and disappointed—puzzled because he didn't understand why Ryuchi Cave's Sage Arts would be carved in a forbidden area even the White Snake Sage didn't seem to know; disappointed because if he wanted Sage Arts, the White Snake Sage could just teach him, which would make the mysterious murals worthless.
But Garaga's next sentence tugged his nerves taut again. "So is it or isn't it?"
"Quit rushing me," Garaga snapped. "Let me look. You turn the pages—this little thing is a pain to use."
This pad wasn't built for something as big as you, Gusion thought. He held it up and flipped pages slowly as directed.
After a dozen minutes, Garaga had looked through all the images and text. Its head swayed a bit. "Brat, it looks like Sage Arts, but also… not."
A twinge of impatience crept into Gusion's voice. "Then what is it?"
"I don't know. It feels like a sage art method—or rather, a Sage Art system different from what Ryuchi Cave currently uses."
It furrowed its brow—so to speak. "Feels like the Sage Arts we use now are just one part of this thing."
Gusion's eyes lit. He tried using Appraisal on his pad again and suddenly found that his pad had turned into an item requiring certification to take out of the mission world.
He'd seen this before. When Snow Wind used her pad to photograph the ancient weapon King's blueprints, her pad became a certification-required item.
Now it was obvious he'd struck gold!
The Appraisal display showed the name of the method:
[Sage Art: Dragon-Transmutation Formula]
Origin: Naruto
Quality: ???
Usage: Self-study, or comprehend with spatial assistance
Requirements: Spirit and Physique 60+ each
Details: Before the Ōtsutsuki clan descended upon this planet, a power system centered on natural energy flourished in ancient times. The Dragon-Transmutation Formula was its pinnacle. All living beings can train it—transforming a mortal body into a dragon, attuning to the great Way of nature, and soaring among the stars.
Rating: ???
Evaluation: Don't even think about it—you can't afford certification.
[]
Gusion silently swore. End Space hadn't even given a certification price and had already seized his pad.
It was his first time seeing an item with Quality marked "???"—clearly beyond his current clearance. Under normal circumstances, a tool of this type wouldn't be accessible at his stage.
He guessed this cultivation-method-type item was at least Dark-Gold-tier. If he could learn it within his stay in the Naruto world, he'd be making a killing even if he did nothing else.
He'd always had confidence in his comprehension. He looked at Garaga. "Garaga, could you walk me through the content?"
"Oh? Are you asking your lordship for help?"
Garaga preened shamelessly.
Gusion suppressed the urge to give Garaga a chop to remind it who the master was. Knowing this guy needed to be stroked the right way, he forced a strained smile. "Well, you are erudite and learned."
Garaga basked in the flattery and began explaining the text. When it finished, it looked thoughtful. "You know, this Sage Art method feels workable… just way harsher than what Ryuchi Cave uses now. The conditions are too stringent."
"Thanks. I've got the gist. I'll give it a try."
This thanks was genuine. Without Garaga, he wouldn't have deciphered the text and would have missed this legendary method.
As for the White Snake Sage—her attitude toward him was… complicated. He couldn't be sure whether she'd tell him the truth. Considering Ryuchi Cave's current Sage Arts looked like a knockoff of a part of the Dragon-Transmutation Formula, it was hard not to suspect plagiarism. Handing the Formula over to her might be a blessing—or a curse. She wasn't exactly a neutral, benevolent granny.
He also knew the Formula wouldn't stay secret for long. But at least during his current stay, he didn't want to spark a conflict with Ryuchi Cave over it—it would just waste time and energy.
He'd give the White Snake Sage a portion of the intel and let her figure out a way to explore the fissure at her leisure.
His side quest's first stage had completed when he reached the fissure and saw the dragon egg. The second stage could be simple—or difficult.
[Side Quest, Final Stage: Recognition of Ryuchi Cave]
Objective: Learn a Sage Art in Ryuchi Cave and become a Sage Mode user to receive Ryuchi Cave's formal recognition. You may then freely enter/exit and borrow a portion of its influence.
Difficulty: Easy ~ Hard
Reward: Inheritance Crystal (Medium) x5
Failure Penalty: None
[]
That was the standard process. The task didn't specify which Sage Art to learn—if he chose the conventional Ryuchi Cave Sage Arts, it would be "Easy." If he chose the Dragon-Transmutation Formula, it'd be "Hard."
With the first half done, Gusion had Garaga take him back. Under Garaga's deterrence, they had an unobstructed journey—no snakes dared attack. Saved him quite a bit of effort.
"Garaga, your snake-fate isn't great. Everyone's giving you a wide berth."
"Hmph. I simply disdain mingling with them. Brat, get out there and let the shinobi world know I'm the strongest in Ryuchi Cave!"
Garaga was tsundere about it. After losing his reverse-scale, it even felt a faint urge to socialize—just couldn't swallow its pride.
Soon, Garaga escorted Gusion past the snake swarms. Not wanting to meet the White Snake Sage, Garaga had Gusion go on alone.
At the shrine again, the White Snake Sage had taken on the guise of a kindly old granny, welcoming Gusion back.
"Child, what did you see in the fissure?"
As if all-knowing, she spoke with certainty that he had reached it.
"A terrifying spectacle. A river of magma flowing uphill—mysterious and wondrous."
Gusion delivered his prepared line, watching her expression.
But she didn't react. She just smiled. "I see. You've worked hard. You've passed Ryuchi Cave's trial and can begin training in Sage Arts."
She beckoned. "Tagorihime, take him to the training grounds."
Tagorihime bowed slightly. "Gusion-sama, please follow me."
Gusion wasn't sure what the White Snake Sage was up to. As he turned, he sensed her flick out her tongue and lick her lips greedily.
Everything went smoothly afterward. Tagorihime explained Ryuchi Cave's Sage Arts process and gave him some auxiliary materials, then left him alone in a stone chamber.
…
While Gusion trained hard in Ryuchi Cave, the Naruto world roiled under the Explorers' activity.
In Konoha Village, the Hokage's office.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, set down his pen and rubbed his old, tired brow, trying to chase away the fatigue.
Swoosh—
A figure appeared in the office and knelt on one knee—one of the Hokage's direct Anbu.
"How is the situation?"
Hiruzen braced an elbow on the desk, fingers interlaced. Sunlight streamed in from the window behind him, only to be blocked by the broad brim of his hat. From the Anbu's angle, his face was all in shadow.
"Reporting to Lord Hokage: the Uchiha are no longer holding assemblies. They seem to have abandoned the idea of rebellion."
"I'll make the determinations—you just report."
Hiruzen's calm tone made the Anbu sweat beneath his mask.
"Yes, sir!"
He continued. "After being confined, Uchiha Itachi hasn't left the compound, nor has he had close contact with other clansmen. He either stays home or practices shuriken with his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke."
"Mm…"
Hiruzen pondered a moment. "What about Uchiha Fugaku? Since he stopped gathering the clan, what's he been doing?"
At that, the Anbu assigned to watch the Uchiha felt odd. "Uchiha Fugaku… while no longer holding clan meetings, has been moving about the village frequently. Based on solid intel, he appears to be… arranging a marriage for Uchiha Itachi."
"What!?"
The ever-steady Hiruzen couldn't help crying out. "Say that again."
He suspected his ears deceived him. Who? Uchiha Fugaku—the stiff-necked head of the Uchiha—considering marriage alliances now?
What was this world coming to? Was this still the Uchiha?
"Uchiha Fugaku is arranging a marriage for his eldest son, Uchiha Itachi. Not only that, he's sent out feelers to the village's great families, expressing an intent to form marriage ties. He says they have many eligible men and women in the clan and hopes to strengthen inter-clan relations."
The Anbu continued.
Now Hiruzen was thoroughly unsettled. He'd been called away by Danzō these two days because dangerous rogue ninja had been appearing around Konoha. He'd returned only that morning and was catching up on work.
Two days gone, and the Uchiha were unrecognizable.
"The evil Uchiha must be up to something big."
At that moment, Konoha's advisor, the Root's leader, Shimura Danzō, strode into the office and immediately passed judgment.
The kneeling Anbu didn't know whether to go or stay, and definitely didn't dare offer an opinion.
"They don't intend a military seizure of power anymore," Hiruzen said softly. "They're preparing to reestablish their political standing."
"In my view, we should strike first." Danzō's voice was low. "The Uchiha's rebellious heart is obvious. They've only concealed their fangs. We cannot wait until they grow stronger."
"I believe Uchiha Itachi can undertake the task. Hiruzen, you shouldn't doubt him."
Listening to the Hokage and Danzō, the Anbu felt conflicted and couldn't help speaking. "Lord Hokage, we're all one village. The Uchiha no longer want war—can't we coexist peacefully?"
Hiruzen's face tightened, but before he could speak, Danzō snapped, "You understand nothing. The Uchiha have changed tactics because they've realized they lack the strength to oppose the village and fear annihilation. Once they stabilize their status, it'll be too late."
The Anbu didn't dare talk back to the advisor elder, but he felt stifled.
Big, righteous words that sounded reasonable—but "too late" for what, exactly?
Even if the Uchiha secured political stature through marriages, they wouldn't destroy Konoha. Even if they became Hokage, how would that harm the common shinobi and villagers?
In the end, "too late" meant you'd be late in the political struggle, didn't it?
He had always been prepared to help the village annihilate the Uchiha—if they tried a military coup.
If the Uchiha wanted peace and the village still suppressed them, even he felt that was going too far.
"Danzō, don't talk nonsense."
Hiruzen spoke at last. "If the Uchiha want peaceful coexistence with the village, that's a good thing. Have your Root keep a lower profile. Don't think I don't know what's between you and the Uchiha."