Anya braced himself, his dual Three-Comma Sharingan eyes activating. He was no longer merely the original Wood Release Clone — in addition to Wood Release techniques, he had two more hidden advantages at his disposal. He just hoped Hashirama's Essence could withstand multiple uses of Mangekyo Sharingan.
As both sides stood ready to clash, a voice drifted from afar: "You've already lost. He isn't falling for your illusions."
"I know," Lady Tamami responded toward the direction of the voice. "Our job is simply to test those who wish to enter Ryuchi Cave."
"Correct. Only those who fail the trials may we devour — with White Snake Sage's permission, of course."
Facing Anya, Lady Tamami continued, "Only madmen desperate for power would come here. Don't think you'll actually get to meet White Snake Sage unscathed."
With that, Lady Tamami vanished into the mist.
A trial huh? That explained why Serpent Master had so much confidence in him. Anya's confidence shot up. If it didn't require fighting but rather thinking, what was there to fear?
Anya strode forward with renewed confidence toward the next trial.
This time appeared a loli girl — cheerful and full of energy. She floated in mid-air, constantly shifting her position. "My name is Ichikishima-hime. Now you're trapped by me. Come on, let's play together!"
Anya glanced around. The room had shiny stones scattered across the floor. One section of wall had a noticeable gap. He tried picking up a stone and fitting it into the gap — it matched perfectly.
"Congratulations! Just fill all the holes in this wall with rocks, and I'll let you go."
This is the legendary trial of Ryuchi Cave? That seems way too easy. Now I understand why Serpent Master wouldn't give hints — they're completely unnecessary!
Without wasting words, Anya approached the wall. [Wood Release] activated, numerous wooden hands sprouted from the ground, gathering all nearby stones to his side. Effortlessly collecting the rocks, he placed them before the wall while channeling chakra into his Scalpel. With quick slashes of his blade, he precisely shaped each rock to fit perfectly into every gap without the slightest imperfection.
"Incredible! You're the first person I've seen clear this trial so quickly. Perhaps you really can reach White Snake Sage unharmed." Like her predecessor, Ichikishima-hime disappeared into the mist.
Continuing forward, Anya reached the third trial. Before he could fully react, two venomous fangs pierced straight into his neck.
"What the—"
It feels exactly like how the Serpent Master bites his prey — definitely passed down directly.
Unfazed, Anya touched the wound. This clone contained both his own and Hashirama's cells, making their resistance to poisons remarkably high. This alone won't be enough to take his life.
Pity my real body isn't here — I would've dodged that without breaking a sweat.
This time the challenger took the form of a mature beauty. "I am Tachibana Hime. You passed the first two trials surprisingly fast. Truly impressive. Now it's my turn, and my test will be different — it'll target your heart itself."
Anya smirked coldly. "Want to see my heart? Let's see if you're worthy enough to do so."
The moment the voice faded, Tachibana Hime transformed before his eyes into the Legend of the White Fang.
Genjutsu? Interesting. So that's what she meant by biting me earlier?
Anya had no intention of lingering with her. He activated the Spirit Transformation Technique, and his pitch-black soul separated from the Shadow Clone, rising halfway into the sky. No matter how things changed below, he remained unmoved.
Tachibana Hime looked at Anya in astonishment. This was the first time her [Genjutsu] had absolutely no effect—this person didn't even flinch. This ability was even more formidable than Orochimaru's had been.
As the mist cleared, a two-story pavilion appeared before them, marked clearly with the characters "Ryuchi Cave."
Is it over?
Anya's soul returned to his body.
Tachibana Hime gazed at this man full of curiosity and spoke first: "This is the courtyard before the White Snake Sage's sanctuary. Congratulations on passing the trial. We lost—you've earned the right to meet the White Snake Sage. Now, it all depends on whether you yourself can obtain the Power of the Sage."
"Thank you."
Anya stepped forward, climbing the pavilion stairs and entering the room. At a glance, a long red staircase lay ahead.
He ascended slowly along the steps. A white-robed old woman lay on a small couch, watching Anya now with an eerie smile.
"White Snake Sage?" Anya cautiously asked.
"Hehehe, it's me," the woman smiled even deeper. "Rarely have I seen such an outstanding young man as you."
Anya told her, "I came here to learn the Sage Art of Ryuchi Cave. May I ask, what are the requirements?"
"The requirements?" the White Snake Sage replied. "You've already met them—just passing my trial was enough. Unfortunately though, your chakra reserves are insufficient to practice Sage Art."
"Sage Art requires vast chakra reserves?" It was the first time Anya had heard of this. He hadn't put much effort into this Shadow Clone—it was created mainly for the mission to rescue Mikoto. Coming here to learn Sage Art had truly been a last-minute decision.
"What a shame..." The White Snake Sage expressed regret.
"Not really a loss. Since I've already fulfilled the requirements, just teach it to me directly."
Now that he'd come this far, there was no way he was giving up.
The White Snake Sage regarded him with suspicion. "Young man, your courage deserves praise, but without enough chakra, once you draw in natural energy, you'll be immediately overwhelmed by it. Those skeletons you saw in the first trial were those who failed to master Sage Art."
Anya refused to back down. "It doesn't matter—I'm different from them."
"I thought you were a clever one," the White Snake Sage said doubtfully, "but I guess I misjudged you. You're no different from those seeking power. Well then, I'll grant your wish."
After saying this, the elderly woman vanished, dissolving into a ghostly silhouette. In her place emerged a giant serpent, its elongated body coiled around a throne. With orange hair, yellow eyes, and a green cat's eye gem embedded in its chest, it wore a purple ribbon as a forehead protector, adorned at the front with a military-green horn-shaped ornament. This was the true form of the White Snake Sage.
The White Snake Sage revealed its true form, its long, turquoise-green fangs gleaming. Before Anya could react, the fangs pierced through her neck and into her flesh.
Before the pain could register, a violent surge of power rushed through the fangs and into her body. In moments, Anya's body began to swell rapidly. Her facial features began to change, taking on a more serpentine appearance, even her pupils shifting into vertical snake-like slits.
The White Snake Sage showed no surprise at all, its gaze cold and indifferent—it had seen way too many people die chasing after power. This seemingly clever soul would share the same fate as the rest—swallowed whole by the serpent.
Several Hebihimes who had been in the middle of their trials quickly gathered around the White Snake Sage, their eyes burning with hunger.
With an amused chuckle, the White Snake Sage said, "There's only one of him. How shall we divide the feast?"
Ichikishima - hime suggested, "Then we all dig in together—whoever claims it first gets their share."
"Fine," the suggestion was met with unanimous agreement.
Just as they stood waiting for Anya to perish, the White Snake Sage suddenly let out a sharp, surprised exclamation—"Huh?"
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