"Ichikishimahime? What are you doing here?"
Though Shinza spoke gently, his tone carried not the slightest hint of respect.
To him, the Three Snake Princesses—who had abandoned their serpent forms to assume human shape—were far inferior to the giant snakes of the Great Snake Nest in strength, speed, and sheer might.
He wasn't alone in that belief.
Among the countless massive serpents of Ryūchi Cave, many shared the same sentiment. This was no tranquil sanctuary like Mount Myōboku, where sages sought peace and enlightenment. Ryūchi Cave was a domain where power dictated all—where only the strong earned reverence.
The White Snake Sage was respected not merely for age or wisdom, but because her overwhelming strength could crush every serpent in the cave if she wished.
Ichikishimahime's eyes narrowed coldly. "None of your business, Shinza."
She was astonished to see the cave's notorious troublemaker—Shinza himself—so thoroughly subdued by Orochimaru. The snake who once challenged anything that moved now seemed oddly… tamed.
Orochimaru, his golden eyes half-lidded, turned toward her with that unreadable smirk. "You haven't been following me all this time, have you, Ichikishimahime? If you're bored, why not prepare a new trial for me?"
Her jaw clenched. "Don't talk about trials! If you're so confident, why don't you design one harder than mine!"
The way Orochimaru always used her own test to mock her—always with that sly amusement—infuriated her beyond words.
"Oh?" Orochimaru crossed his pale arms, his serpent's tail coiling lazily around his waist. "And what do I gain from creating a more difficult challenge?"
She glared daggers at him. "What benefit do you want? Isn't training under my guidance in Sage Jutsu enough of a reward?"
Orochimaru chuckled softly, his golden eyes flashing with predatory curiosity. "How about this—if I design a trial that proves stronger and more sophisticated than your childish one, then you'll lend me your power when I ask."
The tip of his tail flicked eagerly. He already knew how formidable the Three Snake Princesses were—each a being of tremendous power and influence within Ryūchi Cave. If he could enlist even one of them as an ally, there would be few things he couldn't accomplish.
And truthfully, the Three Snake Princesses were not paragons of virtue. They had no qualms about indulging in morally gray deeds.
Ichikishimahime smirked, folding her arms. "The trial you design will be used to test those who come to Ryūchi Cave. If it's so absurdly difficult that no one can pass, don't expect me to acknowledge it!"
She didn't believe for a second that Orochimaru could create anything truly extraordinary.
Orochimaru ignored her skepticism. He casually flicked a small, round pill into the air—and before Shinza could react, it landed in his open mouth.
"...What is this?" Shinza asked, startled.
Almost immediately, he felt warmth surge through his veins. His wounds—still raw from earlier battles—began knitting themselves back together with astonishing speed.
"A simple pill that accelerates healing," Orochimaru replied coolly. "I'll call on you when I require assistance, Shinza."
Then, leaping gracefully atop the blue-scaled serpent's head, he said, "Blue Snake, take me back."
"Yes, Master Orochimaru," Blue Snake hissed, bowing its head before swimming deeper into the cavern.
Shinza watched them leave, eyes glinting with a strange light. "Comrade, huh... I'll be ready, Orochimaru."
---
At the mouth of the Great Snake Nest, Blue Snake raised its head toward him. "Master Orochimaru... may I become your summoning beast?"
For a moment, Orochimaru looked surprised. Then his lips curved into a slow, sinister smile.
"If that is what you wish."
Blue Snake's eyes shone with excitement. "Yes! Lord Orochimaru, I do!"
He had feared rejection, knowing Orochimaru already possessed a powerful summon like Shinza. But Orochimaru's acceptance filled him with boundless joy.
---
Author's Note:
Manda may surpass Shinza in raw strength and speed, but when it comes to ability, Shinza's petrifying poison gives him the upper hand. Even a touch can turn an opponent to stone. Manda's Snake Casting Technique is a defensive move and far more limited in frequency and duration.
---
Chapter 111 — Dark Clouds
In Ichikishimahime's Cave, where those who sought power were tested, the once-familiar stone door had changed. The oddly shaped holes that once dotted its surface were now replaced by movable puzzle pieces—yet none bore any pattern.
"Would you like to try it?" Orochimaru asked calmly, his eyes drifting over Tagorihime, Ichikishimahime, and Tagitsuhime. The three princesses had been staring at the door for quite some time, their brows furrowed in confusion.
"Is... this a puzzle?" Tagitsuhime murmured. She had seen puzzles before, but without a pattern, what was there to solve? The pieces seemed deliberately designed to confuse.
Tagorihime tilted her head. "A mechanism, perhaps? Something triggered by placement?"
Ichikishimahime's eyes twitched. "What kind of exam is this? A trial should test people, not prevent them from passing!"
No matter how long they stared, the puzzle offered no clue. It was an unsolvable riddle—one that reeked of Orochimaru's mischief.
"This trial," Orochimaru said with a teasing tone, "is to measure intelligence. If you—"
He stopped midsentence, realizing all three princesses were glaring daggers at him. Clearing his throat, he placed his hand upon the stone door. "Just inject chakra."
As his chakra flowed into the mechanism, the puzzle pieces shimmered, each emitting a different colored light. Orochimaru moved them casually, almost lazily—and the lights began to shift, forming subtle patterns.
With a faint click, the radiance faded, revealing an intricate painting across the once-blank puzzle.
The three princesses gasped. The painting depicted Ichikishimahime herself, reclining lazily in midair, her serpentine grace and languid posture captured in exquisite brushstrokes.
Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime exchanged looks, then turned to Ichikishimahime, who seemed both embarrassed and furious.
"This is the trial you designed!?" Ichikishimahime's voice trembled between indignation and disbelief.
"What's wrong?" Orochimaru's tone was smugly amused. "Isn't it better than your childish little exam?"
He knew from her expression that she had no choice but to acknowledge his skill.
"If you want others to pass," he continued, "you can give them a clue. Inject chakra into the door, and the puzzle pieces will glow. Arrange them by color and the image will reveal itself. A few attempts should suffice for those with a brain."
Ichikishimahime reluctantly admitted, "Orochimaru, you really are... incredible."
She tilted her head, curiosity overcoming annoyance. "How did you make the puzzle pieces emit different lights?"
Orochimaru's lips curled faintly. "Each piece is composed of different chakra-reactive materials. When infused, they resonate and emit unique wavelengths of light."
During his research into chakra blasters, liquid invisible lenses, and chakra poisons, Orochimaru had discovered rare materials that responded differently to chakra infusion. Most were useless in battle—but perfect for a puzzle like this.
As for how the picture appeared once assembled—it was a result of a formula etched into each piece. When the correct sequence aligned, chakra activation would reveal the painting encoded within.
In essence, it was a miniature masterpiece of science and jutsu—a testament to Orochimaru's obsessive ingenuity.
Ichikishimahime sighed. "So... were you satisfied with your little 'experiment'?"
"More importantly," Orochimaru reminded her smoothly, "you agreed to help me when I succeeded."
Ichikishimahime huffed but nodded. "Fine. I admit it. Your experiment is superior to mine."
"I'm glad you remember our deal," Orochimaru said with a faint smile. "Now, I must resume training—Sage Art: White Rage Technique still eludes me."
---
The Sage Art: White Rage Technique—one of Ryūchi Cave's two supreme arts—remained beyond even Orochimaru's formidable grasp. It was far more difficult to master than Inorganic Reincarnation, which allowed him to breathe life into lifeless matter.
But White Rage was different. It combined the shape transformation and nature transformation of Sage Chakra, producing a sonic and luminous force so intense that it paralyzed all living beings caught within.
Orochimaru stood within his dim cave, hands weaving seals, pale fingers gliding through the air. Sage Chakra gathered within him, pulsing like molten light.
"Sage Art—White Rage Technique!"
A spectral, crimson dragon erupted from his mouth, coiling around a trembling black sphere. The orb vibrated violently, pulsing with unstable chakra.
But before the two forces could merge—the sphere shattered.
A blinding flash filled the cavern, followed by a roar that rattled the walls. The sound alone felt like it could split the mind.
"Failed... again," Orochimaru muttered, straightening his body as the echo faded.
He could still feel the technique's remnants paralyzing his limbs—a flawed version of its true power. The perfected White Rage Technique would allow the user to move freely while others froze in fear and agony. But for now, even Orochimaru was bound by its incomplete state.
Undeterred, he continued to train, traveling often to the Great Snake Nest to spar with its colossal inhabitants. Each battle attuned his body closer to Sage Mode's essence.
The serpents, however, were less than thrilled.
Their once-tranquil lives had turned into daily nightmares of being pummeled by Orochimaru's relentless experiments. Even the most battle-hardened among them began hiding at the mere sound of his footsteps.
Finally, they petitioned the White Snake Sage and the Three Snake Princesses to expel him entirely. "Please, drive him out!" they pleaded. "We can't take another spar!"
But the princesses only smiled knowingly. Once Orochimaru set his mind on something, no one could stop him.
---
Meanwhile, far from Ryūchi Cave, at the Ada Laboratory Base—
Uchiha Madara stood outside, his gaze fixed upon the crimson object soaring gracefully through the air. Sleek and compact, it resembled a vehicle—but unlike any he had ever seen.
The car descended lightly, landing with a whisper. Si, the brilliant but arrogant scientist, stepped out and grinned. "Old man, what do you think? My latest model—still in development, not yet for sale."
Madara's eyes gleamed. "It won't be sold to the public?"
"Of course not," Si laughed. "But since you're practically ancient, I'll gift it to you."
He tossed the key lazily toward Madara. "See, this is what technology looks like, you clueless relic."
Madara ignored the insult, his weathered hands turning the key thoughtfully. "Then I'll accept."
Si bit back a laugh. He could already imagine the legendary Uchiha Madara obeying speed limits in a sports car.
Yet Madara wasn't thinking of humor. His body was weakening. The Rinnegan—his ultimate goal—still slumbered within him, refusing to awaken.
How much longer could he sustain himself? Perhaps one day, he would simply close his eyes and never rise again.
Until that day came, he would live as he wished.
If he couldn't shape the world through power—then he'd experience its evolution through creation.
And so, in the skies above the northern peninsula, an old man in a fiery red chariot cut through the air like a comet.
Sometimes he flew over the sea, sometimes he skimmed its waves, the roaring wind carrying the echoes of a legend long thought dead.
Those who saw him from distant merchant ships whispered in awe.
"Was that... Uchiha Madara?"
No one knew for sure. But the blazing car, marked with the emblem of White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company, became a new mystery whispered across the ninja world—a fusion of ninjutsu and science, of legend and progress.
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