Chapter 44 Visiting Ryuchi Cave
Uchiha Touhuan returned home, quickly washed up, and went to his bedroom. He bit his finger and formed the hand seals for a summoning jutsu.
A puff of smoke dissipated, and a small white snake appeared before him.
"Please inform Ryuchi Cave that Uchiha Touhuan has come to visit," Uchiha Touhuan said, teasing the small white snake.
The snake vanished instantly. A short while later, Uchiha Touhuan sensed the fluctuations of a reverse summoning space-time ninjutsu. He relaxed his mind, and in an instant, he found himself in a strange place.
The scene before him was very similar to the ancient town tourist area he had seen in his previous life: rows of ancient buildings, and a huge, antique-style signboard bearing the words "Ryuchi Cave."
Orochimaru stood below the signboard, beside him a woman dressed as a shrine maiden with a magatama necklace around her neck.
"Lord Touhuan." Orochimaru bowed respectfully to Uchiha Touhuan, while the woman beside him observed him with interest.
After a moment, the woman spoke, "Uchiha Touhuan, welcome to Ryuchi Cave."
"Hello, what's your name?" Uchiha Touhuan asked with a smile.
"Tagore-hime," the woman beside Orochimaru chuckled, "The White Snake Sage already knows your purpose, but to meet the White Snake Sage, you must pass the test of Ryuchi Cave."
"I understand." Uchiha Touhuan nodded and followed Tagore-hime.
The two walked towards the interior of the ancient castle, but Orochimaru then formed hand seals and released the summoning.
"Isn't he coming along?" Uchiha Touhuan asked curiously.
"Everyone only has one chance in their lifetime to walk this path. Although Orochimaru-kun is a partner of Ryuchi Cave, he failed once when challenging this path and has no right to enter again," Tagore-hime explained as they walked.
"By the way, are you so sure about my purpose for coming here?" Uchiha Touhuan asked curiously. "I've heard that there's a toad sage on Mount Myōboku who can foresee the future. Could the White Snake Sage have a similar ability?"
"Don't compare us to those stinky toads from Mount Myōboku," said Tashin Shinki, her face showing displeasure.
"I apologize for my rudeness," Uchiha Touhuan apologized with a smile.
"The White Snake Sage doesn't have the abilities of that old toad from Mount Myōboku," said Tashin Shinki after glancing at Uchiha Touhuan. "However, your purpose in coming to Ryūchi Cave is quite easy to guess."
"For thousands of years, those who come to Ryūchi Cave have only two purposes: one is to find a summoning beast partner, and the other is to train in Sage Mode," Tashin Shinki explained. "You're different from Orochimaru-kun, who arrived at Ryūchi Cave before his strength was fully developed. Your fighting style is already set. Without learning specific ninjutsu, most of the contracted snakes in Ryūchi Cave wouldn't be able to join a battle at your level."
"Therefore, your goal can only be the latter,"
Uchiha Touhuan nodded noncommittally, continuing to follow Tashin Shinki.
"By the way, what are the tests Ryūchi Cave tests for those who want to train in Sage Mode? Is it something like character? If so, I doubt I'll pass," Uchiha Touhuan said.
"Mr. Touhuan is too kind. Ryuchi Cave treats everyone who wants to train in Sage Mode equally," said Tashin Shinki with a smile. "All the trials have only one purpose: to see if the participants can adapt to natural energy. As for the character and willpower that humans care about, Ryuchi Cave doesn't care."
"I understand. No wonder it's rumored that this place is only frequented by madmen who desperately seek power," Uchiha Touhuan laughed.
"I'll take it as Mr. Touhuan praising us," Tashin Shinki said. "Besides, Mr. Touhuan, didn't you come here already prepared?" "That's true." Uchiha Touhuan nodded. "So, when does the test begin?"
Tashin Shinki led Uchiha Touhuan to a restaurant-like building in the city, clapped her hands, and soon several girls served him various delicacies.
"Mr. Touhuan, please enjoy the hospitality of Ryuchi Cave before the test begins," Tashin Shinki said with a smile.
"Is that so?" Uchiha Touhuan sat down at the table and picked up his cutlery without thinking.
Seeing this, Tashin Shinki also smiled peculiarly.
However, in the next second, Tashin Shinki suddenly found a long sword with a pale blue metallic sheen pressed against her neck, and Uchiha Touhuan, who had been sitting at the table, had vanished without a trace.
"Mr. Touhuan, what is the meaning of this?" Although a sword was at her throat, Tashin Shinki remained calm and asked.
Behind Tashin Shinki, Uchiha Touhuan's Mangekyō Sharingan, with its lightning-shaped tomoe, slowly flickered in his eyes. "The illusion is quite realistic, but since awakening these eyes, everything I see is absolutely real."
"I see." Tashin Shinki nodded. Everything around them began to change. The opulent restaurant, along with the ancient town outside, vanished, replaced by a sinister cave. The delicious food on the table turned into skeletons.
Tashin Shinki's figure disappeared along with her.
When she reappeared, her serene and elegant face was gone, replaced by a ferocious snake-like face. Her sinister vertical pupils, sharp teeth, and long tongue caused Uchiha Touhuan to frown slightly.
The chakra around Tashin Shinki began to fluctuate, a fluctuation completely different from anyone Uchiha Touhuan had ever faced before.
"Is this Sage Chakra?" Uchiha Touhuan assumed a fighting stance, sword drawn, as eerie blue lightning began to gather around him, crackling and popping.
Just then, a voice came from the depths of the cave.
"Shin-hime, bring him directly here. Against his eye technique, the subsequent trials are largely meaningless."
"I understand, White Snake Sage." Shin-hime turned and bowed towards the depths of the cave, then her expression returned to its previous state, apologetically saying to Uchiha Touhuan, "I apologize, Mr. Touhuan, for my rudeness, but this is part of the test."
"Understood." Uchiha Touhuan nodded, sheathing his Lightning Release, and then asked, "Is that the White Snake Sage?"
"Yes, please follow me," Shin-hime said.
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(End of this chapter)