Jin, Sakyo, Chris, Miyamoto Shino, and Minakami Mei were escorted back to the Sand Village by Orochimaru.
Without much explanation, he led them through the village to a secluded building known as the Knight Academy.
Once they arrived, Orochimaru handed them off to a doctor named Shotaro Iwamori before disappearing into the shadows.
Dr. Shotaro Iwamori, a man with wild, unkempt hair and a sharp gaze, gave the group a brief once-over before speaking.
"Go get them checked out," he ordered. "Make sure they're in decent shape."
The group exchanged uncertain glances.
The doctor, already distracted with paperwork, barely acknowledged them. Instead, he turned to a few students nearby.
"Yusuke, Takashi, Akumi, and Daigo, take them for a full examination. While you're at it, explain the rules and assign them dorms."
With that, Dr. Iwamori waved them off and walked away.
Yusuke, a lively young man with an infectious grin, clapped his hands together.
"Alright, new recruits! Welcome to the Knight Academy!"
At this moment, Jin, Chris, Shino, and Mei stood stiffly, feeling as awkward as transfer students on their first day.
Yusuke smirked. "Hey, don't look so nervous. This place isn't that scary. Unless, of course, you fail your training... Then, well, let's just say—knights who can't fight don't last long."
Jin gulped. "That's supposed to be reassuring?"
Takashi sighed, adjusting his glasses. "Ignore him. Yusuke thrives on making people uneasy. Now, let's get this over with. I have books to read."
Akumi, standing with arms crossed, rolled her eyes. "And I need to get back to my sword practice."
Daigo looked at them skeptically. "You guys don't really seem like knight material. If I were you, I'd turn back now while you still can."
Chris raised an eyebrow. "Not like we had a choice in coming here."
Daigo shrugged. "Well, don't say I didn't warn you." With that, he walked away.
Yusuke, now grinning, clapped Jin on the back. "Alright, first up, the physical examination! Gotta see what you're made of."
"What kind of examination?" Shino asked warily.
"Nothing too crazy," Yusuke said, waving a hand dismissively. "Just testing your physical endurance."
Takashi adjusted his glasses. "A knight needs both brains and brawn. If you lack one, you better make up for it with the other."
Mei hesitated. "And what happens if we're not strong enough?"
Akumi smirked. "Then you train. Or... undergo enhancement."
"Enhancement?!" the group echoed.
Shino's voice wavered. "What kind of enhancement?"
Takashi answered flatly, "Body modification. Dr. Iwamori is studying ways to improve human abilities by learning from nature.
Ants can carry hundreds of times their weight, locusts can leap incredible distances—he wants to replicate that."
Mei's face turned pale. "Are you saying we'll be turned into bugs?!"
Yusuke burst out laughing. "Relax, relax! The transformation project is still in development. No one's getting turned into a beetle—at least, not yet."
"Not helping," Jin muttered.
Shino still looked unconvinced, but Yusuke continued. "Think about it: if you really did turn into bugs and zoomed around the village on motorcycles, wouldn't that be hilarious?"
Nobody laughed except Yusuke.
Despite their unease, they followed the group to the infirmary.
"Before we can become true knights recognized by the Kazekage, we're all students here," Yusuke explained.
"And since you guys are from the Land of Rivers, you'll be staying in the dormitories from now on."
He handed each of them a keycard. "One room per person. The dorms have everything you need—cafeteria, training grounds, common areas. Pretty luxurious, actually."
Chris examined the key. "So... we just train until we become knights?"
"Pretty much," Takashi confirmed.
"You'll have scheduled classes, training sessions, and occasional free time. And during breaks, feel free to explore the breathtaking desert scenery."
Yusuke snickered. "Yeah, the gorgeous view of endless sandstorms and the delightful taste of sand in your food."
Jin sighed. "Great. Just what I always wanted."
Upon entering their dormitory, they were surprised to find their rooms spacious—over 100 square meters with simple but elegant furnishings.
Each room was equipped with a television, refrigerator, air conditioning, and a water heater—far beyond anything they had in the Land of Rivers.
Shino looked around, impressed. "This place is actually... nice. I thought they were going to lock us in some kind of dungeon."
Mei nodded. "Yeah. I guess they do want us to learn something."
Jin picked up a schedule booklet. "There's a lot of training on here—hand-to-hand combat, swordsmanship, archery, marksmanship, driving..."
Sakyo frowned. "Strange... There's no mention of ninjutsu."
Chris, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "Maybe... it's not needed."
...
"Of course not."
Mufasa sat in the office of the Knight Academy, engaged in a discussion with Orochimaru, Dr. Shotaro Iwamori, Kabuto Yakushi, Sasori, and Shigara Tanuki.
Shotaro Iwamori and Shigara Tanuki were overseeing the research on biomechanical enhancements for knights, while Sasori and Kabuto focused on developing mounts, transformation belts, and specialized weapons.
Mufasa leaned back in his chair.
"Ninjas have limits. No matter how much an ordinary ninja trains, can his chakra ever compare to the Nine-Tails? Can his genjutsu surpass the power of the Sharingan?"
The room was silent as he continued.
"If a knight learns elemental ninjutsu, what happens when he faces someone with the same affinity?
Can he just switch elements on the spot? No—it's a losing game. Instead of competing in the oversaturated world of ninjas, we forge a new path."
He smirked, glancing at the others. "Might Guy showed me something. A simple kick, when executed with enough force, can be more devastating than any ninjutsu.
If a knight's kick can match or even surpass that, then ninjutsu becomes unnecessary. As for genjutsu? We have science and technology to counter it."
Orochimaru chuckled. "So, to become a knight, one must transcend humanity itself?"
Shotaro Iwamori nodded. "We've captured giant ants and shape-shifting scorpions from the desert.
We're currently extracting their genetic data. The results should be promising."
Shigara Tanuki leaned forward. "Why not experiment with Hashirama cells? Their regenerative properties could give knights extraordinary resilience."
Mufasa shook his head. "Too unstable. The rejection rate is high, and I don't want my knights growing faces on their chests. Not to mention the mortality rate—it's simply not worth it."
He folded his arms. "The goal is to empower ordinary people. True power isn't just about raw strength
—it's about unbreakable will. The real test of a knight is whether they can walk alone in the shadows and keep fighting."
Shotaro Iwamori sighed. "The recruits you brought from the Land of Rivers—they're all physically average.
Some of them even have underlying health issues. If we don't strengthen them properly, they'll die on the operating table."
Mufasa chuckled. "A strong body is important, but it's courage that defines a knight. One of them had the guts to demand payment from me
—that kind of boldness is rarer than any Kekkei Genkai. Train them well, and they'll become remarkable knights."
Shotaro nodded. "Understood. I'll have our team tailor their diet and training regimen accordingly."
The research was ongoing, but some advancements were already complete.
Mounts and transformation belts were being developed at a steady pace.
Sasori pulled out a newly designed transformation belt, placing it on the table.
The centerpiece was a red-and-blue fan-like mechanism.
"This is the Natural Energy Reactor. When activated, it absorbs ambient nature energy and channels it into an alloy-bone exosuit, forming the knight's armor."
Mufasa fastened the belt around his waist, activating it experimentally.
As the energy surged, he frowned. "This is on par with Jugo's Sage Transformation, but it's still not strong enough."
Sasori responded calmly. "The output scales with the reactor's quality. If you want it stronger, we need a better power source."
Mufasa nodded. "Keep refining it. This has potential."
The meeting was coming to an end.
Mufasa stood up, addressing the group.
"You're all doing excellent work. I'm pleased with the progress. Let's ensure the first generation of knights graduate successfully."
With infrastructure projects like roads and railways still in their early stages, there was no need to rush the release of the knights.
Additional time would only lead to better enhancements and improved survival rates.
As the meeting concluded, Mufasa turned to Orochimaru. "Can you take me to Ryūchi Cave?"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. "You wish to study Sage Mode?"
Mufasa smirked. "No, I've already mastered it through my own methods. I want to find a worthy companion—one that will fight and die alongside my knights."
Orochimaru's curiosity was piqued. "Interesting. I can take you there, but I can't guarantee the White Snake Sage will agree to your terms."
Mufasa simply grinned. "You'll never know until you ask."
Turning to Kabuto, he added, "Kabuto, you're coming too. Learning Sage Mode will benefit you."
Kabuto bowed. "Understood."
Traveling to Ryūchi Cave wasn't as simple as walking.
The legendary sanctuaries—Ryūchi Cave, Shikkotsu Forest, and Mount Myōboku—existed in spaces beyond conventional geography.
The only way in was through summoning-based dimensional travel.
With a practiced series of seals, Orochimaru activated the Reverse Summoning Jutsu.
In an instant, the three of them were pulled into another realm, arriving at Ryūchi Cave.
The cave stretched endlessly into darkness, its vastness nearly suffocating.
Unlike the lively atmosphere of the toad-populated Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave was eerily silent.
Snakes were solitary creatures, and it showed—there was not a single one in sight.
They ventured deeper into the cave until they finally reached its heart.
There, seated atop a grand stone throne, was the White Snake Sage.
Her immense body coiled lazily, golden rings wrapped around her tail.
A red, luminous pearl gleamed atop her head, casting an eerie glow in the dimly lit chamber.
She took a slow drag from her pipe before exhaling a plume of smoke, her slitted eyes narrowing at the visitors.
"Orochimaru," she hissed, voice both ancient and powerful. "Why have you come?"