Ryuchi Cave is a place of inheritance as legendary as Mount Myoboku and the Shikkotsu Forest, but it is by far the most dangerous of the three.
While the toads and slugs welcome those who seek training, Ryuchi Cave does not grant such kindness.
It has set up brutal trials, and failure means death—devoured by the high-ranking serpents, Tiamat, Orochi Hime, and Tsuchinoko.
In the shinobi world, no one in their right mind would willingly step into Ryuchi Cave unless they were absolutely obsessed with power.
Obviously, Orochimaru was exactly that kind of lunatic.
He flicked out his long, snake-like tongue, licking the corner of his lips as he spoke. "White Snake Sage, let me introduce someone."
Orochimaru gestured towards Mufasa.
"This is the current Kazekage, Mufasa."
The White Snake Sage's slitted yellow eyes narrowed as she studied the newcomer.
"So, you are Kazekage Mufasa?"
Mufasa smiled, his expression calm and unreadable. "Oh? You know of me, Snake Sage?"
The White Snake Sage flicked her tongue. "That unruly one, Manda, spoke of you."
Mufasa let out a short chuckle. "Haha, I doubt he had anything nice to say."
The White Snake Sage gave a slow nod. "Indeed. For Manda to complain, you must be quite capable."
Mufasa waved a hand dismissively. "Just average, really."
The White Snake Sage tilted her head slightly. "Then why have you come? Do you wish to learn senjutsu?"
Mufasa shook his head. "No need. I have already mastered it."
A chill entered the White Snake Sage's voice. "Did you learn from the toads or the slugs?"
It was clear that Ryuchi Cave did not see eye to eye with the other two great summoning grounds.
Mufasa remained unfazed. "Neither. I taught myself."
For the first time in centuries, the White Snake Sage was caught off guard.
"Self-taught… in senjutsu?" she echoed, her voice filled with doubt.
She let out a sharp hiss. "Hmph, do you take me for a fool? Lies like that could get you eaten."
Mufasa, completely at ease in the presence of a legendary being who had lived since Kaguya's time, merely smiled.
"Senjutsu is simply the art of harnessing natural energy."
"Once you understand that, it's really not so complicated."
The White Snake Sage scrutinized him, clearly unconvinced.
For generations, shinobi had only been able to learn senjutsu through the three great summoning realms.
Without their guidance, it was impossible to safely mold natural energy.
Impossible for ordinary shinobi.
But Mufasa was far from ordinary.
The White Snake Sage hissed, "So if you already understand senjutsu, what is it that you want from me?"
Mufasa held up two fingers. "Two things."
"First, my subordinate is quite talented. I want you to teach him senjutsu."
He pointed towards Kabuto.
The White Snake Sage's gaze shifted, analyzing the white-haired shinobi.
Kabuto carried the same eerie calm as Orochimaru, his collected expression hiding the ambition that lurked beneath.
A promising candidate.
She smirked. "If he passes the trials of Tiamat, Orochi Hime, and Uwabami, he may learn from me."
Mufasa nodded, satisfied.
"Second," he continued, "I want to establish a large-scale summoning contract between Ryuchi Cave and Sunagakure."
The White Snake Sage blinked. "A large-scale summoning contract?"
The usual summoning contracts were straightforward.
A single shinobi would sign a pact with a creature, gaining their aid in battle in exchange for tributes or offerings.
But Mufasa's proposal was something else entirely.
"This contract would be between the entire Sand Village and Ryuchi Cave," he explained.
"Once signed, any shinobi from my village will be able to summon any serpent from your cave, provided they have the necessary summoning scroll."
It was as if Sunagakure would have Ryuchi Cave on retainer, its shinobi able to summon an entire arsenal of serpentine allies at will.
A deal of unprecedented scale.
Orochimaru and Kabuto were speechless.
Even Orochimaru, who prided himself on boldness, was stunned.
His mind screamed at him to warn the White Snake Sage:
'Don't do it! This man is insane!'
For a long moment, the cave was silent.
Then—
Laughter.
Wild, unrestrained laughter filled the cavern, echoing off the stone walls.
The White Snake Sage's mouth stretched into an unhinged grin as she cackled, her long body coiling in delight.
If snakes had tears, she would have been crying from amusement.
Mufasa simply watched, a small smile playing on his lips.
When the laughter finally died down, the White Snake Sage fixed him with a piercing gaze.
"To become Kazekage, you must not be a fool."
Then, after a pause, she shook her head. "No, no..."
"To command a follower like Orochimaru, to have him obey you without question, you must be even crazier than he is."
Her gaze sharpened. "And yet, your eyes are so pure. There is no greed, no corruption, no evil..."
She studied him intently.
"You must be someone who exists beyond the limits of ordinary morality, one who follows their own code without care for the views of others."
"A rare breed indeed."
The White Snake Sage smiled, a look of genuine admiration in her ancient eyes.
"Mufasa."
She slithered forward, her voice filled with curiosity and excitement.
"Train under me."
"You would make a truly remarkable sage."
...
The world is indifferent, treating everything as mere pieces in a grand game.
A true shinobi does not seek kindness or cruelty, only results.
The expectations for those who walk the path of power remain the same, regardless of the world they are in.
The mindset of a shinobi differs vastly from that of the common folk.
Much like what Mufasa did in the Land of Rivers.
Ordinary people would see the Kazekage's actions as nothing more than posturing—an elaborate display of false benevolence, pretending to care while actually disregarding the people's suffering.
To them, it was all ridiculous.
A meaningless pursuit of reputation.
That is the perspective of the average person. They see only what lies on the surface.
They do not see the greater scheme.
But did Mufasa need a good reputation?
Quite the opposite.
His actions would undoubtedly bring scorn and resentment before any real change took hold.
Those who lost power and wealth because of him would curse his name.
Even those who unknowingly benefited from his changes would despise him before they realized their fortune.
Would Mufasa care?
Of course not.
Infamy? Irrelevant.
Praise? Insignificant.
What did it matter?
What he sought was to pull the Land of Rivers from the grip of a feudal past, to build infrastructure—roads, railways, and trade routes—that would strengthen the country and allow its people to thrive.
He pursued his goals without hesitation, without shackles of doubt or regret.
This philosophy extended to all aspects of his life.
Even when dealing with Tsunade.
When he needed to be firm, he was firm. When he needed to be soft, he was soft.
A balance of strength and adaptability.
This mastery of temperament, this ability to dictate the flow of his own actions, was what made him exceptional.
It was this mindset that made him a cultivator of destiny.
A trait even the White Snake Sage recognized.
"If you join Ryūchi Cave, I will teach you everything I know. You could even become its next master."
To control one of the three great summoning realms of the ninja world.
A tempting offer for anyone else.
Mufasa discarded it like a piece of trash.
What a joke.
Did she expect him to learn her Senjutsu and transform into some grotesque half-human, half-snake hybrid?
No thanks.
"The master of Ryūchi Cave is not a title I seek."
"Nor do I care for your Senjutsu."
The ninja world's concept of immortality was laughable compared to true immortality.
In Mufasa's homeland, true immortality wasn't just about changing form—it was about transcending mortality itself.
Compared to that, the so-called Sage Mode was nothing more than a parlor trick.
Why settle for an imitation when the real path to enlightenment was within his reach?
The White Snake Sage's amusement faded into irritation.
"Hmph. Then we have nothing to discuss."
She turned away, dismissing him.
Mufasa smirked.
He wasn't about to leave empty-handed.
"Why be so quick to reject me, White Snake Sage? A partnership with me would be to your great advantage."
The White Snake Sage tilted her head. "And what advantage is that?"
Mufasa began his pitch.
"First, Sunagakure is wealthy. We can provide resources and materials to Ryūchi Cave in exchange for cooperation."
"Second, we have many skilled warriors. A collaboration between your disciples and my people would enhance their growth."
"Lastly, our technology is far beyond anything Ryūchi Cave has seen. With our innovations, we can help evolve the power of your serpents."
The White Snake Sage listened, unimpressed.
Wealth? Meaningless.
Talent? Just another way of saying she wanted her subordinates to serve him.
Technology? What did snakes care for human inventions?
"We do not need outside resources," she hissed. "We are self-sufficient."
Mufasa stroked his chin.
"Is that so? Then perhaps I should visit Mount Myōboku instead."
"I hear the Great Toad Sage is quite welcoming to outsiders. Konoha has always had strong ties with them."
"The toads of Mount Myōboku hold immense influence in the ninja world."
The White Snake Sage's slitted pupils narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing in her eyes.
"Boy, you are too arrogant."
A powerful aura surged forth, her presence overwhelming.
The White Snake Sage began her technique.
Her mental waves invaded Mufasa's mind.
She sought to reshape his thoughts, to break his will and mold him into a loyal follower of Ryūchi Cave.
To make him accept her teachings, to turn him into a snake-like being, one of her own.
She delved deep into his consciousness—
And recoiled in shock.
What… what was this?
A grand celestial palace floating in the heavens.
A golden bridge leading to the unknown.
A towering gate adorned with sacred sigils.
Figures in shimmering robes radiating divine power.
An armored warrior with three eyes, a golden light shining from the third eye in his forehead.
A voice boomed.
"Foul creature! How dare you trespass here?"
The celestial warrior raised his spear, divine energy crackling around him.
The White Snake Sage was terrified.
She hastily withdrew from Mufasa's mind, gasping as if she had seen something beyond comprehension.
"What… what was that?" she stammered.
Mufasa chuckled.
"A place where true immortals reside."
"You wouldn't understand."
The White Snake Sage trembled, her mind still reeling from the vision.
The majesty, the power, the sheer divinity of that place—
It was something she had never seen before.
Something she could barely comprehend.
"… Where is this place?" she whispered.
Mufasa smirked. "I can't tell you just yet. But if you agree to my terms, perhaps one day I will show you."
The White Snake Sage hesitated.
She wanted to refuse.
She wanted to dismiss it as a lie.
But she had seen it with her own eyes.
"… I do not trust you," she finally said.
Mufasa shrugged. "Then I'll take my leave."
The White Snake Sage's tail flicked.
"… Wait."
"I want to see it for myself."
"But first, you must pass my test."
"If you succeed, I will consider your offer."