White Snake Sage pointed at the pocket of the Medicine Master.
"Let's make a bet. Will he pass the trial and earn the right to practice sagehood?"
"If he does, I'll grant him my promise."
"If not, you leave, and he becomes food."
The White Snake Sage studied the three of them carefully. Something felt off. They didn't even flinch at the word "food."
Orochimaru grinned, his golden eyes gleaming with intrigue. "Kabuto, it's your time to shine."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, the glare from the dim cave light reflecting off them. "I'm honored."
Their nonchalant attitude towards the trial of Ryūchi Cave was infuriating. The White Snake Sage let out a cold snort. "Fine. Then all of you will take the trial in the Snake's Nest."
The entrance loomed before them, a gaping hole in the cavern wall. Without hesitation, the three of them stepped inside.
Twists and turns led them deeper into the cave, until suddenly, it opened into a grand chamber. Before them stood a magnificent castle, lavishly decorated, its halls overflowing with exquisite feasts. The rich aroma of freshly prepared dishes wafted through the air, an invitation that no ordinary person could resist.
This was the work of the Ryūchi Cave's three high elders—Tiamat, Orochi Hime, and Tsuchinoko. Tiamat's ability allowed her to manipulate illusions, crafting a paradise of food to lure in unsuspecting victims. Anyone who ate the feast would find their chakra and body devoured by her.
The trio came to a stop before the castle's gates.
Mufasa turned to Kabuto, his expression calm. "Can you sense them?"
Kabuto smirked, adjusting his glasses once more. "Yes, there are three of them."
Ever since he had become a Stand user, his soul had strengthened significantly.
He could now differentiate between living and non-living beings with ease.
In this cavern filled with lifeless stalactites, the souls of Tiamat, Orochi Hime, and Tsuchinoko shone like beacons in the dark.
Mufasa nodded. "Then I leave this to you."
Without a word, Orochimaru and Mufasa took several steps back, leaving Kabuto alone in the center.
A series of soft hissing noises echoed through the chamber.
"Come closer..."
"The feast is prepared just for you..."
The three snake elders materialized before Kabuto, their humanoid forms hovering in the air, their forked tongues flickering as they observed him.
Normally, the trial was faced alone, but the White Snake Sage had decided to pit all three against him.
In the air, the three elders whispered to each other.
"Heehee, this one with glasses looks tasty."
"Too skinny. Probably not much flavor."
"Which one of us gets him?"
"Obviously me! My dishes are the most tempting."
Kabuto remained unfazed.
He simply adjusted his glasses again, his smirk never fading.
"Triple Dream Clone Technique."
Boom!
Three identical Kabutos appeared beside him, their forms perfectly mimicking his own.
The three snake elders flinched slightly.
Something was off.
Then, in a move that baffled them, the clones... lay down and fell asleep.
The elders froze. "What... what does this mean?!"
Unseen to them, the White Matron had already emerged within their minds.
The moment they laid eyes on the sleeping clones, their souls were dragged into a fabricated dream.
Do androids dream of electric sheep?
Can clones dream?
What even are dreams?
Kabuto had spent a lot of time developing this ability, perfecting the Dream Clone Technique.
Each of his clones possessed a fully functional brain, allowing them to create dreamscapes that felt entirely real.
The Silent Orphanage of his memories was reconstructed within these dreams, a place that ensnared the minds of anyone caught within.
The function of the Dream Clones?
To dream, and nothing more.
As the snake elders were trapped inside the dream, their defenses dropped.
Their souls were vulnerable.
Kabuto wasted no time.
With precise movements, he leaped into the air, chakra scalpel in hand.
His blade traced quick cuts along their spectral forms, injecting a paralyzing poison into their very essence.
The snake elders, powerful beings who had cultivated for centuries, were not so easily subdued.
Even as their souls reeled from the unexpected assault, they quickly fought back.
Within the dream, their forms twisted and expanded, morphing into massive serpents that began to destroy the dream world in an attempt to escape.
Cracks formed in the illusion.
And then—
The dream shattered.
The three elders burst free, gasping as they returned to reality.
The Dream Clones dissolved instantly, their function complete.
Everything had taken place in less than a breath's time.
As the snake elders regained their senses, they turned their glowing yellow eyes to Kabuto, now wary of his presence.
Kabuto only smiled, tilting his head slightly.
"Oh? Did you enjoy your visit to the orphanage?"
A deep sense of unease filled the three snake elders. They didn't know what that place was, but they remembered the feeling of being watched, of being treated like children.
A feeling that terrified them.
Tiamat, Orochi Hime, and Tsuchinoko bared their fangs. Their once delicate lips curled open, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth as they lunged for Kabuto.
Although the three snake elders remained invisible, they made no effort to conceal their scent.
"Open wide."
Kabuto caught a whiff of the pungent, reptilian musk seeping into his nostrils.
He remained still.
The corners of his mouth barely moved as he silently counted down.
"Four."
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
Right on cue, Tiamat, Orochi Hime, and Tsuchinoko lunged toward him. But just as they struck, something felt... off.
A sudden wave of weakness washed over their serpentine bodies.
Then, it was as if their very spines had been ripped away—every ounce of strength stolen in an instant.
They couldn't move. Not even a single scale.
With three heavy thuds, the snake elders crashed to the ground, their massive forms kicking up clouds of dust. Their invisibility and transformations failed, revealing their natural colors—one emerald green, one deep blue, and one ashen gray.
Their minds, however, remained sharp.
What just happened?
Why... why can't we move?
Their glowing, slitted eyes darted toward Kabuto, demanding answers.
But Kabuto, ever composed, simply adjusted his glasses with a small, knowing smile.
Inside, he was elated.
As expected.
Even these ancient, Sage-level serpents still retained the biological weaknesses of their kind. No matter how much they had cultivated their power, they were still susceptible to certain toxins.
He had prepared for this.
Ever since arriving at Ryūchi Cave, he had studied its dangers meticulously. Orochimaru had always been obsessed with snakes, and Kabuto had followed in his footsteps, delving deep into their physiology and vulnerabilities.
Before coming here, he had crafted a special toxin—one designed to suppress the natural aggression of serpents, forcing them into a state of docility. The moment he struck with his Chakra Scalpel, he had discreetly injected it into their bodies.
And now, it was taking full effect.
Looking at them sprawled helplessly before him, Kabuto almost chuckled.
'If they had come at me one by one, they might have seen through my Dream Clone technique.'
'But they were overconfident. They struck together, thinking victory was assured.'
'And now, I've taken them all down in one move.'
From her throne deeper in the cave, the White Snake Sage observed everything, her piercing golden eyes narrowing slightly.
She had seen many challengers enter Ryūchi Cave's trials. Few survived. Even fewer impressed her.
But Kabuto... he was something else.
"A soul technique?" she murmured, sensing the flickering presence of his spectral Stand—White Matron.
A rare ability, indeed.
Even among the shinobi world, arts concerning the soul were few and far between.
The Spiritual Transformation Technique used by Kato Dan.
The mystic rituals of certain priestesses.
Such talents were uncommon, requiring not just skill, but a unique kind of affinity.
"A fitting candidate for Sage Jutsu," she mused.
Still, something about this situation didn't sit right with her.
The battle had ended far too quickly.
In the eyes of an average onlooker, Kabuto had simply created clones, leapt into the air—and then the fight was over.
For Ryūchi Cave's trials, it was far too... easy.
Her gaze shifted toward Mufasa.
She remembered him.
The things he had done at the Twin Immortal Bridge... the sheer, unnerving terror he had inspired...
Even she, an ancient being who had witnessed centuries of bloodshed, found him unsettling.
'That man is completely unhinged.'
'Best not to provoke him.'
Her mind quickly turned to alternatives.
Who else could she use?
Then, she remembered a particular serpent—a beast even she found troublesome.
Yes. That one would do nicely.
Her voice echoed through the cavern.
"The second trial begins."
Mufasa crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "White Snake Sage, don't try to pull any tricks."
His voice was sharp, cutting straight to the point.
"Everyone knows those three are the keepers of your trials. What's the meaning of this 'extra' test?"
The White Snake Sage let out a low chuckle. "Hmph. I was merely asking if you wished to form a summoning contract. If not, you're free to leave."
Mufasa raised a brow. "Fine. But just this once. No 'third test' after this one."
"Agreed."
He wasn't done yet.
"Also—"
The White Snake Sage sighed. "What now? You challengers never shut up."
Mufasa smirked. "Kabuto was severely injured in the last fight. According to your own rules, he's already earned the right to learn Sage Jutsu. So I'll handle this next battle."
The White Snake Sage narrowed her eyes.
Kabuto? Injured?
She focused on him.
At that moment, Kabuto let out a loud, agonizing cough.
Then—he went the extra mile.
With a discreet flick of his Chakra Scalpel, he cut the inner lining of his throat.
Splurt.
A mouthful of blood burst from his lips, splattering dramatically across the ground.
He wobbled, as if barely clinging to consciousness.
The three defeated snake elders—Tiamat, Orochi Hime, and Tsuchinoko—felt a flicker of satisfaction.
'So that's how he beat us...'
'He must have paid for it with his life.'
They flicked their tongues, pleased with the revelation.
The White Snake Sage, however, was less amused.
'These damn humans...'
'Might be even more cunning than snakes.'
Mufasa pressed further. "Surely, a being as wise and revered as the White Snake Sage wouldn't force a sick man into battle?"
Before she could reply, he continued.
"After all, Ryūchi Cave is one of the three great Sage sanctuaries. You wouldn't resort to underhanded tactics, right? Such a distinguished figure would never do something so... dishonorable."
A long silence followed.
The White Snake Sage grit her fangs.
'Mufasa, you bastard...'
"Fine. Fine! You go in his place."
She turned toward a shadowed corner of the cavern.
"Manda, take them to see Zenya."
A deep, rumbling groan echoed from the depths of the snake pit.
A massive, violet-scaled serpent uncoiled, its golden eyes blinking blearily as it lifted its head.
"Ugh... why is it always me?"