The temptation of delicious food was always one of the best forms of offense.
The three Snake Princesses ate all the Snake Berries and looked completely satisfied.
"Kid, those berries were delicious. Got any more?"
"Nope..."
Gekko Chizan didn't care at all about the disappointed expressions on the three Snake Princesses' faces as he calmly announced the Snake Berries were gone.
"You ate all the Snake Berries I prepared for the Great Snake!"
"And it still wasn't enough!"
The actor was back in action—Gekko Chizan put on a performance full of sorrow, portraying the tragedy of his hard-earned offering being devoured.
The three Snake Princesses looked visibly embarrassed.
"Um, kid, it's just... the fruit you brought out was too delicious."
"We couldn't hold back..."
Tagorihime was a bit shy, but that fruit called snake berry was really just that good!
They still wanted more!
"Hmph! I don't care, you owe me compensation!"
"A dignified sage from Ryūchi Cave, and you dine and dash?!"
That shut them up instantly… they were here to assess the candidate, yet not only had they skipped the evaluation, they'd eaten all his things. It was kind of... awkward.
Just as they were at a loss for what to do, a voice suddenly echoed from the depths of Ryūchi Cave:
"Enough..."
"You three, bring him in..."
Upon hearing this voice, the three Snake Princesses trembled slightly, a trace of nervousness appearing on their faces.
Gekko Chizan, on the other hand, thought to himself: It's here.
"Chōmei, get ready. We're probably about to meet the White Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave."
"If negotiations break down, we're busting out of here."
Chōmei had been happily watching the food stream from the Snake Princesses and wasn't done enjoying the show.
But Gekko Chizan's tone was serious enough to make him put that aside. With great confidence, he replied:
"Relax! I've got your back—go wild if you want!"
Now that was reassuring.
With a tailed beast watching your six, you could really act tough!
"The White Snake Sage has spoken. Gekko Chizan, let's go."
Ichikishimahime was the first to speak, and she began tidying up her appearance. The scuffle over Snake Berries had left her robes a bit messy.
Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime beside her also hurried to fix their appearances.
Then the three Snake Princesses led Gekko Chizan deeper into Ryūchi Cave.
After walking for a while, a massive palace came into view before Gekko Chizan.
The palace looked magnificent, but Gekko Chizan was well aware that everything before him was an illusion.
The White Snake Sage possessed a unique type of Genjutsu-based Sage Art—not only could she turn an empty land into a Ryūchi Cave temple, she could also transform herself into a frail old woman.
"Oh? You saw through the illusion?"
"Chizan, you're quite impressive."
Suddenly, the palace flickered and dissolved into nothingness.
What appeared instead was a time-worn temple, and in the distance, a massive white phosphorus snake was staring intently at him.
Gekko Chizan instantly felt a tightness across his entire body, as an invisible energy began swirling around him.
"From Konoha. A jōnin of the Gekko clan. Kekkei Genkai: Transparent Release."
"Orochimaru's disciple..."
"Hehehehe... Kid, your talent surpasses even Orochimaru's back in the day."
The White Snake Sage's voice carried no joy or sorrow—completely emotionless.
That made Gekko Chizan raise his guard.
"Lower your guard. Coming to Ryūchi Cave proves you are a chosen inheritor."
"Only those selected can arrive here through the contract scroll."
"Until you accept Sage powers, no harm will come to you."
Right. Accept Sage powers. And if he failed, he'd end up as snake food, right?
Can't get careless. No way.
"Hehehe, still so cautious."
"But you've probably realized this already—Konoha is quite far from here."
"Even with Flying Thunder God, a space-time ninjutsu, you can't cross such a distance back to Konoha."
"If you wish to leave, the only way is through the contract scroll."
She wasn't wrong. In fact, the moment he arrived at Ryūchi Cave, Gekko Chizan had already tested the Flying Thunder God formula. After all, he always prioritized safety and had made it a habit to leave himself a backup plan.
But he'd miscalculated. As the White Snake Sage said, the Three Great Sage Grounds were far from Konoha.
There was no escape route using Flying Thunder God.
"Kid, those who come to Ryūchi Cave mostly seek Sage Arts."
"Do you truly have no desire to learn?"
As her words landed, Gekko Chizan felt the natural energy around him grow denser.
Clearly, the White Snake Sage was testing him.
"Heh, White Snake Sage, of course I want to learn Sage Arts."
"But... I don't like taking risks. What if I fail and end up as snake chow?"
Gekko Chizan's joking words froze the three Snake Princesses in place.
They thought: How did this kid know?!
"Hahahahahaha, what an interesting brat."
"Though I'm not like that bastard Gamamaru with foresight, I have my own special abilities."
"For instance, Genjutsu Sage Arts and Listening Sage Arts."
"Through the latter, I can hear all that transpires across the shinobi world."
"But you, kid—you're an anomaly. Your Kekkei Genkai can block out my listening technique."
"Transparent Release, huh? Not bad for a Kekkei Genkai."
Thunderous revelations struck the three Snake Princesses.
Transparent Release? It could block the White Snake Sage's perception?
Impossible!
"Hehehe, just a hereditary bloodline, nothing special."
Gekko Chizan humbly deflected, and the White Snake Sage burst into laughter.
"Kid, what if I say—this Sage Art is not optional?"
Her laughter ceased. Her tone turned cold and stern, laced with immense pressure.
Suddenly, Gekko Chizan felt like a mountain had landed on him!
What tremendous pressure... So this was the Sage power wielded by a millennium-old snake...
"Holy crap, this snake is strong!"
"I haven't felt pressure like this in ages."
Even Chōmei was startled—after all, few could affect him, and now one of them was right here.
"White Snake Sage, I don't get it. My sensei Orochimaru didn't learn Sage Arts, did he?"
"Are you telling me a Sage like yourself would actually force someone?"
Enduring the pressure, Gekko Chizan spoke coldly—his earlier joking tone gone, replaced with a chill.
Trying to force his hand now?
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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