Uchiha Izumi had made an important decision—she would cultivate Sage Mode.
Though her body had been enhanced with Divine Ink and infused with spiritual energy, she realized she had yet to fully harness or understand that spiritual power. It was time to go beyond mere enhancements; she needed a complete cultivation method. She wanted to learn the established ways of utilizing spiritual energy, absorb that knowledge deeply, and then develop her own unique techniques.
"Who should I summon to help me with this?" Izumi pondered silently.
Suddenly, a memory flashed through her mind—the last time she had summoned Manda, the giant snake had fiercely chased after her, making the encounter more troublesome than helpful. Shaking her head firmly, she decided against summoning the fearsome serpent again.
Instead, she thought of someone dear to her, someone more reliable now.
"Summoning Technique!" she declared.
A swirling blue mist gathered before her, and from it emerged a magnificent blue snake several meters long.
"Hello, Blue Ya! Long time no see," Izumi greeted cheerfully, waving at the serpent.
Blue Ya's eyes brightened upon seeing her young mistress. It gracefully coiled around Izumi in a gentle, affectionate manner before speaking. "Long time no see, Young Lady. What brings you here this time?"
Izumi stroked the snake's sleek head and explained, "I want to enter Ryuchi Cave to cultivate Sage Mode."
Blue Ya's expression turned serious. "Oh? Are you sure about that? Cultivating Sage Mode is extremely dangerous. You will have to face the tests of the Three Snake Hime—three powerful snake priestesses who guard the cave. And if you fail, they will not hesitate to devour you. Even if you pass their trials, mastering Sage Mode is no easy feat. There is no guarantee you will succeed."
Despite the warning, Izumi's gaze was steady and resolute. "Who do you think I am? I am Uchiha Izumi!"
Blue Ya smiled softly. "Very well, since you are so determined, I will speak with the elders. Then, I will use the Reverse Summoning Technique to bring you there."
Izumi nodded. "Thank you, Blue Ya. Please proceed."
With a sudden 'bang', Blue Ya disappeared in a swirl of mist. A moment later, Izumi found herself standing in a dark, mist-laden place that seemed ancient and mysterious.
Before her stood a massive, grand structure lavishly decorated with ornate designs and arcane symbols. The plaque above the entrance bore three large characters: "Ryuchi Cave."
Blue Ya's voice echoed beside her, "This is the entrance to Ryuchi Cave. Are you sure you want to enter?"
Izumi nodded confidently. "Yes, I still want to go in. Thank you, Blue Ya."
The great serpent wagged its tail and replied, "I hope you learn Sage Mode successfully. I won't accompany you inside; this place is beyond even my domain."
"It's fine," Izumi said firmly and stepped forward.
As she crossed the threshold of Ryuchi Cave, she felt a powerful, ancient energy envelop her. The air was thick with spiritual power and secrets.
Deep within the cave, three statuesque women awaited her arrival. They were the legendary Three Snake Hime, the revered priestesses who served as guardians and gatekeepers of Ryuchi Cave's sacred knowledge.
Izumi approached them with a bright smile and greeted politely, "Three beautiful big sisters, you must be the famous Three Snake Hime, right? Are you here to test me?"
Tagorihime, the eldest, returned a gentle smile. "Oh my, unlike the others, your words are sweet and sincere. You speak so nicely."
Ichikishimahime chuckled lightly. "That's right. Most who come here to learn Sage Mode are rather dull and arrogant."
Ametamehime, the youngest, raised a finger to remind them, "Don't forget our purpose here."
Turning her attention back to Izumi, Ametamehime said warmly, "We are not here to test you today. Instead, we have come to escort you to meet the White Snake Sage."
Izumi's brow furrowed in confusion. "Huh? You're taking me directly to see the White Snake Sage? Oh, I see. You're testing me—seeing if I'm eager for quick success, aren't you? Lucky for you, I'm smart enough not to fall for your tricks."
Ametamehime smiled knowingly. "You are indeed interesting. Blue Ya has already informed us of your arrival. The White Snake Sage is quite curious about you. Come with us. The White Snake Sage himself has ordered us to bring you directly."
"Really?" Izumi's eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and caution.
"Of course," Ametamehime confirmed.
Cautiously, Izumi followed the Three Snake Hime deeper into the cave's twisting corridors. The walls shimmered with glowing moss and ancient runes, casting an eerie light.
At last, they reached a massive chamber shrouded in an otherworldly glow. Coiled majestically in the center was the legendary White Snake Sage, a colossal serpent radiating an imposing aura of power and wisdom.
The Three Snake Hime stepped forward and announced, "White Snake Sage, we have brought the person."
The massive snake lifted its head and fixed its golden eyes on Izumi.
"Hmm, let me see," the White Snake Sage said, voice deep and resonant. "Your name is Uchiha Izumi, yes?"
Izumi bowed respectfully. "Yes, I am Uchiha Izumi."
The White Snake Sage regarded her intently. "I know everything that happens within Ryuchi Cave. Do you know why I did not have the Three Snake Hime test you and instead sent them to bring you directly?"
Izumi shook her head, curiosity piqued. "I don't know."
Holding a large, ancient pipe in its coils, the White Snake Sage said, "You possess not only great natural energy but also a peculiar aura that is quite fascinating."
Izumi's eyes narrowed. "Is it because of the Divine Ink? What kind of aura?"
The White Snake Sage replied, "I cannot say exactly. I only sensed it instinctively—a noble aura that sets you apart."
"That makes sense," Izumi thought. She suspected it was the aura of the divine entity sealed within her Divine Ink.
"Tell me," the White Snake Sage continued, "you are here to learn Sage Mode, correct?"
Izumi nodded eagerly. "Yes, I am here to learn Sage Mode and master the unique ninjutsu of Ryuchi Cave."
"I can teach you Sage Mode," said the White Snake Sage thoughtfully. "I am very curious about you—never before have I encountered someone whose presence makes me feel noble. Fascinating."
"There are two paths to learn Sage Mode here," the sage explained. "One is to undergo gradual training within the cave, which is long and arduous. The other is for me to directly inject Sage Mode Chakra into your body. If you can endure the process, you will master Sage Mode swiftly. Which path do you choose?"
Izumi did not hesitate. "I want the fastest method. I am in a hurry."
The White Snake Sage laughed heartily. "Hahahaha! Very well, as you wish."
Suddenly, the sage's hair transformed into a writhing snake that flew toward Izumi with lightning speed. Before Izumi could react, the snake bit her neck, injecting the potent Sage Mode Chakra directly into her body.
"Ugh!" Izumi cried out, the pain sharp and immediate.
"That was fast!" she thought, surprised by the sudden intensity of the power flooding her veins. "Is this truly the Sage Mode Chakra of Ryuchi Cave?"
A powerful, cold energy surged through her, circulating rapidly and beginning to transform her very being.
Meanwhile, inside Izumi's body, the consciousness of the White Snake Sage entered, searching for the mysterious aura it had sensed earlier—the aura that made Izumi feel so noble.
"Hmm? Her body is so dark… what is this?" the White Snake Sage murmured as it delved deeper. "Why is the energy within her so dark and profound?"
In the center of this shadowy energy, the sage found an impossibly deep black liquid swirling mysteriously.
Attempting to explore further, the sage suddenly shuddered.
"What is this feeling?" It recoiled, sensing an incredibly noble and powerful aura residing deep within Izumi's body. Before even approaching it, the sage felt instinctive fear—an ancient, primal dread that weaker creatures feel in the presence of overwhelming strength.
"Not even Ōtsutsuki Kaguya gives me this feeling!" the sage thought angrily. "What is this? Damn it, I am the White Snake Sage—I will not bow to anyone!"
Just as the sage prepared to force itself onward, a wave of countless black auras surged into its consciousness.
"Not good!" It realized with horror that these auras were eroding its very essence.
"Ah, get out!" The sage struggled to shake off the corrupting energy but found itself powerless.
As the corruption spread, the sage was forced to sever the affected part of its consciousness to save the rest.
The severed portion merged into Izumi's body, strengthening her aura even further.
Izumi struggled to control the overwhelming Sage Mode Chakra now coursing through her veins.
Just as she grappled with the sudden surge of power, an immense mental and spiritual energy flooded her mind.
"Ugh, this is so uncomfortable! Why am I being infused with so much energy all at once?"
Desperately trying to digest the influx, Izumi's Divine Ink suddenly flared, absorbing much of the chaotic energy and transforming it into her own power.
It fed this refined energy back to her body, reinforcing her strength and helping her stabilize the new Sage Mode within.
With this newfound power coursing through her, Uchiha Izumi braced herself for the trials ahead. The path to mastering Sage Mode would be perilous, but she was ready to face it head-on.
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