The Ryuchi Cave lies deep beneath their village, and it's not always easy to locate.
There are many spacious underground caves beneath their village, with the largest capable of accommodating thirty to forty people walking side by side.
As for the Ryuchi Cave, it has always been revered as a Holy Land.
Because from ancient times to now, only a select few have been able to enter the Ryuchi Cave, and even fewer have come out.
Not even one percent have emerged; if it weren't for the fact that people occasionally disappeared in the underground caves and then returned, they wouldn't even know there was a Holy Land below.
"I'm not confident in guiding you inside. After coming out of the Holy Land, not only can our clan's madness be cured, but our strength will also increase significantly. Many clansmen want to enter, even if it means gambling on it...."
The middle-aged village chief led the way while telling Uchiha Yoichi the history of the Holy Land and other intelligence.
"But it seems like the Holy Land chooses who can enter. We've explored the underground caves many times, but very few can enter the Holy Land. In the past ten years, only one person managed to enter, and he hasn't returned yet...."
While speaking, the middle-aged village chief continued to walk through the deep underground cave with him, unsure of how deep they had gone until they finally stopped at a fork in the road filled with rock caves.
Ahead, there were dozens of cave entrances, some only as high as one person, others seven or eight meters high.
The middle-aged village chief stopped, turned to Uchiha Yoichi, and said, "This is as far as I can guide you. Beyond here, I don't know the way."
"It's good that you don't know. There should be a barrier below; your physique might be special, but you know nothing about Chakra. Getting to the Ryuchi Cave is purely a matter of luck...."
Uchiha Yoichi activated his Sharingan, vaguely seeing traces of Chakra lingering in the caves.
The position of the Ryuchi Cave doesn't change, so the fact that some people can enter while others cannot can only be explained by a barrier, apart from the otherworldly space.
"This is the end of the line, chief. You can return now."
With that, Uchiha Yoichi patted the chief's shoulder, using his Stealing ability in the process.
The next second, a magical sensation suddenly washed over him.
Uchiha Yoichi suddenly felt more attuned to the environment, sensing the infinite Natural Energy around him.
"Well, I'll head back then...."
The middle-aged chief shuddered but didn't know what had happened. Hearing Uchiha Yoichi instruct him to leave, he turned and left without further thought.
Yet, the increasing oppression he felt suddenly lessened significantly.
[Ability successfully activated, acquired 'Natural Energy Absorbing Physique']
"Natural Energy Absorbing Physique? No wonder. What I sensed must be Natural Energy, and it seems I can absorb it simply by breathing...."
Uchiha Yoichi speculated that this village might have had an ancestor who successfully cultivated the Sage Mode, accidentally altering their bloodline, which was then passed down through generations, resulting in their current physique.
However, it seems the people of this village didn't fully inherit it; they can only absorb energy until saturation, and must release the energy through madness afterward.
It wasn't until Jugo voluntarily sought out Orochimaru that his clan's ability was studied and turned into a Curse Seal.
"Will I also go mad like them now that I have this Natural Energy Absorbing Physique?"
Concerned, Uchiha Yoichi stopped worrying about it for the moment and decided to head to the Ryuchi Cave first, planning to look for answers later.
With the new physique, Uchiha Yoichi became even more attuned to the environment, sensing the flow of Natural Energy more keenly. Combined with the Sharingan's insight into Chakra, he quickly found the path to the Ryuchi Cave.
After walking for an hour or two, Uchiha Yoichi found a barrier, merely concealed in mist ahead.
Crossing the mist, Uchiha Yoichi sensed something amiss, but continued moving forward.
After passing through, the dense mist remained, but as he walked, the scene before him gradually transformed into a splendid palace.
The next second, a girl with green hair and a white robe emerged from the palace, with a beautiful face and snow-white skin.
"Welcome. It's been a long time since the Ryuchi Cave has had any outside guests. You must be tired from the journey, please sit down and rest for a while, eat something before continuing."
Uchiha Yoichi, seeing the girl hospitably welcoming him, remained composed, his expression unchanging; the Three-Tomoe in his eyes turning slightly, he slowly drew the Lightning Fang Ninja Blade.
"I'm here to find Shinga. Please take me to him. If you're not planning to lead the way, don't try to use Illusion Technique to bewilder the Uchiha Race."
"Uchiha? I see, so you've seen through my Illusion Technique~"
Tagorihime noticed Uchiha Yoichi's Sharingan and the cute girl's form slowly faded, her face taking on snake-like features, a bit menacing as she continued, "No matter your purpose, since you're here in the Ryuchi Cave, you must face the trial!"
The next second, Tagorihime flew back, quickly disappearing into the mist, and the palace vanished as well.
"What a hassle!"
Uchiha Yoichi continued deeper inside, soon passing through the mist into another labyrinth-like area.
"Hehe~"
A clear, bell-like laugh echoed crisply in the space.
Uchiha Yoichi saw a lolita girl floating in the air, repeatedly appearing and disappearing ahead, seemingly trying to guide him to the trial cave.
Were it not for considering that these three Snake Princesses have lived for centuries and are quite powerful, Uchiha Yoichi would've long brandished the Lightning Fang at their necks, forcing them to guide him to Shinga.
Rumble!
Upon entering a cave, a rock gate suddenly fell behind Uchiha Yoichi.
"Hehe~, let's play a game. If you pass this game, you can advance to the next trial…"
Ichikishimahime suddenly appeared, hugging her slender, pale legs, floating in the air, as she continued, "I'm Ichikishimahime. If you fill the holes in the door with stones from the cave, you win, and I'll let you leave~"
"I don't need your permission to leave, and I won't indulge in such a foolish game. This rock gate... and I... have the Lightning Attribute!"
With that, Uchiha Yoichi's body surged with lightning, and he swung the Lightning Fang Ninja Blade wrapped in concentrated electricity, then stabbed fiercely at the stone gate.
Rumble!
The violent explosion shattered the stone wall less than half a meter thick with his strike.
"You—you're cheating, I'll eat you!"
Seeing this, Ichikishimahime's face turned angry, and the next second, the lolita's face showed signs of turning into a snake.
Uchiha Yoichi's blood-red pupils with the Three-Tomoe rotated rapidly, both hands forming a dozen seals swiftly, "Fire Release: Great Fire...."
"Wait!"
Tagitsuhime suddenly appeared between Ichikishimahime and Uchiha Yoichi, halting their skirmish, and said to Uchiha Yoichi, "You've passed your trial. I'll take you to meet the White Snake Sage."
"What about your third trial?"
Uchiha Yoichi asked, "And I'm here to find Shinga."
Tagitsuhime said, "Illusion techniques are barely effective against the Sharingan. The trial devised by Tagorihime and I is quite weak against you.... As for Shinga, you'll be able to find him after meeting the White Snake Sage."