The moment Manda saw that the one who had summoned him was Rei Kaguya—the very same person who had grabbed him not long ago and beaten him half to death—his first reaction was to flee.
He had no idea how the other party had gotten hold of the summoning contract between him and Orochimaru, nor how Rei had used Orochimaru's identity to summon him.
But Manda understood one thing very clearly.
If Rei Kaguya wanted to kill him, then before the summoning time limit ended, he really might be able to do it.
That brat was already some kind of monster whose insides no one could figure out.
Manda did not believe that after summoning him, Rei would treat him to good food and drink the way Orochimaru did.
"Why are you in such a hurry to leave, Manda?"
Rei Kaguya smiled kindly as he raised his hand and grabbed Manda by the scales that were still covered in wounds from his beating.
He spoke slowly.
"Isn't it fine to listen to me finish speaking first? Or do you want me to open a few more holes in your body so I can follow you back to Ryuchi Cave?"
"You damned…"
Manda first felt the enormous wound on his body throb violently.
Then he quickly caught the key point in Rei's words.
His tongue flicked out as he hissed.
"Wait. Ryuchi Cave?"
"Yes. Ryu. Chi. Cave."
Rei bit down particularly hard on each word, making sure Manda could clearly sense how much importance he placed on Ryuchi Cave.
After receiving Rei's confirmation, Manda slapped the ground with his tail in confusion and asked, not quite understanding.
"A monster like you, who is basically a human-shaped Tailed Beast, why are you still chasing after senjutsu?"
"Because I'm not strong enough. Is that reason good enough?"
"Not strong enough!?"
Manda lowered his head in disbelief.
His small round eyes stared fixedly at Rei Kaguya for a long while before he flicked his tongue in shame and anger.
"If even you can only call yourself not strong enough, then what am I, someone who isn't your match at all? A harmless earthworm!? Know when to stop, you monster!"
"Tch. Manda, you don't understand."
Rei raised his hand and pressed it against Manda's mouth. He spoke unhurriedly.
"The definition of strength changes constantly depending on a person's identity, position, and dreams. To ordinary people without chakra, becoming a shinobi is 'strong.' To a genin with average talent, reaching the rank of jonin fits the definition of 'strong.' And to an elite who is already a jonin, becoming a Kage who carries an entire village on their back can be considered confirmation of their own strength."
"For humans with endless desires, the pursuit of strength is naturally endless as well."
"Just like you, Manda. Have you never thought about surpassing the White Snake Sage and becoming the master of Ryuchi Cave? Have you never thought about standing above the Nine Tailed Beasts and becoming the strongest living creature in the world?"
"Hmph. You understand me pretty well."
Manda did not deny Rei's words.
He only silently relaxed his body, which had been tense and guarded this whole time, and then spoke to Rei.
"So you want Ryuchi Cave's senjutsu so you can gain the power to realize even greater ambitions, right?"
"I prefer to call it… selfishness."
Rei clasped his hands behind his back.
On his young face, the confidence and pride born from constant victories were growing sharper.
"I have many ideas that others would think are far too unrealistic, and too many concepts that are far too selfish, even insane, for this era. Because of that, every step I take forward will meet resistance from the entire world."
"I want to reshape this world into my own form. That is my greatest selfishness."
"And in order to carry out that selfishness, I must become strong enough that even if the whole world becomes my enemy, I can beat every person who opposes me into the ground."
After quietly listening to Rei's arrogant declaration, Manda flicked his tongue.
After holding it in for a while, he slowly squeezed out a sentence.
"Are you really not considering replacing your eyes with a pair of Sharingan? If it's you, I'm sure you'd evolve them to the Mangekyo Sharingan level very quickly."
"I'll pass on the Sharingan. One life-burning Kekkei Genkai like Dead Bone Pulse is already enough."
Rei leaped up and landed on top of Manda's head.
"If I ever reach the point where I need to replace my eyes, I'd probably choose the Byakugan instead. It has a smaller burden and stronger insight."
"Now, take me to Ryuchi Cave, Manda."
"Heh, heh, heh. A madman like you, chasing power to the point of near insanity… The White Snake Sage will definitely like you."
Manda did not resist Rei's movements.
While letting out an unpleasant, strange laugh, he used the Reverse Summoning Technique and brought his new master back to his homeland.
One of the Three Great Sage Regions.
Ryuchi Cave.
…
Almost at the same time Manda brought Rei Kaguya back to Ryuchi Cave.
The White Snake Sage, who had originally been coiled on her throne and quietly smoking, suddenly revealed an extremely interested expression.
"White Snake Sage, have you seen something again?"
Tagorihime, one of the higher beings of Ryuchi Cave who served at the White Snake Sage's side, floated forward and respectfully asked.
"Manda has brought back a very, very, very interesting brat."
The White Snake Sage slowly raised her enormous mountain-like body.
In a voice filled with intense interest, she spoke words that left all the higher beings of Ryuchi Cave who knew her true nature deeply surprised.
"Very, very, very interesting? That is an exceptionally high evaluation you have never given before, White Snake Sage…"
"Never before? Indeed. Because that boy's fate is also something that has never appeared before."
The White Snake Sage tapped her tail and signaled to the three higher beings responsible for hosting the trials.
"Go, Tagorihime, Tagitsuhime, Ichikishimahime. Prepare the trials for that boy. Let us see whether he has the qualifications to accept Ryuchi Cave's senjutsu inheritance."
"Yes, White Snake Sage."
The White Snake Sage tapped her tail, signaling the three higher beings in charge of the trials to move and welcome that arrogant brat who had come to Ryuchi Cave with Manda in pursuit of senjutsu.
After all three of them left, she finally exhaled a long breath of smoke.
Then she muttered to herself with a strange chuckle.
"He has clearly already grasped a little of Mount Myoboku's senjutsu, yet instead of going to that old toad of Mount Myoboku to study further, he came here to me?"
"Hehehehe. How very interesting. I wonder if that old toad has seen your fate in his dreams. If he has, then the expression on his face must be wonderful."
"But since you have chosen Ryuchi Cave, I cannot be too stingy either…"
"Boy whose fate is completely different from the Child of Prophecy, let me see your capacity."
"Let me see how far an arrogant person like you, who carries no obsession, no destiny, and no power within him, can go after obtaining senjutsu powerful enough to defy gods."