Chapter 44 Visiting the Ryuchi Cave

Uchiha Douhuan returned home. After washing up, he went straight to his bedroom, bit his finger, and formed the hand seal for the Summoning Jutsu.

When the smoke cleared, a small white snake appeared before him.

“Please inform Ryuchi Cave that Uchiha Douhuan has come to pay a visit,” Douhuan said after reaching out to tease the little white snake.

The small white snake vanished at once. Before long, Douhuan sensed the fluctuations of a reverse summoning space-time ninjutsu beside him. He opened himself to it, and in the blink of an eye, his entire body was transported to a strange place.

The scene before him greatly resembled the ancient-town tourist districts he had seen in his former life. Rows of ancient buildings stood one after another, while an enormous, antique-looking gate bore a sign reading “Ryuchi Cave.”

Orochimaru stood beneath the gate. Beside him was a woman dressed in shrine maiden robes, a magatama necklace hanging around her neck.

“Lord Douhuan.” Orochimaru bowed respectfully to Uchiha Douhuan, while the woman beside him studied Douhuan with keen interest.

After a moment, the woman spoke. “Uchiha Douhuan, welcome to Ryuchi Cave.”

“Hello. How should I address you?” Douhuan asked with a smile.

“Tagorihime,” the woman beside Orochimaru replied with a light laugh. “The White Snake Sage already knows why you have come. However, if you wish to meet her, you must first pass Ryuchi Cave’s trial.”

“I understand.” Douhuan nodded and followed Tagorihime.

The two of them walked toward the interior of the ancient city, but Orochimaru formed a seal and dispelled his summoning at that moment.

“He isn’t coming with us?” Douhuan asked curiously.

“Every person has only one chance to walk this path in their lifetime,” Tagorihime explained as she walked. “Though Lord Orochimaru is a partner of Ryuchi Cave, he failed once when he challenged this path. He therefore no longer has the right to enter.”

“By the way, how can you be so certain of my purpose in coming here?” Douhuan asked, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “I once heard that Mount Myoboku has a Toad Sage capable of foreseeing the future. Does the White Snake Sage possess a similar ability?”

“Do not compare that bunch of stinking toads from Mount Myoboku with us,” Tagorihime said, displeasure showing on her face.

“My apologies. I spoke out of turn,” Douhuan said with a cheerful smile.

“The White Snake Sage does not possess the same ability as that old toad from Mount Myoboku,” Tagorihime said only after glancing at him. “But your purpose in coming to Ryuchi Cave is easy enough to guess.”

“For thousands of years, those who came to Ryuchi Cave have had one of two purposes. Some sought a summon-beast companion, while others wished to learn Sage Mode,” Tagorihime explained. “Unlike Lord Orochimaru, who came to Ryuchi Cave before his strength had fully taken shape, your combat habits are already set. Unless you learn a specific ninjutsu, most of Ryuchi Cave’s contracted snakes would be unable to participate in battles at your level.”

“So your objective can only be the latter.”

Douhuan nodded without comment and continued following Tagorihime.

“By the way, what exactly is the trial for those who wish to learn Sage Mode? Is it something related to character or conduct? If so, I doubt I would have much chance of passing,” Douhuan remarked.

“Lord Douhuan is joking. Ryuchi Cave treats everyone who wishes to learn Sage Mode equally,” Tagorihime said with a smile. “All the trials have only one purpose: to determine whether the participant can adapt to natural energy. As for the qualities humans care about—morality, willpower, and the like—Ryuchi Cave does not concern itself with them.”

“I understand. No wonder rumor has it that this is a place only madmen devoted to the pursuit of power would ever come,” Douhuan said with a laugh.

“I shall take that as a compliment to us,” Tagorihime replied. “Besides, since Lord Douhuan has come here, surely you have already prepared yourself?”

“That is true.” Douhuan nodded. “Then when does the trial begin?”

Tagorihime led Uchiha Douhuan to a building in the city that resembled a restaurant. She clapped her hands, and several young women soon carried out all kinds of delicacies for Douhuan.

“Before the trial begins, Lord Douhuan, please enjoy Ryuchi Cave’s hospitality,” Tagorihime said with a smile.

“Is that so?” Douhuan sat down beside the table and picked up the utensils without a second thought.

At the sight of this, Tagorihime revealed a peculiar smile.

Yet in the very next instant, Tagorihime suddenly discovered that a long blade shimmering with a pale-blue metallic sheen had been placed against her neck. Uchiha Douhuan, who had been sitting at the table before her, had vanished without her noticing.

“What do you mean by this, Lord Douhuan?” Tagorihime asked. Though a blade rested against her throat, she remained composed.

Behind Tagorihime, Uchiha Douhuan stood with the lightning-shaped tomoe in his Mangekyo Sharingan slowly revolving.

“The illusion is quite convincing. But ever since these eyes awakened, everything I see has been absolute reality.”

“I see.” Tagorihime nodded.

The entire scene around them began to change. The lavishly decorated restaurant, along with the ancient town outside, disappeared and transformed into a gloomy stone cavern. The many delicacies that had covered the table moments before became piles of bones.

Tagorihime’s figure vanished along with them.

When she reappeared, her serene and elegant face was gone. In its place was the hideous visage of a snake. Her cruel, vertical pupils, sharp fangs, and long tongue revealed when she opened her mouth made Douhuan frown slightly.

The chakra around Tagorihime began to fluctuate. Its nature was extraordinarily strange, completely unlike that of anyone Uchiha Douhuan had ever fought before.

“Is this senjutsu chakra?”

Douhuan held his blade horizontally in a combat stance. Pale-blue lightning began gathering around his body, crackling loudly.

At that moment, a voice came from deep within the cavern.

“Tagorihime, bring him here directly. In the face of his ocular technique, the remaining trials have little meaning.”

“I understand, White Snake Sage.”

Tagorihime turned and bowed toward the depths of the cavern. Her face then returned to its former appearance, and she looked at Uchiha Douhuan apologetically.

“I am sorry, Lord Douhuan. I was discourteous, but this was also part of the trial.”

“I understand.” Douhuan nodded and sheathed Swift Thunder. Then he asked, “Was that the White Snake Sage?”

“That is correct. Please follow me.”

Tagorihime turned and led him deeper into the cavern.

…