Cultivating Immortal Arts
Feeling the highly condensed chakra in the Rasenmaru, the three Hebi-hime of Ryūchi Cave exchanged uneasy glances. The mysterious boy before them was far from an ordinary shinobi—his power rivaled even Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin. However, it was their duty to test those seeking the teachings of Ryūchi Cave.
Just as they hesitated, an ancient voice echoed from within:
"You are no match for the Child of Prophecy. Let him pass—I wish to see him myself."
Hearing this, the three Snake Princesses exhaled in relief and stepped aside. As sage beings, they could perceive Naruto's chakra, vast as an ocean, making it impossible to ignore the oppressive pressure he exuded.
Advancing deeper into the cavern, Naruto finally arrived before the White Snake Sage, seated cross-legged atop a stone dais, a traditional kasa hat shading its eyes and a long pipe resting at its lips.
Upon activating Kagura Shingan, Naruto immediately sensed the White Snake Sage's chakra, which seemed entwined with the land itself—endless and ancient.
The sage studied Naruto in silence. Not only was his chakra immense, but his body housed multiple distinct chakra sources. They all shared one trait: overwhelming power.
One in particular bore the unmistakable essence of the Nine-Tails.
"So… the Jinchūriki of the Kyūbi? Isn't this the child Hamura valued? Has Ryūchi Cave been graced with fortune?"
After a long silence, the White Snake Sage finally spoke:
"Child of Prophecy… Leader of Uzushio… Or should I simply call you Kyūbi no Jinchūriki?"
Naruto remained unfazed by the direct revelation of his identity.
Ancient sages such as the White Snake, having lived for millennia, placed no trust in titles without verifying power. Unlike the enigmatic sages of Mount Myōboku, who spoke in riddles, the White Snake Sage was refreshingly direct.
Still, its politeness was contingent on strength—when Jiraiya had sought the same knowledge, he had lacked the power to bargain.
Naruto pondered briefly before responding:
"You can call me anything except the 'Child of Prophecy.' I don't believe in prophecies forced upon me. The so-called Child of Prophecy ultimately depends on personal strength."
The White Snake Sage chuckled.
"I like your spirit. I, too, despise that old toad lost in his dreams. If he were to lose his 'chosen one,' I'd love to see the look on his face."
Pausing, the sage then fixed its gaze on Naruto.
"You seek the Senjutsu of Ryūchi Cave, don't you?"
Naruto nodded.
"That's right. But before that, I have questions for the White Snake Sage. I hope to receive some answers."
"Ask. I possess knowledge of many ninja world secrets."
The White Snake Sage was evidently pleased by the idea of foiling the Great Toad Sage.
Naruto stepped forward.
"I wish to know the difference between the Senjutsu of Ryūchi Cave and Mount Myōboku, and whether Shikkotsu Forest also holds an Immortal Art."
The White Snake Sage studied him carefully before speaking.
"Your ambitions are not small… Beyond Ryūchi Cave's Senjutsu, you also seek the techniques of the other great summoning grounds?"
After a pause, it continued:
"I will tell you this: the three sacred lands share a common foundation in Senjutsu, but each emphasizes different aspects. The Senjutsu I wield enhances Ninjutsu. If you wish to understand Shikkotsu Forest's techniques, you should ask Katsuyu or the slug's priestess."
"But whether they will teach you is another matter."
So Ryūchi Cave specializes in Ninjutsu augmentation…
Naruto fell into thought. If so, then Mount Myōboku and Shikkotsu Forest must specialize in Genjutsu and Taijutsu, respectively. Perhaps, in the distant past, all three shared a single unified Senjutsu.
That the White Snake Sage revealed such secrets so readily surprised him.
After another moment of contemplation, Naruto pressed on:
"One more question—what does the White Snake Sage know of the Pure Land? What exactly are the souls wandering there?"
At this, the White Snake Sage's eyes gleamed briefly before it shook its head.
"The Pure Land… that is a realm beyond the reach of the ninja world. Not even Ryūchi Cave's power extends there."
Then, as if recalling something, the sage added:
"However, Hamura may know more. That one is enigmatic… If you wish for answers, seek out Mount Myōboku."
Naruto sighed.
"A shame…"
The flicker in the White Snake Sage's chakra confirmed that it did know something—but chose not to reveal it. This only reinforced Naruto's theory: the Pure Land was deeply tied to the God Tree and the domain of the Sage of Six Paths.
Perhaps the Great Toad Sage's prophecies came from glimpsing the future by interfering with the God Tree's essence.
After a pause, the White Snake Sage's smirk returned.
"The free questions end here. If you wish for more answers, you must meet my conditions."
Naruto smiled knowingly.
"Let me guess… to become a Sennin of Ryūchi Cave? Or perhaps to prevent the Ten-Tails' return?"
His words momentarily stunned the White Snake Sage.
The ancient serpent had assumed the Great Toad Sage's plans had failed—meaning it could claim the Kyūbi Jinchūriki for Ryūchi Cave.
But unexpectedly, Naruto was no longer a mere pawn—he had become a player in the game.
No wonder Gamamaru had relinquished its influence over him… The old toad was as cunning as ever.
"…So Kyūbi told you of the Ten-Tails? I didn't expect you two to be on such close terms."
The White Snake Sage sighed before conceding.
"In that case, I won't force you to become a Sennin of Ryūchi Cave. You may learn our Senjutsu, but then you must leave."
In a blur, the White Snake Sage's body coiled forward, leaving a deep bite mark on Naruto's arm.
Naruto reacted instantly but did not resist.
This was the method of Senjutsu initiation in Ryūchi Cave—far more brutal than Mount Myōboku's method of gradually absorbing natural energy.
As the natural energy seeped into his body, Naruto controlled it with his chakra and posed one last question.
"If the White Snake Sage understands the threat of the Ten-Tails, why not take action against the Rinnegan?"
"I fought the wielder of the Rinnegan before. If the White Snake Sage intervened, victory wouldn't be impossible."
The White Snake Sage did not answer. Instead, it gestured toward a tunnel.
"That chamber is rich in natural energy—perfect for training. Tian Xin will guide you. Complete your training and leave quickly."
"The flow of time here differs from the outside world. Don't waste it."
Naruto smirked. The White Snake Sage, too, had become a riddler.
Were the three great sacred lands so powerful that they feared staying in the ninja world for too long?
Or was it that they refused to relinquish these hidden realms, overflowing with natural energy—safe from the world's conflicts?
One thing was certain: nowhere in the shinobi world held such a vast concentration of senjutsu energy, nor could it sustain creatures the size of Manda or Gamabunta indefinitely.
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