Fairy Fox Mode
Inside Ryūchi Cave, the ancient sanctuary of serpents.
Sitting cross-legged on a stone platform within the depths of the cave, the White Snake Sage sensed the eruption of Senjutsu chakra in the distance and sighed softly. "Sometimes, I truly envy these humans. In just a few decades, they can master power comparable to that of an immortal."
Beside the sage, Rui Jinji, a snake priestess of Ryūchi Cave, replied, "Though these humans are powerful, they lack the Great Immortal's longevity. You have lived for thousands of years—since before the time of the Sage of the Six Paths."
"Even when we faced the crisis of the God Tree and the war against the invaders from beyond the sky, Ryūchi Cave endured."
Hearing this, the White Snake Sage's expression darkened as if recalling something distant. He shook his head and muttered, "Against the Ōtsutsuki Clan, neither I nor the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku had the strength to resist. Otherwise, we would not have needed to rely on the power of prophecy."
Rui Jinji fell silent. She had never encountered the Ōtsutsuki, so she could only imagine their strength. But if the Great Immortals of the world admitted inferiority, then their power must be beyond comprehension.
Just then, the ground trembled violently. Feeling the surge of chakra in the distance, the White Snake Sage chuckled. "It seems our guest has grasped Senjutsu and is undergoing the Ryūchi Cave trial."
"Rui Jinji, care to wager? Will the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki slay one or two Orochi?"
Rui Jinji glanced at the sage warily. "Great Immortal, can I refuse? You promised that if I reached Sennin rank, I wouldn't be treated as food."
The White Snake Sage scoffed. "Has this old one ever broken his word? If you win, I shall teach you a forbidden Senjutsu technique. If you lose, you shall sign a Summoning Contract with the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
Rui Jinji was stunned. The Great Immortal could have simply ordered her, yet he made it a bet—perhaps to test her resolve.
---
Meanwhile, Naruto's battle against the giant serpents of Ryūchi Cave raged on.
Without the Nine-Tails' chakra, his strength was around the level of an elite jōnin. Even with Sage Mode, he had only just touched the Kage-level, making it difficult to handle the Orochi.
Though the snakes lacked intelligence, their thick hides and sheer destructive power rivaled jōnin. Some of the more formidable ones even wielded nature energy-infused ninjutsu, capable of altering the battlefield.
Naruto relied on speed and misdirection, dodging attacks so the snakes would strike each other. After evading a lunging serpent, he hurled a Rasenshuriken, severing the crimson Orochi's body. Then, activating his Mangekyō Sharingan, he cast a genjutsu, manipulating the fallen snake's mind to turn it against its brethren.
With the Scarlet Serpent now on his side, the tide of battle shifted.
Yet, as the fight continued, Naruto realized the true might of Ryūchi Cave. The Orochi weren't just numerous; there were elite warriors like Manda, along with three human Sages acting as battlefield commanders.
Even without considering the White Snake Sage, Ryūchi Cave's military strength rivaled a Hidden Village, making it a force comparable to the Five Great Nations. And this was just one of the three Sacred Lands of the ninja world.
Standing atop the Scarlet Serpent, Naruto pondered his next move. The surviving Orochi, recognizing his strength, slithered away, disappearing into the depths of Ryūchi Cave.
Naruto sighed, releasing the genjutsu's hold. He had gained a solid understanding of his base strength—he was nearly on par with an elite jōnin, and with Kotoamatsukami, he could even hold his own against Kage-level opponents.
But he was never alone. Kurama, the strongest of the tailed beasts, was always with him.
As the Scarlet Serpent regained control of its mind, it didn't flee. Instead, it stared down at Naruto, as if contemplating something.
At that moment, Tian Xin, one of the three snake Sages, appeared, floating gracefully in midair. "Lord Mianma, are you enjoying yourself? Xin Ya seems eager to form a contract with you. Do you accept?"
"Lord Mianma?" Xin Ya's eyes narrowed. "Isn't he just a challenger?" There were few in the world whom the immortals of Ryūchi Cave addressed as 'Lord.'
Tian Xin chuckled. "Lord Mianma is a guest of the Great White Snake Sage. His power is acknowledged by the Great Immortal. Naturally, I show my respect."
Xin Ya hesitated before bowing slightly. "Lord Mianma, I am willing to sign a Summoning Contract."
Naruto blinked in surprise. Xin Ya? Wasn't that the summoning beast Boruto contracted in the future? How did they meet so early? And why was Xin Ya offering the contract on his own?
After a moment's thought, Naruto accepted.
Summoning beasts like Xin Ya, especially from the Sacred Lands, played critical roles in large-scale battles. During the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars, they had provided significant advantages in Konoha's major battles.
For the next few days, Naruto dedicated himself to honing his Sage Mode.
As he deepened his mastery, he finally understood why Minato Namikaze once said that his talent for Sage Mode was lacking—it wasn't just about activation speed, but about sustainability.
Activating Sage Mode in a second was useless if it dispelled in ten.
For Minato, who possessed near-limitless chakra in his Edo Tensei form, maintaining Sage Mode indefinitely was simple. Moreover, after Kurama's cooperation, he could seamlessly combine Sage Mode with the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
But Naruto had to balance everything.
As he progressed, he began to experience partial transformations—snake-like scales formed on his skin, and his forehead bulged, signs of an unstable Sage Mode.
Before the transformation worsened, Kurama snorted from within the seal, forcefully purging the excess natural energy from Naruto's body.
"Kurama, you actually mastered Senjutsu?" Naruto grinned inside his mindscape.
The Nine-Tails scoffed, turning his head away. "Tch. I told you, fool. Senjutsu is child's play for me. You didn't even need to come to Ryūchi Cave."
Naruto smirked, not calling out Kurama's tsundere act. Instead, he chuckled. "That's great! Now we can finally activate Fairy Fox Mode! You're amazing, Kurama."
"Fairy Fox Mode?"
Kurama huffed, ears twitching. "You pre-planned the name just knowing I could use Senjutsu?" Then, after a pause, he nodded approvingly. "Hmph. Fairy Fox does sound better than 'Demon Fox.'"
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