Chapter 54: Orochimaru's Face Power
Chapter 54: Orochimaru's Face Power
"Eat... eat me?"
A cute little girl, even if she's technically a snake, casually mentioning eating people—how is anyone supposed to handle that?
It seems Manda's habit of wanting to devour humans isn't without reason. Apparently, such customs are deeply rooted in Ryūchi Cave's traditions.
Toneri glanced at Orochimaru, desperately hoping his teacher would refute such a claim.
"Hmm," Orochimaru merely nodded indifferently, as though Toneri had nothing to do with him.
So much for having a supportive teacher.
City Kushinada-hime nodded in satisfaction and led them deeper into Ryūchi Cave. Orochimaru and Toneri walked, while Kushinada-hime floated forward.
A ghost?
"This contract trial is much simpler than the Sage Trials—what a pity," Kushinada-hime's bell-like voice echoed through the cave.
Sage Trials?!
Toneri's heart skipped a beat.
For an ordinary ninja without any special abilities, achieving Sage Mode is one of the best ways to surpass countless others.
For example, Kabuto would later use Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode, combined with the modified Edo Tensei, to earn his place amidst the monsters of that era.
Of course, the main factor was Orochimaru's unique body modifications...
Still, mastering Sage Mode could allow even an ordinary ninja to break past their limits.
Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode was something Toneri had always been intrigued by.
---
"By the way, Orochimaru," Kushinada-hime turned to the Sannin, "with your strength, you should have no trouble passing the trials. Why haven't you shown interest in Ryūchi Cave's Sage Chakra yet?"
Orochimaru glanced at her with his yellow, slitted eyes, the corners of his mouth curling into a signature smirk.
"It's precisely because I know so much about your Sage techniques that I choose to stay away, wouldn't you agree, Kushinada-hime?"
Her expression froze, the playful demeanor fading. She realized Orochimaru knew more than he let on—secrets only a select few could access.
---
As they ventured deeper, the tunnel widened into a vast hall. Beneath the stone ceiling lay an enormous space, dimly lit yet strangely luminous.
At the center of the hall stood a grand throne, upon which coiled a massive, pure-white serpent covered in glistening scales.
Above the throne was a lifelike dragon head, its jaws gripping a giant scroll.
Inscribed in bold letters on the scroll were three characters:
Ryūchi Cave.
The serpent, with orange hair, yellow pupils, and a green cat's-eye gem on its chest, wore a purple ribbon-adorned headpiece resembling dragon horns, crowned with a red jewel.
This was the Great White Snake Sage.
"White Snake Sage," Kushinada-hime greeted respectfully, bowing deeply.
Orochimaru, though silent, also offered a slight bow, signaling his respect.
Following their lead, Toneri quickly bowed as well, calling out, "White Snake Sage."
This is how to play your cards right.
---
The White Snake Sage took a drag from her long pipe, exhaling a puff of smoke.
"Orochimaru, have you come for the Sage Trials?" she asked, her voice carrying the weight of many years.
Her level of clarity and awareness surpassed that of the Toad Sage on Mount Myōboku.
"No," Orochimaru replied, meeting her gaze.
Interestingly, their slitted pupils bore a striking resemblance.
Hearing this, the White Snake Sage's expression turned wistful.
"Without seeking Sage Mode, why have you come?"
Kushinada-hime stepped forward. "White Snake Sage, Orochimaru is here to exercise his right as a Ryūchi Cave inheritor. He's brought his disciple, Toneri, for a contract trial."
Ryūchi Cave had always been open to the wider ninja world. Those who passed their trials could become contractors. However, few ever succeeded.
This was largely because Ryūchi Cave had a strict policy: those who failed the trials were devoured. After all, if too many people knew about the cave, word might spread, and their sanctuary would lose its mystique.
Fewer leavers meant more potential meals.
---
The White Snake Sage's gaze shifted to Toneri, her serpentine tongue flicking as she examined him.
But as she studied him, her expression subtly changed.
"Jinchūriki of the Two-Tails?"
Her body shifted, transforming from a massive serpent into an elderly woman with yellow hair. For the first time, she removed the pipe from her mouth.
As someone with knowledge tracing back to the era of the Sage of Six Paths, the White Snake Sage understood the origins and significance of the tailed beasts.
For a long while, she said nothing, lost in thought, her pipe exhaling streams of smoke.
Toneri stood frozen, praying silently that the trial would remain simple and that the presence of the Two-Tails wouldn't complicate things.
He glanced pleadingly at Orochimaru, hoping his teacher would defend him.
But Orochimaru didn't even look his way.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the White Snake Sage made her decision.
With a wave of her hand, the enormous scroll held in the dragon's jaws unfurled and floated down, spreading out before them.
Its surface was covered in densely packed names—the lineage of Ryūchi Cave's contractors.
Nearest to Toneri was none other than his teacher's name: Orochimaru.
Further up, he noticed a vaguely familiar name but couldn't quite recall who it belonged to.
"Little one, sign your name on this scroll, and you will become a contractor of Ryūchi Cave. Through the Summoning Jutsu, you'll be able to call upon our serpents in battle. We refer to individuals like you as 'Land Walkers.'"
Land Walkers?
Toneri looked at Orochimaru, who finally gave a slight nod of approval.
Suppressing his excitement, Toneri picked up the enormous brush provided by Ryūchi Cave.
His hand trembled as he carefully wrote his name in an open space on the scroll.
Once finished, he bit his thumb, wincing at the sting, and pressed his bloodied hand onto the scroll.
Contract sealed!
The scroll rolled itself back up, returning to the dragon's jaws.
"The contract is complete. You may leave now," the White Snake Sage said, reverting to her serpent form.
---
Toneri stood there, stunned.
Wasn't there supposed to be a trial?
Could it be that Orochimaru's reputation carried so much weight that even trials could be skipped?
So Orochimaru is the true holder of the Face-Fruit?!
Orochimaru and the White Snake Sage exchanged a final meaningful look before disappearing together in a puff of smoke.
---
"White Snake Sage, allowing him to bypass the trial…" Kushinada-hime hesitated.
"No need to say more. Orochimaru is no ordinary man," the White Snake Sage replied, her gaze drifting into the distance.