Ryuchi Cave's Trial

"If you are in a hurry, I will tell you about it now, but if you are not, you should go back for the time being. Once I have sorted out the information, I will give it to you through Minato-kun." Fukasaku said to Nagasawa.

"Then let's do as Fukasaku-sama said. I am not in a hurry anyway." Nagasawa said with a smile.

"Yes." Fukasaku nodded and said, "However, I advise you to reconsider your plan to create a new Sage Mode. Sage Mode is equally strong regardless of from which Sage Region you learn it. And creating a new Sage Mode is very dangerous."

The reason why Fukasaku said these words to Nagasawa was not because he wanted Nagasawa to Mount Myoboku's Sage Mode so that Nagasawa favoured Mount Myoboku.

It was because practicing Sage Mode was really dangerous. Nagasawa was Minato's good friend, and Minato was Jiraiya's disciple, so Fukasaku did not mind giving Nagasawa some pointers.

Fukasaku pointed to a yellow oil waterfall. There were many giant toad statues in front of the waterfall. They looked alive, which probably made people think that its sculptor was very skilled.

"Do you know how those stone statues came about?"

"What do you mean? They look alive and very detailed, as if they are made from a real toad. The sculptor must be veryskilled." Nagasawa said, pretending to be stupid.

Although he knew that the truth was that those statues were the people who failed to learn Sage Technique, he could not say it because he had never been to Mount Myoboku. It wouldn't make sense if he knew about it

"Alive, huh? That's because those statues are not made by humans at all. They are all made of the people who failed to learn Sage Technique, so it's not a surprise if they look alive."

"Learning Sage Mode under someone's guidance was dangerous, let alone creating your own Sage Technique. Are you sure you want to do that?"

"I appreciate your warning, Fukasaku-sama, but I still want to give it a try. That being said, I'll be sure to keep your words in mind, Fukasaku-sama." Nagasawa smiled.

Nagasawa could more or less understand Fukasaku's intention. However, even if Fukasaku was known as a Great Sage, he wouldn't know Nagasawa's origin.

If Nagasawa was not a transmigrator and had no system, he might have taken Fukasaku's advice to heart.

Although slow and steady might be a safe approach, and no one could defeat him at this point except for the Otsutsuki, Nagasawa was a transmigrator. He knew that this world had a highly developed alien civilization.

Even if he was invincible in this world, he still had to think about the gap between himself and those aliens.

If he didn't want to be killed by a random alien that popped out of nowhere, he had no choice but work hard to become stronger.

"Since you insist, I will stop pestering you. Feel free to take the toad oil from the waterfall. It can automatically draw natural energy. I hope it will be of some help to your goal."

Fukasaku realized that there was no point in persuading Nagasawa. He was an 800-year old toad. He had seen many people and knew that it would be useless to persuade Nagasawa any further. It would only annoy Nagasawa at first.

"But you shouldn't use it alone on first use. It is very dangerous when natural energy enters your body uncontrollably." Fukasaku suddenly remembered another piece of advice for Nagasawa.

Fukasaku was afraid that Nagasawa would think use the toad oil excessively to create his Sage Mode, so he reminded him.

Although the toad oil could be used to enter Sage Mode quicker, it was also more dangerous.

Unless Fukasaku was around to keep an eye on Nagasawa, using the toad oil was equivalent to committing suicide.

"Thank you, Fukasaku-sama." Nagasawa nodded.

Nagasawa took the special bag Fukasaku gave him and filled it with the toad oil from the waterfall. Then he left Mount Myoboku and returned to Konoha.

After returning to Konoha, Nagasawa first put away the bag containing toad oil and then went to Orochimaru's base to look for Orochimaru.

He had asked Orochimaru to test Ryūchi Cave's response, and it was time for the results to be out.

It was still the same old place, moving the boulder away and leaping into the underground base. Eventually, he finally arrived at the area where Orochimaru was.

"Orochimaru, how is Ryūchi Cave's response?" Nagasawa asked.

Orochimaru, looked at Nagasawa, and said with his unique hoarse voice:

"As you and I expected, they didn't agree."

"I see." Nagasawa frowned slightly.

Although Nagasawa already expected that answer, he was still a little upset after knowing that he could not obtain the information related to Sage Technique.

"Ryuchi Cave's White Snake Sage has always been difficult to deal with. You may have to pass Ryūchi Cave's trial before they deem you worthy of learning Sage Technique." Orochimaru chuckled.

He was curious about what Nagasawa would do this time. Considering Nagasawa's strength, Ryūchi Cave probably wouldn't be thrilled this time.

But he didn't know which one was stronger between Nagasawa and the White Snake Sage who had lived for thousands of years.

Orochimaru felt that he would see a wonderful battle regardless of who won.

He favoured Nagasawa, though. After all, Nagasawa was his ally, and the two of them got along quite well.

Moreover, if Nagasawa won, he would have another intriguing experiment subject.

"Can I trouble you to take me there?" Nagasawa asked indifferently.

Since the Dragon Cave did not give what he wanted, he would have to go there personally and see what the trial was while seeing the White Snake Sage who had lived for thousands of years with his own eyes.

"Since you want to go, then I will naturally take you there. We are partners, after all." Orochimaru chuckled.

"Is it alright with you if we depart now?" Nagasawa asked.

It just so happened that Mount Myoboku was still sorting things out. If they moved fast, he might be able to get the information about Sage Technique from Ryūchi Cave first.

Orochimaru thought for a moment and said,

"I'm fine with it. I'm just doing daily observations for the experiments anyway. Since you want to get the information about Sage Mode as soon as possible, let's go now."