After a brief exchange with the Snake Princesses, Chinatsu, Naruto, and Sasuke were escorted to meet the ruler of Ryūchi Cave—the White Snake Sage.
The White Snake Sage didn't reprimand the three princesses for bringing outsiders before him without permission. Although doing so made Ryūchi Cave seem somewhat lacking in decorum, he could already tell these visitors were anything but ordinary.
Coiled atop a massive stone platform, the White Snake Sage gazed down at Chinatsu, Naruto, and Sasuke. Unlike the Slug Sage or the Great Toad Sage, his bearing was far more domineering and arrogant.
"Human… what is your purpose for coming to Ryūchi Cave?"
His forked tongue flicked in and out as he spoke. The sight alone would have terrified most people, but Chinatsu, Naruto, and Sasuke remained completely unfazed. After all, compared to the human-faced snakes they had seen earlier, an ordinary giant snake was much easier to accept.
"No offense was intended," Chinatsu replied politely. "I've come to learn the Sage Arts of Ryūchi Cave. My arrival wasn't an intrusion. I came here through the reverse summoning array created by the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku."
"Gamamaru? That old toad sent you?"
The White Snake Sage frowned.
"So… you failed to master Mount Myōboku's Sage Arts, and that old toad sent you here instead? In human terms, am I merely your second choice? Is that old fool trying to mock me?"
The White Snake Sage's eyes narrowed dangerously.
Chinatsu quickly waved both hands.
"No, no, you've misunderstood! I've already mastered Mount Myōboku Sage Mode."
The moment she finished speaking, orange pigmentation spread across her face as she instantly entered the perfect Sage Mode of Mount Myōboku.
The White Snake Sage froze.
"A… perfect Sage?!"
His expression immediately darkened.
"That old toad really is trying to provoke me! A perfect Sage… and he still sent you here?"
"…"
The corner of Chinatsu's mouth twitched.
Seriously… just how bad is your relationship with the Great Toad Sage?
"That's… still not what happened."
"Then explain!"
"Alright…"
To make things clearer, Chinatsu dispersed the Sage Mode of Mount Myōboku before activating the Sage Mode of Shikkotsu Forest instead.
The gentle markings of Shikkotsu Sage Mode appeared across her face.
It was equally perfect.
The White Snake Sage's anger vanished instantly.
His enormous eyes widened in disbelief.
"…What is this?"
Even after living for countless years, he had never seen someone master two different Sage Modes.
Much less two perfect Sage Modes.
"You intend… to master all three Sage Arts?"
"That's right."
"And then…"
Chinatsu clapped her hands together with a grin.
"…combine them."
Silence filled the cave.
Even the three Snake Princesses stared at her as though she had gone insane.
The White Snake Sage slowly regained his composure.
Ridiculous.
Absolutely ridiculous.
Yet…
For some reason…
He genuinely wanted to see whether this impossible idea could succeed.
"Hmph."
A faint smile appeared on the White Snake Sage's face.
"Very well."
"If you wish to walk such a foolish path, I won't stop you."
"I only hope you don't die halfway through."
With a flick of his tail, he gestured toward the three Snake Princesses.
"Tajihime, Ichikishimahime, Tagorihime."
"Teach her the Sage Arts of Ryūchi Cave."
An assessment?
What assessment?
She had already mastered two perfect Sage Modes.
There wasn't a more difficult test than that.
Although the three Snake Princesses were still somewhat nervous, the White Snake Sage's orders were absolute.
"As you command."
The three princesses bowed respectfully before turning toward Chinatsu.
"This way."
Naruto and Sasuke immediately followed behind their sister.
Unlike Mount Myōboku, where they had wandered around freely, Ryūchi Cave was dark, gloomy, and filled with unsettling creatures.
Neither of them had any interest in sightseeing.
Even if Chinatsu would be busy training, simply staying nearby made them feel more at ease.
As Chinatsu began learning her third Sage Mode, her overall plan had entered its final phase.
If the entire journey were divided into the early, middle, and late stages, she had already stepped into the latter half of the middle stage.
Once the three Sage Modes were successfully fused together…
Her true final stage would begin.
While Chinatsu immersed herself in training, far beyond the Ninja World, several elite members of the Ōtsutsuki Main Family continued searching through the endless void.
"Since Kaguya and Isshiki disappeared, Kinshiki and Momoshiki have vanished as well."
"This situation is becoming troublesome."
"They aren't ordinary clan members. The Clan Head is furious."
"That's why we've been sent."
One of them sighed.
"I can already guess what happened."
"What a waste of time."
"We should finish this quickly and return."
Another clicked his tongue.
"The time we've spent searching would've been enough to cultivate another Divine Tree and harvest a high-quality Chakra Fruit."
"The more I think about it…"
"…the more cheated I feel."
The three powerful Ōtsutsuki continued flying through space.
Although the Ninja World's unique location still concealed it from their senses, that advantage wouldn't last forever.
Even if Isshiki's prediction of a five-year safe period had been accurate, Chinatsu never intended to place all her trust in the words of an enemy.
She would prepare for the worst.
Under the guidance of the three Snake Princesses, Chinatsu officially began studying the Sage Arts of Ryūchi Cave.
Compared to the Sage Arts of Shikkotsu Forest and Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave's teachings delved much deeper into areas the other two barely touched.
In the original timeline, Kabuto Yakushi had mastered Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode, eventually achieving a form resembling a dragon.
Years later, Mitsuki would also master Ryūchi Cave's Sage Arts, yet the appearance and abilities of his Sage Mode differed greatly from Kabuto's.
Whether Mitsuki's transformation represented the true direction of Ryūchi Cave's Sage Arts or was simply unique to him, even Chinatsu couldn't say for certain.
Still…
She chose to pursue that possibility.
Using the power of nature not merely to imitate snakes…
…but to evolve toward the mythical dragon.
With that realization, Chinatsu's understanding of Ryūchi Cave's Sage Arts advanced at an astonishing speed.
To her, every lesson felt straightforward.
To the three Snake Princesses…
She looked completely insane.
It was like watching someone ace every question in an open-book examination, only to suddenly throw the textbook aside during the final section and begin writing entirely new theories from scratch.
Yet somehow…
Those theories actually made sense.
The three Snake Princesses could only stare at Chinatsu in stunned silence.
"…What exactly is she trying to create?"
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