"Ahem."
The White Snake Sage coughed twice.
"Let me confirm something—you're here to ask me for help, right?"
"That's right."
All five of them nodded in unison.
"Then is this how you ask a snake for help?"
The White Snake Sage was getting irritated.
If you're asking for help, then ask properly—what is all this?
The three Snake Princesses were also seething with anger.
Seriously, who does this? They come asking for help and immediately beat us up first.
Even though the White Snake Sage and the three Snake Princesses had already made their dissatisfaction crystal clear, the weapons in the five people's hands moved even closer.
Swarms of insects coiled tightly around the Snake Princesses' necks.
White Snake Sage and the Snake Princesses: ??? Didn't we hear you say you came to ask for help?
White Snake Sage: "Well… maybe I didn't phrase that well. Let me say it again—you are here to ask for our help, right? So why go this far?"
Hyūga Hiyasu and the others kept their eyes locked on her.
Earlier, Aburame Shiken had warned them:
The White Snake Sage could transform into a human elderly woman at any moment. Be especially careful—don't let her use that chance to escape your control.
Aburame Shiken spoke up:
"Sorry, White Snake Sage. The ninja world says Ryūchi Cave has a bad reputation—survival of the fittest. We're weak, so coming in here, we're worried we might not make it back out."
Weak?
You guys look like you bulldozed your way through Ryūchi Cave and you're calling yourselves weak?
The White Snake Sage was speechless.
What's with these young people in the ninja world these days? No self-awareness at all.
If you are considered weak, then how is Ryūchi Cave supposed to survive in this world?
"My young friends, those are just rumors. Everyone in the ninja world knows Ryūchi Cave is warm, welcoming, and gentle."
At the same time, she shot a fierce glare at the three Snake Princesses.
It's because of you that Ryūchi Cave's reputation is so bad.
"They say in the ninja world that the snakes of Ryūchi Cave are as cunning as foxes, full of lies. Looks like that reputation is well deserved."
The White Snake Sage's expression stiffened awkwardly.
These kids really don't know how to talk.
"Enough. Just say what you want. Finish it and leave. Ryūchi Cave does not welcome you."
The White Snake Sage spoke bluntly.
Hurry up, get what you need, and get out. You are never welcome here again.
Inuzuka Ryoha glanced at Aburame Shiken. After seeing him nod, he used his remaining hand:
"Summoning Jutsu."
The massive stone statue of Senju Hideki appeared perfectly.
"White Snake Sage, please take a look at this statue. Is there any way to restore him to his original state? Can your Ryūchi Cave's Inorganic Reincarnation Technique do it?"
Aburame Shiken asked.
"So much natural energy chakra… What exactly did this boy do? With such dense sage chakra, he's still not dead—and there's even a trace of life left in his heart. Also, how do you even know Ryūchi Cave has the Inorganic Reincarnation Technique?"
The White Snake Sage fell silent again.
Why does it feel like these outsiders know more about Ryūchi Cave than she does?
"Don't worry about that. Just tell us—can that technique bring him back?"
"No. The Inorganic Reincarnation Technique can animate lifeless matter and make it behave like a living thing, but it cannot turn the dead into the living."
"Then is there any way to revive him?"
"Very difficult. Since ancient times, countless people have failed in sage training. I've never seen anyone return to their original form."
"You just said he's not dead. Is that true?"
"Of course it's true."
The White Snake Sage could clearly feel she wasn't being trusted.
"You, with the Byakugan—check his heart. There's still chakra there. That chakra belongs to him. As long as it hasn't completely disappeared, he cannot be considered truly dead."
After seeing Hyūga Hiyasu nod, Aburame Shiken said:
"Thank you very much for your help. We won't trouble you further—retreat."
The sudden order shocked the White Snake Sage.
In that instant, everyone regrouped.
"Flying Thunder God—Group Technique."
A flash of golden light—
Only a three-pronged kunai remained on the ground.
The five of them—and the statue—had already vanished.
The four snakes left behind stared at each other.
You're just leaving like that?
Shouldn't you at least apologize?
If not that, at least release us properly. So rude.
The White Snake Sage flicked her tail, freeing the Snake Princesses, then brought the three-pronged kunai in front of her.
Looking at the four engraved characters, she muttered:
"Blade of Shinobi Love?"
She didn't understand what it meant, but the technique… it felt like that Tobirama kid's work. So—Hidden Leaf Village?
The Snake Princesses got up and stretched.
"Great Sage, we must vent this anger."
"That's right."
"Vent what anger? They subdued us right here in Ryūchi Cave. If we go after them outside, what then? Suicide? Their words may have been unpleasant, but they were true. Ryūchi Cave—and the entire ninja world—runs on survival of the fittest. Strength is the only truth."
The White Snake Sage scolded them.
"Sorry, Great Sage. We were careless."
"In the future, treat people from the Hidden Leaf Village better. I'm old—I can't handle scares like this."
...
Back in the Hidden Leaf Village—
"So what now?"
"We find Tsunade and go to Shikkotsu Forest. If that still doesn't work… we activate the final plan."
Aburame Shiken said.
"Uh… what's the final plan?"
Minato Namikaze asked.
"Minato, knowing too much can get you killed."
The four of them stared at him with dangerous expressions.
Uchiha Kamito's lifeless eyes were even more unsettling than the others—especially behind those dark lenses.
They quickly found Tsunade.
Compared to Orochimaru, Tsunade was ridiculously easy to locate.
When she was working seriously—she'd be at the ninja hospital.
When she wasn't—
Either the casino or an izakaya.
And there was an 80% chance she'd be at the casino.
After hearing it was about Hideki, Tsunade immediately used Reverse Summoning Jutsu to send them to Shikkotsu Forest.
Shikkotsu Forest was very different from Ryūchi Cave and Mount Myōboku.
There weren't many creatures here—
Only Katsuyu and its countless clones.
Looking at towering Katsuyu that reached into the clouds, everyone couldn't help but gasp:
"So big… so huge…"
Katsuyu sensed their arrival and quickly split off a similarly sized clone to greet them.
"Um… may I ask what brings you here?"
See that? See that?
All are summoning sacred lands, but look how polite Katsuyu is.
And that gentle voice—no wonder Shikkotsu Forest has such a great reputation across the ninja world.
"Um, Katsuyu-sama, we came to ask for help."
Inuzuka Ryoha quickly summoned Senju Hideki's stone statue.
Katsuyu's clone tilted slightly:
"Hm? Someone brought a wooden figure here earlier… and now another stone one?"
Hearing this—
Everyone's hearts leapt with joy.
There might be hope.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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