"This disciple is ignorant, I ask for Master's guidance."
Orochimaru's expression turned grim as he spoke coldly.
"To think the method of cultivation actually lies in the hands of those beasts."
Motomu realized it instantly.
He was talking about the Sages of the Three Great Sage Regions, wasn't he?
Judging by Orochimaru's tone, he seemed quite hostile toward these Sages.
"I have spent a century in bitter cultivation to reach the Golden Core, yet now I must seek the Dao from a bunch of animals."
"Ridiculous, truly ridiculous!"
"The demon's lair, Ryuchi Cave... a thousand-year-old Golden Core White Snake with profound power, whose divine abilities can change the very world."
"For now, I am no match."
"Under that Great Demon, three beasts each possess their own unique skills."
"Under the guise of granting 'immortal fate' through trials, they have devoured the blood and essence of countless humans over the past millennium..."
Just as expected.
Orochimaru was indeed talking about the Sages of the Three Great Sage Regions.
In the original series, aside from the White Snake Sage who smoked a tobacco pipe...
There were also three Snake Princesses under her command who tested those who strayed into the cave.
If he guessed correctly, Teacher Orochimaru was talking about those individuals.
Motomu understood.
His 'Gym' objective also targeted those snakes, so his and Orochimaru's goals were temporarily aligned.
Since even Orochimaru, who was nearing his peak strength, found them troublesome, Motomu figured those snake demons were at least at the level of half the Nine-Tails. As for that White Snake Sage, reaching Level 70 was not out of the question.
In the underground environment of Ryuchi Cave, the Inorganic Reincarnation technique—which could turn inanimate objects like rocks into living beings—was undeniably overpowered.
Compared to those snake demons whose strength was somewhat ambiguous in the original series...
Motomu felt the Tailed Beasts, who were constantly beaten around by the Akatsuki, were far more adorable.
For now, the best plan was to let Teacher Orochimaru lead the way and scout the situation.
The White Snake Sage might be Level 70 or higher, and the three Snake Princesses were at least equivalent to half the Nine-Tails; he definitely wasn't a match for them yet.
However, Ryuchi Cave surely contained a large number of low-level snake monsters.
If he could summon a snake capable of Reverse Summoning...
He could then let Big Eyeball sneak in to grind levels.
Experience points would come rolling in.
"Disciple, what are you thinking about?"
Hearing the question, Motomu snapped back to reality. After gathering his thoughts, he answered.
"Reporting to Master, this disciple was thinking that since things are this way..."
"Does Master already have a solution?"
Orochimaru nodded, his voice raspy.
"Ancient texts mention a clan born with the ability to absorb so-called natural energy."
"Perhaps hidden within their bodies is the potential to break through the blockade of the demon race."
"I will be setting out in a few days. As the Senior Disciple, look after your junior sister."
"Yes, Master."
After asking a few questions about the Object Control Technique...
Motomu bowed respectfully and took his leave.
By the time he returned home, it was already night.
"Bro, can't you come back a little earlier every day?!" Obito shouted the moment he arrived.
As soon as he pushed open the door...
Obito's yelling rang out.
Knowing he was in the wrong, Motomu felt a bit embarrassed and poked Obito's forehead with his finger.
"Forgive me, Obito. Next time for sure."
Rubbing his forehead, Obito watched Motomu open his lunchbox and curled his lip.
"Bro, who knows when 'next time' will be."
"I heard that once you become a ninja, there are tons of missions outside the village."
Just as the words left his mouth, Motomu, who had only taken two bites, suddenly froze.
Obito blinked.
'Did I say something wrong?'
'Why is he making that face?'
"Uchiha Motomu, I am your captain. We set out on an emergency mission tonight."
A muffled voice came from behind Obito, making the boy jump in fright.
"A ghost?"
"My teammate."
Motomu set down his chopsticks and looked at the newcomer with a serious gaze.
Under the pale light of the full moon...
The man's face was noticeably pale, with a skin tone that contrasted sharply at the neckline.
It was the look of someone who frequently wore a mask.
Motomu understood instantly why a squad would come looking for him so late.
Danzo... Root?
Damn, they're here already.
'Given Danzo's elusive nature, he likely still had designs on me.'
No.
Not necessarily.
'This person could also be former Anbu.'
But regardless, if the other two also showed signs of having worn masks...
Then this was eighty percent likely Danzo's doing.
On high alert, Motomu covered the rest of the food, patted Obito on the shoulder, and turned to follow the man's lead.
Moments later.
Motomu and the man leaped across branches and rooftops, speeding all the way to the gates of Konoha Village.
He squinted into the distance.
Two people were already standing at the village entrance.
The facial skin of the man and woman was similarly pale, just like the guy next to him who claimed to be the captain.
'Is Root really this careless?'
'Or do they just not bother hiding it from me?'
Motomu's suspicions grew.
'The mission from that old scoundrel Danzo is definitely not simple.'
'In their eyes, I'm probably as good as dead.'
Once all four were gathered, Motomu's captain began to speak.
"I am your captain, Sosuke. My specialty is Wind Style as the main attacker. This is Aburame Ying for scouting, and that blonde one is Yamanaka Nai, responsible for intelligence and control."
"Introduce yourself, rookie."
Motomu glanced at the captain.
He thought about his own abilities.
'Unless I can silence these guys, Big Eyeball's powers definitely can't be shown in public.'
The techniques he could currently display, aside from his Sharingan, were only the Fire Style: Great Fireball and Summoning Jutsu he had recently copied, which were decent enough.
That was enough for C-rank missions, but once it reached B-rank or higher, he would be nothing more than a background extra.
Motomu stated his abilities.
The three of them showed no reaction, as if Motomu's words were a mere formality that didn't matter.
"Next, the mission briefing."
"This mission is to head to the Land of Wind to recover intelligence from a spy."
"Rank: B."
"Any objections?"
The mission scroll passed through the hands of the three before returning to the captain.
Motomu looked at the reward; a hundred thousand ryo wasn't bad.
However, if he didn't have Big Eyeball, this money would most likely be handed over to Obito and his grandmother.
In half a month, his ninja sword would also end up in Obito's hands.
'Maybe if Obito ever goes dark in the future, he'll even take my sword to slaughter everyone around him.'
"No objections." x3
"Very well, we depart immediately."
Ten days of travel passed quickly.
Standing at the edge of the desert...
Motomu swallowed a Soldier Pill.
Even with his Chunin-level chakra reserves, the journey had left him exhausted.
Among his teammates, except for the captain, the others were in the same state as Motomu.
Motomu estimated that his captain was at least Jonin-level, while the other two were only Chunin.
With a sneak attack, it would be easy to take out two teammates with the Senbon Cannon.
As for the captain, he wasn't so sure.
Motomu had never seen a Jonin fight and didn't know the limits of that level.
"Proceed to your designated mission locations."
"Disperse!"
In silence, the four of them leaped past the borders of the Land of Fire.
The mission location was a small town on the border of the Land of Wind.
The round trip shouldn't take more than a day.
The faster we move, the saf—
Motomu's footsteps faltered, his thoughts interrupted by the snake behind him dispelling its own Summoning Jutsu.