On the high platform, atop a cushioned seat, the White Snake Sage had not assud the form of an old crone but instead t Yamanaka Shinno in its true form.
The enormous white serpent's head was wrapped in a black cloth, with two pointed protrusions standing out. It was unclear whether they were genuine dragon horns or rely a part of the cloth's design.
Its golden, glowing snake eyes bore a striking resemblance to Orochimaru's in his serpent form, yet they lacked the sa sharp aggression and nace. Long, ashen-brown hair draped casually over its back—a sight that should have been unnerving but instead carried an inexplicable air of calm and benevolence.
...
Na: White Snake Sage
Occupation: None
Traits: Golden Sage's Skin (Red), Venomous Serpent Transforming (Purple), Ouroboros Bind (Blue), Coiled Serpent Clairaudience (Blue), Rattlesnake (Green), Serpent Sense (Green), Beastial Instinct (White), Reclusive (White), Devourer (Gray).
...
Golden Sage's Skin (Red): A thousand years of refinent has led to the ultimate mastery of Ryūchi Cave's Sage Techniques. The user's skin and flesh undergo a complete transformation, becoming resistant to fire and water, impervious to blades, and significantly enhancing control over sage energy, regeneration, resistance to jutsu, and affinity with natural energy. The speed, power, and effectiveness of Ryūchi Cave's Sage Techniques are greatly amplified. In Sage Mode, the user's regeneration, reflexes, physical resilience, and jutsu power all experience a significant boost. Each ti the user recovers from injury, their defense, healing ability, perception, strength, and speed increase.
"This trait..."
The mont Yamanaka Shinno saw Golden Sage's Skin, he imdiately thought of the other two Summoning Beast Sanctuaries.
The Sage Arts of Ryūchi Cave seed to focus primarily on the skin and muscles. But what about bones, ridians, internal organs—even the mind?
It was impossible for all Sage Art inheritances to revolve solely around the skin and muscle structure!
The potential of Sage Techniques seed even greater than he had imagined.
Suppressing his growing excitent, Shinno quickly scanned through the remaining traits.
Venomous Serpent Transforming and Ouroboros Bind were interconnected.
The venomous serpent was said to be an incredibly fierce and untamable snake in legends. As it evolved into a proto-dragon—its physical strength increased trendously, but its temperant also beca significantly more aggressive.
Ouroboros Bind, on the other hand, referred to a specific ditation practice of the White Snake Sage. The Ouroboros—the serpent devouring its own tail—was often seen as a symbol of infinity, eternal cycles, and undying existence. However, in exchange for this power, the user was trapped within Ryūchi Cave, unable to move freely.
So, in essence, this was a blue-tier debuff that ca with the transformation process.
Shinno could already predict that if the White Snake Sage were to break free from this restriction, these two traits would likely rge and evolve, pushing the creature into its complete transformation!
...
Coiled Serpent Clairaudience granted the ability to perceive all movents within Ryūchi Cave.
Rattlesnake allowed for auditory deception, confusion, and sonic attacks.
Serpent Sense was an innate ability of snakes, offering enhanced infrared detection and a protective mbrane for the eyes.
anwhile, Beastial Instinct made one highly attuned to the law of the jungle, while Reclusive represented a withdrawn and difficult-to-approach personality.
As for Devourer... it was an instinctive desire to cultivate prey, making them stronger and more appetizing before consuming them!
"This old snake is definitely bad news!"
Shinno imdiately heightened his vigilance, maintaining a safe distance of several ters from the White Snake Sage. With his Zero Fra Startup, such a distance was enough for him to decide whether to counterattack or retreat at a mont's notice.
"Young one, have you co seeking the inheritance of Sage Techniques as well?"
The White Snake Sage's golden eyes glowed with an eerie light as its tail swayed gently. Its voice was laced with an elderly kindness, filled with admiration and appreciation.
But Shinno knew all too well—this so-called admiration and appreciation were nothing more than a predator evaluating an exceptional al.
"Yes. How does one train in the Sage Techniques of Ryūchi Cave?"
Shinno nodded slightly, keeping his expression neutral.
"The Sage Techniques here are different from those in other places. Accept the energy I inject into your body. If you succeed, you will master Sage Mode. If you fail... you will be consud by the energy, becoming our nourishnt."
The White Snake Sage slightly parted its mouth, revealing two sharp fangs. Its aning could not have been clearer.
"There's no other way?"
"All power cos with risk. There is no such thing as gaining benefits without consequence. Besides, I can sense that your physique is unique. You have at least a ninety percent chance of succeeding. I have high hopes for you."
"Ninety percent..."
Shinno's gaze drifted past the White Snake Sage, landing on the massive summoning contract scroll resting in the mouth of a ferocious beast statue.
He now fully understood that the White Snake Sage had no intention of properly teaching him.
If he allowed this creature to bite into him, would it really only inject Sage energy?
Thinking back to the grotesque Sage Mode of Kabuto in the original tiline, Shinno wasn't so sure. Was that really just a result of Orochimaru's cells?
Orochimaru himself never used that technique, after all.
And besides...
Ninety percent success rate?
Too risky. Far too risky!
"Do you wish to sign the summoning contract first? Ryūchi Cave has its own rules. Unless you fail the trial or are consud by Sage energy, we will not eat you."
The White Snake Sage bit down on a long pipe, releasing wisps of smoke as it spoke. At the sa ti, its tail rose, bringing the towering summoning contract scroll before Shinno.
"...Quite a number of nas."
Shinno glanced at the long list of signatures, most of which had turned a deep brown, their summoning contract power long since dissipated. At the very end, one na remained fresh and crimson—Orochimaru.
He took out a blood storage tube and swiftly signed the contract.
"Many are blinded by their thirst for power, ignoring their own limitations, endlessly craving more."
The White Snake Sage chuckled softly, retracting the scroll before turning its gaze back to Shinno.
"Young one, what is your choice?"
"Hmm."
"???"
The White Snake Sage was montarily stunned. Not even a millennium of wisdom had prepared it for such a bizarre response.
"System, copy the red trait Golden Sage's Skin!"
[Trait successfully copied. Congratulations, host, on obtaining the red-tier trait 'Golden Sage's Skin.']
"Activate."
Shinno's body tingled as a rush of energy flooded through him, heralding the birth of his own Perfect Sage Mode.
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Pls Drop so Power Stones
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