In the Sand Village, the clones are everywhere, and the Arkham game begins

Chapter 457 White Snake Immortal
The next day, Shimizu approached the Third Kazekage.

"The spirit scroll from Ryuchi Cave... Are you sure, Shimizu?"

The Third Kazekage sat at his desk, facing Shimizu.

Does Shimizu need a summoning beast?

It seems he doesn't actually have any powerful summoned beasts.

"Yes, I have some ideas about magic that I need the White Snake Sage of Ryuchi Cave to answer, or other relevant research materials would also be helpful."

"Celestial arts..."

The Third Generation Kazekage frowned.

"When I was young, I also felt that I had a chance to master Sage Mode, but in the end I backed down. The training methods of Ryuchi Cave are so dangerous that I felt they didn't even intend for contractors to learn their Sage Mode. Plus, I couldn't even sense natural energy, so I simply gave up."

Later, some things happened that prevented me from returning to Ryuchi Cave for nearly thirty years. Therefore, Ryuchi Cave might harbor some ill will towards me and our village. In addition, the dangers of cultivating the Immortal Mode are too great, so I do not recommend that you go to Ryuchi Cave.”

"No, no, no, Third Hokage, I went to Ryuchi Cave to study Sage Techniques not because I didn't know Sage Techniques yet—in fact, I already did—but because it was a Sage Technique that I figured out on my own, so I needed some references and someone who had gone further down this path to discuss it with."

Shimizu waved his hand at the Third Kazekage.

"You have mastered the magic!"

The Third Kazekage was suddenly startled.

He doesn't know Sage Mode, but he has seen Jiraiya use it on the battlefield.

Without Sage Mode, Jiraiya's strength would only be considered mid-tier among Kage-level shinobi. However, when he activated Sage Mode, he would be among the strongest in the current shinobi world, second only to Shimizu.

Shimizu's strength is already almost at the level of Kage. If he adds Sage Mode, how strong would he be?
"Yes, it works, but it's incomplete. However, I think it has more potential than the Sage Mode of Ryuchi Cave. As for the specifics, we can talk about it after we've studied it more thoroughly. Once this Sage Mode is fully developed, everyone should be able to learn it relatively safely."

As Shimizu spoke, he pulled down his collar to show the Third Kazekage the light blue marking at the base of his neck.

Upon seeing the markings, the Third Kazekage immediately became more convinced.

This does look quite like the mutation phenomenon that occurs in Sage Mode, except that it didn't appear on the face, but on the neck.

"Sage Mode...everyone can learn it..."

The Third Kazekage had to admit that he was attracted to her.

He couldn't even imagine what it would be like if all the ninjas in Sunagakure knew Sage Mode!
Of course, the Third Kazekage also knew that Sage Techniques had a threshold. Even if Shimizu said that everyone had a chance to learn it, that was probably just lowering the threshold and eliminating the potential dangers during cultivation.

But no matter what, these few Kage-level powerhouses from Sunagakure should be able to meet the requirements for training, right?

If we could raise their overall strength to a higher level, then let alone completely suppressing Konoha, it wouldn't be impossible for them to defeat Konoha and the other ninja villages!

"Oh, right, Third Hokage, there's one more thing. Remember to send a notification to all the ninjas in the village who have mastered the Breathing Technique to the intermediate level or above. If they develop a mark similar to mine, remember to go to the Sealing Team and use the Evil Sealing Seal to seal the mark. This mark may bring power, but it also brings danger. The sealing should be done as soon as possible, otherwise it could endanger their lives. We'll talk about everything after I've thoroughly researched it."

Shimizu pointed to the blue markings on his neck and reminded the Third Kazekage.

Once a person develops markings, other people around them who have mastered the breathing technique to its extreme will also develop markings one after another.

"I see. So, by mastering the Breathing Technique to its peak, one can touch the power of Sage Mode? I will pass on the information about the markings and provide intensive training in sealing techniques to all ninjas whose Breathing Techniques have reached the intermediate level or above. They must at least master the basic sealing techniques so that they can temporarily suppress the markings when they are discovered on their bodies."

The Third Kazekage spoke with a solemn expression.

Since he had once made a contract with Ryuchi Cave and was familiar with the Sage Mode, he naturally knew the potential harm that natural energy could cause to the human body.

"As for the spirit contract of Ryuchi Cave, come with me. What I have is just a copy. The real original is still in Ryuchi Cave, usually guarded by the White Snake Immortal or the Three Great Goddesses. As long as you write your name on the copy with your blood, the same name will appear on the original. If you can get the approval of the higher-ups of Ryuchi Cave, you can leave your name and become a contractor of Ryuchi Cave."

I haven't summoned any of the snakes in Ryuchi Cave for a long time, so I don't know if my name has been erased, or if this instance still works. Anyway, why not give it a try? With your strength and the rudimentary sage techniques you've mastered, there shouldn't be anything in Ryuchi Cave that can threaten you. However, be careful with the White Snake Sage. If things don't go well, dispel the reverse summoning technique and return. With your strength, the White Snake Sage shouldn't be able to do anything to you.”

"Then this White Snake Immortal is quite powerful."

Shimizu was quite surprised.

What do you mean by "I can't do anything to you"?
"Yes, after all, snakes are naturally cold-blooded and arrogant. The White Snake Immortal was able to subdue many powerful snakes in Dragon Cave, so his strength must be extraordinary."

That makes sense.

In that case, even if the White Snake Sage's strength wasn't as terrifying as Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha, it was probably comparable to his own, exceeding the Kage level.

The toad sage of Mount Myōboku and the slug sage of Shikkotsu Forest are probably quite similar.

However, since these three are willing to keep to themselves and not personally intervene in the many conflicts of the ninja world, but instead cultivate their own racial power and even contract with human psychics to influence the secular world, it is likely that they have some limitations.

It's probably related to those two brothers with horns on their heads.

Shimizu followed the Third Kazekage all the way to his home, rummaging through drawers and cabinets until he found a summoning scroll that was covered in dust.

After a quick cleaning, Shimizu used his own blood to write his name on the scroll.

"The blood infamy hasn't faded. It seems that Ryuchi Cave has temporarily agreed to sign a spirit contract with you, restricting your ability to use reverse spirit summoning techniques to travel to Ryuchi Cave."

If you see a red snake named Shinya there, I hope you can apologize for me, heal its eyes, and tell it that I didn't intentionally abandon it; it was the only way for both of us to escape the encirclement of the Iwagakure army.

The Third Kazekage looked at Shimizu's name, which had disappeared and then reappeared on the scroll, and said with a complicated expression.

"Okay, I will definitely bring it."

Shimizu nodded slightly to the Third Generation Kazekage.

He didn't know much about the past of the Third Kazekage and Shinja, but since it was nearly thirty years ago and involved a battle with Iwagakure, it must have been an old story from the First Shinobi World War.

At that time, Sunagakure was under the rule of the Second Kazekage, Shamon, and the Third Kazekage had not yet come to power; he was merely a rising star with considerable strength.

Shimizu wasn't interested in the matter; he just relayed the message.

"Click."

He bit his finger, formed a hand seal, and immediately cast a reverse summoning technique. A wisp of white smoke rose, and his figure vanished from the spot.

The Third Kazekage glanced at the spot where Shimizu had disappeared, sighed softly, turned and went back to his work.

At the same time, Shimizu found himself in front of a magnificent golden hall, with the three gilded characters "Ryuchi Cave" written on the plaque above it.

The palace doors opened, and a beautiful woman in ancient costume stepped out and bowed gracefully to Qing Shui.

"This humble woman is Tianxin Shenji. Greetings, guest. You have come from afar, surely you have important business to attend to. The White Snake Immortal is waiting deep within the cave. Please have some snacks to fill your stomach."

Princess Tianxin stepped aside, revealing a long table inside the hall laden with food.

"Impressive genjutsu. It can affect sight, hearing, and smell. It seems it can also affect taste and touch. Only the Kurama clan of Konoha can interfere with the five senses like this. Ryuchi Cave is indeed extraordinary. But is it a bit stingy to entertain them with a bunch of rocks and sand?"

Shimizu walked into the hall, plopped down on a chair, picked up a steamed bun, and crushed it with her hand.

A wisp of ash dripped from between his fingers, and the brilliant lights in the main hall disappeared. Everything around him transformed from a magnificent hall with carved beams and painted rafters into a dark grotto filled with white mist.

Tianxin Shenji's heart sank.

This human saw through her illusion with magic at a glance; he must be very powerful, so it won't be easy for him to catch her.

"I apologize, guest. It is my Ryūchi-dō that has failed to provide adequate hospitality. Please follow me."

Another ancient-style Lolita girl floated in mid-air, carrying a lantern and leading the way for Qingshui.

"I suggest you stop playing these tricks and just take me to see the White Snake Immortal honestly. I don't want to fight you."

Halfway there, Shimizu sighed again.

Why is it still the same old illusion trick?
Unless it directly affects the mind, this kind of deceptive illusion can't fool the perception of a clear world at all...

Of course, if it's about directly affecting the spiritual realm, Shimizu is no pushover either, after all, he has already achieved a high level of spiritual attainment.

"You are overthinking this, sir. I am Princess Ichikishima. I just wanted to have some fun with you."

Princess Ichikishima's figure quietly became ethereal, the surrounding white mist dissipated, and Shimizu found herself in a stone chamber surrounded on three sides by stone walls.

"Boom!"

Another huge rock fell from the entrance to the stone chamber.

"Guest, if you would just be willing to play a game with me here..."

"Thunder of Bosat".

With a deafening roar, the solid stone wall shattered into countless fragments under Qing Shui's full-force attack.

Shimizu turned around and took a deep breath, making the white mist around her even thicker.

Several bright blue chains mixed with primordial Qi flew out and bound a snake woman who was lunging at them with her blood-red mouth wide open.

"I came here to visit the White Snake Immortal out of kindness, and to pass on a message to Xin Ya on behalf of someone else. What you've done puts me in a very difficult position."

"This is... Sage Chakra? If you can use Sage Mode, why did you come to Ryuchi Cave? No, you haven't shown those changes... What's going on?"

Princess Ichikishima was stunned, her loli-like face filled with a blank and adorable expression.

"Damn it! Put me down right now! Believe me or I'll eat you!"

Bound by bright blue chains, Princess Tsuruzu flicked her long, snake-like tongue and made a threatening gesture toward Shimizu.

"Enough, Princess Tsuruzu. This seems to be an important guest. The White Serpent Sage wants to see him personally. Please release Princess Tsuruzu and come with me."

Wearing a plain green-trimmed ancient costume, Princess Tianxin reappeared from the white mist and headed towards the Shimizu-dori.

"There won't be a next time."

Shimizu glanced at Princess Tashin and then reached out to put Princess Tsuratsu down.

Princess Tianxin glared at Princess Tsuratsu, who was still trying to shout, before apologizing to Shimizu:
"I apologize, esteemed guest. What you just described are the tests that outsiders must undergo to enter Ryuchi Cave. According to the rules, only by passing three tests can one meet the White Snake Immortal and become a spiritual contractor of Ryuchi Cave."

Only those who pass the test can become the spirit contractors of Ryuchi Cave. If they fail the test, their fate is naturally to be eaten as snacks by the three goddesses.

"Lead the way."

Shimizu rushed towards the goddess Tianxin.

He found that he seemed to have a certain restraining effect on the three snake sages of Ryuchi Cave.

The three of them are actually quite strong, but it seems that too many skill points have been allocated to illusion-related fields, used to bewitch people.

After passing through the dark and deep snake cave tunnel, Shimizu finally arrived at an open space.

The lighting here is better than elsewhere because there is a natural open-air cave entrance above, and several old trees with different shapes grow among the craggy rocks at the entrance.

Even the brightest sunlight, after being blocked by these old trees with their dense foliage, only thin beams of light reach the ground, greatly reducing its intensity.

In the very center of the flat land stood an old, rustic house, quite different from the imposing palace that Princess Tianxin had created earlier. Instead, in this environment, it looked more like a gloomy haunted house. The only connection between it and the palace created by illusion was that this haunted house also had a plaque with the words "Ryuchi Cave" hanging on it.

Snakes prefer dark and damp places, but as cold-blooded animals, they also like to bask in the sun. Shimizu estimates that this relatively sunny place must be the residence of the White Snake Immortal.

Aside from the White Snake Immortal and these three divine maidens, Shimizu couldn't think of any other snake living in this dwelling that resembled human dwellings in Ryuchi Cave.

This time, it was Princess Ichikishima, who looked like a little girl, who pushed open the door.

Shimizu walked straight ahead.

The house wasn't small, but it wasn't particularly big either. After walking for a short while, we went up to the second floor and found the White Snake Immortal in a fairly spacious room.

(End of this chapter)