Having lived for nearly a thousand years, the White Snake Sage had seen countless people and developed a deep understanding of human nature.
In her eyes, Orochimaru stood among the finest of humanity.
His ambition was immense, but more importantly, he possessed the talent and terrifying resolve to turn those ambitions into reality.
What the White Snake Sage admired most, however, was his utter lack of scruples.
Though human, Orochimaru was not bound by the usual human restraints.
This made him a highly valuable investment.
In the past, she had merely offered him a snake contract because anything more seemed unnecessary.
But now, it was worth reconsidering.
She wasn't concerned about whether she could control Orochimaru. After all, he desired many things from her—and she could offer even more in return.
Puffing lightly from her pipe, the White Snake Sage turned her thoughts toward what needed to be arranged next, paying no further attention to Manda.
At this point, whether Manda succeeded or failed no longer mattered.
Truthfully, in the entirety of Ryuchi Cave, no snake or person truly cared about Manda's outcome.
The three Snake Princesses might have shown slight concern, but it stemmed more from anxiety over whether their earlier poor performance would earn them punishment from the White Snake Sage.
Orochimaru, meanwhile, was absorbed in recording observation data.
Without the support of natural energy, the erosion caused by the First Hokage's cells had weakened. The chakra level had dropped from that of Senju Hashirama back down to something closer to Uchiha Shinsuke's.
Under these conditions, Manda's extraordinary natural physique had a chance to shine, and his body was beginning to tame the feral instinct of the cells.
This fusion—perfect at the cellular level—was incredibly valuable, even if the subject was a snake rather than a human.
"Ahhh…!"
Manda was still screaming, but there was a new strength in his voice, a defiant tone as if to declare he had not yet lost hope in the operation.
At some point, his originally violet scales turned grayish-white. Thin cracks appeared, running across his skin like fractured porcelain, and pale purple light shimmered from within.
Then, right before Orochimaru's eyes, the outer shell shattered.
A new form emerged from within, like a snake reborn, lifting its head high with a triumphant hiss.
Orochimaru licked his lips.
The transplant operation had succeeded.
Shhh…
At the same time, the slender tentacles that had stabilized Manda's body withdrew, slithering back into the darkness of the cave. Control over the natural energy was returned to Manda.
But this time, it did not overwhelm him.
Instead, he stretched his massive body and adjusted to his new form.
The once-chaotic natural energy now flowed in harmony with him.
Whoosh… whoosh…
The ground trembled as stones beneath him surged upward, twisting into sharp spires that circled around him—like serpents rising to honor their king.
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, recognizing the nature of this ability.
This is Sage Mode.
It wasn't unexpected.
After all, Manda had long held large reserves of natural energy, and the First Hokage's cells had remarkable compatibility with the White Snake Sage's techniques. Not to mention, whatever the White Snake Sage had just done…
There were too many reasons for Manda to achieve Sage Mode.
If anything, it would have been disappointing if he hadn't.
So, Orochimaru gave only a slight nod of approval before turning his attention back to his data, ignoring the snake's elated cries.
About fifteen minutes later, after compiling his findings and sealing away the scrolls and equipment, Tagorihime—who had been waiting patiently—stepped forward with a courteous smile.
"The Sage wishes to see you now."
Orochimaru smiled and nodded, but replied, "Give me a moment. I still have a few loose ends to tie up."
Since the White Snake Sage hadn't rushed him until now, she likely wouldn't mind waiting a little longer.
With that thought in mind, and under the surprised gazes of the three Snake Princesses, Orochimaru approached Manda and unlocked another seal on his scroll.
With a thud, a massive wild boar nearly 30 meters long appeared out of thin air, crashing heavily to the ground.
Manda's eyes flickered with greed at the sight—but almost immediately, his expression shifted to one of caution and hesitation.
Orochimaru chuckled.
"This is a Pig King," he explained. "Don't worry, there's no poison in it. This is your reward."
Manda hesitated for a moment longer before lunging forward.
The transformation had drained a great deal of his stamina, and hunger gnawed fiercely at him now. With his body demanding fuel, hesitation was a luxury he couldn't afford.
After appeasing Manda, Orochimaru turned to the two large pythons who had participated in the battle at Kumogakure. One by one, he offered each of them a wild boar slightly smaller than the first—rewards for their service.
Unlike Manda, the two pythons were much more respectful. They lowered their heads slightly in acknowledgment and waited patiently for Orochimaru to leave before beginning their meal.
Once everything was taken care of, Orochimaru followed the three Snake Princesses back toward the chamber beneath the giant stone character "Zhi."
The White Snake Sage sat serenely in her seat, pipe in hand, exhaling a long plume of smoke.
Her eyes lowered slightly as she spoke, voice slow and calm.
"You helped Manda complete his transformation. This is your reward."
A stone platform suddenly rose from the floor before her seat, carrying a bundle of aged documents. It moved smoothly, stopping in front of Orochimaru.
But Orochimaru didn't immediately reach for the scroll.
His gaze lingered on the stone platform itself—seemingly grown from the earth rather than built.
His tongue flicked out slightly as he licked his lips.
With his current sensitivity to natural energy, he could easily sense the dense concentration emanating from this small platform.
The Earth Manipulation Technique used here… it was identical to the one Manda had displayed after his transformation.
Orochimaru understood immediately—this was both a display and a warning.
The White Snake Sage wasn't just controlling this stone platform.
She likely held sway over the entirety of Ryūchi Cave.
From the moment he stepped inside, his life and death had been in her hands.
His instincts screamed in alarm, but Orochimaru merely smiled, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.
He skimmed through the documents quickly, then looked up at the White Snake Sage.
"I'm ready to undergo the Sage Art Trial," he said.
"Oh?" The White Snake Sage narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Are you confident you can pass?"
"I am," Orochimaru answered with calm certainty.
The White Snake Sage's previous indifference, her decision to offer the Sage Art scroll so readily—it had all confirmed something for Orochimaru.
Manda's transformation had piqued her interest far more deeply than he initially expected.
And that gave him leverage.
In the end, the so-called Sage Art Trial was entirely at the discretion of the White Snake Sage.
Unless a candidate's aptitude was utterly hopeless, it was well within her power to ensure someone passed.
After all, she was the source of the White Snake Sage Art.
When a trial becomes arbitrary, it ceases to be a test—it becomes a gift.
The White Snake Sage opened her eyes fully, the light within them flickering subtly.
"You are very bold," she said evenly.
She saw clearly that Orochimaru was attempting to manipulate her—and he didn't even bother hiding it.
"I've always been bold," he replied, bowing slightly with a smile.
"But don't misunderstand me, Sage. What I seek is cooperation. Only by mastering Sage Art can I go further… and I believe that's exactly what you want to see."
The White Snake Sage studied him for a moment, then closed her eyes slowly.
"Leave your mark on it, and I will agree."
As her voice fell, the beast-shaped stone behind her opened its mouth. A scroll shot forward, landing neatly in front of Orochimaru.
It slowly unfurled before him.
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