Chapter 187: Snake Skin
Masahiko's expression wasn't very pleasant.
Although he had experienced almost everything in his hundred years of ups and downs, this place filled with hissing snakes still made his scalp tingle.
Inside Ryuchi Cave, the terrain was very complex. Caves were everywhere, entrances and exits were everywhere. More critically, not a single one of these caves wasn't filled with green and spotted snakes of all sizes. Masahiko kept his repulsive force activated at all times, keeping these snakes at least ten meters away from him, before his expression improved slightly.
Orochimaru, worthy of being their "kind," showed no strangeness on his face; instead, he looked around with great interest.
"This way." Masahiko sensed slightly and said to Orochimaru.
Since entering the cave, Masahiko dared not expand his perception to the maximum. It wasn't because he was worried about the White Snake Sage discovering them, but because the number of snakes detected after amplifying his perception was too great... it was disgusting.
As for how he determined the direction, Masahiko simply walked towards the place where the Senjutsu (Sage Art) chakra was denser.
As they went deeper, Masahiko's expression improved slightly. Although the size of the snakes was constantly increasing, their relative numbers decreased. For someone with trypophobia like Masahiko... this was much more comfortable.
Although Ryuchi Cave looked small because it was formed by connecting one cave after another, the actual distance traveled wasn't short. Masahiko and Orochimaru moved quite fast, but it took about an hour before Masahiko sensed a relatively large chakra fluctuation.
Advancing a few more minutes, a dozen giant snakes appeared in front of the two.
Calling them giant snakes, they weren't actually exceptionally large—far inferior to Manda—only about ten meters long. However, Masahiko could sense considerable chakra fluctuations within their bodies; they should belong to the type possessing intelligence.
These snakes also saw the two and instantly surrounded them.
"Humans?"
Obviously not very friendly.
Masahiko frowned. Being surrounded by a dozen snakes wasn't a good feeling. Just as he wanted to make a move, Orochimaru stopped him.
"Aoda (Blue Snake - Note: Aoda is Sasuke's summon, possibly different here or an ancestor/variant), it's me." A raspy voice came out, clearly recognizing a "familiar snake."
"Lord Orochimaru." A dark blue giant snake responded, as if just recognizing him.
"Take me to find Manda." Orochimaru didn't state his purpose directly but wanted to find Manda first.
Having a "familiar snake" made things easier. The dozen giant snakes surrounding them immediately dispersed, and the blue snake led them deeper into the cave.
"Ryuchi Cave... Snake society is indeed quite hierarchical?" Masahiko sighed lightly. The feeling that the snakes got stronger the deeper they went was a bit like clearing levels in a game...
"Are there three giant snakes of Manda's level?" As they advanced, three relatively large chakra reactions appeared in Masahiko's perception, all roughly similar to the Orochimaru beside him.
Turning past five or six bends, three giant snakes of different colors appeared before their eyes. One was purple—that was Manda. There was also a green one and a red one.
The three snakes formed a triangle. Masahiko's first reaction was: Count me in for a game of Landlord (Dou Dizhu)...
Of course, they weren't playing Landlord; instead, they looked like they had been waiting for the two for a long time.
"Orochimaru, you really managed to find this place." Manda's hissing voice came, clearly indicating Orochimaru had told him long ago about coming to Ryuchi Cave to train.
"But!" Manda's snake eyes fixed tightly on Masahiko. "Why did you bring another human along!"
Seeing the snake mouth rapidly approaching, Masahiko's vision went dark. He instantly activated his repulsive force... full power.
Whether it was the three giant snakes or Orochimaru, they were all sent flying backward in an instant, collapsing who knows how many rock caves.
Looking at the dust rising all around, Masahiko's face darkened.
He wasn't a glass heart who would strike back with full force just because Manda provoked him. He generally convinced people with virtue... and snakes too.
But just now, when Manda opened his big mouth to bite him, he felt a sense of death... from the smell.
"I didn't come to cause trouble..." Masahiko sighed. He had just used Shinra Tensei at full output, and even subconsciously activated Sage Mode. Seeing the originally narrow cave suddenly turn into a plaza, Masahiko felt this couldn't end peacefully; those three snakes must be seriously injured.
As for Orochimaru, he wasn't too worried. Orochimaru had an unusual number of life-saving methods.
"Senior, I came to learn Senjutsu..." Sure enough, a moment later, Orochimaru's voice came over, though slightly trembling. Who knew if he was injured or angered by Masahiko...
Masahiko looked in his direction and waved his hand. "I couldn't help it. Remember to teach Manda to brush his teeth in the future."
Speaking of Manda, Manda had already slithered back. Together with the dozen larger snakes encountered earlier, they surrounded Masahiko, looking at him warily.
"Unexpectedly durable." Masahiko muttered. The other two obviously wouldn't be back for a while.
"Manda, calm down." In this situation, Orochimaru could still calmly comfort him, but it obviously had little effect.
"Damn human!" The huge snake tail swung at Masahiko. Masahiko casually condensed a lightning sword and pinned it to the ground.
Manda let out painful hisses and struggled. Masahiko didn't take the opportunity to attack again; after all, it was Orochimaru's Summoning Beast.
He waved to the dozen "small snakes" still wary of him. "Find a way to pull the sword out. We're going to find your ancestor."
"Orochimaru, this way."
Acting as if nothing had happened, Masahiko led Orochimaru forward.
Masahiko had long sensed the Snake Sage's chakra. Logically, with such a commotion, it should have arrived long ago, but it remained motionless. Masahiko was somewhat curious.
Leading Orochimaru all the way forward, after about a few thousand meters, Masahiko finally saw the last of the Three Great Sages, the White Snake Sage!
On a huge stone chair, a giant snake with snow-white scales "sat coiled" upon it, with exquisite carvings behind and to the sides.
The Snake Sage's eyes were unexpectedly gentle. "Orochimaru, first time meeting. You are here to learn Senjutsu, right?"
The tone was also very gentle, making Orochimaru somewhat suspicious and uncertain as he looked at Masahiko.
Masahiko smiled. "It's asking if you want to learn Sage Mode."
Orochimaru frowned before slowly nodding. The atmosphere felt wrong.
Masahiko was also somewhat confused inside. He had clearly injured several snakes severely just now, yet the Snake Sage seemed unaware and had no intention of pursuing the matter.
"This is better. A peaceful resolution is best. This Snake Sage just feels wrong somewhere. Although the chakra volume is substantial, it feels quite weak..."
Just as Masahiko thought this, he was suddenly startled and subconsciously soared into the air.
Underground, a huge snake mouth burst out of the earth, biting towards Masahiko.
Looking at the huge throne again, the white giant snake collapsed like a deflated balloon.
"A snake skin" Masahiko sighed.
"Earth Release: Super Weighted Boulder Fist Technique!"
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