Within the deepest chambers of Ryūchi Cave, the ambient light dimmed beneath layers of serpentine mist. The moment Uchiha Madara began walking forward, his presence alone made the walls hum with power. Every stone and snake in the sacred cave trembled—not with reverence, but with primal fear. Behind him, Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with amusement, a mixture of awe and relief flashing through his heart.
At this moment, Orochimaru felt extremely comfortable and clear all over his body!This wasn't the cold dread he was used to whenever he visited Ryūchi Cave in the past, where the three great priestesses watched him like a predator sizing up prey. No, this time it was completely different.
He had never felt so comfortable in Ryūchi Cave before!
Every previous visit, he'd needed to tread on eggshells, always careful not to offend the ancient priestesses or provoke the White Snake Sage. The threat of being "devoured for failure" always hung over him like a guillotine. But now? Now he walked with his back straight and his head held high.
Damn!!!It feels so good to have a big thigh to hug!!!Senior Madara is absolutely a real super big thick leg!!!And this feeling of someone protecting the calf is so intoxicating it's almost sinful!
As these thoughts raced through Orochimaru's mind, the heavy stone gates at the rear of the chamber creaked open. A short, ancient figure walked out slowly, her very presence commanding silence. Draped in pristine pale robes that glimmered faintly in the dark, her form gave off a sacred aura that not even Madara's overwhelming chakra could fully smother. This was the legendary White Snake Sage, the true ruler of Ryūchi Cave.
She stopped a few paces from Madara, lowering her head with measured grace.
"Lord Madara, please stop joking with these three little ones," the White Snake Sage spoke in a raspy, reverent tone. "I already know your intention. I shall offer you the immortal arts of Ryūchi Cave with both hands. And not just for you—any of your juniors, should they wish to practice our immortal techniques, are welcome. I will personally guarantee their safety."
Her words echoed off the walls like a divine edict.
"Lord Madara, are you satisfied with this?!"
Uchiha Madara smiled faintly, his gaze sharp as ever. "My disciple once said something that I find quite meaningful..."
He stepped forward, Rinnegan eyes swirling in slow circles. His voice was quiet, but filled with absolute certainty.
"A man who knows the times is a hero. It seems... the White Snake Immortal is a hero."
The White Snake Sage bowed her head even lower, her ancient eyes flickering with something between admiration and self-preservation.
"Lord Madara is too kind. May I ask when you wish to begin your training?"
Madara turned his head slightly, his expression cool and resolute. "Start now."
"I understand, Lord Madara..."
And with that, the matter of Ryūchi Cave was effortlessly resolved. Without a single drop of blood spilled, without a clash of jutsu, Uchiha Madara had claimed dominion over one of the three great sacred lands of the ninja world. Just by releasing the aura of his Samsara Eye, the White Snake Immortal had personally declared him a hero.
Meanwhile, the other two sacred lands posed no resistance at all.
Senju Hashirama had gone to Shikkotsu Forest, where the Slug Sage received him with open arms and agreed instantly. No struggle, no challenge—just a peaceful alliance built on trust and history.
Elsewhere, at the border of Mount Myōboku, a different kind of reception was taking place.
Jiraiya arrived at the sacred toad mountain with Uzumaki Naruto by his side. As they stepped onto the ancient stone steps that led into the heart of the sacred land, the still air rippled with a strange energy. Within a massive temple carved from rock and root, the Great Toad Sage, eyes long sealed in sleep, suddenly stirred.
His ancient, creased lids parted.
"Oh my god!!!"
Fukasaku and Shima, who had stood vigil for years, were dumbfounded.
On one hand, the Great Toad Sage had awoken. On the other… he had sworn?!
"Does the Great Toad Sage have any visions this time…?" Shima asked hesitantly.
The ancient sage opened his misty eyes, blinking slowly.
"The ninja world has seen an unprecedented change...The fate that has entangled us for a thousand years will end in this generation.The people of destiny will unite...A group of ignorant foreigners are watching from beyond the skies...But who will win in the end...The emergence of a variable will guide the world into the unknown..."
Fukasaku and Shima stared at each other, more confused than enlightened.
And just like that, the Great Toad Sage collapsed back into sleep. But right before he slipped into the depths of slumber, he mumbled...
"Oh my god… I'm scared to death! Why are there so many perverts in the future of the ninja world?! No, no! I must sleep now. I won't wake up for another thousand or eight hundred years!!!"
As the two sages descended from the temple to greet the new arrivals, they laid eyes on Jiraiya and the bright-eyed boy beside him.
"Little Jiraiya... This is... This is...""Why does this little guy look so much like Minato?!"
Jiraiya grinned and scratched his head sheepishly. "Ah... hahahahahaha... You two sages are still as sharp as ever! This kid is named Uzumaki Naruto. He's my disciple now—and also the son of my former student, Namikaze Minato!"
"And... I'm sure of it now. Uzumaki Naruto is the Child of Prophecy mentioned by the Great Toad Sage!"
Fukasaku and Shima exchanged glances again, their expressions serious.
"Actually, Little Jiraiya... The Great Toad Sage just made another prophecy."
"Huh?! Another one?!"
They carefully relayed the message—about the destined people, the foreign observers, and most importantly, the variable.
Jiraiya frowned, rubbing his chin. "I don't know who the variable is just yet… but I have a feeling."
He looked over at Naruto, whose wide blue eyes were filled with fire. But before he could speak further, both he and the sages said in unison—
"The Ōtsutsuki clan!!!"
Fukasaku and Shima were left in even greater confusion, and Jiraiya had no choice but to explain everything that had transpired recently in the ninja world.
After the tale concluded, the two sages were left stunned.
"No wonder the Great Toad Sage would speak such a bizarre prophecy...""And the variable... it must be this Souta Kazuki you mentioned."
Jiraiya nodded thoughtfully. "That's likely."
But for now, Jiraiya didn't dwell on it further. He had come here with a mission.
"Two immortals, I'm here to ask for something!"
"What's the matter?"
"First, I want to train Naruto in the senjutsu of Mount Myōboku.Second, there may be others from Konoha who will come here to learn as well. I hope you'll allow it."
The two sages looked at each other. Remembering the Great Toad Sage's order—to support Jiraiya no matter what—Fukasaku gave a decisive nod.
"No problem... We agree to this!"
"Thank you, two sages!"
"You're welcome, Little Jiraiya! It's been so long since you last came to Mount Myōboku! Come, try the old woman's cooking! And Little Naruto too!"
Jiraiya's face turned green instantly.
He spun around to flee.
But Naruto quickly caught him by the collar.
"Where are you going, Pervy Sage?! The two sages are offering us food! Let's eat first, then go back!"
"You eat! I've still got business back at the Ministry of Education!"
Far from Mount Myōboku, in the secret psychic chamber hidden within Konoha, Souta Kazuki stood quietly before the Scroll of Seals. His eyes glowed faintly as the events of Ryūchi Cave and Mount Myōboku played before him like phantom images. His father, Haruto, stood beside him with arms folded, while Raiga grunted in disbelief behind them.
"The holy lands, all bowing to one man's power," Haruto muttered.Raiga snorted. "Back in my day, things weren't so flashy. We settled things with fists, not glowing eyes and kneeling sages."
But Souta said nothing. He simply closed the scroll and looked up.
The future was still uncertain. The Great Toad Sage's prophecy echoed in his ears.
"A variable will lead the world into the unknown…"
And he had a feeling.
That variable... might be him.