After Uchiha Chizumi executed the three Snake Princesses of Ryūchi Cave one after another, the entire cavern underwent a "great purge."
One of the so-called Three Great Sacred Lands of the shinobi world was nearly turned into a molten hellscape.
Only a few out-of-the-way corners escaped the lava that burned everything in its path—and only because the snakes living in those nooks were misfits among Ryūchi's denizens, among the rare few whose natures weren't cruel or vicious.
What surprised Uchiha Chizumi, though, was that the one target he most wanted—the White Snake Sage—was nowhere to be found.
Chizumi had already located the Sage's longtime lair, but aside from a chair clearly made for the White Snake Sage, there wasn't a trace of its presence.
"Ran, did it…" Chizumi clicked his tongue. "So that's one reason it's survived for over a thousand years—at the first sign of danger it can't control, its instinct is to hightail it."
Muttering to himself, Chizumi shifted his gaze to a black snake not far away.
The snake, which had been trying to slip off unnoticed, went rigid the instant it realized it had been seen.
Footsteps sounded behind it—soft, but drawing near.
And with them came a wave of heat so intense it made the snake's scales prickle.
"Where did that white snake go?" The cold voice behind it made every scale stand on end.
The black snake didn't dare look back. It spoke human words, stammering, "I…I don't know where the great White Snake Sage went. I only came, like always, to tidy the Sage's lair. I never thought…I'd run into you here."
Hearing the footsteps again, it felt its heart sink. It was sure today would be the day it died.
But the steps grew farther, not closer.
Startled, it glanced back and found the terrifying human had already vanished into the White Snake Sage's lair.
"Why…why didn't he kill me? He's slaughtered who knows how many of my kind in Ryūchi Cave."
It couldn't understand his logic.
What it didn't realize was that its life was spared precisely because it had spent all its years inside Ryūchi Cave, never venturing out, never getting the chance to commit evil.
In other words… it had saved itself.
…
At the same time, in Shikkotsu Forest—another of the Three Great Sacred Lands—a great white serpent appeared, only to be surrounded by a seething multitude of slugs, so many it made one's scalp crawl.
Countless small slugs merged together until they formed a colossal slug nearly the white serpent's size.
The slug spoke in human words. "White Snake Sage, long time no see—must be at least a thousand years. I didn't expect our first meeting in a millennium to be like this."
"But are you sure you won't defend your Ryūchi Cave? I can faintly sense it's in grave danger. Many snakes there have died today."
The White Snake Sage held a pipe in its mouth. Leveling its gaze at the Slug Sage, it said evenly, "Ryūchi Cave can be rebuilt. It's only a matter of time—and time is the one thing I don't lack. But if that Uchiha who preaches 'Absolute Justice' finds me, even I can't guarantee I'd survive."
"Most likely we'd both end up badly hurt. I can't accept that, because if the toads of Mount Myōboku learn I'm wounded, they'll seize the chance to come and throw their weight around."
"So you picked this high-sounding excuse for running away? After thinking it through, you figured only my forest could give you shelter, didn't you?" the Slug Sage replied.
"…"
This was exactly why the White Snake Sage hated dealing with the other two sanctuaries.
It instinctively loathed the toads of Mount Myōboku—and, by extension, many snakes in Ryūchi Cave did too.
As for the Slug Sage, it might be a "good person," but every word out of that mouth was so guilelessly honest it never spared anyone's feelings.
Still, it needed help, so the White Snake Sage swallowed its annoyance.
"So then, may I stay in Shikkotsu Forest for a while? Not long—about a hundred years should do. In a century that Uchiha 'justice brat' will be nothing but bones in a grave."
"I refuse."
"Hu—huh?" That single blunt sentence almost left the White Snake Sage dumbstruck. It stared at the Slug Sage in disbelief.
Had this "good person" suddenly grown a spine?
"My most outstanding summoner is on good terms with Uchiha Chizumi," the Slug Sage said. "I won't destroy her relationship with him because of you, and I won't put her in a bind. So I'm sorry, but Shikkotsu Forest cannot take you in."
The White Snake Sage wondered if its hearing had failed.
Over a mere human summoner, the Slug Sage would turn it away? Was a single summoner more precious than a favor owed by the White Snake Sage itself?
It couldn't fathom it.
Just as it was about to protest, it noticed even more slugs gathering, and the Slug Sage before it growing larger still. Where they had been eye to eye, it now had to look up.
Which meant the Slug Sage was ready to fight.
If it tried to stick around and overstay its welcome, the Slug Sage would attack without hesitation.
Damn…
For a sanctuary sage of Shikkotsu Forest, a summoning contract could be torn up unilaterally at will. Such contracts bound nothing. For the sake of a human—was this really worth it?
"…I understand." Though in a foul mood, the White Snake Sage kept the placid poise befitting a sacred guardian.
It drew a long breath, gave the Slug Sage a deep look, then turned and left without hesitation.
After it departed, the Slug Sage split off a small slug.
With a soft pop, the little slug dissolved into white smoke.
…
"What? That kid Chizumi chased Orochimaru all the way into Ryūchi Cave? Left the place in ruins—and scared the White Snake Sage into abandoning its own sanctuary to flee?"
If the intel hadn't come from a clone of the Slug Sage itself, Tsunade would have thought someone was trying to play her for a fool.
Even she was a bit stunned by what the Slug Sage shared.
She knew Chizumi had a talent for "stirring up trouble," but wasn't this a little too much?
The tiny slug perched on Tsunade's shoulder spoke in her mind. "Uchiha Chizumi cleansed Ryūchi Cave in order to enforce his absolute justice. Many of the snakes there are cruel and violent by nature. The older ones especially have done plenty that violates human morality—and their victims have all been human."
At that, much of Tsunade's shock dissipated.
"Then they deserved what they got," Tsunade said.
A thought struck her; her expression turned complicated. "Slug Sage, if even the White Snake Sage ran from that kid, does that mean Orochimaru, who fled into Ryūchi Cave, is already…"
"Mhm," came the Slug Sage's soft reply.
"Whew…"
Tsunade let out a slow breath. She'd long expected this end for Orochimaru, but he had, after all, once been a rare, dear friend.
"This result isn't the worst for him. At least he won't sink any deeper into the abyss of sin—though given what he's done, he was already at the bottom."
"By the way," Tsunade added, "he chased Orochimaru into Ryūchi Cave—but does he know how to get out?"
"I've already sent a split-body clone to guide him," said the Slug Sage.
Tsunade blinked.
Why did it feel like the Slug Sage was looking out for Uchiha Chizumi more than she was?
They shouldn't have even met… right?
…
"Go another ten kilometers ahead. Cross a fog-choked canyon a thousand meters deep—poison miasma and all—and you'll be out of Ryūchi Cave."
A slug no bigger than a fingertip clung to Uchiha Chizumi's left shoulder, speaking in a woman's voice.
"Thanks." Chizumi never stinted on gratitude for anyone—or anything—that helped him.
Calmly, he voiced his doubt. "You appeared out of nowhere, said you'd guide me out. I doubt the Slug Sage did this just for that, right?"
"Correct," the Slug Sage answered frankly.
It didn't beat around the bush. "You're the second outstanding summoner I've met after Tsunade. Like her, you have a sincere, pure heart—that's what sets you apart from most shinobi."
"Most people call my temperament extreme," Chizumi said. "You're the first to call my heart sincere and pure."
"Plenty of people in the shinobi world stick to their ninja way—consistency isn't rare," the Slug Sage said. "The problem is, not every 'ninja way' is good. I can see that the absolute justice you pursue is a bit extreme for now, but on the whole it benefits the shinobi world."
"Shikkotsu Forest seldom meddles in worldly affairs, and if we do, it's passive. I won't judge what changes you want to make—that's your choice, not mine to interfere with."
"In short, I want to invite you to become a summoner of Shikkotsu Forest. Then, after Tsunade, we'll have another qualified summoner I can admire."
"And I believe you'll use our strength not only to fight, but to bring blessings to the entire shinobi world."
"That's why I truly consider you the best candidate."
True to form, the Slug Sage was forthright—laying everything on the table to avoid misunderstandings. The message boiled down to this: Shikkotsu Forest needs someone like you; we won't interfere with your convictions, and we won't demand a price. It's a peer-to-peer alliance.
No wonder, with nothing but its own power, the Slug Sage had made Shikkotsu Forest one of the Three Great Sacred Lands alongside Ryūchi Cave and Mount Myōboku. Its gentle, even-tempered, noncompetitive nature was something neither the Great Toad Sage nor the White Snake Sage possessed.
"Rather than partner with me alone," Chizumi said, "Shikkotsu Forest should also take in everyone who believes in absolute justice."
The Slug Sage paused. It understood Chizumi had agreed—on a condition.
One it could accept.
"Then I have a condition as well," it said. "Everyone who claims absolute justice must pass your test. If they pass yours, I'll deem them worthy too."
"Fine," Chizumi replied.
…
Konoha, at Uchiha Setsuna's compound.
After school, Uchiha Sasuke found the clan's atmosphere strangely off and couldn't make sense of it.
At home, both his mother and father looked tense; anger still seemed to smolder between their brows.
Sasuke realized they'd probably argued again—likely about Chizumi-sensei.
After all, that was the one thing they disagreed on.
"Father, isn't the Police Force off-duty in a bit over an hour? Why are you home early?" he asked, breaking the uneasy silence.
The moment he said it, he saw his father's expression falter.
He suddenly realized… he'd put his foot in his mouth.
"…I am no longer Captain of the Konoha Police Force," Uchiha Fugaku said. "Nor am I head of the Uchiha clan. I won't be coming home 'after my shift' anymore. I can be here whenever I want." He gave his younger son a long look, then turned and walked toward the back of the courtyard without another word.
Sasuke blinked, stunned.
"Your father's in a bad mood. Don't mind what he said," Uchiha Mikoto said with a gentle smile.
"Mother… did something happen in the clan?" Sasuke felt slow on the uptake.
Mikoto sighed and patiently explained.
After listening, Sasuke didn't even know how to describe what he felt.
As Fugaku's son, learning his father had been forced out of both posts should have made him angry.
But…
What if the ones forcing his father out were the very people of absolute justice he believed in?
To his surprise, Sasuke felt a laugh bubble up.
He quickly schooled his face, fighting to keep his expression under control.