Chapter 165 – Ryūchi Cave
"Snake-ojisan, you already know why I'm here, don't you?" Hatake Yusuke asked casually, a lollipop resting between his lips.
"Of course, Yusuke-kun." Orochimaru's snake-like smile widened as he pulled two scrolls from the sleeve of his robe. "This one contains the Reanimation Jutsu, and this is the summoning scroll for Ryūchi Cave."
Yusuke took one of the scrolls, and the moment his fingers brushed the surface, it dissolved into shimmering light and vanished—absorbed straight into his body.
"Take me to Sasuke," Yusuke said suddenly, as if remembering something important.
Orochimaru blinked, intrigued, but turned without a word and began to lead the way.
"Tell me, Yusuke-kun," Orochimaru began, voice low and serpentine, "why are you so interested in Sasuke?"
"Relax, Snake-ojisan. I'm not here to interfere with your little pet project," Yusuke replied lazily. "I'm just saying—you shouldn't underestimate him. Uchiha Sasuke isn't simple. He might not be as intelligent as Itachi, but he's the most exceptional of them all."
"Oh?" Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with interest. "So you know something about him, do you?"
"I've said enough. Figure it out yourself."
Yusuke's tone was as light as ever, offering no further explanation. Orochimaru didn't press him—he could tell there were depths in Yusuke he'd rather not disturb.
He led Yusuke deeper into the base, to a large chamber where Sasuke was locked in combat with Kimimaro.
Even though Kimimaro's illness had weakened him greatly, Sasuke still struggled to defeat him quickly.
"What brings you here, Orochimaru?" Sasuke asked without looking back, stopping his attack.
"Your progress is remarkable, Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru said, his usual cold smile in place.
"Sasuke~," Yusuke's relaxed voice echoed through the chamber. "That's no way to speak to your senior, you know. Snake-ojisan deserves at least some respect."
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief as he turned.
"Y–Yusuke?! What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"I came to give you one last chance, Sasuke. Watch your words." Yusuke's smile was calm but sharp. He reached up, pulling down the blindfold from his eyes.
In an instant, the air changed. His brilliant blue eyes gleamed with an almost divine pressure—overwhelming, suffocating.
Sasuke's Sharingan spun instinctively, but it only deepened his unease. Those eyes… they weren't like Itachi's Mangekyō. They were worse—more ancient, more absolute.
"Yu… Yusuke-sensei…" Sasuke stammered.
"Good boy," Yusuke said softly. "You've been working hard. Naruto is training under Jiraiya right now, keeping that promise of yours. And that little girlfriend of yours is studying with Tsunade."
"If Naruto's training," Sasuke said coldly, "then the next time we meet… I'll kill him."
"Oh?" Orochimaru's thin smile returned. "So, Tsunade has taken a disciple…"
"Yeah," Yusuke replied lightly. "Anyway, keep training, Sasuke. You'll need it."
He brought his hands together into a seal.
"Summoning Jutsu."
A massive serpent erupted from the floor, coiling and snarling—Manda.
"How dare you summon me without reason!" Manda roared, eyes flashing with murderous rage. "Do you have any idea what price you must pay to call me forth?!"
"It wasn't me," Orochimaru said calmly. "He's the one who summoned you."
Manda turned—and froze.
"It's me," Yusuke said, still smiling.
"Human fool! To summon me, you'll need a hundred sacrifices!" Manda bellowed arrogantly.
"Oh? Negotiating, are we?" Yusuke raised an eyebrow.
He slowly lifted his right hand, his eyes glowing faintly. Light rippled outward, bathing the entire chamber in blinding radiance.
"What… what is this?" Manda hissed, his scales rippling with unease.
"Nothing," Yusuke said quietly. "You're just too arrogant."
A crushing wave of spiritual pressure filled the room, forcing Manda's head down until it scraped the floor.
"You… how dare you toy with me!?" Manda struggled—but realized with horror that he couldn't even dispel his own summoning.
"Manda," Orochimaru said, his tone perfectly calm, "no matter what Yusuke-kun does… none of us can stop him."
"Let's play a little," Yusuke said, drawing his blade—Enma, the Black Sword.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. He could sense the terrifying energy radiating from it.
"W–wait! What are you planning to—"
Before Manda could finish, Yusuke vanished from sight.
A moment later, Manda's enormous body was sliced into countless pieces—then, with a flick of Yusuke's hand, each segment reassembled incorrectly.
His tail grew from his head. His eyes were stitched into his belly. It was a grotesque, impossible sight.
"Now," Yusuke said softly, his tone mockingly polite. "Still feeling proud?"
Manda's will broke instantly. "N–No! I'll never defy you again!"
"Good." Yusuke nodded, satisfied, and restored Manda's body with a casual wave.
"Now leave."
Manda vanished the instant the summoning was released, too terrified to speak another word.
From the remnants of that summoning, Yusuke traced the faint Chakra signature leading toward Ryūchi Cave. Even with powerful barriers in place, it would pose no problem for him.
"Well, Snake-ojisan, I'm off to Ryūchi Cave. See you around."
"Until next time, Yusuke-kun," Orochimaru replied with a smile that was equal parts admiration and fear.
"See you too, little Sasuke." Yusuke gave the boy a lazy wave.
"S–See you… Yusuke-sensei," Sasuke replied weakly, clearly praying not to become the next experiment.
Yusuke disappeared in a flash.
A heartbeat later, he reappeared before a massive cavern shrouded in mist. Carved above the entrance were three kanji: 『龍地洞』—Ryūchi Cave.
He whistled softly. "Creepy place… way worse than Mount Myōboku."
From the fog, a figure appeared—a beautiful woman with the lower body of a serpent. Her movements were graceful, her smile sweet but sharp.
"Welcome, Challenger," she said with a bow.
"Oh? A snake woman? Figures. Ryūchi Cave does love its eccentric forms," Yusuke said, eyes sweeping over her.
"To enter, you must pass a trial," she explained.
"A trial, huh? And if I refuse?"
"Then you'll become food for the snakes here," she said coolly.
Yusuke smirked. "Guess I'll have to force my way in, then."
His tone dropped, eyes glinting dangerously. "Take me to the White Snake Sage. Or I'll burn this entire cave to ash."
"You dare threaten—" The woman's voice warped, her face stretching and twisting into that of a monstrous serpent.
Yusuke sighed. "You snakes really are annoying."
He lifted his hand.
"Three Thousand Degrees: Merciless Sun."
A miniature sun flared into existence in his palm, radiating searing heat. The air shimmered; the stone beneath their feet began to melt.
"Legend says snakes hate sunlight," Yusuke said, stepping forward casually.
Himeko—the snake woman—began to sweat profusely, her Senjutsu Chakra barely shielding her from the burning heat.
"Y–You… who are you…?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
That glowing sphere—she could tell. If he threw it, Ryūchi Cave would cease to exist.
"Enough."
A regal voice echoed from the depths of the cave.
Yusuke smiled faintly. "Finally decided to speak, huh?"
"I can sense the Senjutsu Chakra of Shikkotsu Forest and Mount Myōboku within you," the voice said. "You seek to master the Senjutsu of Ryūchi Cave, don't you? Very well. I will teach you—if you cease your attack."
"Heh… if you'd said that earlier, I wouldn't have bothered," Yusuke replied, dispersing the blazing orb.
"This way, please," Himeko said quickly, her tone now completely deferential.
She didn't dare provoke him again. Bowing slightly, she turned and led Yusuke deeper into the heart of Ryūchi Cave—where the legendary White Snake Sage awaited.
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