Ninja World: I, Kisame Hoshigaki, am no longer human!

At this point, his mastery of divine power had become even more refined, allowing him to escape into another dimension at any time. As long as he didn't court death, no one could kill him.

Whoosh.

Obito leaped backward, a mocking smile playing on his lips, before slamming his palm into the ground.

Rumble.

The next second, amidst the violent tremors of the ground, numerous trees were uprooted. As if they were alive, they bared their fangs and claws, flying towards the White Serpent Immortal and his three Serpent Queen subordinates, coiling around their massive serpent bodies.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Obito appeared beside Nagato in a flash and said to the latter, "Come with me."

As he spoke, he reached out and pressed Nagato's shoulder, intending to use Kamui's power to take the latter into another dimension so that they could escape Ryuchi Cave.

For Obito, Nagato, who transplanted Madara Uchiha's Rinnegan, was the key to realizing the Eye of the Moon Plan and was the most important piece in his hand.

We absolutely cannot let Nagato fall into the hands of the White Snake Sage, or even be eaten by him.

However, just as Obito's hand was about to touch Nagato's shoulder—

A violent surge of ocular power suddenly emanated from Nagato's Rinnegan, forming a powerful repulsive force around his body.

Shinra Tensei!

boom.

Caught off guard, Obito was hit squarely by Shinra Tensei, flying dozens of meters backward and crashing into a temple wall.

"Nagato, you..." Orochimaru, who was standing nearby, was quite surprised to see this.

"I want to stay and learn Sage Mode," Nagato said calmly. Despite witnessing Danzo's death, he finally made up his mind.

This period of experience made Nagato realize one thing deeply.

In this world, only power matters.

Once he masters the Sage Mode of Ryuchi Cave, he will gain immense power. At that time, neither Obito nor Orochimaru will be able to threaten, exploit, or manipulate him.

For Yahiko and Konan, for the Akatsuki organization, for freedom, he had to stay; there was no turning back.

Not far away, in the ruins formed by the collapse of the wall.

"Damn it, cough cough... What on earth is that bastard Nagato thinking?!"

Obito pushed aside the rubble that was pressing down on him, cursed as he stood up, and coughed up blood.

If he hadn't received a transplant of Hashirama cells, which gave him powerful regenerative abilities, that Shinra Tensei attack would have been enough to paralyze him.

Nagato really went all out; he wanted him dead.

Thinking of this, Obito's gaze turned icy, and he was burning with rage.

However, he won't have a chance to settle scores with Nagato this time, because the White Snake Sage and Snake Princess have both broken free from the Wood Release's restraints, and they are even angrier than Obito.

"Eat this guy!"

The three snake princesses charged at Obito together. Some flew into the air, some became invisible, and others used illusions. In short, they used various methods to capture this rude person who had offended the White Snake Sage.

"I'm too lazy to play with you guys."

Obito snorted coldly, knowing that he had missed his chance to take Nagato away and had no choice but to give up.

Before he could finish speaking, his body twisted as if he had been sucked into a spatial vortex and disappeared in front of the three snake goddesses.

"Oh no! Yahiko and Konan are still outside Ryuchi Cave!"

Seeing Obito leave, Nagato suddenly realized that he must have gone to kidnap Yahiko and Konan. He immediately rushed out of the temple in a panic.

"Don't let that brat get away!"

Seeing that Obito had escaped and Nagato seemed to be running away as well, the three Snake Princesses immediately shouted and gave chase.

A short while later.

Clang.

Nagato burst open the gate to Ryuchi Cave, only to find it deserted. Yahiko and Konan, who were supposed to be waiting for him there, were nowhere to be seen.

It was obvious that a brief battle had just taken place here, as there were traces of Wood Release ninjutsu on the ground. Besides that, there was… a paper crane.

Nagato was startled and hurriedly walked to the paper crane and picked it up.

This was the signal left by Konan; she and Yahiko had indeed been captured by Obito.

Nagato was in a state of utter confusion.

At this moment, the three snake princesses also came out. When they saw Nagato's back standing there motionless, their eyes flashed with ferocity, and they all pounced on him.

But the next second, without turning his head, Nagato unleashed a powerful repulsive force from within his body, sending all three Snake Princesses flying.

Amidst their screams, they crashed into the gate, pillars, and signboard of Yongji Cave before falling to the ground, leaving a mess.

"That wretched brat!"

The three snake princesses struggled to their feet, ready to fight Nagato to the death, when suddenly the voice of the White Snake Sage came from behind them: "Stop it, all of you!"

The White Snake Sage, now transformed back into an old woman, emerged from Ryuchi Cave accompanied by Orochimaru, her henchman.

The White Snake Immortal stopped a few meters away from Nagato, their eyes meeting.

After a moment of silence.

"Little guy, if I'm not mistaken, those eyes of yours are the legendary Rinnegan, aren't they?"

The White Snake Immortal spoke first, asking with a smile, his previous kind expression returning.

"That's right, this is the Rinnegan. Does even the White Snake Sage covet my eyes?" Nagato lifted his bangs and asked calmly.

He was extremely vigilant, ready at any moment to summon the demonic statue of the heretic and fight to the death with the opponent.

“Little one, you’ve misunderstood. The Rinnegan is rare in the world, but it’s useless to me. I’m just surprised that you have the same eyes as the Sage of Six Paths back then.”

The White Snake Immortal shook his head and said slowly.

Upon hearing the name Sage of Six Paths, Nagato was taken aback and instinctively asked, "You know the Sage of Six Paths?"

"Of course I know him. Don't forget, I'm an old man who's lived for over a thousand years."

As the White Snake Sage boasted, a look of reminiscence crossed its face. "Hundreds of years ago, I witnessed the Sage of Six Paths create peace and maintain order and tranquility in this world. He possessed immense power and spirit, and was an extraordinary ninja."

When the Sage of Six Paths was mentioned, even the White Snake Sage couldn't help but feel admiration.

"And you, Nagato."

The White Snake Sage gazed at Nagato again and said with delight, "When I first saw you, I thought you were the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths, your temperament is so similar. So, how could I possibly hurt you, little one?"

Its words eased Nagato's tense nerves slightly, making him less wary.

Orochimaru, whose eyes flashed, saw that the time was right and stepped forward to speak to the White Snake Sage:

"You may not know this, but Nagato's former teacher was the current Fourth Hokage, Jiraiya, who was the representative of Mount Myōboku. The Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku once prophesied that Jiraiya would find the legendary Child of Prophecy, who would one day change the ninja world and bring true peace to it. Now it seems that the Child of Prophecy is none other than Nagato."

"Oh, is that so? That guy Gamamaru is starting to plot again."

Upon hearing this, the White Snake Immortal's eyes gleamed, and many ideas immediately formed in his mind.

173. Orochimaru and Nagato's Reincarnation

Hundreds of years ago, when the Sage of Six Paths was learning sage techniques, the reason he didn't choose Ryuchi Cave or Shikkotsu Forest but instead entered Mt. Myoboku was because he was tricked by Gamamaru with sweet words.

After that, Gamamaru became sworn brothers with the Sage of Six Paths, and for a long time, Mount Myōboku became the foremost of the three holy lands.

Now, is Gamamaru trying to use the same trick again, to raise Nagato, the prophesied child, into a second Sage of Six Paths?

Thinking of this, the White Snake Immortal sneered inwardly; it wouldn't let Toad Pill succeed so easily.

Then, it smiled kindly at Nagato and tempted him:

“Little one, I heard from Orochimaru that you want to learn the Sage Techniques of Ryuchi Cave? Don’t worry, as long as you agree to become my successor, I will teach you carefully and pass on the complete Sage Techniques of Ryuchi Cave to you.”

Upon hearing this, Nagato looked surprised.

The White Snake Immortal's sudden enthusiasm made him feel very uncomfortable, and he couldn't help but wonder what the other party was up to.

"Little guy, don't overthink it. My purpose is simple: I just want to use you to prove that Ryuchi Cave's Sage Arts are no worse than those of Mount Myōboku, and also to give that old man Gamamaru a good scolding."

The White Snake Sage seemed to have seen through Nagato's thoughts and said with a sly look.

However, after thinking for a moment, it added a requirement for Nagato, which was—

After Nagato graduated as the successor of Ryuchi Cave, he had to challenge and defeat the successors of the other two holy lands, namely the Hokage Jiraiya and the Mizukage Kisame Hoshigaki.

The White Snake Immortal wanted Nagato to prove to the world that Ryuchi Cave was the foremost of the three holy lands and possessed the strongest immortal techniques.

After hearing what the White Snake Sage said, Nagato fell silent.

Jiraiya was his mentor, who taught him to become a ninja; Kisame was a demigod in the ninja world and is currently recognized as the strongest ninja in the world.

Even if Nagato learns the Sage Mode, defeating these two will be no easy task.

Especially Kisame Hoshigaki, whose strength rivals that of Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi. And let's not forget, Kisame and Nagato were the same age.

As Nagato progresses rapidly, Kisame's strength will inevitably increase by leaps and bounds, becoming stronger and stronger.

"Whoo~"

Nagato pondered for a long time, took a deep breath, and finally replied to the White Snake Sage with a firm expression, "I promise you."

"Haha, good." The White Snake Immortal was very happy to hear this.

Seeing this, Orochimaru chimed in at the opportune moment:

"It's already very late. In my opinion, we should let Nagato get a good night's rest and recharge. Starting tomorrow, the White Snake Sage can teach him immortal techniques."

"Hmm, that's a good suggestion."

The White Snake Sage nodded and then instructed Orochimaru to show Nagato around Ryuchi Cave before they went to their rooms to rest.

It itself, however, returned to the temple surrounded by three snake princesses.

The gate to Ryūchi-dong slowly closed.

Shortly afterward, as the space fluctuated, Obito and Zetsu reappeared outside Ryuchi Cave.

"Obito, what are you going to do now?" Zetsu asked.