Chapter 154: Crimson Demon—White Snake Sage

Chapter 154: Crimson Demon—White Snake Sage

The land was pale, littered with towering bone-like trees.

The dense toxic mist had nearly liquefied, dripping from the skeletal branches.

Shikkotsu Forest—a name that perfectly described this bone-ridden hellscape.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru found it hard to believe—

The gentle, soft-spoken Katsuyu Sage actually lived in such a place.

A place that looked like a nightmare of death and decay.

...

Boom—

The colossal Katsuyu Sage suddenly detonated, splitting into countless smaller slugs.

Each division was as large as a house, radiating immense natural energy.

Even after dispersing into thousands of segments, her main body still loomed like a mountain.

"Starting now—forty-eight hours from this moment—whoever holds a crystal will advance."

"There are no rules beyond that."

"Katsuyu may heal you, or she may attack you."

"You are also free to attack Katsuyu."

Orochimaru's face darkened.

In the legend of the Three Great Summoning Lands, there was a balance—

Toads feared snakes.

Snakes feared slugs.

Slugs feared toads.

This belief was widespread because slug toxins were highly corrosive to snake scales.

The Three Serpent Princesses behind Orochimaru visibly tensed, shifting uncomfortably.

The moment they entered Shikkotsu Forest, they had felt a deep unease—

As if they had been dropped into enemy territory.

The Great Sages of the Summoning Lands were all equal in rank, but only one could leave their sanctuary freely—

The White Snake Sage.

Unlike the elderly Great Toad Sage or the immobile Katsuyu, she was unrestrained.

Her unique evolution had made her a living apex predator.

If she could continue absorbing natural energy, she would eventually ascend into a dragon.

...

And now—

The ground trembled.

BOOM!

A massive white serpent erupted from beneath the ground!

"That's…"

"The White Snake Sage!"

Hashirama's brows furrowed as he pressed his hands together.

"Kagami, is she an enemy?"

Even without activating Sage Mode, Hashirama could sense her immense natural energy.

...

"Unbelievable… you actually summoned the entire Shikkotsu Forest onto the mortal plane!"

"Uchiha Kagami, you are nothing less than the second coming of the Sage of Six Paths!"

The White Snake Sage's voice trembled with excitement.

Among the three Great Sages, only she could freely move.

Unlike the old Great Toad Sage or Katsuyu, her physical state was at its peak.

The path to true ascension was through devouring and fusion.

Much like the Ōtsutsuki clan, who cultivated the Ten-Tails to harvest chakra fruit—

Or Kagami, who absorbed spiritual energy and converted it into chakra.

On a smaller scale, even humans consumed food to sustain themselves.

…

The White Snake Sage had reached a critical threshold.

She needed a massive influx of natural energy to achieve her final evolution.

Originally, she had set her sights on Mount Myōboku.

She had feared the Great Toad Sage's ties to the Sage of Six Paths, so she had waited for the old toad to die before attempting an invasion.

She had never planned to target Shikkotsu Forest.

Katsuyu couldn't leave this realm, but inside her domain, she was invincible.

Even so, now that Shikkotsu Forest had been pulled into the mortal realm…

It was no longer untouchable.

Shikkotsu Forest was now food.

...

The White Snake Sage hungrily absorbed the abundant natural energy, causing the mist to visibly thin.

But then—

Small blue specks began appearing across her white scales.

She had been poisoned.

No matter.

She could neutralize the toxins after a little digestion.

Since Shikkotsu Forest had been summoned here, it was hers for the taking!

She extended her power further—

And then—

Her golden snake pupils were overtaken by a crimson glow.

Three tomoe surfaced in her eyes.

"How rude."

Kagami strolled forward, stepping across the segmented Katsuyu clones, approaching the paralyzed White Snake Sage.

"I didn't say you could start eating yet."

RUMBLE—

The serpent's massive body was ripped from the ground, its coiled mass stretching for miles.

Kagami nodded in satisfaction.

Once fed with a Dragon Vein Crystal, she would finally serve as the next stepping stone.

...

The dim right eye flickered, the four-pointed tomoe forming a thorned crown.

A crimson-black mark burned into the White Snake Sage's forehead.

Crimson Demon.

Absolute Dominion.

The serpent's golden eyes darkened as the red-black seal took hold—

From this moment on, her will belonged to Kagami.

Only a fraction of her true body had surfaced.

The majority of her was still hidden deep within Ryūchi Cave.

But this?

This was more than enough.

Kagami briefly glanced at the moon above.

His lips curved into a smirk.

Wait for me.

I'll be coming for you soon.

…

The White Snake Sage lay submissively before Kagami.

Despite her colossal size, she seemed docile, like a pet awaiting its master's command.

At this point, nothing seemed absurd anymore.

If Uchiha Kagami was involved, even the impossible became reality.

If he could summon an entire Summoning Land, then subjugating the White Snake Sage?

It suddenly seemed reasonable.

...

The Three Serpent Princesses were panicked.

Their supreme leader had just been claimed.

What were they supposed to do now?!

"Lord Kagami… you…"

Tianxin Shenji was once again pushed forward to speak.

She hesitated, unsure how to even phrase her question.

Kagami glanced at her.

"Oh, it's you."

"You did well on your last assignment. Once this is over, you three will take over Ryūchi Cave."

"The White Snake Sage won't be returning."

…

The Three Serpent Princesses stood frozen for a moment.

Then—

"Understood! Ryūchi Cave shall follow your will!"

Kagami waved a hand dismissively.

"Do whatever you want. I don't care."

He had no use for them.

They were entertainers at best.

…

The White Snake Sage's vast body coiled around Katsuyu, while Kagami casually addressed the crowd.

"Well? What are you all staring at?"

"The match has already started."

The shinobi snapped back to reality, realizing that several participants had already disappeared.

A certain white-haired, red-eyed figure had vanished instantly when Kagami tossed the Dragon Vein Crystals into the distance.

Even Orochimaru had already disappeared.

…

Caught off guard by the White Snake Sage's arrival, some had momentarily forgotten their true goal.

Nagato's hands formed a seal, activating his sensory technique.

But then—his expression darkened.

"What's wrong?" Konan asked.

"This environment is too chaotically infused with energy."

"My Rain Tiger Free Flight Technique won't work here."

Kagami briefly studied him.

Nagato's life force was greater than Kushina or Karin's.

Yet he hadn't awakened their Adamantine Sealing Chains.

Was it because of the Rinnegan's influence?

It didn't matter.

With Mokuton, Adamantine Chains wouldn't add much to his power anyway.

Nagato's abilities were already far too numerous.

...

Deep beneath Shikkotsu Forest, in an absolute void, a dim blue flame flickered.

Every soul that had perished in this tournament—

Except for Hiruzen Sarutobi's—

Had been imprisoned here.

Souls made excellent fuel.

---

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