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The Land of Water doesn't border any other countries and is quite remote. Plus, Uchiha Kagami wasn't feeling well and his legs were weak, so they wasted a lot of time along the way. During their downtime, Mizuno often chatted with Ryūkotsu and Uchiha Kagami, gaining a lot of information.
I have to say, the rich experience of these ninjas broadened Mizuno's horizons.
Over the course of a few days, Mizuno became quite familiar with Ryūkotsu. He discovered that beneath this man's effeminate exterior, he actually had a warm heart. Mizuno's questions became increasingly deep.
"Ryūkotsu," Mizuno asked as they walked. "I heard from the Third Hokage that you and the White Snake Lady didn't learn the Sage Art of the Ryūchi Cave, right?"
Ryūkotsu nodded. "The Sage Art of the Ryūchi Cave is very difficult to learn. You need a certain foundation. Besides that, there's another key condition."
Mizuno asked, "What condition?"
"Constitution," Ryūkotsu explained. "The Ryūchi Cave is not a place that ordinary people can enter. Training also requires an extraordinary constitution. According to the White Snake Sage, a single body is far from enough."
These words left Mizuno a little confused.
"Single body?"
Ryūkotsu nodded. "It's about your innate body. Most people are single-body, single-soul. But there are some rare cases, like having two souls in one body, or one soul in multiple bodies..."
"Wait, wait, wait, wait..." Mizuno became more and more confused.
What's a single body, two souls, one soul, multiple bodies? Why am I getting more and more confused?
Isn't this a Naruto world I transmigrated to? Why are you talking to me like it's a cultivation novel?
Ryūkotsu laughed. "Actually, it's complicated to explain. It's very simple to give an example. For instance, the First Hokage's wife, Uzumaki Mito, was a single body with two souls. Besides herself, the Nine-Tailed Fox's consciousness was also within her."
As soon as he said this, Mizuno understood.
Isn't that a Jinchūriki? What's a single body, two souls, etc...
He suddenly realized that he had used Shiki Fujin to seal Kinkaku. Although it was said that he had killed Kinkaku, to be precise, he now had a single body with two souls.
No wonder Sarutobi had asked him to try the Ryūchi Cave. Other people simply couldn't do it.
Thinking about this, Mizuno remembered Kabuto Yakushi from the original story. Kabuto Yakushi used technology to alter himself, giving him not only his own abilities, but also the abilities of Tayuya, Jirōbō, Kidomaru, Zōri, etc., and he could even transform his body. This should be what is called one soul, multiple bodies.
No wonder he turned into Stage Two when he used Orochimaru's Sage Art chakra seal. And Stage Two looked like a demon.
Is this all a manifestation of one soul, multiple bodies?
Thinking about this, Mizuno felt that it wasn't impossible for him to master the Ryūchi Cave Sage Art.
"Mizuno, you possess abilities far beyond ordinary people," Ryūkotsu said. "No wonder the Second Hokage and the Third Hokage value you so much. I can clearly sense that you will be a great figure who will influence Konoha and even the entire ninja world."
Mizuno smiled slightly. "Ryūkotsu, don't flatter me. It's not certain if we can even make it out of the Ryūchi Cave alive."
Ryūkotsu looked ahead. "No rush. We'll be there in about three or four days."
The journey, which was originally a week long, had stretched to over half a month because they were carrying Uchiha Kagami, who couldn't walk very well.
"I told you bringing you along would slow us down." Mizuno said to Uchiha Kagami.
Uchiha Kagami rolled his eyes. "Well, we're here now, aren't we?"
In the distance, Mizuno saw a huge canyon. Above the canyon, white mist rolled, obscuring its true form. The mountains seemed to have lush vegetation and towering forests, but they were also indistinct. Below the canyon, water flowed continuously, giving the impression of a hidden sanctuary.
Ryūkotsu led the two of them through twists and turns. The path became narrower and narrower, and the temperature dropped.
"It's amazing that you could find this place." Uchiha Kagami muttered to himself.
"Don't be so impatient," Ryūkotsu said. "We're almost there."
Two white snakes slithered out of the canyon, landing on Mizuno's shoulders, one on each side. The snakes flicked their tongues, but showed no hostility, clearly very docile.
Mizuno was initially uncomfortable, but when he realized that the two white snakes weren't hostile, he actually found them a little cute.
"My wife has arrived." Ryūkotsu said.
A beautiful woman appeared in the canyon. She wore simple clothes and light makeup. Her air was elegant and refined, making a strong impression.
"You're a week late." The White Snake Lady said to Ryūkotsu.
Ryūkotsu was clearly a little embarrassed. "I'm a bit late. Let me introduce you. This is Mizuno. You should know the other one, Uchiha Kagami."
The White Snake Lady nodded to Uchiha Kagami. "Long time no see, kid. I heard the Second Hokage took you as his apprentice."
Uchiha Kagami waved his hand. "Hi, White Snake Lady. It's been a long time indeed."
Then the White Snake Lady came to Mizuno's side. "So, you're Mr. Mizuno. You're truly a young hero. Someone who can kill Kinkaku and Ginkaku is no ordinary person."
Although Mizuno's feat of killing Kinkaku and Ginkaku had spread throughout the ninja world, he didn't expect the White Snake Lady, who lived in such a remote place, to know about it.
The White Snake Lady clearly saw his confusion and smiled slightly. "This place is remote, but it's not isolated from the world. In fact, quite a few people come here."
She winked at Ryūkotsu.
Ryūkotsu glanced at Mizuno and Uchiha Kagami.
Mizuno quickly understood.
Someone has been here?
The White Snake Lady put her index finger to her lips, signaling them not to panic, and continued walking and talking normally. "You two can take a look around. You might not be used to it when you first arrive."
As she spoke, there were rustling sounds in the shadows.
Mizuno noticed that many small snakes were slithering all over the valley, clearly a sensory network laid out by the White Snake Lady.
Thankfully, Mizuno didn't have ophidiophobia, otherwise, he might have died on the spot.
"There are six enemies... no, wait, four people. The other two are your spies." The White Snake Lady whispered to everyone.
Uchiha Kagami couldn't help but feel admiration. The White Snake Lady was truly impressive. She had even detected the two ANBU ninjas they had placed.
"Two are young, two are experienced. One at nine o'clock, two at twelve o'clock, and one behind them." Ryūkotsu's voice also came.
"They really underestimated us," the White Snake Lady laughed. "Newly graduated brats, daring to ambush us in this place."
She suddenly stuck out her tongue, and a hint of terror instantly appeared on her beautiful, fair face.
She really is Orochimaru's mother.
Mizuno thought secretly.
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