A thousand years ago, after ambushing Isshiki, Kaguya Otsutsuki alone picked the Chakra Fruit and consumed it, thus earning her the title of Goddess of the Shinju.
Kaguya Otsutsuki, having just obtained immense power, should have been kind and benevolent. Otherwise, the "Book of Facts" would not have recorded "Under the blessings of countless humans, the brothers Otsutsuki Hagoromo were born."
At that time, the ninja world could not yet be called the ninja world. Apart from Kaguya Otsutsuki and her children who inherited a portion of her power, the people of this world had clearly not mastered the extraordinary power of chakra.
It was not until the Six Paths Sage founded the Ninja Sect that the profession of ninja was born in the ninja world.
Chakra then truly became deeply ingrained, shaping the initial form of the ninja world, and continuing to this day.
So, a thousand years ago, during the long period before the Otsutsuki clan arrived, when facing monsters like Zero-Tails and Gedo, which originated in the ninja world, did humanity have no power to resist?
The answer was clearly yes!
This question leads us to a powerful force native to the ninja world: natural energy, which was later called Sage Mode by ninjas.
While there might have been many places to cultivate Sage Mode a thousand years ago, after the rampaging Ten-Tails unleashed a disaster that nearly destroyed the ninja world, only three places remain where humans can find the opportunity to practice Sage Mode.
Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest.
These three places, now known as sacred lands, may not have been as mysterious a thousand years ago as people in the current ninja world imagine.
Look at the humans in Mount Myōboku who were assimilated into stone frogs by natural energy during their Sage Mode training, and look at the piles of white bones in Ryūchi Cave; all these prove how many people went to these two sacred lands, hoping to gain the power of Sage Mode through cultivation.
...
At the border between the Land of Bears and the Land of Demons.
Orochimaru spent nearly twenty days, traveling from the Land of Fire, traversing most of the territories of the Land of Rain, the Land of Birds, and the Land of Bears. Relying on fragmented memories, he finally found a cave entrance that continuously exuded the aura of natural energy.
"Ryūchi Cave, long time no see!"
Cold, cruel, chaotic...
Various negative emotions emitted by serpentine creatures, mixed with natural energy, rushed towards Orochimaru standing at the cave entrance.
Sensing these abundant negative energies, rarely seen elsewhere, the Dark Chakra sealed within his body immediately became active. Through deliberately left gaps, it instinctively absorbed them greedily.
The Dark Chakra within his body grew rapidly, compressed and transformed by the surrounding Yin-Yang Release power, slowly becoming strands of pure Yin-Yang Release energy, which then dispersed into Orochimaru's body.
This was a new way Orochimaru had devised to utilize the Dark Chakra in the nearly month and a half since he obtained it.
He normally did not deploy the Dark Chakra, instead using it as a power source for rapid transformation. This way, it eliminated the hidden danger of overly mixed power within his body and saved him the process of converting his own chakra into Yin-Yang Release.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, feeling the continuously growing Yin-Yang Release energy within him for a moment, and a satisfied smile curved his lips. He leisurely walked into the cave, which resembled a gaping abyss.
As soon as he entered, Orochimaru felt as if he had stepped into another world.
The ground was damp, and the air was chilling.
Without even using his senses, the emotions of numerous serpentine creatures lurking in the darkness appeared in Orochimaru's mind. He casually channeled the chakra in his body, and the immense power immediately made the small serpentine creatures lower their heads in submission, retracting their cold, cruel gazes and flickering tongues.
...
Deep within Ryūchi Cave, in a spacious cavern resembling a temple.
The figure of the White Snake Sage slowly emerged from the Sage's throne. Her face, like that of an old woman, showed a smile. She picked up the pipe placed by the armrest, lit it, and took a slow puff.
"Tsurara-hime, Ichikishima-hime, Tagitsu-hime!"
"Come to me!"
The White Snake Sage exhaled a puff of smoke and casually leaned back on her throne, closing her eyes as if dozing.
Moments later, three graceful figures abruptly appeared before the White Snake Sage. They bowed respectfully and called out in unison:
"Great Sage, what are your orders?"
The White Snake Sage slightly raised her eyelids, looking at the three divine princesses below. Even the wrinkles on her face seemed to carry a smile.
"Mmm..."
"The fated person I've been waiting for has arrived. Go and lead him in."
The three divine princesses had different expressions upon hearing this. The youngest, Tagitsu-hime, unable to contain her curiosity, was the first to speak:
"Great Sage, do you also possess prophecy abilities like that old toad from Mount Myōboku?"
"How do you know someone has arrived? And a fated person at that?"
The White Snake Sage chuckled, looking at this girl who pleased her the most.
"Tagitsu-hime, I didn't become the Great Sage of Ryūchi Cave just because I'm older!"
"My true form has long merged with the entire Ryūchi Cave. As long as I am within Ryūchi Cave, not a single disturbance can escape my senses."
Tagitsu-hime was immediately filled with awe, her gaze towards the Great Sage brimming with adoration.
The White Snake Sage chuckled lightly, brought the pipe to her lips and took a puff before slowly saying:
"As for the fated person..."
"It's not prophecy, merely a guidance I set in motion casually back then. I didn't expect him to actually have the ability to reach here on his own."
"Go and set up a trial!"
"Even if he cannot pass the trial, but..."
"If he holds a token of Ryūchi Cave, you three must not indulge your gluttony, and let him in!"
The three divine princesses exchanged glances, regret evident in their eyes.
However, they could not disobey the Great Sage's command. They bowed to the White Snake Sage in unison and slowly disappeared into the air.
...
Casually killing a giant snake that lunged from the darkness, sensing the intense hatred and fear emanating from the snake's death, Orochimaru's smile deepened.
"No wonder the Six Paths Sage sealed Void back then. The Dark Chakra converted solely from the death energy absorbed through killing surpasses the usual absorption of various emotions."
"If Void were allowed to continue growing, the life forms of the ninja world would likely have gone extinct long ago."
Sighing inwardly, he flicked the foul snake blood clinging to his kunai. Orochimaru's expression remained unchanged as he strode towards the brightly lit hall ahead.
"Esteemed guest from afar, are you here to obtain the qualification to cultivate Sage Mode in Ryūchi Cave?"
"You've traveled a long way. Why not come in and rest for a while, and have some food before continuing your journey?"
The door of the hall before him slowly opened. The graceful figure of Tsurara-hime emerged from behind the door, holding an oil lamp. She stood prettily at the entrance, her bright eyes fixed on Orochimaru without blinking.