"No. It must be done on Manda. The Sage herself chose him."
At those words, Manda's expression darkened.
When Orochimaru had considered choosing Kagari instead, Manda had grumbled inwardly, but deep down, he knew the truth—rushing into the operation could very well cost him his life.
Orochimaru's methods were cruel, yes, but he wasn't trying to throw him away like some expendable tool.
But now, with the White Snake Sage personally naming him, a chill ran through his coils.
Especially since earlier—when Orochimaru had pretended to force the operation—the Sage didn't intervene at all.
Still, the facts were what they were. Manda said nothing. He didn't dare complain. He didn't even dare show resistance.
The power structure of Ryuchi Cave was simple: beneath the White Snake Sage stood the Three Snake Princesses. Manda and Kagari ranked just a step below them.
But even if all the other snakes in the cave joined forces, they still wouldn't match the power of the White Snake Sage.
Her word was absolute.
"The Sage appointed Manda?" Orochimaru echoed, frowning slightly. "It's not impossible… but the operation is extremely dangerous."
He didn't outright reject it. He was already beginning to understand the reason.
Ryuchi Cave was split into two major research fields, divided by an invisible line. While the side under the Sage focused on the 'Molting' project, the other half had its own significance.
Because in Ryuchi Cave, the strongest warrior was not Manda—not even close. It was the White Snake Sage herself, who had existed since the very origin of the cave.
Sage Arts were merely the byproduct of a perfect balance between chakra and natural energy, refined through countless years of erosion.
All other snakes learned Sage Arts only after the White Snake Sage had discovered them.
But if a new path of transformation could be forged through a warrior like Manda—a different way to reach that power—it would be invaluable.
In comparison, Manda's life meant little.
He was just a particularly tall weed in a field that could always regrow.
Orochimaru, being human, still had to worry about things like lifespan. He couldn't afford to casually throw away his combat power, which was why he'd always relied on manipulation—balancing kindness with pressure to control the hearts of snakes.
Orochimaru had judged his actions through the lens of a human mind. But he forgot that the Sage was a snake—cold-blooded and ruthlessly pragmatic.
This experiment could afford to be bold.
As long as it yielded results.
Understanding this, Orochimaru nodded slowly and said again, "The procedure is extremely risky. I can't guarantee a way to reduce that risk anytime soon."
Manda shuddered. But the three Snake Princesses showed no emotion at all.
Their message was clear.
This operation would proceed—no matter what.
It was the White Snake Sage's decree.
Orochimaru didn't bother with any more empty promises like "I would never risk Manda's life." Instead, he changed the subject.
"The true danger of this operation lies in natural energy. If we can control it, the chance of success will increase significantly."
The three Snake Princesses exchanged glances. Tagorihime narrowed her eyes and asked, "Orochimaru, what are you after?"
This was both an operation and an experiment. Success was preferable, but failure was always part of the game.
Orochimaru licked his lips. "It's simple. Teach me Sage Art."
Tagorihime frowned, suspecting this was just a ploy to steal the method of Sage cultivation. She was about to refuse when a voice echoed in her mind.
She paused, then spoke: "The Sage has agreed—but you will only receive the technique after the operation succeeds. As for controlling the natural energy…"
The two Snake Princesses beside her stepped forward in unison. "We will assist."
"…"
Orochimaru's lips tightened. He wanted to refuse, but couldn't find a reason. These three had practiced Sage Arts for countless years—their control over natural energy far surpassed any novice.
Still, it was a shame he couldn't learn the art before the procedure began.
Licking his lips again, Orochimaru leapt onto Manda's massive body and, using the Lamp God's vision, quickly located the core of Manda's chakra flow.
He maneuvered Manda into a coiled position and turned to the three Princesses. "Before we begin, do whatever it takes. Control the natural energy in Manda's body."
Without a word, the three Snake Princesses floated onto Manda. They shared a look—and their faces twisted into a feral, terrifying expression.
Like a shinobi entering Sage Mode, thick shadowed markings bloomed around their eyes and their teeth sharpened. But unlike humans, they needed no hand seals. With a simple motion, they clasped their hands together—and invoked Sage Art.
Each of them extended a tail, piercing through Manda's thick scales as if they were nothing.
To any observer, it looked like conduits had formed between the snakes—connecting them as one. A soft white glow began to pulse across all four bodies.
The process was clearly painful. Manda let out a low, strained growl but didn't scream—a testament to his stubborn will.
Moments later, Tagorihime gave Orochimaru a nod.
"We've stabilized the natural energy."
Without hesitation, Orochimaru placed a new nutrient core near Manda's heart—and began the injection of the first-generation cell fusion serum.
"Aaahhh—!"
A shriek burst from Manda's throat. The terror of the first-generation cells was as fierce as ever.
Rapid cell proliferation. Spiking heart rate. Yet, despite the agony, Manda held on. He curled tightly into himself, enduring the pain in silence.
The three Snake Princesses remained composed. Even the youngest—Tamakihime and Yugahime—glanced at Orochimaru with the faintest smirks, as if mocking his earlier warnings.
But Orochimaru ignored them. His eyes were locked on the chakra monitor, carefully tracking the rising patterns of the first-generation cells. At the same time, he observed the flow of natural energy through the Lamp God's vision—his hand poised to inject the cell inhibitors at a moment's notice.
He knew better than anyone: this early stability was deceptive.
The real danger would come once the cell count crossed a critical threshold—when they began interacting directly with natural energy.
And sure enough, the moment arrived.
The first-generation cells surged into exponential growth. Manda let out a spine-chilling howl.
The expressions of the three Princesses darkened—they were losing control.
The cells, driven by primal instinct, were now manipulating the natural energy better than the Princesses could.
So much for their earlier confidence.
In response, the three Snake Princesses quickly folded their hands again, injecting their own Sage Chakra directly into Manda to suppress the rampaging cells.
At the same time, Orochimaru acted. He injected the inhibitor without hesitation.
Manda's body eased slightly. With a roar, he seized the chance to activate the shedding technique—forcing his body to adapt and survive.
__________________
Support me on patreon and read
1)Insect princess from Konoha
2)Second girls journey in Naruto
3)Orochimaru's Magic lamp
patreon.com/Silver757