Naruto: Reborn with the Tenseigan

The sticky mucus covering the ground caused Jiraiya to slip and fall, while Orochimaru and Sakumo stood steady.

Upon seeing the colossal Slug Sage, Orochimaru seemed prepared, but Sakumo's wide-eyed stare revealed his awe. He had seen plenty of summoned creatures before, but never one this massive.

"Hello, Slug Sage," Takashi greeted, raising his hand.

"Hello, little Takashi," the Slug Sage replied, lowering its enormous head. The sheer size of the creature dimmed the surroundings as if something monumental had blocked out the sky.

"So huge… even bigger than the toads of Mount Myoboku," Jiraiya muttered, gesturing instinctively. While Mount Myoboku housed some massive toads, none could compare to the Slug Sage's immense scale.

Orochimaru shared the sentiment. The serpents of Ryuchi Cave felt like small garden snakes in comparison to this titan.

After exchanging greetings, Takashi got straight to the point.

"Slug Sage, I'd like you to test their aptitude for learning Sage Arts. Please, take your time with the process."

"???"

The straightforward Slug Sage took the request at face value, assuming it came directly from Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Sakumo.

"Take time?"

While Jiraiya and Sakumo didn't quite grasp the implications, Orochimaru's expression shifted. He sensed something ominous.

The next moment, the gigantic Slug Sage lowered its head and swallowed the three whole.

Takashi had experienced this before, and now the three of them got to enjoy the same treatment. To honor the "special request" for an extended process, the Slug Sage made sure the experience lasted far longer.

The Slug Sage, being straightforward and unfamiliar with rejecting requests, fulfilled what it believed to be the guests' wishes.

Take your time…

"HAHAHAHA!" Takashi couldn't contain his laughter as he watched the trio get swallowed. He doubled over, clutching his stomach as tears streamed down his face.

After some time, the Slug Sage opened its mouth and spat the three back out. Covered in slimy mucus, the trio slid across the sticky ground like bowling balls, only stopping when they collided with a large tree.

Cough, cough!

The three scrambled to their feet, bending over as they hacked and sputtered, mucus dripping from their mouths. The sensation was suffocating, and the slimy liquid carried a strange odor that made them gag.

"Cough! Takashi, you're awful! Cough! I feel like I'm dying! Never again!" Jiraiya wheezed, on the verge of throwing up.

Sakumo wasn't faring much better, though Orochimaru, with his resilience, managed to recover quickly after a brief coughing fit.

"Hahaha, wasn't that fun?" Takashi teased.

"You shut up! I'll never trust you again!" Jiraiya wiped tears from his eyes as he tried to steady his breathing.

What kind of ridiculous test was this? Even the toads at Mount Myoboku weren't this outrageous!

The Slug Sage addressed Sakumo with a regretful tone. "I'm sorry, but you don't have the aptitude to learn Sage Arts. As for you," it turned to Jiraiya, "your aptitude is average at best. Learning Sage Arts would be slow and arduous for you—and dangerous."

Sakumo had no aptitude, while Jiraiya had limited potential. His journey to mastering Sage Arts would be long and fraught with challenges.

"As for you…"

The Slug Sage's massive gaze turned to Orochimaru. "I once sensed your presence near Tsunade. You also carry the scent of Ryuchi Cave."

Orochimaru answered honestly, "I have a summoning contract with Manda from Ryuchi Cave."

"I see," the Slug Sage acknowledged. "You have good aptitude. I believe the Sage Arts of Ryuchi Cave would suit you."

I have good aptitude? Orochimaru blinked, surprised by the evaluation. "Can I learn the Sage Arts of the Shikkotsu Forest instead?"

"I'm sorry," the Slug Sage said, shaking its head. "There's an agreement among the Three Great Lands. Those with contracts in one cannot study the Sage Arts of another. If you wish to learn Sage Arts, you must turn to the Great White Snake."

"As for you" it continued, addressing Jiraiya. "Stick with the toads at Mount Myoboku. Their Sage Arts are well-suited to you."

"Alright," Jiraiya said, accepting the answer without much disappointment. He had always been satisfied with Mount Myoboku, aside from the occasional bug-filled feasts.

Meanwhile, Sakumo silently cleaned the mucus from his body. Of the four who came, three had some aptitude for Sage Arts, but he had none. It stung—a blow to someone who had grown up labeled a prodigy.

"Can't there be an exception?" Orochimaru pressed. Although Manda had been helpful, its unruly nature made it unreliable. The safer, more structured training offered by the Shikkotsu Forest was far more appealing.

"There could be," the Slug Sage admitted, "but it wouldn't be worth it. You're better suited for Ryuchi Cave, and frankly, I don't like your aura."

The leaders of the Three Sacred Lands, having lived for countless ages, could easily assess a person's essence. The Slug Sage found Orochimaru's character… problematic.

Orochimaru's expression darkened. He could accept rejection, but the Slug Sage's bluntness was a heavy blow.

Cough! Takashi intervened, explaining, "The Slug Sage is straightforward by nature. It speaks its mind and doesn't sugarcoat anything."

"Hmm." Orochimaru nodded, his demeanor cooling as he forced himself to accept the explanation.

Yet, sometimes, the truth cuts deeper than lies.

"Hehehe, arrogant Orochimaru," Jiraiya teased, grinning ear to ear. "Looks like Ryuchi Cave's snakes will adore you—you both love playing with snakes!"

Never one to miss an opportunity to mock Orochimaru, Jiraiya reveled in the moment.

"Slug Sage, could you send us back now?" Takashi interjected. Orochimaru's patience was wearing thin, and it was only a matter of time before he lashed out.

Under normal circumstances, Orochimaru would brush off Jiraiya's taunts. But having been rejected twice and openly disliked by the Slug Sage, his frustration was nearing a breaking point. Jiraiya's constant teasing was like gasoline on a fire.

Sigh. Some people really don't know when to stop.

Poof!

A cloud of smoke signaled their return from the Shikkotsu Forest to the camp.

Back in his quarters, Takashi wasted no time kicking the three out of his room.