Ichikishimahime had a flat chest and a lively personality, quite different from Tagorihime. The latter, when not revealing her true nature, came across as a gentle and elegant, while Ichikishimahime was bursting with energy.
Kiyosuke turned around and gave her a quick once-over, his face showing clear disinterest.
"Hey! Brat! I get the feeling you’re thinking something really rude," Ichikishimahime said, picking up on the disdain in his eyes.
"Not at all. For some people, someone like you might be a real treasure," Kiyosuke replied, giving her a thumbs-up.
That only made her feel worse, but she gave a cough and smiled anyway.
"Come with me."
She floated ahead while Kiyosuke followed closely behind.
The two arrived in a softly glowing underground cave. Just as they stepped inside, a stone door suddenly slammed shut behind them, cutting off the way out.
Ichikishimahime giggled.
"My test is simple—just get out of here."
Simple enough. Just leave. But... how?
The door was locked. No key in sight.
He gave the thick stone a few slaps, then threw a punch at it.
It didn’t budge.
He ignited flames on his fist and struck it again. Still nothing.
"...Something’s wrong. Those two attacks shouldn’t have used up that much chakra." Sensing the rapid drain inside his body, Kiyosuke realized something was off.
"Oh? Noticed already?" Ichikishimahime’s face shifted into that of a snake. She grinned. "I’m actually a very honest person. So let me put it this way—I can forcefully drain your chakra. The longer you’re in here, the weaker you’ll get. Eventually, you’ll collapse, and then I can feast on your body and chakra."
What a horrible line...
He knocked on the stone door again. A dull echo answered back—yep, this thing was seriously thick.
"Huh? What’s this..." He felt a breeze coming through the gap under the door. So there was an opening.
He turned to Ichikishimahime and asked, "So you’re saying that if I escape this cave, I pass the test?"
"Of course. The other side of that stone door leads out. If you can break through it before your chakra runs dry, you’re free to go," she replied with a nod.
But no way this kid could break down that door. Very few shinobi could, especially while having their chakra forcefully drained. Most ended up as her dinner.
"Alright, but no cheating, got it?" Kiyosuke placed a hand against the door’s gap.
Ichikishimahime raised an eyebrow.
"You trying to pry it open with brute strength? That’s possible, I guess, but your body’s way too small for that."
"I never said I was going to try. I’m not some meathead."
His body transformed entirely into fire and flowed into the door crack.
Flames didn’t have a fixed shape—they could become anything. Kiyosuke had chosen a different path, turning himself into fire and slipping right through the gap.
Ichikishimahime stared, wide-eyed, as the flame-shaped boy gradually faded and disappeared from the cave entirely.
She rubbed her eyes, thinking she might be dreaming.
"You’ve gotta be kidding me..."
With a wave of her hand, Kiyosuke, who had made it outside, suddenly found himself surrounded by fog again—this time in a different part of the cave.
Ichikishimahime floated over. "What’s up with your body, kid?"
"It’s kind of like the Hydrification Jutsu used by the Hozuki Clan, but mine turns into fire instead of water," Kiyosuke said plainly, leaving out nothing.
"I’m making the next one airtight." She grabbed his cheek and puffed hers up in frustration.
"You annoying brat... I was going to eat you."
Don’t say something so terrifying with such a cute face!
"This one’s on me. You passed my test—though technically, you cheated," Ichikishimahime admitted, her body beginning to fade.
As she started to disappear, Kiyosuke quickly asked, "Wait! Where do I go now?"
"No need to walk."
From behind him, a beautiful woman in shrine maiden robes silently drifted out of the fog. Her face shifted into that of a snake, and she sank her teeth into his shoulder.
But—
A burst of flame erupted, forcing her to retreat.
"What is with your body?" she demanded, staring at the fire rising from Kiyosuke’s shoulder.
Ichikishimahime, who had been fading, suddenly solidified again. Laughing, she said,
"Ahaha, Tagitsuhime, even you messed up, huh? This kid’s really something—his body can turn into fire!"
Tagitsuhime had been burned, but the affected area healed quickly. She clicked her tongue.
"Tch. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?"
"You chomped down before I even got the chance to warn you," Ichikishimahime said, throwing up her hands in exasperation.
"I was gonna say something, but you were too fast."
Tagitsuhime turned back into a beautiful woman and smiled.
"This trial tests your heart."
As she spoke, her face transformed again into a snake’s.
"Fail, and I’ll eat you. Now come on, be a good boy and let me take a bite."
She’s got quite the presence!
"I refuse!"
Kiyosuke adopted an exaggerated old-man scowl.
"No way I’m letting you bite me! What if I get poisoned and can’t fight back?"
"I’m Tagitsuhime, a disciple of the White Snake Sage! I wouldn’t poison you!"
He backed away, arms crossed over his chest.
"You’re clearly up to no good! I have to think about my personal safety!"
"Heh... This is entertaining. Tagitsuhime, what now?" Ichikishimahime asked with glee, clearly enjoying someone else failing for once.
So this is what a toxic sisterhood looks like? Honestly, I love it.
"Don’t underestimate me!"
Tagitsuhime suddenly darted forward. Kiyosuke tried to retreat, but the ground beneath him shifted—stone rose up and locked his legs in place like a prison.
Just as he considered turning into fire again, she reached him, grabbed his arms, and bit into his neck.
The flames rose once more, but this time, they turned a faint purple.
Tagitsuhime spoke calmly.
"Your flames are chakra-based. All I have to do is convert my toxin into chakra, and it’ll work on you. These flames pose no threat to us."
Toxic chakra surged through Kiyosuke’s body. He felt all his strength leaving him.
Then the Tagitsuhime in front of him transformed into Orochimaru.
The snake-like man licked his lips and said,
"What an unusual body structure... and a unique Kekkei Genkai too. You’d be fascinating to dissect."
What the hell?! This genjutsu is way too realistic!
He was terrified Orochimaru might actually haul him onto an operating table!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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