The allure of delicious food is always one of the best ways to launch an attack.
The three Snake Princesses had finished eating all the snakeberries and looked completely satisfied.
"Kid, these berries were delicious. Do you have any more?"
Kazuyama remained unfazed by the three Snake Princesses' frustrated expressions as he calmly announced that there were no more snakeberries.
"You ate all the snakeberries I prepared for the White Snake Sage!"
"And it still wasn't enough!"
The Shameless Emperor was back in action. Kazuyama perfectly captured the despair of someone watching their hard-earned preparations vanish before their eyes.
The three Snake Princesses looked embarrassed.
"That brat… it's true the fruit you brought out was delicious." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚•𝙣𝙚𝙩
"We couldn't help ourselves for a moment..."
Tagorihime felt a little guilty, but the snakeberries were simply too delicious! She was still craving more.
"Hmph! I don't care! You have to compensate me!"
"A Sage of Ryūchi Cave eating without paying—how shameless!"
At this, the three Snake Princesses stiffened. They had come to assess the newcomers, but instead of fulfilling their duty, they had eaten everything.
Just as they were wondering how to handle the situation, a voice echoed from the depths of Ryūchi Cave:
"Very well... bring him over."
The three Snake Princesses trembled slightly, a hint of nervousness appearing on their faces.
Kazuyama, on the other hand, thought to himself, Here it comes.
"Chōmei, get ready. The one you're about to meet is the White Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave."
"If things go south, we make a run for it immediately."
Chōmei had been enjoying watching the Snake Princesses eat and put on a show, still not satisfied with the entertainment. But Kazuyama's voice carried a serious tone, forcing him to put aside his amusement.
With great confidence, Chōmei declared, "Don't worry! With me here, just go with the flow!"
That was oddly reassuring. Having a Tailed Beast at your back made things a lot easier.
"The White Snake Sage has spoken. Kazuyama Gekkō, let's go."
Ichikishimahime was the first to speak, tidying up her appearance. The scuffle over the snakeberries had left her clothes slightly disheveled.
Tagorihime and Tagitsuhime also hurriedly adjusted their outfits before the three of them led Kazuyama deeper into Ryūchi Cave.
After walking for some time, a massive palace came into view.
It was a magnificent sight, but Kazuyama knew better. None of it was real.
The White Snake Sage possessed a unique Genjutsu-based Senjutsu, capable of turning an empty field into a grand temple and even disguising herself as an elderly woman.
"Oh? You can tell it's fake?"
"Kazuyama Gekkō, you're quite sharp."
Suddenly, the palace in front of him shimmered before vanishing into nothingness.
In its place stood an ancient temple, weathered by time. From afar, the massive White Snake Sage watched him in silence.
Kazuyama suddenly felt an invisible force wrapping around him, tightening as if it were probing his very essence.
"Konoha... Jōnin of the Gekkō Clan... Kekkei Genkai: Transparent Escape."
"Disciple of Orochimaru..."
"Heh heh heh... Boy, your talent surpasses even that of Orochimaru back then."
The White Snake Sage's voice was devoid of emotion, making it impossible to discern her thoughts.
Kazuyama instinctively raised his guard.
"Relax. Entering Ryūchi Cave proves you are its successor."
"Only those chosen may arrive through the contract scroll."
"Nothing will happen to you—at least, not before you accept the power of Senjutsu."
Yes, accept the power of Senjutsu. Failure meant death. The three Snake Princesses would devour him without hesitation.
He couldn't afford to be careless.
"Heh heh heh, you are quite vigilant."
"But as you've surely realized, this place is far from Konohagakure."
"Even if you have mastered the Space–Time Ninjutsu technique of Flying Thunder God, the distance is too vast for you to return to Konoha."
"The only way to leave is through the contract scroll."
The moment he arrived at Ryūchi Cave, Kazuyama had instinctively attempted to sense the Flying Thunder God technique. As someone who prioritized safety above all else, he had left a failsafe.
But he had underestimated the situation. As the White Snake Sage said, the three big unexplored sage regions were far beyond Konoha's reach.
There was no way he could escape using the Flying Thunder God technique.
"Kid, most who come to Ryūchi Cave seek Senjutsu."
"Are you truly not interested in learning it?"
As the White Snake Sage finished speaking, Kazuyama felt the natural energy around him intensify.
It was clear—this was her test.
"Hey, hey, White Snake Sage, of course, I want to learn Senjutsu."
"It's just that I don't like taking risks. If I fail, I might end up in a snake's mouth."
Kazuyama's words made the three Snake Princesses freeze in place.
How did this kid guess?!
"Hahaha, interesting kid."
"Unlike that bastard Gamamaru, I don't have the ability to see the future, but I do have my own special abilities."
"For example, Genjutsu and the Sage Art: Listening Technique."
"With the latter, I can know everything that happens across the entire Ninja World."
"But you… you are an anomaly. Your Kekkei Genkai blocks my Listening Technique."
"Transparent Escape? Not a bad Kekkei Genkai."
A shock like thunderclaps echoed in the minds of the three Snake Princesses.
Transparent Escape? It can block the White Snake Sage's observation?
How is that even possible?!
"Heh, my clan's Kekkei Genkai is nothing worth mentioning."
Kazuyama remained humble, but the White Snake Sage only laughed heartily.
"Kid, what if I told you… you must learn this Senjutsu?"
The laughter faded. The White Snake Sage's tone shifted—suddenly heavy, serious, and absolute.
An immense pressure crashed down on Kazuyama, as if a mountain had been dropped onto his back.
What an overwhelming force! Is this the power of the Senjutsu mastered by a thousand-year-old Sage?
"Damn, this snake has a lot of power!"
"I haven't felt pressure in a long time."
Even Chōmei was surprised. Very few forces in this world could affect him—yet here was one now.
"White Snake Sage, I don't understand. My sensei, Orochimaru, never learned Senjutsu, did he?"
"Would a Sage really force someone against their will?"
Enduring the crushing weight, Kazuyama spoke coldly. The playfulness in his voice was gone, replaced by an unmistakable chill.
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