"So many years have passed, yet you're the first human to notice us before even engaging!"
"And such a young brat at that!"
"Even adult human ninjas couldn't achieve this, yet you've done it."
"It seems you're indeed someone worth watching!"
The voices of the Three Snake Princesses echoed from all directions.
Although they started speaking, their exact locations couldn't be discerned merely from their voices.
After all, the Dragon Earth Cave had countless tunnels, and the reverberations made pinpointing the source impossible.
Fortunately, Sasuke had the aid of his Web of the Mind, enabling him to easily locate the trio.
Of course, maintaining this state while using ninjutsu wasn't something Sasuke could achieve effortlessly.
While keeping the Web of the Mind active, Sasuke could only muster a fraction of his Lightning Release power, limiting its output to at most one-tenth.
Therefore, if he wanted to pinpoint their locations and fight simultaneously, close combat would be his only option.
With a deliberate motion, Sasuke slowly drew the Kusanagi Sword from behind him.
The friction sound of the blade leaving its sheath excited the Three Snake Princesses.
Though Sasuke was just a young human ninja, his unwavering gaze showed unprecedented determination.
Even shrouded in mist, he displayed not an ounce of fear.
Humans often fear the unknown, but this trait seemed absent in Sasuke.
The Three Snake Princesses exchanged glances.
Tagorihime licked her lips and was the first to attack, charging directly at Sasuke.
A faint sound of wind breaking came from directly behind Sasuke.
Based on their past experiences with humans, the Three Snake Princesses were confident that such an ambush would be difficult for a human to evade.
Once hit by Tagorihime is attack, Sasuke would be forced to deplete his chakra.
Human chakra reserves were typically limited, and once exhausted, they would be helplessly at their mercy.
Suddenly, a crisp collision sound rang out as Sasuke positioned the Kusanagi Sword behind him, blocking Tagorihime is fangs.
Sparks flew as the blade and her teeth clashed.
The attack being blocked wasn't surprising, but what shocked the Three Snake Princesses was that Sasuke, though facing away, reacted as if he had eyes on his back.
He managed to predict the attack?
How could that be possible?
"So this is how battles in the Sacred Land are fought?"
Sasuke spoke as his Lightning Release surged.
Electricity burst from the Kusanagi Sword, catching Tagorihime off guard and paralyzing her momentarily.
Though it was a weak Lightning Release, the brief paralysis was enough.
In the next instant, Sasuke spun around and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick.
It landed squarely on Tagorihime is abdomen.
A heavy thud resonated as Sasuke's current strength proved formidable.
Tagorihime was sent flying, crashing into the cave wall with force.
Although she wasn't injured her body being protected by strong Sage Art chakra the humiliation of being kicked by a mere human child stung deeply.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
As she spoke, three shuriken embedded themselves precisely in the walls above and to the sides of her head.
Tagorihime froze momentarily.
Despite being shrouded in dense mist, where humans shouldn't be able to see far, Sasuke managed such precision.
Even though the distance was only five or six meters, Sasuke's visibility was limited to barely a meter. Beyond that, he shouldn't see anything.
Yet he had accurately thrown projectiles? While they didn't hit her, they were frighteningly close.
Then Sasuke's voice echoed: "Careful! They're about to explode!"
As his words ended, the Three Snake Princesses suddenly heard the sound of paper burning rapidly.
At that moment, the other two Snake Princesses realized.
Three explosions echoed in succession.
The blasts erupted instantly within the Dragon Earth Cave, and the shockwave swept away the dense mist in an instant.
Simultaneously, Sasuke deactivated the Mind Web, allowing his chakra to replenish rapidly.
His gaze locked onto the remaining two Snake Princesses.
Sasuke's lips curved into a slight smirk as the fiery shockwave from the explosions surged behind him, on the verge of engulfing him.
"Lightning Release ~ Lightning Body Flicker!"
While Tagitsuhime and Ichikishimahime stared at the fiery aftermath of the explosions, a deafening thunderclap burst out.
A terrifying lightning serpent flashed through the air, shooting directly at Tagitsuhime.
The roar of thunder followed only after Sasuke had already appeared before her, moving faster than sound.
Sasuke leveled the Kusanagi Sword in his hand.
The Chidori surged across the blade, coating it in crackling lightning.
In the instant the resonant sound of the blade's lightning hum echoed, the sword pierced through Tagitsuhime's shoulder.
The electricity coursed through her body, spreading intense pain throughout.
Tagitsuhime froze in that moment.
"Such incredible speed!"
"Such powerful Lightning Release..."
At the same time, Ichikishimahime, who had been behind Sasuke, recovered and prepared to strike.
However, before she could act, another Sasuke suddenly turned toward her.
A pair of Mangekyou Sharingan activated, locking her in his gaze.
In a split second, Ichikishimahime froze as if drawn into those eyes.
To her, it felt like an instant, but to the other Snake Princesses, she appeared suspended midair, unmoving, staring blankly at Sasuke as he approached.
Sasuke grabbed her by the throat with one hand, unleashing a full burst of Lightning Release.
The violent lightning coursed through Ichikishimahime's entire body.
Ichikishimahime snapped back to reality, her eyes filled with terror as she looked at Sasuke.
"That moment just now... Was it a genjutsu? Those eyes... the Mangekyou Sharingan?"
"This brat... He's from the Uchiha clan..."
The other two Snake Princesses had already recovered. Although one was scorched and disheveled from the explosions, and the other's shoulder was pierced by the Chidori Blade, these injuries were trivial to them.
The two Snake Princesses advanced, intending to rescue Ichikishimahime, but Sasuke pressed the Kusanagi Sword against her neck.
The Chidori surged instantly, sending arcs of electricity crackling across the blade. The terrifying lightning halted the Snake Princesses in their tracks.
"If you want to continue, I'll kill her right now. This time... I won't hold back!"
Sasuke wasn't bluffing.
The Snake Princesses froze, their expressions shifting repeatedly before gritting their teeth and saying, "Fine... You've passed. Let her go!"
Sasuke smiled and released his grip. Ichikishimahime immediately leapt away.
"Damn human... How despicable, using me as leverage to threaten them. This doesn't count as passing the trial!"
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