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JST Chapter 198: Breaking the Rules of Ryuchi Cave
🕑 Added 2025-03-01 15:21:27 +0000 UTCIchikishimahime was swinging her feet boredly as she floated in the air. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps inside the cave startled her.
"Wow, did anyone actually manage to pass the first test? Looks like I'm lucky today..."
Smiling in amusement, she muttered to herself, "So Tagorihime couldn't stop him? How interesting... Let me see what he's capable of."
When the footsteps stopped, Ichikishimahime saw the person who had just entered. When she saw Kazuki's appearance, she almost fell out of the air.
What... what kind of monster is this? Tagorihime... was she murdered? The aura emanating from this person was terrifying.
"My name is Uchiha Kazuki, what's your name?"
Kazuki slowly approached Ichikishimahime. The snake transformed into a young human girl had her hair tied with a blue-green ribbon and a golden crown on her head. Her face had a youthful and delicate charm.
"I... I'm Ichikishimahime. I'm the one in charge of the second test."
Gulping, Ichikishimahime cautiously pointed at a nearby wall. "Please begin the test. You just need to insert these differently shaped stones into the corresponding holes in the wall. Once you're done, you'll be able to advance... It's quite simple..."
She paused and added nervously, "If you can't do it, I... I can help you..."
Kazuki looked at her in surprise. The personality of the snake princesses was very distinctive. Compared to Tagorihime, Ichikishimahime seemed more like a fearful child.
"You don't need to help me." Kazuki turned his gaze to the wall and walked over. Then, curiously, he asked, "Is it just a puzzle? There must be some trick, right? Let me see your technique."
Ichikishimahime hesitated for a moment before answering, "Normally I would use a sage art to absorb your chakra, so the longer you take to figure it out, the more danger you'll be in..."
She scratched her head uncomfortably. It wasn’t that she didn’t want Kazuki’s chakra, but she was afraid that the moment she tried it, he would react violently. After all, the aura emanating from this man was even more ferocious than that of a tailed beast.
In theory, her concealment technique would make her undetectable to Kazuki...
But... what if he discovered her?
When her eyes met Kazuki's, glowing red beneath the bone mask, Ichikishimahime felt her heart race. She didn't want to take that risk.
"Come on, connect to me. It's your duty." Kazuki waved at him and said seriously, "I'm here to pass the Ryuchi Cave test. I must follow the rules."
Ichikishimahime took a deep breath. Kazuki's expression looked sincere, so she cautiously extended a chain of milky white chakra towards him.
As soon as the connection was established, her face showed an expression of surprise.
Kazuki's chakra was immovable, as if his energy was anchored to a mountain. For her, it was impossible to extract it.
Kazuki smiled slightly and extended his arm, where the small white snake, Tagorihime, rested with an air of satisfaction. "Coil around my arm. I'll let you absorb my chakra."
Ichikishimahime covered her mouth in astonishment. Tagorihime, that shameless woman, had actually completely submitted to him!
He's not even the official contractor of Ryuchi Cave or has obtained the approval of the White Snake Sage, how could she help him collect senjutsu chakra?
But when she sensed her sister's emotion of satisfaction, Ichikishimahime felt a pang of curiosity.
How delicious must his chakra be for her to be so ecstatic?
"I warn you now: the wall is protected by a powerful seal. You will not be able to break it with brute force..." She muttered under her breath, "Well, I guess you never know with you... I already warned you, anyway."
Seeing Kazuki looking at her with an expression that, though cold, now had a hint of warmth, Ichikishimahime felt a chill run through her body. Then, Kazuki extended his arm towards her again. "Go up. Don't worry."
Kazuki's eyes reflected a hypnotic glow, filled with an inexplicable attraction.
A shiver ran through Ichikishimahime. She gritted her teeth and thought to herself, 'There is no other choice... It's all for the sake of the rules of Ryuchi Cave.'
The next instant, another small white snake coiled around Kazuki's arm. Immersed in his ocean of high-quality chakra, she let herself be carried away by the pleasure.
[Ichikishimahime's strong emotional attachment to the host has been detected. The target is being linked.]
Kazuki looked at the stone wall, which looked like something out of a puzzle game, and smiled.
When Kazuki saw the blush on Ichikishimahime's face after exchanging glances with him, and her shy surrender, he knew that the [Ocean Confusion] talent had taken effect on her.
"It seems that the strange ability rewarded by Terumi Mei has a stronger effect on a snake that has spent centuries training alone in a cave..."
"I wonder if this effect will be so strong only on snakes or if it could affect an Ōtsutsuki as well..."
"I must be cautious. Even though she has been imprisoned in solitude on the moon for a thousand years, she is still the strongest being in the shinobi world. She cannot compare to a mere snake."
While thinking, Kazuki raised his fist and punched the wall hard. The explosion of power shook the entire valley.
...
The final test of Ryuchi Cave.
The strongest of the three snake princesses, Tagitsuhime, awaited Kazuki's arrival.
“The newcomer has caused a tremendous commotion…” she muttered with a frown, cautiously observing the entrance of the cave. Moments ago, the entire Ryuchi Cave had trembled as if an earthquake had shaken it. “This is not an opponent that can be easily dispatched… He does not come with good intentions.”
Despite her uneasiness, Tagitsuhime did not let herself be overcome by panic. Calmly, she began to gather natural energy, synthesizing large amounts of senjutsu chakra for the impending confrontation.
Unlike her sisters, Tagorihime and Ichikishimahime, whose trials consisted of illusions of feasting and childish games respectively, Tagitsuhime's trial was the true, deadly trial of Ryuchi Cave: The Torment of the Soul.
Using senjutsu chakra, she provoked the challengers' deepest desires. Those who were not strong and resolute enough would be dragged into a vortex of illusions with no escape.
This technique did not only affect the weak; even shinobi of great power could succumb to it if their will faltered.
"Challenger, congratulations on reaching the final test."
Tagitsuhime smiled as she saw Kazuki appear. However, that smile turned into a snake-like appearance as she sensed the overwhelming pressure emanating from him.
Now she understands why the cave shook like that... This man is a beast.
As Kazuki set his gaze on her, Tagitsuhime barely had time to wonder if her sisters were still alive. She gulped and quickly spoke to him, "You possess great power, but you must abide by the rules of Ryuchi Cave. If you wish the recognition of the White Snake Sage..."
"The White Snake Sage is watching you."
She took two steps back, on guard. She knew that Kazuki could decide at any moment to force his way in. Cold sweat ran down her back. Her snake instincts screamed at her that this man was an absolute danger.
Kazuki slowly stopped. His sharp eyes scanned her from top to bottom, while a cold smile appeared on his face. He slightly raised the index finger of his right hand and, amused, spoke in his mind: "Tobirama, did you hear that? I think she's threatening me..."
"Easy, calm down, Kazuki!"
Tobirama's soul shuddered. Knowing Kazuki, his gesture was a clear sign that he was ready to attack.
"You came to find the White Snake Sage, not to destroy Ryuchi Cave!"
Tobirama tried to reason with him as calmly as possible, as if he were dealing with a rebellious teenager. "Listen, this snake already said it: the White Snake Sage is watching you. We must follow the rules."
"Rules?" Kazuki shook his head indifferently. "Don't forget one thing, Tobirama... These snakes have also said that those who come to Ryuchi Cave are lunatics in search of power. And they too need shinobi like me."
"In my opinion, mentioning the White Snake Sage is just another trick in the test. A distraction."
"If I hesitate when I hear her name and let it stop me, then my determination would be nothing more than a farce."
Tobirama felt a chill run down his spine. Kazuki's attitude is not right, he seems to be becoming more obsessive, as if the demonic nature of the Uchiha clan is getting stronger, making it more extreme.
Tobirama was sweating. Kazuki was starting to feel the same battle craving as Madara.
Tobirama slowly clenched his fists. He knew why the once calm and kind boy had developed such an aggressive personality...
It was the fault of the ancient Uchiha's cursed chakra.
Tobirama gritted his teeth. Despite his wisdom, he didn't know how to convince Kazuki.
From his perspective, the strange mutation in Kazuki's body, his bone armor similar to that of the Kaguya Clan, and his abnormal copying ability were nothing but manifestations of the influence of the ancient Uchiha's chakra on Kazuki.
Otherwise, no innate ability could allow him to instantly learn any ninjutsu, forbidden technique, or skill he saw.
Tobirama already had it clear: Kazuki possessed multiple Mangekyō Sharingan techniques.
Even though Kazuki insisted that Amaterasu was just a special form of Fire Release and that Kagutsuchi was the ultimate evolution of fire chakra transformation, Tobirama simply couldn't believe it. He was no naive child!
So, there is only one possibility!
Kazuki had inherited the Mangekyō techniques from the ancient Uchiha and Izuna!
So the technique corresponding to Kazuki's ability to see through even the kekkei totta, is most likely an enhanced version of the Sharingan copy. Every time Kazuki copies a ninjutsu or secret technique, he is using the power of the ancient Uchiha, allowing that influence to corrode him more and more.
