Tenka: "This... this is the legendary Wood Release technique of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju!?"
Tsujuki-sama: "What the hell is he planning!?"
Ichikishima-sama: "I think he's coming straight for us."
The moment Ichikishima-sama spoke, the other two expressions froze.
Because those massive tree roots were indeed surging towards them! The very trees they stood on suddenly betrayed them, twisting and entangling their legs without warning.
There were too many roots, appearing too suddenly. Their bodies were instantly ensnared, their limbs bound tight by the thick, pulsing branches.
What was even more terrifying was that the roots coiling around them were ravenously absorbing their senjutsu chakra.
The more they struggled, the weaker they became.
Like prey already caught in a predator's jaws.
The roots lifted them up, effortlessly delivering the three Orochi-samas straight to Uchiha Shin.
"Yo~ What a pleasure to meet the three of you, who were so sneakily peeping from the shadows."
Uchiha Shin's smile was bright, relaxed—almost too friendly.
The three snake priestesses of Ryūchi Cave were now completely wrapped up like neatly packaged dumplings, bound from waist to ankle in the constricting roots.
These weren't just any subordinates of the White Snake Sage; they were her most trusted attendants, elders of the Cave, the ones responsible for judging intruders who sought the power of Ryūchi Cave.
Shin could feel it—their bodies contained immense senjutsu chakra. But there was a fatal flaw: their combat ability wasn't on par with their raw power. They had the force but lacked the control.
The three priestesses forced smiles onto their faces, realizing they were at a complete disadvantage.
"Umm… yes, we're very glad to see you too."
"I think perhaps you should put us down first."
Their voices harmonized in a polite, coaxing melody. The forced friendliness was palpable.
But in their minds, they were seething. No one had humiliated them like this before!
Even when Orochimaru had come to Ryūchi Cave, he hadn't dared to treat them like playthings.
Uchiha Shin, however, didn't seem particularly interested in dragging things out. This was, after all, the territory of the White Snake Sage. It wouldn't do to antagonize her closest confidants too much.
A warning was enough.
"Well, my esteemed priestesses, allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Uchiha Shin. I've come here to master the Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave. I appreciate your hospitality."
He lowered them gently, releasing the roots.
His shift from brute force to courtesy left them in a complicated state of mind.
It was like dangling on the edge of an explosion but never quite reaching the detonation point.
A strange, frustrating limbo.
The three priestesses glared at Shin, their gazes filled with barely concealed resentment. Then, as if on cue, they forced their lips into sweet, practiced smiles.
In the next instant, two of them vanished into the air, leaving behind only one—an elegant green-haired woman clad in a goddess-like robe.
Her golden crown gleamed atop her head, adorned with a rounded jewel. A jade magatama nestled at her chest, accentuating her noble appearance.
Everything about her exuded an aura of refined dignity, a presence that demanded reverence.
The green-haired priestess lowered her head slightly in greeting and spoke in a soft, almost melodious tone.
"Welcome to Ryūchi Cave."
Then, raising her gaze, she introduced herself properly.
"I am Tenka Shiranami. We merely wished to test your perseverance, Lord Shin. But it seems such measures were unnecessary. Please, follow me."
She let out a light chuckle, brushing off the prior humiliation as though it were nothing but a trivial misunderstanding.
Shin narrowed his eyes slightly.
Snakes… they were cunning creatures.
Something about all this didn't sit right with him. Ryūchi Cave was home to the most enigmatic summons in the world, a place steeped in ancient power.
The snakes here could transform into human-like forms.
Humans who trained in Ryūchi Cave mastered Sage Mode through "dragon transformation."
But what of the snakes?
Did they master Sage Mode by "human transformation"?
It was eerily reminiscent of old myths about beasts cultivating human forms over centuries of training.
Shin's gaze shifted downward, studying Tenka Shiranami's flowing robes.
…Unfortunately, the hem reached the ground, hiding her feet.
Not only that, but the draping fabric prevented him from getting even a hint of her body's shape beneath it.
That was irritating.
He had a strong urge to know exactly what kind of figure she was concealing.
As his thoughts wandered, something clicked in his mind.
This situation reminded him of an old folktale about a foolish man falling for a snake in disguise.
A naive fool led by curiosity into the jaws of a beast.
He smirked at the thought.
Not long after, Tenka Shiranami stopped walking, cutting his musings short.
Before him stood an enormous, intricately crafted gate. Bold kanji characters inscribed on its surface read:
[Ryūchi Cave]
Tenka Shiranami stepped aside and gestured for him to enter.
Beyond the gate, an opulent hall stretched out before him. Lavish decorations adorned the walls, and long banquet tables lined the chamber, laden with steaming platters of delicious food.
Just the scent alone made Shin's stomach stir slightly.
"The White Snake Sage resides in the temple deep within Ryūchi Cave," Tenka Shiranami explained. "I will go and make the necessary arrangements for your audience. Please, make yourself comfortable in the meantime."
She flashed him a serene smile.
Then, with a graceful turn, she disappeared through an inner passage, leaving him in the grand hall.
Shin, however, didn't move.
Instead, he stared at the banquet table with a deadpan expression.
"Tch. So this is your idea of a test? How pathetic."
His eyes scanned the long tables.
"…And is there even anything here that a normal person can eat?"
Something was off.
He reached out to the corner of one table and gave it a small squeeze.
With just a little applied force, the wood crumbled instantly.
But it didn't splinter like normal wood.
Instead, it dissolved into fine gravel before vanishing into nothingness.
Shin clicked his tongue.
"An illusion, huh? No, more like some kind of ninjutsu projection…"
Behind him, Tenka Shiranami let out a teasing sigh.
"Tsk~ Your insight is terrible. It should've been obvious that you were supposed to just eat the food without thinking so hard about it."
Her voice changed slightly.
A slit-like pupil emerged in her golden eyes, black markings extending along the edges of her nose.
Her delicate lips parted, revealing sharp fangs, and deep within her throat, a thin blue forked tongue flickered.
Her transformation had begun.
But before she could utter another word—
Shin's hand shot out, pinching her cheek firmly.
"Oi. If you want to make a good impression, at least don't look so damn terrifying."
His tone was disappointed, but his fingers tightened slightly, making her shudder.
Her snake-like features immediately melted away as she reverted to her previous form, looking at Shin with a mixture of fear and resentment.
This bastard…!
He didn't play by the rules at all!
Even their little scare games, which worked on everyone else, were utterly ineffective on him.
Realizing she had no choice but to cooperate, she let out a quiet sigh of defeat.
As she did, the magnificent hall vanished entirely, and the illusion around them shattered, returning them to the mist-shrouded wilderness of Ryūchi Cave.
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Bonus Chapter - 150 Power Stones