Tanakashinji stared at Sora blankly, shocked by his unexpected approach.
Killing her, the test administrator, to pass the test regardless of what it entailed—this was the first time she had encountered such logic.
When Tanakashinji recovered from her surprise, her entire appearance transformed.
Her eyes shifted to golden elongated pupils, her black eye shadow extended down to her nose, her pale skin revealed sharp teeth and a blue tongue, and she glared at Sora with fury.
"How dare you attack me directly! Wouldn't it have been easier to just eat the food?!" she hissed.
Simultaneously, the entire palace darkened, gradually turning to ash and disappearing, replaced by human bones scattered across the ground.
Sora's eyes narrowed slightly as he murmured, "An illusion that even the Sharingan can't detect?"
"Of course," Tanakashinji replied in an ominous voice. "Since I know your identity, I'm also aware of your Sharingan. This is my unique illusion-type jutsu. A mere Sharingan cannot break it. It's truly unfortunate! If you had simply eaten the transformed food, I could have devoured your body and chakra!"
Sora responded sarcastically, "Really? So these foods are part of the test. It's... an extremely simple test. Who would be foolish enough to eat food of unknown origin offered by a stranger?"
Hearing Sora's mockery, Tanakashinji's hair seemed to stand on end with anger. "Simple? Look at the human skulls and bones on the ground. All these people were eaten by me because they consumed my food. Only their bones remain!"
"So these people were idiots," Sora sneered.
Tanakashinji's expression froze, unable to counter his logic.
She frantically scratched her head. Just as she was about to speak, a voice emerged from the depths of the woods.
"You have lost. He was not deceived by you."
Tanakashinji took a deep breath, turned her head toward the dense forest, and replied, "Of course I know. Our job is to screen those who enter Ryūchi Cave."
"Indeed. Only those who fail the trials are to be consumed by the White Snake Sage. Moreover, this one is special, and you cannot defeat him. Let him proceed to the next trial."
Tanakashinji turned back to Sora with a displeased expression. "You have passed my trial. You may continue."
With that, Tanakashinji vanished into the woods.
Sora was surprised to discover that his Observation Haki could no longer detect her presence.
Could Senjutsu also resist Observation Haki?
And what did they mean by calling him "special"?
Unable to decipher these mysteries, Sora could only continue moving forward.
After walking for some time, a small child-like figure materialized from the mist, glanced at Sora, then floated ahead.
"The second trial?" Sora thought, placing his hand directly on his sword hilt, preparing to strike.
The small figure halted abruptly, turning to face Sora. "You can only pass by completing the trial. Killing me doesn't count as success!"
Sora made a dismissive "tch" sound and released his grip on the sword.
The small figure sighed with relief. This Sora was truly abnormal—while most were concerned with how to pass the test, Sora was focused on how to eliminate the test-giver.
Sora followed the small figure to a cave.
In the next moment, a massive boulder fell, sealing the cave entrance.
The rock wall contained numerous uniquely shaped holes.
"I am Ichikishimahime," the figure announced. "This level's test requires you to fill all the holes in the rock. The stones that match each shape are scattered throughout this room. This is the only way to exit. You may try as many times as necessary, but be mindful of your strength."
Sora examined the ground.
A large number of uniquely shaped stones were piled on the floor. He picked one up and attempted to fit it into a small hole in the rock wall that appeared to match the stone's shape.
The stone and hole fit perfectly.
However, Sora immediately noticed that inserting the stone consumed a portion of his chakra.
It seemed the trial was designed to drain his chakra. Once depleted, he would be vulnerable to being eaten.
"What a tedious game," he muttered.
Through his Sharingan's observation, Sora easily identified the corresponding stones and placed them into their matching holes in the rock wall.
Soon, most of the holes had been filled, with only one remaining.
But there were no stones on the ground that matched the shape of this final hole.
"Perhaps you haven't found it somewhere," Ichikishimahime suggested. "Remember, there's no limit to how many attempts you can make."
Sora didn't bother looking at the ground again. He was certain no matching stone existed.
Suddenly, Sora used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind Ichikishimahime, grabbing her by the neck.
Ichikishimahime's face transformed into a snake-like visage similar to Tanakashinji's, and she struggled fiercely. "What are you doing?!"
"If there are no stones that match the shape, then I'll use you instead," Sora declared coldly. "You said the stones with the right shapes are all in this room, so you yourself must qualify as well."
Sora dragged Ichikishimahime to the rock wall and pressed her head against it.
Ichikishimahime's cheek pressed tightly against the wall, perfectly filling the small hole.
The next second, the entire cave illusion dissolved, and Sora released his grip on Ichikishimahime.
She quickly flew away, putting distance between herself and Sora, glaring at him with indignation. "What a rude human! Using me to fit that last hole is truly outrageous! You cheated! The correct solution was to combine the available stones to create one that matched the final hole's shape. That was the proper way to complete this level!"
Sora laughed indifferently. "I don't think it matters, as long as it works. Since using you succeeded, then this must also be a valid solution."
Suddenly, a figure appeared behind Sora and lunged to bite his neck.
Sora stepped forward swiftly, instantly drawing his ninja sword.
"Thunder Breathing, Ground Form: Thunder Clap and Flash!"
Centered on himself, Sora unleashed countless lightning-like slashes in all directions.
"Aah!"
A sharp scream echoed as the figure attempting to bite Sora's neck was struck by the lightning-like slashes. Her body was scorched with several charred wounds as she collapsed to the ground.
Just as Sora advanced to deliver a finishing blow to his attacker, Ichikishimahime anxiously called out, "Wait! Don't kill her! She is Tsuzuhime, who administers the final trial!"
Sora frowned, looking at the fallen Tsuzuhime with annoyance. "A trial is a trial—why resort to sneak attacks?"
"That's because with everyone who came before, Tsuzuhime always used this approach," Ichikishimahime explained awkwardly.
"What is her trial, then?" Sora asked.
Ichikishimahime explained, "She tests whether your resolve is firm. Tsuzuhime will inject her mystical chakra into your body to induce hallucinations. If you overcome them, you will have completed all the trials."
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