Under the harsh weight of reality, Nagato ultimately chose to swap exam questions with Orochimaru, opting to study Postpartum Care for Immortal Pigs—the subject he had previously despised the most.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru finished mastering his book on breeding techniques in less than half a day.
All that remained was tackling Nagato's Advanced Mathematics.
Uchiha Hikari, however, had the fastest progress among them, completing her studies in just three days.In this scripture tower brimming with vast knowledge, Orochimaru could be seen sprawled on the floor scribbling madly while shouting strange phrases like "I understand now" and "I'm beginning to comprehend everything."
One might also spot Uchiha Kaito standing on a stool in the Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg pose, flapping his arms like a bird in flight.
Then there was Nagato, clutching a pig model with utter despair as he practiced postpartum care.
Uchiha Hikari fared slightly better than the others, merely giggling foolishly while reading her book, occasionally wiping drool from the corner of her mouth.
Any outsider entering the tower to witness these four would recognize it as Naruto—those unfamiliar would surely think they'd stumbled upon a scene from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."
Seven days later.
Hikari and Kaito, master and disciple, were the first to complete their exams, chatting and laughing as they left the test site.
Orochimaru, having asked Kaito for that Body Tempering Technique in the last three days, now faced three exams simultaneously.
Failure would upgrade his lightning tribulation to Golden Core-level intensity.
Kaito said nothing, merely giving Snake Uncle a thumbs-up as he left the venue—a silent salute to his dedication.
One had to admire it...
The man's relentless grind even gave Kaito a slight sense of urgency.
As for Nagato...
His frantic head-scratching during the exam made it clear how painfully he'd struggled with animal husbandry.
But Orochimaru had confirmed Nagato would pass beforehand, so Kaito wasn't worried.
"So fascinating!"
Recalling the book's illustrations of various desserts, Hikari quickly covered her mouth, relieved to find no drool this time.
"I must try making those sweets when we get back."
She thrilled at both tasting new treats and having fresh goals.
Though lacking premium ingredients, her mastery of knowledge let her substitute materials for simpler versions.
"I want to go back in and try again."
"Better not..."
Hearing his great-grandmother's words, Kaito pursed his lips in dissuasion.
The Magical Artifact's vast knowledge had indeed helped—like that Body Tempering Technique which strengthened his body further in just seven days.
Continued training could push him to Golden Core stage, where even Might Guy's Eighth Gate head-kicks wouldn't kill him.
The artifact boosted them tremendously, but...
It literally forced life-or-death studying!
Unless absolutely necessary, he'd avoid re-entering—let future Sect disciples enjoy that torment.
"Why not?"
"Didn't we choose topics before exams?"
Hikari remembered the artifact spirit's explanation—their randomized assignments resulted from failing to select during the countdown.
With normal study...
Surely nothing could be as bad as Nagato drawing advanced mathematics?
"Unlikely." Kaito shook his head, pointing upward. "Your pastry cooking falls under culinary arts."
"But could you actually cook in seven days?"
The moment he said it, Uchiha Hikari recalled her instant noodle "cooking" for someone, her smile fading.
She strongly suspected this brat was subtly mocking her.
BOOM... CRACK—As the two were conversing, faint sounds of thunderclaps could be heard coming from inside the pagoda.
Kaito and Hikari stood watching for a long while before Hikari finally spoke up first.
"Who do you think it is?"
"Probably Nagato. He might have failed his first attempt at body tempering."
Hikari: "..."
Hearing Kaito's logical analysis, Hikari pressed her lips together, not daring to say anything more.
Why did she keep getting this feeling...
That the line of patients was gradually growing longer??
After chatting with this silly boy for a while, Hikari immediately ran off to find Konan.
If Nagato got struck dead by lightning...
At least there'd be someone to collect the body.
Kaito squatted at the periphery, waiting for the sect leader and alchemist to complete their trials while continuing to practice his Eagle Spreads Wings technique.
Had Fugaku been present, he would surely have had a few sarcastic remarks about this kid.
Kaito remained completely unaware that his cultivation method bore striking similarities to the beast cultivation techniques practiced by their clansmen in the Secret Realm.
Time passed bit by bit, and another seven days went by.
During these seven days, Konan would come daily to check on Nagato's condition, each time asking with a dark expression, "Has Nagato kicked the bucket yet?"
Konan was furious.
She'd heard the whole story from Uchiha Hikari, and when she learned that Nagato had been studying godforsakenly difficult knowledge just to maintain some divine dignity, she nearly exploded.
But anger aside, she would stand there watching for half an hour each visit. Only when she confirmed the "god" hadn't emerged would she sigh and return to village duties.
Just as Kaito was doing his daily training outside, a golden light flashed at the pagoda entrance, followed by Nagato's weak, barely audible voice.
"One bag of rice... how many floors can one bag of rice carry..."
Nagato lay sprawled on the ground, his entire body charred black, his clothes in tatters.
These past days had been pure agony for him. The first few days of studying that celestial scripture were torture enough, then he had to hold his nose and learn animal husbandry techniques...
After all that...
Orochimaru suddenly clapped his hands and suggested experiencing lightning tribulation body tempering. Nagato thought it made some sense...
He survived the first wave of lightning tribulation, perfectly tempering his body and making up for the missed enhancements from his rushed Foundation Establishment breakthrough.
Up to this point, Nagato's experience hadn't been too bad.
However...
After this, Orochimaru said since they were already here, why not study another book and undergo another tribulation?
What followed was something Nagato didn't want to recall. He only knew he'd just endured three Golden Core stage lightning tribulations.
That he survived at all was sheer luck...
At this moment, lying by the entrance, Nagato felt completely burned out.
Seeing this, Kaito was so startled he immediately summoned his "Left and Right Guardians," continuously firing healing light orbs at Nagato.
"What happened to you?!"
"Didn't Orochimaru say you'd pass easily??"
Nagato's face darkened at these words, turning his head away in refusal to answer.
Seeing his condition, Kaito didn't press further, just laboriously helped him up and supported him to rest under a tree.
But just then, Kakuzu's grief-stricken voice came from the forest.
"Uchiha Kaito!"
"You made me lose my money! All my money!!"
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