Having had experience visiting Mount Myōboku last time, Shinju didn't expect Manda to bring him along again using Reverse Summoning.
He raised his hand and placed a Flying Thunder God mark on one of Manda's massive scales.
Then, he released the Summoning Technique, and Manda returned to Ryūchi Cave.
...
Inside Ryūchi Cave, the Three Guardian were still at the same spot.
One of them, slightly shorter than the others, asked curiously,
"Manda, where did you just go? Who summoned you over?! (⊙o⊙)"
Manda didn't have time to explain. He barked urgently,
"Hurry up and prepare the trial! Someone's coming—right now!!"
"And let me give you a bit of advice—use your eyes wisely…"
The three Guardian didn't quite understand what Manda meant, but they didn't ask further and began preparing the trial.
Not long after they left, Shinju's body appeared atop Manda's massive head.
Feeling Shinju's presence, Manda carefully said,
"Uh… there's a rule in Ryūchi Cave. To learn Sage Mode, you must pass a trial first."
"And since I'm the leader of all the summoning snakes here, I can't really help you with that…"
Shinju nodded in understanding.
"Got it. Then step back for now."
Manda disappeared, using some unknown method.
...
Landing on the ground, Shinju took in his unfamiliar surroundings.
Beneath his feet stretched a narrow path, flanked by thick forests—lush trees, dense weeds, and thorny bushes so overgrown that not even a person could squeeze through.
"Should've asked Manda which direction Ryūchi Cave was in…"
Shinju glanced down both ends of the path, uncertain which way to go.
After a few seconds of hesitation, he chose to move forward.
About ten minutes later, he realized something was wrong.
The mist among the trees was growing denser and denser—so thick that he could barely see half a meter ahead.
When he activated his chakra perception, he was surprised.
"This mist… it's condensed from senjutsu chakra."
"Looks like I'm going the right way."
Raising his head, he spotted a light shining faintly ahead.
Without hesitation, he sped up toward it.
There, he found the source of the glow—a grand golden gate.
Atop the gate perched a golden dragon, and beneath its head hung a large plaque engraved with three gilded words—Ryūchi Cave!
Shinju's heart lifted. It seemed he had indeed found the right place!
He stepped closer and pushed open the massive doors.
"Creak—"
Inside, everything glittered in gold. Lanterns hung everywhere, and tables were lined with exotic dishes and delicacies.
Then, a woman in a flowing white robe descended gracefully before him.
Smiling gently, she bowed slightly and said in a soft tone,
"Welcome to Ryūchi Cave. I am Tagorihime, the one responsible for receiving guests."
Shinju: "…"
So polite? This totally overturned his impression of Ryūchi Cave—it had to be fake!
Seeing Shinju remain silent, Tagorihime continued,
"You've come to learn Sage Mode, haven't you? The White Snake Sage resides in a temple deeper below the cave. It's quite a distance. Why not rest here first…"
As she spoke, the graceful snake offered Shinju a plate of sashimi. "Have a bite before you go. ^_^"
Shinju's face stiffened as he shook his head like a machine.
"No."
Undeterred, Tagorihime lifted a cup of brightly colored juice.
"Then perhaps a drink? ∩_∩"
Shinju: "No."
Tagorihime smiled faintly.
"You can even take a nap here, if you'd like."
Shinju kept shaking his head.
"No."
Tagorihime: "…"
Seeing how unresponsive he was—like a stone statue—Tagorihime bit her lip lightly, her eyes filling with a pitiful charm.
Then she raised one fair hand, slowly pulling open her collar, preparing her ultimate move.
"If you find it lonely sleeping alone… I can always keep you company… (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)"
As a man of virtue, Shinju first shot her a sharp glance! (๑❛ᴗ❛๑)
Then he withdrew his gaze, folding his hands as if entering deep meditation.
"Snake spirit, your charms won't work on me. Give it up already."
Tagorihime's breathing grew heavier.
This guy was infuriating! (ꐦ ಠ 皿 ಠ)
In the next instant, her mouth split wide—stretching all the way to her ears—while her once-clear eyes morphed into cold, slitted snake pupils. Flicking her tongue, she hissed,
"Then I'll just eat you!!"
"Boom!!!"
A thunderous explosion followed as Tagorihime was sent flying backward hundreds of meters, smashing through the illusionary palace she had conjured!
The once golden palace shattered, revealing Shinju still standing in the mist-shrouded forest.
After punching her away, Shinju clicked his tongue in boredom.
"So this is Ryūchi Cave's so-called trial? Pretty underwhelming. (*￣3￣)"
...
The moment he spoke, the space around him rippled!
When he regained his senses, the forest had vanished—replaced by a dimly lit cave.
He was now inside a dark, enclosed cavern.
In front of him stood a stone door, covered in countless holes of varying shapes and sizes.
On the ground at his feet lay a massive scattering of colored stones—tens of thousands of them, at a glance.
So this was the second trial!
Then, a clear and lively girl's voice came from behind him.
"You look so young, yet you managed to pass Tagorihime's test. I'm impressed."
"However, my trial won't be as easy to overcome as hers."
"My name is Ichikishimahime. To pass my trial, all you have to do is fill every hole on that stone door using the stones scattered on the ground. There's no time limit. (๑`･ᴗ･´๑)"
Her once-bright tone turned dark and eerie.
"This kind of tedious and exhausting work will slowly wear down your spirit and willpower."
"And when that moment comes—when your mind is completely worn out—I'll devour you in one bite! (◔◡◔)"
Shinju glanced at the girl-like Ichikishimahime, then at the crystals spread across the ground.
Honestly, it wasn't difficult for him.
A few hundred Shadow Clones could cooperate to finish it in under ten minutes.
But doing manual labor while someone stared at him the whole time—Ichikishimahime acting like a supervisor on a construction site—was not a pleasant feeling.
Shinju didn't like that one bit.
So, he activated Sage Mode.
"Clap!"
He slammed his hands together and shouted, "Sage Art: Binding Sage Vines!"
Raising his left hand,
"Whoosh—"
The bones, tendons, and flesh of his arm transformed into a thick, extending wooden vine that lashed out toward Ichikishimahime, who was floating in the cavern!
The cave wasn't big to begin with, and his sudden move caught her completely off guard—she couldn't dodge and was instantly restrained!
Realizing that the vine could control her movement and suppress her senjutsu, Ichikishimahime panicked.
"What are you trying to do?! Σ(っ °Д °;)っ"
Shinju grinned, the corner of his mouth curving in a wicked smile. "What do you think? ๑乛◡乛๑"
The beautiful Ichikishimahime shrieked, "Ah! Don't come any closer!!! ∑(°Д°ノ)ノ"
...
Check out my new fanfic "Attack on Titan: The Titan of Fate"
A titan that exists outside the Nine Titans — the Titan of Fate.
This is the story of Yago in the world of titans.
(This book is dedicated to every reader who loves Attack on Titan, striving to make up for all the regrets of the original work.)
P.S. The protagonist is not an ordinary transmigrator; his identity is the greatest foreshadowing of this book.