"The hell... Is this seriously Ryūchi? I can’t even find an entrance! Is Boruto really supposed to make it here?" Kiyosuke muttered to himself.
He hadn’t seen much of the sequel series with the blond-haired brat—just heard bits and pieces.
Why didn’t he watch it?
Because it was too damn hype! He was afraid he’d get so excited his brain would explode!
He came to a stop. In front of him were a series of footprints. Looking closely, they were his own. In other words, he’d been walking in circles.
"Tch."
Annoyed, he conjured a flame in his palm. Maybe he should just burn this whole misty forest down.
No, no—better not.
He cut off that train of thought immediately. What if the moment he lit a fire, a giant snake came slithering out and swallowed him whole?
"...What’s that?"
A faint glow flickered through the mist. He instantly knew something was off.
No way a snake would be using firelight. Cold-blooded creatures had no need for that. Even if the White Snake Sage wanted to spice things up with some decor, she wouldn’t line up lanterns like that.
Still, he walked toward it. Why? Because he had no clue where else to go.
As the mist slowly faded, a magnificent gate came into view. Golden and resplendent, with elegant upturned eaves, intricate carvings, and towering columns—majestic didn’t even begin to describe it. Hanging above it, a heavy crimson plaque bore three large gold characters: "Ryūchi."
Thick pillars were decorated with scaled snake motifs, golden serpents coiled around them in grand design. The whole thing screamed Ryūchi.
The heavy doors were shut tight. Kiyosuke had half a mind to bang on them and yell, "FBI, open up!"
But he restrained himself.
Just as he was wondering what kind of doorbell a snake might have, the giant doors creaked open on their own.
A stunning green-haired woman stepped out, a gentle smile on her face. A golden beaded crown rested on her head.
"Welcome, honored guest from afar. We’ve been expecting you. Welcome to Ryūchi."
"Ah, hello! I’m Kiyosuke. I’m here to form a contract with Ryūchi," he said politely.
He knew Ryūchi was filled with snakes. There shouldn’t be any humans around. A random beautiful woman showing up? No doubt—she was a snake in disguise.
Speaking of which...
Kiyosuke glanced at the beauty in front of him, then looked down at the little white snake on his wrist.
Pointing at the woman, he whispered, "Go on—transform!"
Little White Snake: ????
What kind of nonsense is this human spouting?
This guy’s a bit off...
"I’m Tagorihime. We’re happy to have you here. If you’re looking to form a contract, that’s possible. Please, come in," she said gently.
"Holy crap..."
Kiyosuke followed her in. The interior was pure opulence—everything gleamed with gold. Snake-themed carvings lined the walls. The lanterns bore the bold character for "dragon," illuminating the grand hall as bright as day.
A delicious aroma wafted through the air. Looking to the side, he saw a table piled with all kinds of dishes—chicken, duck, fish, meat—you name it. Everything looked and smelled incredible, steam still rising from the food.
"These dishes were specially prepared for our esteemed guest. Please, help yourself." Tagorihime brought over a plate of roasted chicken and set it in front of him, her eyes full of expectation.
"Uhh... actually, I ate before I came."
No way in hell he was touching that.
Mount Myōboku’s bug cuisine had been a disaster. Ryūchi probably wouldn’t be any better. There was no way this snake beauty could cook that well—more likely it was genjutsu, or worse, poisoned.
Tagorihime’s smile didn’t falter.
"Oh my, don’t say that, little Kiyosuke. Just try a bite, won’t you? It’s a token of my sincerity."
Yeah, this was definitely a trap.
"Actually, I’m on a diet," he said. "Trying to slim down. I want a figure like yours, Tagorihime-sama."
"Hehe, being skinny isn’t attractive at all," she said with a soft laugh, covering her mouth. "I like them a little plump. Your build is nice—just a bit small. But very... fresh."
Crap. That look in her eyes—she wants my body!
No doubt about it. Kiyosuke grinned. "Still, slim is better. The girls in Konoha prefer that."
"Well, I like them plump. Here—try this!" she offered another plate, this time roasted suckling pig. It gleamed with golden oil and smelled so good it made his mouth water just looking at it.
Kiyosuke waved it off.
"No, no—my mom always told me not to eat food from strangers. And besides..." He smiled at her. "It’s fake, right?"
"Tch."
Tagorihime clicked her tongue, clearly annoyed. Her expression went pale, red markings appearing under her eyes and stretching to her nose. Her irises turned into golden slits, her delicate mouth split open to reveal sharp fangs, and a blue serpent tongue flicked out.
Her entire demeanor shifted to something menacing.
"You really are a disobedient little human. Would it kill you to just eat it?"
The moment the words left her mouth, the brightly lit hall darkened—and then vanished. The lavish feast disappeared too, and the thick mist returned.
Kiyosuke found himself sitting on a cold, hard stone. The soft cushion he’d thought he was sitting on was gone.
It had all been an illusion crafted by Tagorihime.
Bones littered the ground around him—victims who’d fallen for her tricks and eaten the food, only to be eaten themselves.
If he had taken even one bite, he would’ve joined them.
"Tch. I was hoping to savor your fresh chakra, brat. What a waste," Tagorihime grumbled. After being rejected three times, she knew the game was up. No point pretending any longer.
Monster—he could tell she wasn’t human from the very beginning!
Kiyosuke cleared his throat, smiled, and said,
"Well, I’ve never heard of a snake that can cook human food—let alone make it taste good. And just now, Tagorihime-sama, you proved something very true..."
He pointed a finger at her, grinning.
"The prettier the woman, the better she can lie."
"Hmph! Those illusions came from the memories of the people I devoured! Hmph! You sure knew how to sweet-talk me—but you didn’t eat a single bite. Only desperate power-hungry lunatics come to this place. So don’t think your path ahead will be easy."
With a snort, she vanished into the mist—along with her presence.
...
"Phew. That was close."
Kiyosuke patted his chest. Good thing he was quick-witted. If he’d taken even one bite, he would’ve ended up like those bones.
"But now what? Where do I go?"
...
"If you’re lost... why not come with me?"
A pair of hands gently rested on his shoulders.
Floating behind him was a girl dressed in white, her hair tied in twin buns.
She giggled softly.
"I’m Ichikishimahime. Tagorihime’s trial was easy as long as you weren’t greedy. Mine’s also simple—wanna give it a try?"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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