Chapter 258.5: Subduing the Three Great Serpent Princesses

Shinho's face broke into a smile.

"...?"

Uchiha Sasuke stared at him in confusion.

"I plan to form a department specialised in Summoning," Shinho said casually, "And I've decided to put you in charge."

"Me?"

Sasuke was even more bewildered.

I'm still a kid...

He had never imagined himself taking on any leadership role.

In his mind, his top priority was reaching the pinnacle of strength as a ninja, not being burdened by responsibilities and trivial matters.

"Although you'll be the leader, you won't need to manage much," Shinho reassured him with a smile, "All you need to do is lead the charge in battle."

"Is that all?"

Sasuke thought of his mother, Mikoto, and nodded. "Alright, I accept."

While he wasn't fond of political maneuvering, he knew that taking charge of the Summoning Division would benefit the Uchiha Clan.

Shinho raised his hand.

The snake-shaped tattoo on his arm began to glow.

"Master!"

In a flash of blue light, Ichikishima-hime's form appeared, rushing toward him.

Shinho extended a finger and pressed it to her forehead, stopping her from getting any closer.

Ichikishima-hime instinctively reached out with both hands but couldn't quite reach him.

Nagato glanced at her, but quickly lost interest.

With his Rinnegan, he could tell at a glance that she wasn't human.

However, he assumed she was one of Shinho's summoned beasts.

Sasuke, on the other hand, was somewhat shocked.

Master?

Does he really have that kind of kink?

"Take us to the White Snake Sage," Shinho said as he patted Ichikishima-hime's head.

"Understood."

Under the control of the Serpent Mastery Gu, Ichikishima-hime had become as obedient as a happy little puffball.

She no longer cared about notions of loyalty or betrayal.

With Ichikishima-hime leading the way, Shinho and the others soon left the dark cave and arrived at a vast underground hall.

To call it a "hall" wasn't entirely accurate, it was more like a sprawling mountain range.

The "sky" above was limited, covered by a thick layer of earth.

At that moment, a calm, icy voice echoed through the chamber.

"Ichikishima-hime, are these the ninja here to participate in Ryūchi Cave's trials today?"

In the distance, a young woman slowly approached.

She was dressed in a white, kimono-style robe, her face both exquisite and otherworldly. Her long brown hair cascaded down her back.

She was Tagitsu-hime, one of the Three Great Serpent Princesses.

She scrutinized Shinho and his companions, her gaze ultimately landing on Nagato's Rinnegan.

Though she had never seen the Rinnegan before, she could feel the immense ocular power radiating from it.

"Tagitsu-hime," Ichikishima-hime said calmly, "They've already passed the trial."

"They've only passed your trial," Tagitsu-hime replied, licking her lips and revealing her long tongue, "You should know the rules of Ryūchi Cave."

Ryūchi Cave's trial consisted of three stages, each overseen by one of the Three Serpent Princesses.

Tagitsu-hime, therefore, didn't acknowledge Ichikishima-hime's declaration.

What's more, her gaze lingered hungrily on Nagato's eyes.

"What's your trial?"

Shinho asked with a smile.

Ichikishima-hime fell silent, saying no more.

"You'll find out soon."

Tagitsu-hime cast a glance at Shinho before vanishing completely.

It was her unique Sage Art, invisibility undetectable by chakra perception.

"Where is she?"

Sasuke instinctively activated his Three Tomoe Sharingan.

To his surprise, he saw nothing.

Nagato's brow furrowed suddenly.

A powerful sense of danger surged through him.

He was being targeted.

The sound of wind rustled above him.

From directly overhead, Tagitsu-hime appeared.

She opened her mouth, revealing sharp fangs, aiming straight for Nagato's neck.

Sage Art: Constriction!

Her trial was simple, if she bit her target's neck, their body would heat up, become paralyzed, and fall into an illusion.

If the target could break free from the genjutsu, they passed the trial.

If not, they became her feast.

However, before the excitement and ferocity on her face could fade, she suddenly felt a terrifying repulsive force.

"What?!"

Tagitsu-hime's heart trembled as her body was flung uncontrollably backward.

Body Flicker Technique!

Shinho appeared directly in front of her.

He reached out and seized her by the throat.

The overwhelming strength made Tagitsu-hime feel as though she was suffocating.

Her mouth opened instinctively.

A shadow darted into her mouth, it was the Serpent Mastery Gu.

Unlike the consumable Slavery Gu, the Serpent Mastery Gu could be used repeatedly as long as it didn't exceed the controller's limit.

Shinho released her casually.

Tagitsu-hime fell to the ground, gasping for air.

"Get up."

Shinho nudged her leg with his foot.

"Yes, Master."

Tagitsu-hime hurriedly stood, as if shinho wasn't the one who had thrown her to the ground.

Ichikishima-hime pouted.

Another competitor… How annoying.

Nagato couldn't help but show a surprised expression.

What just happened?

She submitted just from being grabbed by the throat?

Do you snake princesses have no backbone?

"Tagori-hime!"

Ichikishima-hime suddenly flew up as she shouted, reaching toward a specific spot in the air.

"Damn it!"

A furious voice echoed thoughthe place, a green figure materialising midair.

Like Tagitsu-hime, she wore a white kimono-style robe. However, her hair was green, and she had a more mature appearance.

Ichikishima-hime had a petite frame, Tagitsu-hime had the figure of a young woman; Tagori-hime had the elegant, graceful aura of a noblewoman.

But at this moment, there was no trace of gentleness in her, she looked utterly ferocious.

"You should be honored that my master has taken an interest in you, bitch" Ichikishima-hime huffed in dissatisfaction.

"You-you've betrayed Ryūchi Cave!"

Tagori-hime's face darkened as she dodged Ichikishima-hime's strike and pushed her hands forward.

Sage Art: Transmutation Illusion!

The desolate underground hall suddenly transformed into a bright and cozy castle.

Delicious dishes floated in the air, emitting tantalizing aromas.

This was Tagori-hime's third trial.

If you eat the food, you fail.

But right now, Tagori-hime wasn't trying to conduct a trial, she merely wanted to buy enough time to notify the White Snake Sage.

If both Ichikishima-hime and Tagitsu-hime had defected, she had no hope of winning on her own.

"An illusion?"

Sasuke smirked.

His Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan activated.

In an instant, the castle shattered, and the food disappeared.

Tagori-hime's heart sank, but she dared not turn around.

Banshō Ten'in!

Nagato extended his hand.

An invisible wave of force surged out.

A powerful gravitational pull erupted.

Tagori-hime, who had been flying midair, suddenly froze and was pulled downward.

She stared at Nagato in horror.

What is this?

How is this ninja so powerful?

A golden flash streaked by.

Just like before, Shinho appeared directly in front of her and grabbed her by the throat.

A shadow darted into her mouth. it was the Serpent Mastery Gu.

"Master."

Tagori-hime quickly scrambled to her feet, speaking respectfully.

Ichikishima-hime pouted, yet again.

Nagato's expression betrayed his astonishment.

What is going on?

Just one grab, and she submitted?

Do none of the snake princesses have any pride?

Shinho nodded at Tagori-hime. The strength of the three snake princes were worse than he had imagined. But on second thought, it wasn't that they were weak, it's just that Sasuke and nagato were too strong.

With all three serpent princesses subdued, Shinho turned his gaze toward the mountain peak.

There, a vague silhouette of a shrine was visible.

"Take us to the White Snake Sage."

Shinho's voice was calm.

"Yes."

The Three Serpent Princesses obediently took the lead.

The group didn't hurry and reached the mountaintop after ten minutes.

A massive temple came into view.

The plaque at the entrance bore the words Ryūchi Cave in large characters.

Shinho walked into the temple.

Inside the grand hall, coiled upon the throne, lay a massive white snake.

It had orange hair tied with a purple ribbon, a glowing pearl on its forehead, and a smoking pipe in its mouth.

"Has someone passed the trials?"

The White Snake Sage opened its eyes and looked at Shinho and his companions.

Its gaze landed on Nagato's Rinnegan, and its demeanor changed instantly, it sat up abruptly.

A puff of white smoke enveloped it.

When the smoke cleared, an elderly woman with wrinkled skin stood in its place.

"Your eyes... Are those the Rinnegan?"

The White Snake Sage's voice was filled with shock.

"They are," Nagato replied with a nod.

"How do you possess the Rinnegan?"

The White Snake Sage hesitated. "Are you a descendant of Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo?"

"Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo?"

Nagato blinked in confusion.

"You don't know who that is?"

The White Snake Sage stared at him, incredulous.

"He's the Sage of Six Paths," Shinho interjected.

In the original story, it was said that the Great Toad Sage had met with Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo to warn him of his mother Kaguya's evil intentions.

Moved by the Toad Sage's words, Hagoromo decided to seal his mother and restore peace to the ninja world.

Although the Katsuyu and White Snake Sage weren't mentioned in that narrative, Shinho believed they had likely been involved.

After all, Kaguya's actions posed a grave threat to all of them.

It was entirely reasonable that the White Snake Sage had encountered Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo.

"I see..."

Nagato's expression shifted as he finally understood.

"How did you come by the Rinnegan?"

The White Snake Sage asked eagerly.

"I don't know."

Nagato replied honestly.

"..."

The White Snake Sage frowned.

Judging by Nagato's ignorance of Hagoromo, she could tell he wasn't lying.

But the reappearance of the Rinnegan...

What could it mean?

Was chaos about to descend upon the ninja world once more?

Or... Was that woman about to break free from her prison?

"It seems you've passed the trials. From now on, you are Ryūchi Cave's contractor."

The White Snake Sage paused for a moment before speaking.

No matter the reason for the Rinnegan's reappearance, the important thing was to recruit him for Ryūchi Cave.

That old toad was always rambling about some "Child of Prophecy."

To her, Nagato seemed far more like the true Child of Prophecy.

After all, Hagoromo, the one who had sealed Kaguya, had possessed the Rinnegan as well.

"Apologies," Nagato said, his expression calm and impassive, "We didn't come to join Ryūchi Cave, we came to make you submit."

Shinho raised an eyebrow.

That tone, that stance... This feels exactly like the Deva Path of Pain.

The "god", in all his arrogance had returned.

"What did you just say?"

The White Snake Sage laughed in disbelief.

Did you really think possessing the Rinnegan means you can do whatever you want in Ryūchi Cave?