"Thank you for showing mercy, Sage Tagorihime."
Amane's injuries were mostly healed, and the hunger she felt in her stomach quickly disappeared.
It seemed that the effect wasn't just triggered upon entering the building; they had been hit by this Ninjutsu, which resembled a Genjutsu, ever since she and White Snake started walking in the fog.
She hadn't noticed it at all; Amane genuinely thought the long walk was simply exacerbating her own consumption of energy.
The Ninja World is still vast; while her strength might seem great on the surface, she should continue to strive for perfection.
"I didn't show mercy. You passed this stage based on your own ability. The human girl who defeated Shin Ya truly has some skill."
Tagorihime's words startled Amane, and she immediately realized an issue.
Shin Ya had probably returned to Ryūchi Cave.
"Go now, human girl. The next stage awaits you."
After speaking, Tagorihime's figure vanished into the fog. Amane offered a final bow in the direction she disappeared.
Whether it was useful or not, maintaining courtesy was never wrong.
"How unexpected. She can harm herself without batting an eye, yet the malice in her heart isn't deep; one might even call her peaceful. Truly an interesting child."
Another woman walked out of the fog. No, based on her apparent age, she looked only a year or two older than Amane—she could be called a loli.
Her face was delicate and cute, and she wore a pair of comma-shaped bead earrings, the same style as Orochimaru's.
"My name is Ichikishima Hime. What is yours?"
Ichikishima Hime floated through the thick fog, slowly approaching Amane as she asked.
" Uzumaki Tian Yin ."
Amane gave her true name, wondering if this surname held any recognition in the Holy Land.
However, Amane was destined for disappointment. Hearing the name, the loli before her showed no reaction. She merely nodded, told Amane to follow, and then flew forward on her own.
"Why did you come to Ryūchi Cave? Most people who come here are lunatics craving power, but you don't feel like one."
Ichikishima Hime suddenly asked.
"I also came here craving power, but other goals were added along the way."
She patted the backpack on her back, which made Ichikishima Hime even more curious, so they started chatting during their journey.
Amane recounted her original purpose for the journey and the battle she had with Shin Ya midway, holding little back.
Naturally, this also included the goal of seeking treatment for Kimimaro and the Great White Snake.
"If I pass the trial, will I, possessing Sage Power, be able to undo their petrification?"
Amane subtly glanced around, understanding a few things in her heart, and openly began performing Hand Seals.
A barely perceptible breeze began to blow around her.
[In boruto, it was a puzzle game. It seems my experience is completely different.]
Perceiving the shapes carried by the surrounding wind using her Kagura Minds Eye, Amane thought to herself.
"Who knows? That depends entirely on you."
Ichikishima Hime looked back but didn't stop flying forward, her smiling appearance seeming especially kind and cute.
So one flew forward, and the other followed continuously. Occasionally, they would exchange a few words, like two friends walking a long distance together.
Time gradually lost meaning. Amane could no longer remember how many steps she had taken or exactly how long she had been walking.
She only knew one thing: if she couldn't find a way to break the deadlock before her Chakra was completely exhausted...
...then her journey would end here.
{Regarding the second stage of the Ryūchi Cave trial, those fortunate enough to reach this point have various accounts of its content. Some say they were pulled into a cave and forced to solve a riddle. Others say they were placed in a waterfall and had to swim upstream to reach the top. Thus, it is speculated that this is likely a test of will and ingenuity.}
[This makes sense. If so, this trial is arranged according to the challenger's personality.]
Boruto's personality is stubborn and unwilling to admit defeat, just like Naruto. But he also inherited the flaw of being impatient. For someone like him, being sent to a cave to play an embedding game, where the last piece required manual crafting to complete, was perfect.
[Coupled with the Shin Ya incident, I understand now: Ryūchi Cave likes to use traps disguised as countless truths mixed with a single lie.]
Boruto would certainly have the patience to find the pieces for Mitsuki. But once he spent a massive amount of time collecting all but the last piece, his impatience would likely force him into a deadlock.
Integrating the information provided by Orochimaru with the contents of the boruto anime she remembered, Amane was basically certain of her strategy for the next stage.
Her footsteps paused, causing Ichikishima Hime, who was leading the way, to stop flying.
"What's wrong?"
Ichikishima Hime continued to smile as she asked, but her expression wasn't as sweet as before; it held a hint of anticipation.
Since she was so expectant, Amane was happy to indulge her.
Thus, she began performing Hand Seals right in front of Ichikishima Hime. Then, six Adamantine Sealing Chains shot out from behind her, quickly nailing themselves into the surrounding fog and disappearing.
The wind picked up, carrying a heavy stench of blood and sourness.
Without the fog, the surroundings were revealed to be blood-red flesh walls and throbbing veins.
The source of the stench and sourness was a digestion pool less than a hundred meters ahead—or, more accurately, the stomach of a snake.
"Unexpected. Given your personality, you should have waited a bit longer. Waited until you had fully analyzed the surroundings, and then used a passive solution to free yourself. Why the sudden change of heart?"
Ichikishima Hime was still smiling, but it was the smile of a snake face she had manifested.
[Oh my god, that was close! I was less than a hundred meters from stepping into a death trap! Luckily, I was quick enough to forcefully suppress the instinctual desire to fully analyze and solve the puzzle. I nearly died.]
Amane was nearly drenched in a cold sweat from shock; her decision was incredibly timely and extremely risky!
Using the newly developed Sensing Ninjutsu, Amane had determined from the start that she was inside some kind of cave and that a suspected Genjutsu-like effect was causing them to walk in circles.
That's why Amane had been searching for the nodes of this Barrier Ninjutsu-like technique the entire way.
Up until the moment she made her decision, she had only found six of the nodes, but her knowledge suggested to Amane that this technique should have seven nodes.
Wasn't this more thrilling than a life-or-death battle on the battlefield?
"I guessed."
Amane said, her expression unchanged.
Although it was the truth, how could the unavoidable momentary pause in her heartbeat have escaped the notice of this loli Sage?
Consequently, a burst of giggling came from beside her ear.
"That should be enough, right? Do I pass this stage or not? Or do I have to blast my way through this thing?!"
Amane raised her hands, ready to perform Hand Seals, sounding somewhat exasperated.
This made Ichikishima Hime laugh even harder, so she snapped her fingers. Amane's Adamantine Sealing Chains immediately lost their anchor points and fell to the ground.
The scene before her reverted to the dense fog from moments earlier.
"You passed this stage. Ah~ what a pity. I understand Tagorihime's feelings now. But you are quite cute, so I wish you luck in surviving the end."
As she said "surviving the end," Ichikishima Hime disappeared into the fog, vanishing without a trace.
[Phew... just one more. Come on, Tamazu-hime.]
She could already feel something rapidly approaching her.
Suddenly! A sharp pain shot through her neck!
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