"Hiss~" Manda's forked tongue flicked.
Since Gamabunta, this was the first time he'd met a living being that dared talk to him like this. He was going to make this black cat pay in blood. But before that, there was something he needed to figure out.
"Little mouse, where did you crawl in from?"
His massive body shifted inside the cave, muscles and scales already adjusted to their optimal state. The moment the black cat made any move, he could strike in an instant and kill him.
Of course, that was assuming Manda could actually do it.
He didn't think there would be a problem. The creature in front of him also wielded natural energy, he could sense that much, but compared to him, it was still a bit inferior. Leaving everything else aside, just on size alone...
It was far too small.
Manda's eyes were filled with contempt.
But in the next second, a sudden, illusion-like blur smashed into him like lightning. He only felt a burst of severe pain in his head, then with a thunderous *boom*, he was slammed into the stone wall beside him, the impact shaking the entire cavern.
The cave wouldn't collapse. This was the snake clan's home ground, they had reinforced it layer upon layer. A clash of this level wouldn't affect it at all.
The problem was, who the hell had just hit him?
Manda writhed in pain, his mind stuck on that question. The only enemy inside the cave was the black cat, how could that thing have that kind of power?
He didn't get it, but he didn't dare underestimate him again.
After taking a hit, he immediately swung his tail in a counterattack.
His enormous size gave him overwhelming offensive power and range. He might not look fast, but that was only because of how big he was, compared to smaller bodies, this speed was terrifying.
Takeshi didn't give him a chance to continue attacking.
A snake's speed was indeed fast, but it was nothing compared to his. In an instant, a torii gate descended from above and slammed down over Manda's head.
Sage Art: Gate of the Great God.
An instant takedown.
fuinjutsu really was convenient. There was a reason the First Hokage had used it against the tailed beasts back then. Using it on Manda was honestly overkill, but Manda wasn't the boss of Ryuchi Cave, wasting time on him was meaningless.
"Detestable, you brat..."
Manda rampaged through the cave, thrashing wildly, his tail trying to smash the torii gate. But the next second, the black cat's tail hammered down on his own, making Manda howl in pain and rage. His destruction grew even more frenzied, until Takeshi's tail came down on him over and over, while one enlarged paw pinned his head in place.
Honestly, Takeshi had an easier way.
That first blow that slammed Manda into the wall, if he'd just used a head seal in the next instant, everything would have been settled.
But... how would he earn Points like that?
Beating him up wasn't the goal. Points were the most important thing.
"Meow~ Look up at me. Who's the mouse?"
Takeshi forcibly lifted Manda's head, making him meet his gaze. Manda raised his head, suddenly opened his jaws, and spewed venom.
In the blink of an eye, solid ice surged out from Takeshi's claws, racing along to freeze both Manda's mouth and the venom in place.
Manda grew even more furious.
But every time he so much as twitched, his tail took another heavy blow. Before long, his tail had been smashed deep into the surrounding rock, embedded so tightly it couldn't move, or maybe he didn't dare move, afraid of getting hit again.
"That's better, meow. Which way to the White Snake Sage?"
Takeshi sounded very gentle, letting up with his claws so Manda could move his head more freely.
Manda seethed with humiliation.
Normally, he would have struck back without hesitation, then skinned and swallowed alive any intruder that dared to attack and insult him. But he knew he couldn't beat this absurd cat.
He didn't even know where the cat had come from.
The question wasn't whether to fight back, that answer was obvious. The real dilemma was whether he should reveal the White Snake Sage's location.
The White Snake Sage was the leader of Ryuchi Cave. Manda himself didn't know her exact location, only that she resided in the temple deepest in Ryuchi Cave and that her strength was terrifying, unfathomable, really.
Thinking it over... there didn't seem to be much point in hiding it.
Manda was just about to speak when he looked up and saw that massive black tail sweep toward him.
With a heavy *thud*, it smashed down, and pain exploded through his head.
"Manda, truly worthy of being a big boss. Even under a beating, you'd rather say nothing about where the White Snake Sage is. Guess I'll have to find the next one."
Takeshi sighed softly.
Manda was in agony, howling where he lay, his mind dazed, he'd clearly decided to talk, but how was he supposed to speak with solid ice freezing his mouth? Nod his head in a direction? The bastard never gave him the chance!
Damn him!
He tried to blast apart the ice and fuinjutsu with chakra, but shaking the seal was far too difficult. The ice in his mouth did start to melt a little under his senjutsu chakra...
Takeshi left Manda behind and headed deeper in.
He had sensed another snake ahead. Its aura was a bit weaker than Manda's, but not by much. It should at least know where to find the White Snake Sage.
Manda's temper was too volatile, constantly roaring, thrashing, and even trying to spit at him.
He was a real pain to deal with.
The black cat sighed internally.
Following the path, he soon found the target he'd sensed: a massive blue serpent.
Aoda.
"Meow~ Buddy, could you take me deeper into Ryuchi Cave to find the White Snake Sage?"
Takeshi felt no pressure at all.
Aoda was weaker than Manda, but not by much. He'd probably crawled over after hearing the commotion, only to run into the black cat blocking his way.
This cat...
Aoda couldn't see through him at all. But on the cat's body, he could smell Manda's scent.
That guy was trouble.
He could still feel faint tremors through the earth, Manda was obviously still struggling. But he hadn't come after them. That alone proved the cat was stronger than Manda, by a lot.
"You're looking for the White Snake Sage?"
Aoda flicked his forked tongue. He could feel just how powerful the black cat's chakra was.
But compared to the White Snake Sage, he should still be far behind, right?
Almost no one in Ryuchi Cave had truly witnessed the White Snake Sage's power. She had lived for a thousand years, since the other serpents were born, they had almost never seen her seriously make a move.
"Meow!"
Takeshi nodded.
He hoped this one would be easier to talk to, just take him straight to the White Snake Sage, or at least point the way. No need to waste chakra fighting.
If Aoda insisted on fighting, then Takeshi could only nobly accept the Points and find the next guide. It wasn't a big problem. In a nest of snakes, how hard could it be to find someone willing to lead the way? Snakes weren't exactly known for their loyalty.
On that point, Takeshi had full confidence.
"Hiss~ No problem. But let me warn you, stirring up the snake den is one thing. Once you step into the depths of Ryuchi Cave, the outcome is basically death."
Aoda spoke in warning.
"Meow! Lead the way."
Takeshi, utterly unceremonious, hopped onto Aoda's head.
Aoda fell silent for a few seconds, clearly weighing whether to buck the black cat off.
He decided not to be stupid.
One look at Manda still struggling deeper inside was enough to know this cat was bad news. Why ask for trouble?
In the end, Aoda carried the black cat toward the depths.
Ryuchi Cave was complex, full of crisscrossing dark passages. Without a snake to guide you, even with powerful sensory abilities, your first time here would take ages just to find the temple deep within.
But Aoda couldn't go all the way.
When he had taken Takeshi far enough, he stopped and lifted his head, signaling for the cat to get down.
"Any farther and you'll encounter the Three Sisters. That's not a place I'm allowed to go. You're on your own from here."
"Meow~ Thanks. You've got a nice personality. Want to join the Neko Clan?"
"..."
Caught off guard by the sudden recruitment pitch, Aoda froze for a beat, then hurriedly slithered away.
===============
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