Chapter 40
The Trials in Ryūchi Cave
After reuniting, Sarutobi Enjun and Uzuki Ruri spontaneously formed a core group led by Uchiha Gen, and proceeded step by step into the depths.
With the Sharingan and sensory ninjutsu, Uchiha Gen was naturally the first in the team to sense danger and the most capable of blocking it. Sarutobi Enjun and Uzuki Ruri, being slightly weaker, naturally stayed behind to provide support and cover the flanks.
Unbeknownst to many, Uchiha Gen had already truly become the core of this team.
Not far ahead, faint lights began to appear.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a magnificently decorated palace.
On the plaque atop the main hall, the three large characters "Longdi Cave" are engraved in gold on a black background.
Uchiha Gen glanced at the plaque, then looked around, the tomoe in his Sharingan slowly turning.
The absence of flaws does not mean it is not an illusion.
After all, his Sharingan is currently only at the single tomoe level. Although it provides an advantage in genjutsu, it is not enough to suddenly leap so many levels and possess the ability to see through enemies whose strength is far superior to his own.
Orochimaru just said not to believe anything you see here.
If it were any other Uchiha, they would have believed in everything they saw with their Sharingan without a doubt, and after thinking they had seen through everything, they would mutter something like, "Hate the fate of those without the Sharingan."
Historically, quite a few Uchiha clans have suffered setbacks because of this, including some extremely powerful ones.
Orochimaru knew that Gen Uchiha had awakened the Sharingan, yet he still issued this warning, which actually explained everything.
Perhaps due to preconceived notions, Gen Uchiha managed to spot some discrepancies, but couldn't quite put his finger on what they were.
Sensing the approach of the three-person team, the wide palace gates suddenly opened, and a green-haired woman with a dignified face, a cool temperament, and dressed in palace attire stepped out.
"This humble woman is Princess Tianxin. Greetings to the three of you. Please come in."
Princess Tianxin smiled gently at the three of them, then gracefully pointed into the hall, leading them inside.
"Please rest here for a moment. I have already informed the White Snake Sage. As long as you pass the test, you will soon be able to successfully sign a contract with Ryuchi Cave and gain great power, just like your teacher Orochimaru."
The long table inside the hall was laden with food, its aroma wafting through the air, seemingly possessing a special power to entice desire in others.
Even people who weren't hungry before will find themselves developing an appetite under this influence.
"Yuan, we..."
Sarutobi Enjun looked at Uchiha Gen and asked for his opinion.
"Don't eat it."
Uchiha Gen didn't explain, he just quietly uttered a few words, then stood there, his Sharingan flashing red light as he surveyed the hall.
Sight and smell can be affected, so it seems that the illusion magic in Ryuchi Cave has its merits.
"it is good."
Sarutobi Enjun nodded emphatically.
He and Ruri Uzuki thought that Gen Uchiha's Sharingan had seen through some flaw.
And it seems that Princess Tianxin also thinks so.
"Huh? Your Sharingan at this stage shouldn't have this kind of insight."
Princess Tianxin asked in confusion, and the magnificent golden scene of the main hall vanished instantly, transforming into a cave hall filled with the skeletons of various creatures.
"Never mind, I can't eat this person. What a pity. I'll leave him to you, Princess Tsuruzu."
Tianxin Shenji waved her hand dismissively and disappeared from the spot.
Another purple-haired snake princess, dressed in clothing similar to that of Princess Kokoro, drifted over from a distance.
Along with this came an even thicker fog.
Everything in front of him, including his two teammates beside him, vanished in an instant.
Uchiha Gen's heart stirred as he saw a figure that was both familiar and unfamiliar emerge from the thick fog ahead.
He was tall and handsome, but a scar on his forehead ruined the overall impression, making him look somewhat fierce.
This is the original owner's father, Uchiha Taki.
"Yuan, it's me. Come here."
【Uchiha Taki】smiled gently at Uchiha Gen and called out softly.
The latter remained unmoved, simply resting his chin on his hand and analyzing the situation.
"The Snake Princess here probably doesn't know that Uchiha Taki is my father, but I still saw it. This means that this technique is automatically generated based on my memories. Its effect is similar to the Naraku Sight Technique, except that the latter directly makes people see the images they fear or do not want to face."
Gen Uchiha stroked his chin and used his Sharingan to examine the flow of his own chakra.
Fortunately, this technique wouldn't be too difficult for him to break. Its purpose was actually the same as that of the previous Tianxin Shenji: to test his inner self.
It seems that Orochimaru's previous arrangement for Jiraiya to train his two teammates' resistance to genjutsu was all for this very moment.
In this way, Gen Uchiha was able to relax a bit.
All of this was within Orochimaru's calculations, which meant that his two teammates should be safe at this moment.
The three sacred mountains are mutually reinforcing and mutually restraining, and the relationship between the three holy lands is even more subtle. Since the toads of Mount Myōboku are restrained by the snakes in Ryūchi Cave, it means that they will also try to find a way to resist this restraint. Perhaps after being trained in toad power, they will have a miraculous effect on resisting the illusions in Ryūchi Cave.
Thinking of this, Uchiha Gen immediately formed hand seals and, using the Sharingan's ability to see through the flow of chakra, forcibly disturbed the chakra and broke free from the genjutsu's restraints.
When he opened his eyes again, he was still in that mist, and his two teammates were still behind him, but they were still squinting, and their chakra levels were fluctuating. They had obviously realized that this was a genjutsu and were trying to break free.
It shouldn't be long before they wake up—on the battlefield, that would be enough time for the enemy to kill them dozens of times, but here, it's certainly enough to pass the test.
"Tch, so he did wake up after all. I was wondering what it was like to have the Sharingan activated by an Uchiha compared to other ninjas."
As Tsuruhime floated in mid-air, she looked at the awakened Uchiha Gen and her mind went blank.
The latter raised her head, looking at the seemingly dignified but cruel snake queen, and asked:
Is there another test?
"Yes, Princess Takonoshin tests greed and temptation, I test willpower and reason, and Princess Ichikishima tests thinking and wisdom. If you fail the test, you will become our snack. Hey, you don't look stupid, you won't be eaten by that idiot Princess Ichikishima, will you?"
"Greed and temptation, will and reason, thought and wisdom..."
Gen Uchiha nodded slowly.
Judging from the previous two tests, the difficulty level is acceptable.