Naruto: Eating Kaido's Azure Dragon Devil Fruit-Chapter 324: Tagitsuhime VS Ichikishimahime

Ascension Island, underground training room.

Kurenai Yuhi had her eyes tightly shut, her hands forming hand seals rapidly.

"Demonic Illusion, Tree Binding Death!"

With her soft cry, the wooden post in the center of the training ground was instantly entangled by countless illusory tree branches surging from the ground.

However, Tagitsuhime, standing opposite her, merely raised her eyelids slightly, a flash of cyan light passing through her snake-like pupils.

She said with a playful laugh,

"The construction speed of the illusion is acceptable, but the mental impact is too weak."

"For ninja with strong willpower or those possessing special eye techniques, an illusion of this level can be easily broken."

Before her words even faded, without any visible movement from her, those illusory branches entangling the wooden post were crushed by an invisible force, shattering into pieces and dissipating into the air.

Kurenai grunted, her body swaying slightly.

Nonō watched from the side, concern in her eyes, but she also knew this was a necessary process for Kurenai to become stronger.

At that moment, Tagitsuhime, who was instructing Kurenai, suddenly froze.

Her snake-like pupils constricted sharply, and she abruptly turned her head to look upwards, towards the top of the training room.

"What is it, Tagitsuhime-sister?"

Kurenai, noticing her abnormality, asked.

Nonō also cast a questioning look.

The laziness originally on Tagitsuhime’s face was instantly replaced by a trace of seriousness and, killing intent.

"There are snakes, snake-like presences, spying on the island’s perimeter."

"And, a presence I find very unpleasant is approaching."

She tilted her head slightly, sensing the increasingly clear, cold chakra, the corner of her mouth curling into a cold arc.

"It’s Ichikishimahime, another Snake Princess under the White Snake Sage."

Nonō’s face changed slightly.

"People from Ryūchi Cave have found us? Do we need to inform Sora?"

"No need."

Tagitsuhime gently stropped the two jade-like dragon horn bumps on her head, a flash of confidence in her eyes.

"The master granted me new life. Such a trivial matter is not worth disturbing him."

She looked at Nonō and Kurenai.

"You stay underground and do not move around. I will be right back."

After speaking, her figure transformed into a stream of cyan-black light and disappeared from the training room.

...

Ascension Island outskirts, an area of reefs.

Ichikishimahime stood on a huge black reef, dressed in gorgeous robes, her appearance delicate and beautiful.

Under orders from the White Snake Sage, she had led a group of snakes from Ryūchi Cave to search in the direction of the Land of Water and Land of Lightning for traces of Tagitsuhime and Sora.

Kōjinja was investigating towards the Land of Earth and Land of Wind.

After days of searching, they had finally locked onto this island, which seemed ordinary but was actually enveloped by a powerful barrier.

’That bitch Tagitsuhime really found a good place, hiding here alone to enjoy some opportunity!’

’That pure dragon majesty the White Snake Sage-sama sensed must be related to Sora! Finding him and guiding him to Ryūchi Cave would be a great achievement!’

Ichikishimahime urged several small snakes to try to infiltrate the island, only to find the barrier extremely solid, completely unable to breach it. (Note: This sentence uses the Chinese verb meaning "to drive/to urge." Based on context, a suitable translation is "urged.")

Just as she was contemplating her next move, a cyan-black figure appeared on the beach not far in front of her.

It was Tagitsuhime.

"Ichikishimahime, trespassing on private territory without permission, is this the rule of Ryūchi Cave?"

Tagitsuhime spoke coldly, the deference she showed before Sora gone, her gaze haughty.

Seeing Tagitsuhime, Ichikishimahime was first stunned, then her pupils constricted sharply.

She keenly perceived that the Tagitsuhime before her was completely different from before. (Note: This part uses a phrase meaning "keenly perceived." The sentence structure is slightly adjusted for English flow.)

Not only had her aura become stronger and more profound, more importantly, she actually had two initially angular bumps on her head.

What were those.

Snake horns.

No, the feeling was completely different.

It was a higher form of life.

’How is this possible. How could her evolution be so fast.’

Ichikishimahime’s heart stirred up towering waves, a surge of intense unease and jealousy surged into her heart. (Note: This uses idioms meaning "stirred up towering waves" and "surged into her heart," translated directly to maintain the original structure.)

’Could it be, she really received immense benefits from that Sora. The path of transforming into a dragon that White Snake Sage-sama has pursued for a millennium without touching, she actually.’

She forcefully suppressed the shock in her heart, squeezing out a smile on her face. (Note: The phrase means "forcefully suppressed.")

"Sister Tagitsuhime, long time no see. You have kept White Snake Sage-sama waiting."

"I have come under orders from the White Snake Sage to invite you and that Sora-sama to Ryūchi Cave for a discussion."

"Oh."

Tagitsuhime’s mouth carried a sneer. "Invite. Using these sneaky little snakes to invite."

Her gaze swept over those snakes lingering outside the barrier, a flash of killing intent passing through her eyes.

Ichikishimahime’s face darkened.

"Tagitsuhime, do not forget your status. You are a Snake Princess of Ryūchi Cave. The White Snake Sage is your master."

"You have stayed in the outside world without permission and concealed information; this is already a serious crime. (Note: These phrases mean "staying in the outside world without permission," "concealing information," and "serious crime.")

"Now come back with me obediently, and perhaps you can receive lenient treatment."

"Master."

Tagitsuhime seemed to hear something laughable. She gently stroked the dragon horn bumps on her head, feeling the vast power contained within and the burning sensation brought by Sora’s blood.

"My future is no longer confined within a single cave."

"White Snake Sage. She has been trapped in the Snake Path for a thousand years, in the end, she is just a, slightly larger snake."

"Outrageous."

Ichikishimahime shouted sharply. The contempt in Tagitsuhime’s words completely infuriated her. (Note: The phrase means "completely infuriated.")

"Since you are so stubborn and unrepentant, then do not blame me for disregarding past relations and forcibly capturing you to bring you back to Ryūchi Cave."

Her hands formed hand seals rapidly, powerful sage art chakra erupting.

"Sage Art, White Rage Technique."

A white dragon-shaped energy body formed from sage art chakra, carrying high-frequency vibrations and intense light, shot straight at Tagitsuhime.

Facing this technique she once needed to treat with caution, Tagitsuhime merely snorted coldly.

She did not even form seals, merely opened her mouth and spat.

A condensed shockwave with a faint cyan halo shot forth fiercely.

Boom.

Ichikishimahime’s White Rage Technique, before that faint cyan shockwave, was instantly dispersed.

"What."

Ichikishimahime was greatly shocked, dodging the residual waves in a disheveled manner. (Note: The phrase means "dodged the residual waves in a disheveled manner.") The reef she originally stood on was blasted to pieces.

’Her sage arts, how could they be this strong. What exactly is that cyan energy.’

Ichikishimahime was horrified.

"Is this all you are capable of."

Tagitsuhime stepped forward, the pressure emanating from her body growing stronger and stronger, the aura of a flood dragon spreading.

"Damn it."

A trace of viciousness flashed in Ichikishimahime’s eyes. She bit her finger and slapped her hands towards the sea surface.

"Summoning Technique."

Poof. Poof. Poof.

Three huge plumes of white smoke exploded on the sea surface.

As the smoke cleared, three massive giant snakes emitting fierce and vicious auras appeared.

Manda. Green Snake. Sāra.

The three strongest war snakes of Ryūchi Cave, summoned by Ichikishimahime all at once.

"Sss, Ichikishimahime, why have you summoned us."

Manda asked, flicking its crimson forked tongue. (Note: The phrase means "crimson forked tongue.") But when its gaze swept over Tagitsuhime, its snake pupils constricted sharply, sensing that pressure that made it extremely uncomfortable. (Note: The phrase means "snake pupils constricted sharply.")

Green Snake and Sāra also twisted their bodies restlessly. (Note: The phrase means "twisted their bodies restlessly.")

"Seize her."

Ichikishimahime pointed at Tagitsuhime, shrieking.

Although the three giant snakes felt uncomfortable, they could only roar as they pounced toward Tagitsuhime. (Note: The phrase means "roared as they pounced toward Tagitsuhime.")

Manda opened its huge mouth, venom pouring down like a waterfall. (Note: The phrases mean "huge mouth" and "venom poured down like a waterfall.") Green Snake’s figure was agile, entangling and biting. (Note: The phrases mean "figure agile" and "entangling and biting.") Sāra’s single eye was crimson red, violently charging forward. (Note: The phrases mean "single eye crimson red" and "violently charged forward.")

Facing the encirclement of three notoriously fierce giant snakes, Tagitsuhime’s face showed not the slightest trace of panic.

"Stubborn and unenlightened."

She said softly. Then, her body began to undergo an astonishing transformation.

Cyan-black light enveloped her. Her figure rapidly expanded and elongated.

No longer her original slender, enchanting snake-woman form, she transformed into a creature nearly a hundred meters long, its entire body covered in hard cyan-black scales, with two horns on its head, and under its belly four claws vaguely protruding. (Note: The phrase means "with four claws vaguely protruding.")

Flood dragon.

Although not yet a true dragon, that form, that imposing manner, already far exceeded the category of snakes.

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