As the black-robed boss stepped out of the control room, an intricate network of tunnels stretched out before him. These passages extended in all directions, some even connecting to the underground layers beneath the canyon forest. With these hidden routes, the black-robed boss could swiftly appear anywhere within the labyrinthine cave system.
Having long since memorized the terrain, the black-robed boss proceeded toward a passage marked with the symbol "Z."
Meanwhile, Mizuki Ryosuke, Mizuki Mitsuhiko, and Terumi Mei had traversed countless dangers and penetrated deep into the cavern. At this depth, the structure of the cave had changed significantly. Instead of a single linear path, multiple forks split in different directions.
To navigate this underground maze, the team had to remain vigilant, carefully selecting their route at each intersection.
Mitsuhiko and Terumi Mei, having endured one trap after another, felt that this mission alone could be turned into a survival guide titled "One Hundred Ways to Deal with Traps."
For example:
What should you do when you see a mysterious treasure chest glowing with golden light ahead?
A. Prevent your teammates from approaching, using force if necessary.
B. Deploy a clone to inspect for potential dangers.
C. Stand at a safe distance and use a Fire Style technique to destroy the chest.
D. Obliterate the entire scene, leaving no trace, and choose a different route.
The correct answer? All of the above.
Mitsuhiko rubbed the fresh lump on his forehead, the result of Mizuki Ryosuke's "preventive measure."
Another scenario:
Two paths appear before you. From one, you hear a desperate cry for help. Which do you choose?
A. Rush toward the cries and attempt a rescue.
B. Take the silent path instead.
The correct answer? Neither.
Instead, immediately retreat and find an alternative route at the previous fork.
Terumi Mei sighed at the memory of being forcefully yanked back by Mizuki Ryosuke when she impulsively tried to respond to such a plea.
This level of caution was not without reason.
A sudden treasure chest appearing in a dungeon? Clearly suspicious. Any shinobi worth their kunai knew that when something looked too good to be true, it was usually a trap.
A mysterious voice calling for help in an uninhabited cave? Completely unnatural. Even if someone truly needed rescuing, why should it be their problem? If it wasn't Takeda Yoichi's voice, then it didn't concern them.
By applying this level of prudence, Ryosuke ensured that despite the numerous traps laid out by the enemy, his team never fell victim.
Frustrated by repeated failures, the black-robed figures escalated their attacks, shifting from deception to direct assault.
First, massive boulders suddenly plummeted from above.
Then, concealed weapons shot out from hidden mechanisms.
Finally, an advanced Genjutsu technique was triggered.
Yet, none of these tactics were effective against Mizuki Ryosuke's preparedness and extraordinary strength.
A falling boulder? Easily shattered by a precise Water Blade technique.
A barrage of hidden weapons? Deflected effortlessly by Mitsuhiko's Ice Barrier.
A high-level Genjutsu? Ryosuke dispelled it instantly with his cold-blooded mental discipline and dragged his teammates away before they could be affected.
At last, the trio reached the deepest chamber of the cave.
Ryosuke's acute perception quickly detected something unusual about the surroundings. Stepping closer to the rock wall, he raised a torch to examine its surface.
What he saw was no ordinary cave formation—it was a mural.
The mural depicted a strange story.
A man with two horns on his forehead ventured deep into the mountains, seemingly in search of something. After an extended search, he appeared to find nothing.
Then, he discovered a cave. Within this cave, he encountered a peculiar creature—one with triangular ears and a round face.
The mural showed the horned man and the mysterious creature interacting, coexisting within the cave, and engaging in some unknown activities.
Eventually, the horned man left, having seemingly failed to achieve his original goal. However, before departing, he entrusted a round object to the mysterious creature for safekeeping.
The final scene depicted the creature also leaving the cave, traveling towards a distant mountain. The original dwelling was marked with an ominous "X" symbol.
Terumi Mei and Mitsuhiko exchanged puzzled glances, struggling to interpret the abstract artwork.
But Mizuki Ryosuke's expression darkened.
If this mural was historically accurate, then the knowledge hidden within it could contain secrets beyond imagination.
The horned man immediately reminded him of one figure—Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths!
Of course, there were other candidates—Ōtsutsuki Hamura, the Sage's brother, or even Kinkaku and Ginkaku, the two rogue Cloud Shinobi who once fatally wounded Tobirama Senju.
However, Ryosuke quickly dismissed the latter two.
Kinkaku and Ginkaku had no connection to the Land of Water. That alone ruled them out.
As for Hamura, his presence on the moon after the sealing of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya made his involvement unlikely.
That left only one possibility—the Sage of Six Paths himself.
Was it possible that while wandering the ninja world after sealing Kaguya, Hagoromo had stumbled upon this very cave?
If that were true, then what exactly was hidden here? What was the nature of the mysterious creature in the mural?
Even more importantly—what was the round object that had been left in its care?
Ryosuke's mind raced as he considered the implications.
Could the Mizukage Scrolls and the Mizukage Exams be connected to this forgotten legacy?
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The air filled with the sharp whistle of incoming projectiles.
"Another hidden weapon attack?" Ryosuke narrowed his eyes, preparing to intercept.
But before he could react, Mitsuhiko had already completed a series of rapid hand seals.
"Ice Release: Ice Wall Technique!"
A thick wall of ice surged up in front of them, shielding the team from the barrage. The sharp weapons clattered against the icy defense without penetrating.
But before they could exhale in relief—
"BOOM!"
A gigantic, fur-covered claw smashed through the ice barrier in a single, devastating blow.
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