Chapter 145

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The Sand Shinobi retreated.

For now, there was no need to continue the fight.

Chiyo looked back, her eyes filled with unwillingness and melancholy.

It was supposed to be her, the old one, who was ready to give her all, but Pakura, a talented young ninja of the younger generation, had stepped ahead of her.

Clutching her fists, Chiyo's gaze was resolute.

It didn't matter if they couldn't kill Kyōmu today or if they couldn't take down Kikyō Castle right now; tomorrow, the day after, in a fortnight, or in a month, she would eventually find an opportunity to exhaust Kyōmu to death.

"Lord Kyōmu!"

A group of Leaf Shinobi ran over, and before they even arrived, a garment to cover his body was thrown his way.

Pakura's final move, both in temperature and explosive force, was extraordinary, perhaps even beyond what Deidara's 'Master Piece' could achieve in the future.

This wasn't about the range but the destructive power on a single target.

Taking the garment to cover his body, which was left with only the scales of Reverse Scale Mail, Kyōmu then pulled the rest of his half-burnt body out of the ashes.

"I'm alright." Kyōmu grinned at his teammates, his face sooty except for his bright white teeth, making him look somewhat amusing.

The teammates couldn't hold back and burst into laughter.

Kyōmu didn't mind, and he surveyed the area to count the numbers.

Despite fighting desperately against the enemy, his team had still lost over one hundred seventy people.

"Gather the bodies of our comrades, reinforce the defenses of Kikyō Castle, and wait for the next attack from the Sand Shinobi."

"Yes, Lord Kyōmu!"

No one cried, no one shrank back, and no one spoke out of turn against unity; all turned to follow Kyōmu's orders.

From the moment they became ninjas, they were prepared for death; the only question was whether their deaths were worthwhile.

Clearly, with a leader like Kyōmu at their side, they all felt their deaths were meaningful.

Once everyone left, Kyōmu patted off the ashes on his clothes, but his once glossy black hair was now a charred mess.

Besides that, apart from the upper body protected by the scales of Reverse Scale Mail, the rest of his body bore marks of burns.

And the pile of ashes underneath him was undoubtedly what truly saved Kyōmu's life.

"Is that you Kyomu?"

With the sound of bells from her twin horns, Ichikishimahime's cheerful voice rang from above.

Kyōmu looked up to see the large and graceful white dragon transform into a loli figure and gently float down, circling halfway around him.

"Wow, such severe injuries and yet you survived."

"It's mainly thanks to your Dragon Armor, Lady Ichikishimahime."

"Haha, I'm far from becoming a dragon, what I shed is not quite dragon-scale, just snake-shed." Ichikishimahime covered her mouth, laughing joyfully. Kyōmu always knew how to flatter.

After circling around Kyōmu again, Ichikishimahime glanced at the ashes on the ground. "Manda also died a rather heroic death."

Though she said this, the corners of Ichikishimahime's mouth were already turned up in delight. She was hardly sorry to see Manda die.

Arrogant, mismatched in power, and having messed with those he shouldn't have, such was his fate.

"This was the only use it had, a stroke of luck for him." Kyōmu also smiled. "I originally intended to summon other, but Manda came out instead."

"It got what it deserved for its greed." Ichikishimahime pouted, flicking a bell on her horn. "Ever since I grew these horns, you've become quite the celebrity in Ryuchi Cave." 

"It's all thanks to Lady Ichikishimahime." Kyōmu looked at the horns atop Ichikishimahime's head. "But they are truly beautiful."

"Right? I think so too," Ichikishimahime laughed. "My sisters said the same thing."

"Hmm, I bet they were gritting their teeth when they said it."

"Haha, you don't need to be so graphic! They were happy." Ichikishimahime was in even better spirits. "But little Kyōmu, you might have trouble in the future. They are quite angry with you."

"I don't care about them," Kyōmu shook his head, "I only respect and care about Lady Ichikishimahime."

"Hehe, your sweet talk doesn't work on me, and I won't go easy when tested," Ichikishimahime winked, clearly indicating her playful contradiction in words.

Seeing that Ichikishimahime showed no signs of leaving, Kyōmu began walking towards Kikyō Castle with her.

"This is Lady Ichikishimahime, the only white dragon in the ninja world," Kyōmu clapped his hands, introducing Ichikishimahime to everyone, "Lady Ichikishimahime dominated beasts like the One-Tail, Two-Tails, Three-Tails, etc., a century ago with her formidable strength."

"Lady Ichikishimahime!" The Leaf Shinobi greeted her respectfully.

"Haha, don't listen to little Kyōmu's nonsense, I'm a not yet a true dragon," Ichikishimahime corrected, touching the bells on her horns, "But that One-Tail raccoon, I did indeed dominate it easily."

"Lady Ichikishimahime is invincible!" Kyōmu cheered, and the Leaf Shinobi joined in, giving Ichikishimahime the respect she deserved.

Ichikishimahime enjoyed the attention; though cold-blooded, she too had a need for such emotional pleasures.

Seeing that Ichikishimahime still showed no intention of leaving, Kyōmu felt reassured; it seemed she was becoming addicted to the admiration.

Who doesn't want to be revered in front of others? The dragons of the Ryūchi Cave were no exception.

Thus, Kyōmu naturally wanted to keep Ichikishimahime, as his assistant.

"Lady Ichikishimahime, could you share with us about the specific changes after becoming a half-dragon?" As an excellent promoter, Kyōmu set the stage for Ichikishimahime.

Since becoming a half-dragon, Ichikishimahime had been the center of attention in the Ryūchi Cave, but who liked to watch her show off all the time? This led to Ichikishimahime bottling up a lot to say, and now that she had a stage, she was ready to talk at length.

No longer maintaining her loli appearance, Ichikishimahime transformed into with an elegant look, speaking of her various mystical powers with a voice as resonant as a bell.

Kyōmu listened intently, but inside, he was pondering how to make Ichikishimahime his mount.

Although not a true dragon, a she was still a dragon. Apart from the Nine-Tails, there was not a single beast in the ninja world that caught his eye.

"Lady Ichikishimahime," once Ichikishimahime finished speaking, Kyōmu rubbed his hands together, "The fact that you have become the first half-dragon in the ninja world in a thousand years, some villains still do not know, and many do not know the fame of the Ryūchi Cave." 

Kyōmu started stoking the fire, "Think about it, the Ryūchi Cave, being the foremost of the three sacred lands due to its low profile, has had much of its limelight stolen by those frogs of Mount Myōboku. As a contractor of the Ryūchi Cave, I can't swallow this insult."

Ichikishimahime was no fool; Kyōmu's provocation was too straightforward and easily seen through.

However, the dispute over who leads the three sacred lands had never ceased, and the Ryūchi Cave had always been arch-enemies with Mount Myōboku.

Even knowing this was Kyōmu's way of provocation, Ichikishimahime wasn't angry but rather nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, the Ryūchi Cave hasn't shown itself in the ninja world for a long time, and its image has been much tarnished by Orochimaru and that accursed Manda.

Now that I have become a dragon, naturally, I must restore the former glory of the Ryūchi Cave and cement the fact that it is the foremost of the three sacred lands."

Kyōmu nodded repeatedly, "Lady Ichikishimahime, I think the opportunity has come. I can assist you in making a name on the battlefield against the Sand Shinobi."

"What do you want to do, little Kyōmu?" Ichikishimahime looked at Kyōmu with a dangerous gaze.

Business is business.

She wanted to gain fame and promote the name of the Ryūchi Cave, but she didn't want to be manipulated by Kyōmu.

"Lady Ichikishimahime, you can control the weather, right?"

"Yes, it's my natural ability," Ichikishimahime looked up at the sky, "To turn hands into clouds and cover hands with rain, to summon thunder and lightning between heaven and earth, to cleanse all impurities in the world, is my fundamental nature."

Now she started talking big…

Kyōmu chuckled internally, but his face remained serious, "Lady Ichikishimahime, can you wield the power of thunder?"

Ichikishimahime's expression froze.

With the help of the dragon veins, she had grown stronger, no doubt, and her power had greatly increased, she was still far from a true dragon.

She could manipulate the forces between heaven and earth, but not yet command them.

"Lady Ichikishimahime, I can help you."

"You?" Ichikishimahime lowered her massive head, "Little Kyōmu, such jokes I do take seriously."

"Lady Ichikishimahime, I really can," Kyōmu reassured again, "Together, we can ascend the clouds, bringing the power of thunder to the world, what a majestic and dazzling sight that would be."

"How do we cooperate?"

"You could carry me…"

"You want me to be your mount?" Ichikishimahime's gaze became even more dangerous, ready to strike if Kyōmu's next answer was flawed.

She would have to devour him alive!

"Lady Ichikishimahime jests, I merely wish to be like the bells on your horns," Kyōmu said earnestly, "just an ornament."

Changing the wording, Ichikishimahime felt more comfortable.

What mount? Kyōmu was only fit to be an ornament for her.

Yes, that's more like it.

"That might be worth a try," Ichikishimahime transformed back into her loli form, "But I require a tribute, and that's non-negotiable."

Ichikishimahime controlling the weather came at a cost. Although it didn't deplete her too much, it did consume energy, and with frequent use, she needed to recuperate.

And natural energy wasn't chakra; it required time to accumulate and was difficult to obtain.

"I understand."

Kyōmu stood up, waving his hand grandly, "Everyone listen, immediately catch as many frogs as possible, only keep the juiciest legs, the rest are for me."

"Yes, Lord Kyōmu!"

The Leaf Shinobi complied, scattering to catch frogs, none complaining. But such antics were hardly fitting for ninjas.

Ichikishimahime, barefoot, slowly landed on the ground, yawning.

"Little Kyōmu, I'll stay a while longer this time, don't disappoint me next," Ichikishimahime picked a clean spot, and Kyōmu promptly laid out a bed for her.

Seeing Kyōmu so observant, Ichikishimahime's lips curled up.

Lying down with her legs up, she stretched towards Kyōmu, "Little Kyōmu, I'm tired."

No need for further words, Kyōmu immediately understood, crouching down to cradle Ichikishimahime's feet, gently massaging them.

"Harder."

Ichikishimahime closed her eyes in comfort, her loli body transformed from a massive dragon, Kyōmu's efforts hardly enough.

Kyōmu internally grumbled, but soon resigned himself.

Before a warhorse goes into battle, it's fed finely ground grain, and massaging its muscles is routine. And the mount in front of Kyōmu was a dragon; a bit of hard work was nothing in comparison.

Despite his grumbling, no one else could claim such treatment; did anyone else have a dragon as a mount?

"Do you need your calves massaged too?"

"Move up a bit, and press harder," Ichikishimahime simply lay back, allowing Kyōmu to continue massaging.

"Turn over." After a while, Kyōmu prompted again.

Ichikishimahime was obedient this time, turning over to let Kyōmu massage her back.

"My waist is tired too," Ichikishimahime muttered, "That big raccoon Shukaku, I nearly strangled him to death once; I used a bit too much strength."

Looking down at Ichikishimahime's slender waist, Kyōmu found it hard to imagine the strength it contained.

He began massaging carefully, not caring whether the body of a dragon transformed into a loli had pressure points or not, he massaged as one would a human, searching for the right spots on Ichikishimahime's waist.

Crack, crack.

The sound of bones cracking came, and Ichikishimahime exhaled comfortably, her body visibly lengthening.

But she knew her true body was massive, and had not let Aragami Kyōmu massage her true form, or else he would be exhausted and still not finish.

"My shoulders here." Ichikishimahime continued to direct him, "And my arms, wrists, fingers."

You're really making good use of this thousand-year-old loli!

Kyōmu pursed his lips, diligently giving Ichikishimahime a full-body massage.

"Comfortable!"

Ichikishimahime stretched out in a star shape on the bed, then turned over to lie on her side, blinking as she kept watching Kyōmu.

Aragami Kyōmu felt a bit uneasy.

"Lady Ichikishimahime, you..."

"Add one more item to the future tribute," Ichikishimahime's tone was decisive, "If you want to be my ornament, you need to be useful."

Great, turned into a laborer.

But isn't this just feeding grain to a mount? Not too shabby.

Kyōmu agreed, "Whatever you say, Lady Ichikishimahime."

"Hmm, I'm going back to to sleep for a bit," Ichikishimahime got up and stretched her body, "Just summon me if needed."

With that, Ichikishimahime vanished in a puff of smoke.

She was happy to have acquired a servant who could provide massage and meals, and Kyōmu was happy to have gained a dragon mount.

Yes, a win-win situation.

"Lord Kyōmu, the frogs..."

"Just leave them here, I'll braise them later. You all continue repairing the defenses; it might not be peaceful tonight."

With that, Kyōmu's lips curled as he looked towards the horizon.

(End of Chapter)