Chapter 9

There was note below the list of items and thankfully, I read it before I decided to burn the scroll. The note said "You might be thinking about the genuinity of this scroll. So allow me to explain why we need those items.

First, the ink is to write the inscriptions. Consider inscriptions as programmed machines, with a dedicated specific task. When you provide energy, they do what they are programmed to do.

The inscriptions have to be written with a special ink that can conduct energy, so that it can be used for the functions of the inscriptions.

Next, the blood of 5 species is needed for the functioning of the inscriptions. It needs organic matter to make changes. Since the cells in the blood will be completely broken down, it doesn't matter which animal you choose.

The container to fit you is where the whole process happens. Make sure it is closed, as your body is completely exposed during the whole process and it is prone to any disease causing things.

Finally, the thing you might find completely ridiculous, your sperms. There are going to be many changes to your body and many cells will be destroyed or created. The inscriptions need a reference dna. You can use any body part, but isolating your dna in other cells is difficult, but it is pretty easy using your sperms."

Good thing I completely believed him and didn't throw the scroll away, or else I would have missed out on this explanation.

I rolled back the scroll and jumped out of bed. I washed my face and walked out when I was hit by the aromatic smell of some stew or soup and the sizzling sound from the pan.

My body unconsciously followed the smell and it led me out of the Ryuchi Cave. I saw Tagori making some soup in a small bowl as she fried an egg on a pan.

She noticed me and said "It was just about to come to your room to call you for breakfast." I waited patiently as I saw her cook. Before long, the miso soup, rice and an omlette was ready. She served it to me in a leaf and I didn't care much.

I was starving and I immediately started digging into my food. I didn't know if I was too hungry or Tagori is just an amazing cook, but the food tasted amazing.

As I stuffed my face and was chewing with my mouth like a squirrel, I heard Tagori chuckle and say "Slow down. The food isn't going to run away."

I looked at her sitting on her legs, typical japanese style, before me, looking at me as I are my food. I swallowed the food in my mouth and asked "Aren't you going to eat?" and she replied with a smile "I already had my breakfast with Tagitsu. We don't usually cook our food, so it didn't take long to finish our breakfast."

That's when I was reminded again that she is a snake under that beautiful and kind face. It made me shiver thinking about her breakfast.

But then, my stomach had its priorities and I went back to my food. I then asked while eating "If you don't cook your food, how do you learn to cook?" spitting out a few grains, which luckily didn't fall on her.

"I have a friend from your village named Anko. She came here to form a contract with us snakes and that's when I met her. She was the one who introduced me to your food. Although I didn't like you food, I enjoyed my time with her as she taught me cooking." She explained and it looked like she was recalling all the good times with Anko.

I didn't disturb her and got to my meal. Since I was starving, I emptied the whole thing. After a satisfying meal, I sat down on the ground and relaxed.

"So Hatsuo, what are you going to do now?" she asked and I replied "I have some things I need to buy. I won't be back till night." and asked her the directions to the nearby town she talked about.

I went back to the room and picked up the money I had. It was around 600,000 ryo. I had managed to collect 100,000 ryo working at the ramen stand.

With my pockets full of cash, I headed to the town, expecting to eat something good and also find a place to stay as it would be troublesome to stay in the Ryuchi Cave.

I entered the unknown town and looked around for a place to find that ink. I asked around for any shop that sells ink and I was led to a shop that sells calligraphy stuff, like ink, brushes, scrolls, etc.

I entered the shop and an old man in some fancy traditional Japanese clothes greeted me "Welcome kid, what do you want?"

I then asked him about the ink and he wasn't very rude like the others, who were acting busy and replying with only one or two words.

He replied "I think the ink you are looking for is the one used to make explosive tags. The ink used can store chakra in them to set off the explosion. Lucky for you, I just happen to have a whole jar lying around. Since this town is close to Konoha, ninjas prefer to go to Konoha to buy ninja tools. So, we hardly have any ninja customers here. How much do you need?" and asked at the end.

I thought for a while, as even though I only need around 500ml of ink for the inscriptions, but since I am completely bad at drawing, I need to practice.

I can use normal ink for that, but I have to do a few test rounds before the final one for a success rate of 100%, or 99.99% as the rest 0.01 is for the uncertainties that this world would throw upon me.

"How much for the whole jar?" and immediately when I asked that he ran inside and brought out the jar. He said "You have a very good eye boy. This ink here is of the finest quality than the diluted versions used in those explosive tags. It is made from a special wood of a tree that conducts chakra. It is 700,000 for the whole jar, but since you look like a very good kid, I will make it 500,000 for you. No other seller would offer you a price lower than this."

He completely turned into a salesman and I was shocked when I learnt about the price. Although I did expect it to be expensive, 500,000 is just too much. It is all the money Mikoto gave me.

But since I need this and it is very important, I sighed and asked "Also give me five jars of your normal cheap ink."

He nodded and said "The total would be 550,000 ryo after all the discount I could give." I took out the cash and handed it to him, but like last time, my hands refused to let go of the cash.

"Dear customer, let go of the cash." he said and after a little struggle, my hands let go, still trembling at the fact that I just lost almost all of my money in just a day.

Carrying the huge jars of ink with the help of a rope tied to them, I walked back to the Ryuchi Cave. It was just past noon. I knew I said that I would return back late at night, but that was when I planned to search for a house, have a good meal and return to get my luggage.

The whole plan had to be changed taking my financial difficulties now. I was in no state to pay for rent and my food with the little money I had left.

So, I went back and Tagori greeted me. She was with Tagitsu and Ichikishima. Tagori asked "Ara Hatsuo.... didn't you say that you would return late today?"

"I had to change my plans due to some reasons. So, what are you three doing." I asked in return and Ichikishima said in a cheerful tone "Someone is trying to enter the Ryuchi Cave and we have confirmed that he wasn't just lost. We all get to test him and if he fails, we get to eat him. Isn't that exciting?"

"Yeah...I...guess..." I said and immediately ran to my room. I don't want to see them eat a human right in front of my eyes. As for saving that human, I learnt my lesson after saving that girl named Shion, that there is no good will in this world.

I went back to my room and started practicing the inscriptions and I was already loosing hopes when I first saw the inscriptions. They were in some weird language, with weird symbols and characters.

The most important thing is that, I had to replicate the inscriptions perfectly, or else I would end up becoming a weird monster or some other thing.

And to make things even more complicated, I had to complete the whole inscription before the ink dires, which is about 3 minutes.

With no other option, I started practicing the inscriptions, putting my calligraphy skills to the test. Since I didn't have a lot of money left, I didn't buy any paper and started practicing on the ground.

I had to practice many times and was running out of place to draw, so I moved to the walls. I didn't know how long it had been since I started practicing. Tagori came to the room as she said "Hatsuo, the dinner is ready. Do you want me to bring you....." and stopped in her tracks when she saw the room.

She asked "Hatsuo, are you trying to scare us away from the room so you could have it all to yourself? Or, are you trying to seal some great monster like the tailed beasts here?"

I got up and looked around. She was right, I agreed with her, as the room was completely covered with weird symbols and drawings that can scare anyone.

"Well, since you know some earth style ninjutsu, you can change it back to normal right?" I asked and she sighed before saying "Fine, leave it to Tagitsu and come have dinner."

"Thanks a lot. I won't forget bro thank Tagitsu either." I said and went to havey dinner, which was the same miso soup and rice with some fried fish. I didn't complain and finished everything.

We then returned back to our rooms and as soon as I entered the room, I was hit by something, sending me flying to the walls of the cave. It hurt a lot, but I was able to stand up due to my well developed body. I looked at Tagitsu, whose tail was the thing that hit me.

She shouted "What were you thinking when you were drawing all that in our room. Remember that you are just a guest staying here. Know your place."

Now, I know that I did something to piss her off, but this is taking it too much. I snapped and shouted "You think I want to stay here with you. I am forced to stay here due to some problems or else, I wouldn't even want to see your face.

I grabbed your chest without knowing and although it felt good at that time, if I had known you were such a rude and stupid person, I wouldn't have done that."

Now, I knew she was mad at me for grabbing her breasts and I had even apologised for that, but she still kept treating me like a scum. There is a limit to what a person can bear. You cross the line and anyone will snap.

"What did you say you brat?" she hissed and came at me, trying to whip me with her tail. I dodged it this time and delivered a punch to her face.

It managed to move her back. She said "I should have eaten you before you woke up." and came at me opening her mouth wide open, the insides of her mouth looked like that of a snake and was trying to eat me whole.

I obviously wasn't going to get eaten by some stupid snake, not when I have found a way to become stronger.

She came to swallow me, but I moved to the side and kicked her in the ribs. She hissed in pain and bit my waist, trying to tear it off. That's when Tagori came in between and said "That's enough. You both are really trying to kill each other. Tagitsu, do you not remember the Sage's words? Let him go."

She then turned to me and said "I apologise for her actions. It's already pretty late. Why don't we go to bed now?" and Tagitsu immediately shouted "No way am I sleeping on the same bed as this idiot."

I looked at her and asked "Why? Are you scared?" She immediately said "Who is scared of you? Do you dare to sleep on the same bed with me?"

She then started removing her clothes and the rest did too. Out of curiosity, I asked Tagori "Why do you always sleep naked?" and she replied "We are snakes. We wear clothes to just blend in with you humans. We feel very uncomfortable sleeping with clothes."

I said in my head 'I feel very uncomfortable with you three not wearing clothes.' as my hormones are just introduced to my body and they started doing their job.