XX-level Hokage

"In the Land of Grass, Lord Orochimaru once conducted an experiment, a life-splitting experiment. At that time, Lord Orochimaru seemed to have witnessed something very powerful in the organization he had joined. That thing gave Lord Orochimaru the idea of ​​creating a snake-people army."

However, Lord Orochimaru's idea required some experimental subjects with extremely strong vitality, but such subjects were hard to find except for members of the Uzumaki and Senju clans, so the experiment remained stagnant.

Until one day, Lord Orochimaru captured two priestesses from the Land of Demons. The priestesses of the Land of Demons all possessed very powerful abilities, and the two that Lord Orochimaru captured were born with incredibly strong vitality.

Thus, the experiment began, but the two test subjects underwent completely different changes during the experiment. One witch could infect them and turn them into snake people, while the other witch could force other creatures to split, as if they were reproducing themselves.

The experiment ultimately failed, and the snake-people that were born had no ability to think and were only slightly stronger than ordinary people in combat.

So Lord Orochimaru sealed away the two test subjects, intending to see if they could be successfully improved later; if not, he would destroy them. Tayuya recounted.

"How did you find out about this? Judging from the reactions of the other people, they don't seem to know anything about it," Mashiro asked.

"My flute playing can control those snake people to some extent. Orochimaru Amanto once asked me to try training them," Tayuya hurriedly replied.

Mashiro did not doubt Tayuya's words; she had already roughly understood how things had unfolded.

In her previous life, due to her good relationship with Orochimaru, Orochimaru did not defect and therefore did not conduct these experiments. In the original story, Orochimaru's hands were sealed by the Third Hokage, and as a powerful general, he no longer had the time to conduct experiments in the Land of Grass, so he destroyed the experimental subjects.

In this life, because Mashiro killed Orochimaru during the Konoha Crush, he didn't have time to deal with the experimental subjects in the Land of Grass, which led to their escape and the formation of that strange village.

Speaking of the priestesses of the Land of Demons, Shiwan's ability is quite troublesome.

"Your information is very useful to me. I'll pick you up in a few days." Mashiro said, snapping out of her reverie.

Then she leaned down and kissed Tayuya on the cheek before leaving, leaving Tayuya looking completely bewildered.

Chapter Sixty: The Shrine Maiden's Tears

The next day, Mashiro returned to the snake-people village, but Kiyoshi did not seem to be there.

The appearance of the true self caused snake-men to emerge from the houses, their vertical pupils filled with desire, and their scales began to stand up.

Mashiro observed the snake-people who were approaching and cultivating. Just as Tayuya had said, these snake-people had no reason and were like wild beasts. Moreover, there was a very strange phenomenon: the number of small snake-people far exceeded that of the large snake-people, far exceeding the limit that such a small village could bear.

"You actually came here." Qing's voice came from behind, her tone tinged with unease.

She slowly walked from the village entrance to Mashiro's side. As she arrived, all the snake people who had gathered scattered and returned to their houses.

"Didn't I tell you I'd bring you chocolates and candies today?" Mashiro said with a smile. Upon entering Kiyoshi's room, Kiyoshi poured Mashiro a cup of tea; this time, she seemed to have boiled the water beforehand.

"Here, chocolate. But I was afraid you couldn't handle bitterness, so I gave you regular chocolate." Mashiro said, handing a box to Kiyoshi. Kiyoshi hesitated for a moment, then finally reached out and took the box, opened it, and inside were neatly wrapped chocolates.

Looking at Mashiro, who made a gesture of opening the packaging and putting it in her mouth, Kiyoshi gestured for her to eat it. Because of Mashiro's kindness, and also out of curiosity, Kiyoshi finally put the chocolate in her mouth. "Delicious."

The silky, sweet taste was irresistible to Qing; it was the first time she had ever tasted such a unique flavor.

Mashiro's reaction to Kiyoshi wasn't surprising; few girls dislike chocolate. [Kiyoshi's Affection +5]

"Do you like it? If you do, I can bring you more tomorrow," Mashiro said with a smile.

Qinggang was about to agree, but then suddenly remembered something and said expressionlessly, "No need. Don't come over starting tomorrow." "Are you worried about my safety?" Mashiro asked.

"I don't understand what you're talking about." Qing's gaze was somewhat evasive.

“I understand, so you've finally decided to take care of this village,” Mashiro said seriously. “What do you know?” Kiyoshi’s gaze turned cold.

"When Orochimaru died, several of his subordinates were also imprisoned. Yesterday I went to inquire and heard about the experiments in the Land of Grass, as well as the two captured priestesses. Kiyoshi, you were one of those priestesses, weren't you?" Mashiro looked at Kiyoshi and said calmly.

"I was initially terrified that others would find out about this, but now I feel a sense of relief. It's strange." Kiyoshi's expression suddenly relaxed after hearing what Mashiro said.

"Everyone feels lonely, especially those of you who have experienced pain. You're afraid of others knowing about your past, yet you yearn for someone to listen," Mashiro said softly, looking into Kiyoshi's eyes.

"Perhaps that's true." Kiyoshi did not object to Mashiro's guess.

"You should know I mean no harm, so could you tell me your story?" Mashiro took the teapot, poured a cup of tea, handed it to Kiyoshi, and said.

Kiyoshi took the teacup, took a sip, her gaze distant, and said softly, "My original name was Yuuma Shiri. I have an older sister named Chifuji Kiyoshi. We are both priestesses from the Chifuji family in the Land of Demons. However, because I was born to a concubine, I took my mother's surname."

With the appearance of the Great Priestess, the other priestess families in the Land of Demons gradually declined, and the Chito family was no exception. The entire family was reduced to just a few members, and their bloodline was extremely thin.

As you probably know, my sister and I were captured by Orochimaru while we were gathering herbs. Because of the characteristics of the Kaneji family bloodline, he conducted many experiments on us, eventually turning us both into half-human, half-snake monsters.

However, because of this, my sister and I both gained strange abilities. My sister can turn anyone she comes into contact with into a snake-man like us, while I can cause various creatures, including snake-men, to split and reproduce.

However, the snake-people we created lacked the ability to think, which greatly displeased Orochimaru, who then sealed us away. Until recently, the machine that sealed us seemed to have stopped working, allowing my sister and me to escape.

To our surprise, after escaping, we found ourselves seemingly transformed back into ordinary humans. Because of the unfamiliar surroundings, we were nearly eaten by various wild animals in the forest, but fortunately, we were rescued by a villager.

He took us to a village, and we settled there. My sister used the Chifuji family's abilities to heal the injured in the village, while I used the abilities I obtained from Orochimaru to help the women in the village have children.

We lived quietly like this until last year's Academy Night, when my sister suddenly screamed in pain. Then her body was covered in scales, and she transformed back into a half-human, half-snake. At the same time, everyone in the village who had been healed by my sister also turned into snakes.

Then, my body began to ache terribly, and then I lost consciousness.

When I woke up the next day, my sister and I had been tied up by the villagers. It turned out that after my sister, I had also become a half-snake, half-human being, and all the children born in the village because of my blessing had also become snake people.

It was then that my sister and I realized that we had both actually been monsters all along.

Just as the remaining villagers were about to burn us alive, the transformed snake-people swarmed in and killed all the normal villagers. We were powerless to stop them and could only watch helplessly as the village that had taken us in turned into hell.

Then, my sister and I began searching for a way to turn them back into humans in order to atone for our sins. But suddenly, we found ourselves half-snake and half-human more and more often. We gradually discovered that when the curse marks on our backs started to sting, we would turn into monsters at night.

After a year of searching, my sister finally couldn't bear the pressure and committed suicide. She originally thought that after her death, the snake people who had been turned into her would turn back, but they didn't. The snake people still existed, but with my sister's death, they became more docile and stopped going out to harm passersby.

Then I inherited my sister's name, and with it, this sin and pain.

Thus, I am left alone in this land of snake people. These snake people bear witness to my sins, and this village is my tombstone. "Qing recounted everything that had happened with self-deprecation.

"So, you're also planning to commit suicide?" Mashiro asked in a low voice.

"No, I plan to commit suicide along with this land of snake people. I will gather all the snake people together. I have collected enough poison. After they drink the poison, I will burn this place down, along with myself."

"Let everything be buried in the flames." Kiyoshiro said expressionlessly. "I see. How tragic." With that, Mashiro turned and left.

Chapter 61: Flames and Tails

The sky was cloudless, the stars twinkled, and the full moon radiated a captivating glow.

Qing summoned all the snake people, and then used ropes to pull two wild boars that had been prepared in advance out of the house.

Then Qing silently walked away, and immediately all the snake people rushed towards the wild boars. Soon, only bones and blood remained on the two wild boars.

Qing watched all this, then looked up at the sky. "Sister, you're such a cunning hedgehog."

Since Chifune Kiyoshi's death, she has been guarding the village alone, enduring the loneliness of having no one to talk to. At the same time, whenever she sees the villagers who have turned into snake people, intense self-blame constantly fills her heart.

For a whole year, Qing had exhausted all her efforts, but she couldn't find a solution. From the moment she was captured by Orochimaru until now, she was truly worn out. A moment later, all the snake-men collapsed to the ground, emitting painful hisses.

Qing walked expressionlessly into the house, took out an oil jug, and poured the oil on all the snake-men. Then she took out a match, struck it, lit it, and threw it out.

The flames burst into flames instantly, accompanied by agonizing howls. The flames spread with the wind, igniting all the houses.

The intense burning pain enraged all the snake-men, who dragged their burning bodies toward Qing to tear at her. Qing remained motionless, gently closing her eyes. This was good; let it all come to an end.

But the pain she expected didn't come. Instead, she was suddenly lifted up, and then she felt a sudden rush of air. She opened her eyes and saw a scene she would never forget in her life.

Her long black hair was ruffled by the wind, and her pure white, cool eyes appeared incredibly gentle as they reflected the moonlight. Her beautiful face radiated confidence and charisma, and she smiled beautifully under the moonlight.

"What are you doing here?" Qing asked somewhat casually. "Obviously, I'm here to rescue you," Qi Bai said softly.

“Didn’t I say? I’m atoning for my sins. I should die with everyone in this village,” Qing said coldly.

“I know, but your heart tells me you don’t want to die, you hope someone will come to save you, so I came.” Qi Bai said gently. Looking at Zhen Bai’s gentle smile, Qing was momentarily at a loss.

Mashiro, holding Kiyoshi, stood atop a large tree beside the village, watching the village engulfed in flames and the figures moving within it.

"Please, let me perish in this fire," Qing suddenly said, tears streaming down her face. "You shouldn't die here," Qi Bai said, looking at the flames.

Perhaps I shouldn't have left the lab alive; I harmed them, but I didn't have the courage to choose death like my sister. "Clear, light green eyes reflected the orange-red flames."

"It's so pitiful. You've had a hard time all these years," Mashiro said gently, kissing away Kiyoshi's tears.

Just then, Qing's expression turned painful. She clutched her chest, her body convulsing, and black curse marks covered her entire body.

"I'm going to become a monster. Promise me, kill me, and bury me in a sea of ​​fire." Even Qing herself didn't know why she trusted the person in front of her so much. Perhaps it was because of her gentleness, or perhaps it was because of the chocolate she gave her. Qing couldn't tell anymore.

“Okay, I promise you,” Mashiro said softly.

Upon hearing Mashiro's words, Kiyoshi lightly uttered, "Thank you," before losing consciousness. [Kiyoshi's Affection +10, Reward: Tail of Desire]

At this moment, Kiyoshi in Mashiro's arms had completely transformed into a half-snake, half-human monster, roaring as it was about to attack Mashiro, but Mashiro was already prepared for this.

She threw a punch. "Kuo'an enters with a drooping hand"

Then, looking at the strange runes spreading from the fist, the monster fainted.

Mashiro looked at the burning Snake-Man Village, snapped her fingers, and tall earthen walls rose up, isolating the village from the surrounding forest. Then, Mashiro, holding "Kiyoshi," sank into the shadows.

"Kabuto, are you still awake so late?" Mashiro's voice suddenly came from behind. "Greetings, Lord Mashiro." Upon hearing Mashiro's voice, Kabuto hurriedly stood up and bowed.

"I'm so sorry to bother you so late, but it's really something urgent," Mashiro said softly.

"I wouldn't dare. I usually sleep very late, so your arrival is just in time. I wonder what important matter you have to discuss?" Dou said respectfully.

"Tomorrow, hand over the remaining tasks to the others and then return to Konoha. There's something I need you to study," Mashiro said. She had just placed Kiyo, who had turned into a monster, into the Root Research Institute.

“Yes, sir,” Kabuto said.

Then Mashiro disappeared into the shadows.

At Rikyuu Manor, Yakumo was fast asleep when Mashiro gently lifted the covers and lay down beside her. "Mashiro~" Yakumo suddenly murmured as she hugged Mashiro.

Mashiro thought she had woken Yakumo and was about to say something when she turned her head and found Yakumo still asleep. "Were you dreaming?" Mashiro whispered.

Then he gently kissed Yakumo on the cheek and closed his eyes. The next day, in the morning.

Yakumo felt a slight itch on her face, as if something was rubbing against her. She gently opened her eyes and saw a fleshy thing swinging back and forth in front of her. She reached out and grabbed it; it was soft.

"Yakumo, stop fooling around~"

Mashiro opened her eyes at that moment and saw Yakumo looking shocked.

What's that? A tail. A tail!

Mashiro then realized that the tail had grown from her body.

She managed to free her tail from Yakumo's grasp, and then Mashiro looked at the swaying tail.

[Tail of Desire: A strange product, seemingly part of the system's personal collection, which emits an aphrodisiac fragrance and grows thicker when the host is aroused.]

Getting hard can provide the ultimate sexual experience, and it can also be used in multiple ways, allowing for collaboration across multiple devices.

Mashiro then remembered that this was the reward she received from Kiyoshi yesterday, but according to the description, it seemed to be a rather improper reward. Is there really such a reward?

What Mashiro didn't know was that the system's rewards were distributed from the system library based on specific discoveries and characters. Many characters who didn't appear in the story shouldn't have their favorability ratings displayed or be rewarded. However, due to the system's AFK mode and changes in the story, characters like Hayakawa Yukikaze and Yuuma Kiyoshi were inexplicably added to the system. Since there were no rewards for them in the system library, the system had to randomly select items from its collection as rewards.

"Mashiro, what is this?" Yakumo asked curiously, looking at the chubby tail.