Ichikishimahime

"White Snake Sage, I want to learn Sage Jutsu."

Hearing the White Snake Sage's words, Itachi spoke without hesitation.

"You want to learn Sage Jutsu..."

Hearing Itachi's words, the White Snake Sage fell into slight contemplation.

"Child, rest here for a while first. Once you've recovered and replaced your other eye, it won't be too late to learn Sage Jutsu."

After a moment of silence, the White Snake Sage spoke softly.

What the White Snake Sage said was not without reason.

On one hand, Itachi's body was far too weak right now. On the other, having both eyes would greatly improve his efficiency in cultivating Sage Jutsu.

"Alright, then I'll have to trouble you, White Snake Sage..."

Hearing that the White Snake Sage had not refused, Itachi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Though he did not understand why the White Snake Sage was treating him so kindly, it was still better than cold indifference.

"Ichikishimahime, take Itachi to a guest room so he can rest for a while."

Hearing Itachi's words, the White Snake Sage's beautiful eyes shifted. Then she tilted her exquisite head slightly and spoke to Ichikishimahime behind her.

"Oh..."

Hearing that the unpleasant task had fallen on her again, Ichikishimahime pouted slightly...

"Uchiha Itachi is an honored guest of our Ryuchi Cave. If you dare neglect him, hmph hmph..."

Before Ichikishimahime could recover her senses, a voice echoed in her mind...

The White Snake Sage and her other two sisters had already vanished from the spot...

Looking at the young man before her and his crow, Ichikishimahime became slightly dazed.

"I'll take you somewhere to rest for a while..."

After a long silence.

Ichikishimahime spoke softly.

Her tone was much gentler than when they had first met.

"Alright, then I'll trouble this fairy maiden..."

Hearing the woman's voice, Itachi replied quietly.

"My name is Ichikishimahime. I wouldn't dare accept being called a fairy maiden."

Hearing words from Itachi's mouth that seemed to have been greased with lubricant, Ichikishimahime felt somewhat awkward.

He really just said whatever came to mind...

"Then I'll call you Island Princess..."

After hearing the woman's words, Itachi took advantage of the opening...

Mainly because he was a little hungry. He had been hungry for several days...

Now that only this rather aloof Island Princess remained, he had to seize the chance to get closer to her and find some way to get something to eat...

"Hmph, frivolous. How can you call me something so intimate when we've only just met..."

Hearing Itachi's sweet words, Island Princess found it somewhat amusing, though her words remained stubborn.

She suddenly realized that the young man before her was rather good at conversation...

"It's not intimate. The first time I saw you, Island Princess, I felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity, as if we had known each other a thousand years ago..."

Ichikishimahime led the way ahead while Itachi watched her slender waist sway from behind, finding the sight pleasing to the eye.

"Tell me, are you plotting something naughty? If it's you, perhaps I can satisfy you a little~"

Itachi's constant appraisal of her body, along with his outdated flirting routine, made Island Princess feel faintly strange.

So she stopped, turned back, and looked at Itachi with boundless charm. With a half-smile, she said,

"Alright then, Island Princess. If you put it that way, I'm getting excited."

Hearing Island Princess's words, Itachi's remaining eye lit up slightly, and his voice rose several decibels.

"Really!" Ichikishimahime smiled faintly and spoke softly.

She appeared somewhat bashful.

Yet inwardly, she sneered. If Itachi dared make any excessive request, she would beat him up no matter what.

"I'm hungry. I want to eat meat..."

Hearing Ichikishimahime's words, a faint gleam flashed in Itachi's lone eye—the light in the eyes of a foodie ready to dig in...

"Hm?"

Hearing Itachi's words, Island Princess froze.

Her mind buzzed...

A trace of disappointment even rose within her. If Itachi had designs on her, she would be unhappy.

But if Itachi did not have designs on her, she would be even more unhappy... Didn't that mean she had no charm...

"You'll be staying here..."

Ichikishimahime pointed at the guest room ahead, with no intention of helping Itachi open the door...

After Itachi said he wanted to eat meat, Ichikishimahime had turned ice-cold...

Even the air carried a chilly feeling, making Itachi afraid to say much.

He inwardly cried, Terrifying indeed...

Itachi opened the door and examined everything inside the room.

He found the furnishings very simple: one bed, one table, one teapot, two cups, and two stools.

Itachi walked to the table and sat down. He shook the teapot and found that there was no tea inside...

Still, at least the room was quite clean, without dust or cobwebs...

Itachi placed the crow on the table, rested his left fist on the tabletop, and propped his chin on it.

His right hand idly teased the crow in front of him.

"Do you have a wife..."

Feeling bored, Itachi straightened the crow's head and asked softly...

"Caw caw..."

"You're so handsome. You must be the king among crows, so you should have a wife, right..."

"Caw caw..."

"Is your wife pretty..."

"Caw caw..."

"Pfft..."

Just as Itachi was about to continue asking, a snicker sounded behind him...

Itachi turned his head and discovered that Ichikishimahime had appeared behind him at some point, carrying a basket of fruit in her hand.

The door he had just closed had somehow been opened at some point, without a sound...

"If crows could talk, it would probably be cursing you..."

Seeing Itachi's strange look, Island Princess pursed her lips slightly and said irritably.

She then stepped forward and placed the fruit on the table.

In her other hand, she held a handful of grain stalks...

"Meat is too troublesome to prepare. Make do with some fruit for now."

"Little one, time to eat."

After placing the fruit on the table, Island Princess spoke softly to Itachi.

Then, without waiting for Itachi's response, she sat on a stool not far from him, brought the grain stalks to the crow's beak, and teased the crow.

Itachi stared blankly at Island Princess before him, somewhat lost in thought...

"What a thoughtful girl..."

As Itachi sighed inwardly, he picked up a piece of fruit, wiped it with his robe, and prepared to take a bite.

"Hmph, as if you needed to say that~"

Hearing Itachi's words, Island Princess rolled her eyes.

She felt delighted inside. Being praised really was a wonderful feeling.

"Actually, birds can eat fruit too..."

Seeing Island Princess's smug expression, Itachi could no longer suppress his mischievous side...

So he suddenly spoke up...

When it came to killing the mood, no one could compare to Uchiha Itachi...

Hearing Itachi's sudden remark, Island Princess bristled as expected, glaring at him coldly...

"Eat it or don't. I prepared all this for the little bird. Let it have some grain stalks and some fruit too, so it gets balanced nutrition."

Ichikishimahime had originally wanted to take the fruit from the table away, but remembering that Itachi was a guest and someone the White Snake Sage favored, she stopped herself.

She could only use her words to mock this irritating little brat.