Yamatano continued along the path, searching for dangers, or better yet, an exit. However, he was absolutely amazed and slightly terrified at the number of snakes on this path. He had never seen so many, and they all seemed to be wary of him, watching him, daring him to go further. He even had to watch his step now for every stick and rock now, for fear that it might be a snake or an egg.
“OUCH! Hey watch it, shiny hair!” Yamatano looked down to the owner of the voice. It was a small snake, no longer than 18 inches, purple with small black rings, and small spike-like things jutting out the side of his head. The snake slithered up a tree branch level with Yamatano’s face, staring at him intently.
“Hey wait a sec, you’re a human! How did you get in here!” Yamatano didn’t answer, he was simply too amazed at the talking snake. “I……..I………..Uhh……I-“
“Oh I get it, not used to the whole talking animal thing right? Well lemme introduce myself. My name is Kuro.” The snake said as he extended his tail, almost like a hand for a handshake. “Errm………Y-Yamatano Hatake, nice to meet you.” Yamatano said as he gripped the snake’s tail with his two fingers, shaking it.
“So, human, what gives? How did you end up on this road?” “A-a voice told me to-“
“WHAT?!? You heard the voice? Woah, this is awesome! You’re the new chosen one! I’m stickin with you from now on!” And with that the snake fell off the tree limb and, despite Yamatano’s protests, wrapped around his wrist. Yamatano would have argued, but just sighed. If he was forced to walk this insane road, it would be nice to have a guide.
As Yamatano ambled along, he did not notice the trap he was about to step on until he was hanging upside down, his foot caught in a snare. While Kuro began laughing his @$$ off, Yamatano pulled out one of his gleaming red daggers, sawing away at the rope, grumbling about “Lazy Trappers.” Yamatano fell on his back from the cut rope, while Kuro rolled his eyes, muttering
“Some chosen one….” Ignoring the comment, Yamatano scooped the small snake up and continued on his way.
About 20 minutes of walking and some small conversation later, a large python lurched out from the bushes and wrapped itself around Yamatano’s neck, squeezing the boy like a captured field mouse. As Yamatano began clawing at the air, Kuro hurriedly slithered up to Yamatano’s shoulder.
“Dude, dude, DUDE! NO! This human is different, don’t do it!” Still the Python pressed on, squeezing with all its might as Yamatano’s eyes began to bug out. Kuro then began hissing something that the python seemed to understand, and the python loosened its grip, slithering back into the brush. After Yamatano regained his breath, he looked at the snake for a moment, then smiled as he placed him on his shoulders, pulling out a small piece of cheese from his small food satchel and feeding it to him. Maybe the annoying little snake was more useful than he had previously thought.
While Yamatano didn’t really like being brought here against his will, he had to admit he sort of liked the natural beauty of the place. All the plumage was nice and colorful, and the trees all bore large delicious looking fruit. He did not take the fruit, however: for all he knew, it would taste like mildew and poison him. And all the snakes slithering around certainly didn’t dull the place at all either. At some places, it was almost like looking at an ever shifting rug. The beauty of the place was certainly admirable, but Yamatano still remembered that he was in unknown territory, and his only guide was his loudmouth snake companion.
After an hour of hiking, Yamatano started getting truly nervous. Some of these snakes were quite large, some three times Yamatano size, and able to swallow him whole. In fact, one dove down from a tree branch, determined to swallow him whole. If it hadn’t been for Yamatano’s training as a hunter nin allowing him to roll out of the way, he would likely be lunch right now. The snake turned back to him, hissing angrily, but then it spotted Kuro on his shoulder. In begrudging respect, the snake slithered away. Yamatano was quite amazed at the respect that the small annoying snake carried, further motive to keep him.
Finally Yamatano reached a point he thought to literally be the light at the end of the tunnel, which was a good metaphor, since the jungle was so thick that barely any light shone through. But just as he thought he reached the entrance, a snake bigger than any of the others combined rose up in front of him, blocking his path. His one visible eye blanched out in fear, and he nearly fainted when the snake reared its jaws, as if to swallow Yamatano whole. But once again, it was Kuro who came to the rescue with his strange speech to the snake. Turning to Yamatano, he said
“Hey, don’t worry about it Yama, this is a Kyodaija. I think they’re gonna be something you’ll find useful later on.” Yamatano didn’t question it, he just kept walking, anything to be away from the giant legless lizard that he would barely make a side dish for. Although he did wonder about the usefulness comment, the time for thinking was over, he was face to face with a great cave. Little did Yamatano know, this cave was the entrance to his true destiny.
(Exit to Caverns of Hebi)
