A scene appeared before Soma.
An elderly man, skilled in Senjutsu, unfortunately took on an unworthy disciple.
Peach Man.
Peach Man had an evil heart, was lazy, and extremely greedy, always looking to gain without effort...
One day, he accidentally obtained a fragment of the Shikon Jewel.
He casually inserted it into a human-faced fruit tree.
This granted the human-faced fruit tree intelligence.
Under the manipulation of the human-faced fruit tree, Peach Man fed Peach Hermit's flesh and blood to the tree, imprisoning Peach Hermit's soul in a bonsai.
Later, he captured more humans to feed the human-faced fruit tree.
After consuming enough fruits from the human-faced tree, Peach Man also transformed into a monstrous being.
"I need you to take the bonsai I am parasitically attached to, leave that mountain, and go to a safe place."
"Okay."
With Soma's agreement, Peach Hermit's figure disappeared.
Soma looked towards the mountain top.
"Peach Man is very powerful and has many powerful tools."
"However, he is not a smart person."
"I don't need to confront Peach Man head-on."
"Instead, I can use a strategy."
Soma clapped his hands together, forming seals.
"Water Clone Jutsu!"
A total of four clones appeared before Soma.
Soma slightly changed his attire, making the four clones and himself look like five completely different people, indistinguishable at first glance.
"I will use the Water Clones to gather intelligence and divert Peach Man's attention."
"Meanwhile, my true body will infiltrate the location where Peach Hermit is."
With Soma's command, the four clones quickly began to act.
Reaching the mountain top.
At this moment, Peach Man was standing in front of the human-faced fruit tree, slightly raising his toes to pluck a human-faced fruit from the tree, wiping it slightly on his clothes.
Then he put it in his mouth. One bite, two bites, he swallowed it all.
Peach Man rubbed his huge belly, showing a dissatisfied expression.
"Not enough, not enough."
Peach Man walked into the yard, heading towards a corner.
Soma's Water Clone saw Peach Man reach inside and pull out a person. This person was very small, not even the size of Peach Man's finger. However, once Peach Man took them out, they immediately started growing at a visible rate, becoming the size of a normal human but with a dazed expression.
Peach Man brought the person to the human-faced fruit tree. Quickly, several branches extended from the tree, entangling the person, piercing them, and absorbing their flesh and blood. The person shriveled rapidly until they completely disappeared. As the person vanished, a new fruit appeared on the human-faced fruit tree.
Peach Man glanced at it and sat down on a nearby recliner. His obese figure swayed.
Meanwhile, one of Soma's Water Clones had already found Peach Hermit's location.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!"
One of Soma's Water Clones approached Peach Man and immediately formed seals to attack.
A gigantic water dragon appeared in an instant and surged toward Peach Man.
"Who?"
Peach Man clenched his fist and punched the water dragon.
Soon, Peach Man spotted Soma's Water Clone. He quickly charged toward it
The Water Clone turned and ran, with Peach Man in pursuit.
"Water Release: Water Mist Jutsu!"
A dense water mist appeared, obstructing Peach Man's vision and slowing him down.
Meanwhile, Soma, having received a notification from the Water Clone, was already making his way towards Peach Hermit's location.
Hearing the commotion, Peach Hermit opened his eyes.
Soma approached.
"Who are you?"
"Peach Hermit-sama, I am here to rescue you," Soma fabricated a story.
"I heard about you, Peach Hermit, and originally came here to learn Senjutsu. But upon arriving, I discovered this place was occupied by that evil monster."
"Now that the monster has left, I found an opportunity to sneak in here."
"You must be Peach Hermit-sama. Your appearance is exactly like the portrait I saw."
"Is this a peach blossom? So this is why you are called Peach Hermit."
Peach Hermit showed an awkward expression upon hearing this but didn't explain.
"Peach Hermit, what should I do now?"
Peach Hermit quickly thought it over.
"Where is that monster now?"
Peach Hermit knew Soma was referring to Peach Man, but since Soma called him a monster, Peach Hermit also used the term "monster" for Peach Man. Peach Hermit had no feelings left for this disciple.
"He left the mountain top, seemingly chasing someone."
"Good, take this chance to get me out of here, as far away as possible."
"Okay."
Soma quickly picked up the bonsai.
"By the way, did you see if the monster had a cane or a gourd with him?" Peach Hermit asked.
"He had a gourd at his waist and a wooden staff in his hand."
Peach Hermit immediately showed a disappointed expression.
"Let's go quickly, or it'll be too late."
"Yes."
Soma took Peach Hermit and ran down the mountain at great speed.
At that moment, Peach Man seemed to sense something. He raised the wooden staff and infused it with his demonic power. Numerous flowers appeared and attacked Soma's Water Clone. The Water Clone resisted for a while but couldn't hold out for long and was defeated. However, Peach Man did not pursue further; instead, he turned back and ran up the mountain.
Another of Soma's Water Clones saw this and quickly moved near the human-faced fruit tree. He formed seals.
"Fire Release: Crimson Earth Spider!"
A red flame spider surged towards the human-faced fruit tree.
Even though the human-faced fruit tree is extraordinary, wood is naturally countered by fire, especially Fire Release Ninjutsu. Sharp wails sounded out. Peach Man, who was heading to the backyard, had to return. To Peach Man, nothing was more important than the human-faced fruit tree.
Soma's Water Clone hid to the side. Peach Man desperately tried to extinguish the fire. However, just as Peach Man had almost put out the fire, Soma's Water Clone reappeared.
"Fire Release: Crimson Earth Spider!"
Thus, Peach Man was held up for a significant amount of time.
By then, Soma's true body had already taken Peach Hermit far away. After reaching a sufficient distance, a voice sounded in Soma's mind.
[Congratulations to the host for completing the task.]
[Would you like to leave the Dungeon Instance?]
Soma did not leave immediately. Instead, he stopped and set down Peach Hermit.
"Peach Hermit-sama, please teach me Senjutsu."
According to the Blueprint rules, with an ordinary Blueprint, Soma cannot take anything other than the task materials. Even if he learns Senjutsu, Soma likely won't be able to bring back the senjutsu power.
However, Soma has two ideas:
First, the Senjutsu here might have some similarities with the Senjutsu in the Naruto Ninja world.
Second, once the Peach Hermit Garden Box is made, it will contain Senjutsu power. While he can't take the senjutsu power back, he can absorb some of the Garden Box's senjutsu power. This would allow him to control the Garden Box better.
Of course, if the first scenario happens, it would be the best outcome for Soma. Therefore, Soma requested to learn Senjutsu from Peach Hermit.
Peach Hermit hesitated for a moment.
"I can teach you, but I can't guarantee that you will learn it."
"No problem, Peach Hermit-sama. If I don't learn it, it will be my own fault."
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