Enso hesitated, trying to gather his thoughts. The silence pressed on him like a weight, but he managed to speak.
"Yes," he said. "Why am I here? And... is there any way to return to the Leaf Village? Who is stronger between you and Tails Beast?"
His voice trembled slightly at the end. He hadn't expected to be pulled into a strange dimension. Despite his calm appearance, the fear of being trapped here gnawed at him.
Of course, he knew why he was here. That part was clear.
The real question is, if there is any way to return home. Unlike the toad and snake summoned, this is not within the same realm at all. And why are so many giant spiders surrounding him?
At first, he had assumed only spiders like Tengen, those who could speak and take humanoid forms, were truly intelligent. But stepping into this fortress proved him wrong.
He had felt it, their reaction and the weight of their gaze.
The spiders guarding the halls were not just beasts following orders. Their multiple eyes watched him closely, studying him as if they understood far more than he had expected.
They were intelligent.
The five figures seated on the elaborate chairs burst into laughter as soon as Enso finished asking his questions. Their laughter echoed through the vast chamber, bouncing off silken walls like waves in a hollow cave.
They glanced at one another, exchanging looks as if he had just delivered the funniest joke in the world.
Enso stood still, not sure how to react.
Tengen, the one most familiar to Enso and perhaps the least intimidating, finally decided to speak up. "It's hard to say who's truly stronger, us or the Tail Beasts," he said with a casual shrug. "But long ago, we did manage to fend off the ones who grow those beasts. So that should give you an idea."
The room fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. Enso felt a chill ripple down his spine.
Tengen continued, his tone turning playful again. "Well, if you succeed in the challenge and manage to form a contract with one of our lineages, you'll be able to return to your world without any problem. But if you fail…" He flashed a sharp grin, his fangs gleaming. "We'll have you for tonight's dinner celebration. As dessert, of course."
That sent the rest of the spiders into another fit of laughter. A few even licked their lips exaggeratedly, clearly enjoying the performance. Whether they were joking or not, Enso couldn't be sure, and the uncertainty did little to calm his nerves.
Then, Tengen addressed the last part of the boy's question. "As for why you're here... It's because you possess an unusually large amount of chakra. Enough to accidentally tear through the dimensional veil with your summoning technique."
He paused, then added, " Normally, it would be impossible for you to do so. But for some reason, we can't read your fate just like a human from a thousand years ago."
Enso swallowed hard.
The casual way Tengen compared them to the Tailed Beasts was already overwhelming. But hearing him speak of beings that challenged the Otsutsuki and actually won was something else entirely. It didn't seem like the Tailed Beasts he was familiar with were the normal kind either.
That meant each of those elders would have the base strength of a normal Tailed Beast.
The atmosphere in the throne room shifted. The laughter died down, replaced by a heavy silence as Hana, the woman seated on the towering throne, addressed him with calm authority.
"We will not face you ourselves," she said. Her voice was clear and composed. "Instead, you will be introduced to each of our lineages. Then, you will face one representative from the lineage of your choosing in the challenge."
She gave a slight nod, as if to ease the tension in the air.
"You are, after all, only eight years old. You'll have the right to choose your opponent after we have each introduced ourselves."
Tengen rose from his chair, towering above the others with a grounded stance and a calm, imposing aura. His skin bore a faint bronze tint, as if he had been tempered in battle rather than born. Though his form was human, his presence held the weight of a living monolith.
"I am Tengen," he said, voice deep and steady, ringing like steel being drawn. "Elder of the Combat Lineage."
He folded his arms across his chest, gaze steady and unflinching.
"Our lineage values direct confrontation, unwavering resolve, and the pursuit of strength through discipline. We do not shy away from war. Instead, we meet it with open arms. If you seek a partner who will charge forward without fear, who thrives in the chaos of battle, then you will find them among us."
Across the room, a figure cloaked in obsidian-black robes rose with almost no sound. Though his height nearly matched Tengen's, the contrast was stark. Where Tengen radiated force, this one pulled it inward. The light bent around him as if it feared to linger.
"I am Yama," he said, each word deliberate, low, and clean. "Elder of the Hidden Lineage."
He did not move far, yet his presence seemed to shift locations with each blink.
"Our strength lies in absence and survival. When death passes by without noticing you, that is our touch. We are masters of space and secrecy."
He sat again without a sound, as if he had never moved at all.
Then, a gentle laugh broke the tension. A woman with flowing violet hair rose next, her stride light and luxurious as if each movement were part of a dance.
"I am Ivy," she said, her voice warm, melodic, and disarming. "Elder of the Venomous Lineage."
She tilted her head, watching Enso with a glimmer of amusement.
"Not every battle is fought with weapons and silk. We deal in subtlety of a different kind: toxins and slow unravelling. One touch, one breath, one drop is all it takes. To master poison is to master patience. Those who understand its art learn to win before the fight ever begins."
The faint scent of flowers lingered as she returned to her seat, beautiful and dangerous.
On the opposite side, a man dressed in pale silver stood up. His appearance was clean, precise, almost surgical. His silver hair matched his robes, which shimmered faintly with woven runes that pulsed with quiet intent. He held himself like someone who had never once acted without purpose.
"My name is Karma," he said, his tone neither friendly nor hostile. "Elder of the Killing Lineage."
He studied Enso with sharp, calculating eyes, weighing more than just surface strength.
"We are not warriors. We are executioners. Precision is our law. Results are our only measure. I sense the thick killing intent around you. You've got potential, kid."
He didn't wait for a response and returned to his seat.
Next, the air seemed to heat up as a woman with blazing red hair stood. Her robes were deep crimson, stitched with golden sigils, each one glowing faintly with sealing energy. Even without moving, the space around her seemed locked in place.
"I am Enma," she announced, her voice firm and unwavering. "Elder of the Sealing Lineage."
Her posture was upright and steady, her presence more commanding than aggressive.
"We specialise in suppression, containment, and control. Whether it's a raging beast or a cursed artefact, nothing escapes our sealing webs."
Finally, the woman on the throne stirred.
She rose slowly, each movement effortless and graceful like drifting mist. Her white robes glowed with soft luminescence, and her silver hair cascaded down her back in flowing waves.
Though she stood the tallest among them, it was not her height that held attention. It was the gravity of her presence. She felt timeless.
"I am Hana," she said, her voice smooth and clear as spring water. "Ruler of the Void Vajra Spider species… and Elder of the Binding Lineage."
She stepped forward, her gaze serene yet absolute.
"Our lineage governs the unseen threads that hold everything together, such as contracts, pacts, and spiritual law. Unlike other lineages, we are the most balanced and adaptable to any threat."
She extended one hand toward Enso, palm up.
"Now, young one, among the six lineages… which do you wish to challenge?"
The six pairs of eyes locked on him, each heavy with expectation.
"If I'm not fighting any of you directly," he said, "then I plan to challenge all the lineages. Each of your specialities can help me in the journey ahead."
The room went quiet once again. Then, suddenly, all of them burst into laughter, but this time it was different. There was no mockery; they genuinely admired his spirit. He was offered a choice, yet he chose everything. A bold decision.
"What an interesting young man," Ivy murmured with a small smile.
Hana's expression softened. She nodded slowly.
"If you manage to defeat all six lineage champions," she said, "you will be trained under each of us. You'll learn our individual arts and the foundations of Nether Energy."
Enso grinned. "When can we begin?"
Without answering, Hana raised her hand and summoned six spiders into the chamber.
Each one was roughly two meters tall and radiated strength. Their forms closely mirrored the elders they represented—red, silver, black, purple, gold, and white. These were no ordinary spiders. They were handpicked from among the purest bloodlines of their respective lineages.
Gasps and murmurs rose from the other spiders in the chamber. Even the elders looked mildly surprised.
"You will be granted a name if you defeat the human before you," Hana told the six young spiders. Her voice held pride, but also expectation.
The six spiders stared at Enso with a mix of hunger and excitement. They could barely contain themselves. This was their chance to rise.
"We won't bully you," Hana continued with a small smirk. "You may choose which one you wish to face first."
Enso's hand went to the hilt of his blade. He smiled with anticipation.
"Alright," he said confidently. "Let's start with the red spider."
"Very well." Hana clapped her hands, and in an instant, Enso and the red spider were transported to a different location.
The sudden shift in surroundings left no room for doubt. They were no longer within the Spider Fortress.
Enso now stood in the centre of a vast stone arena, roughly the size of a football field. Eight towering stone pillars encircled the field, each one weathered and scarred by the marks of countless past battles.
Though the other spiders and their Elder were nowhere in sight, Enso could sense their presence watching from afar, observing the duel with quiet intensity.
The red spider kept its distance, eyes fixed on Enso. It didn't hesitate. In the blink of an eye, it launched a thread of webbing straight toward him.
The speed was terrifying. It almost seemed like the web had teleported, moving faster than the eye could track.
But Enso was prepared. From the moment he unsheathed his sword, he had already activated the Mind Eyes Of Kagura.
His perception sharpened, allowing him to sense even the smallest disturbance in the air. The instant the web came for him, he reacted.
"Void Step."
His body flickered, blurring into motion as he stepped lightly into the air, walking upward as though climbing invisible stairs. The thread missed him by inches. With a casual swing, he retaliated mid-air, sending out a slicing wave known as "Vacuum Flash."
The red spider reeled back. Its instincts kicked in just in time to dodge. It had never encountered a human like this before. Could humans really step on air and strike with ease?
Enso sheathed his blade without a word. He drew a handful of kunai from his Summoning: Lightning Flash Blade Creation. With practised ease, he infused them with chakra and threw them at the red spider. He weaved a hand sign for 'Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu.'
The kunai multiplied in an instant, soaring toward the red spider. As they neared their target, they exploded.
But the spider was not helpless. Even before the kunai reached it, it began spinning silk at high speed, wrapping itself in layers of dense webbing. The cocoon of silk acted as both shield and shock absorber. When the kunai struck, many stuck to the sticky threads, while the rest exploded on contact.
The blasts shook the ground, but the spider emerged from the smoke unscathed. Its silk had absorbed most of the impact.
Then came its counterattack. The spider unleashed a torrent of silk, rapid-fire like a Gatling Gun. Threads shot out in a net-like barrage, blanketing the sky above Enso.
Enso leapt backwards, slicing through the incoming web with another "Vacuum Flash." The technique couldn't completely tear through the netting, but it was strong enough to redirect the threads and prevent them from ensnaring him.
The web rained down, blanketing the arena floor. Within moments, the stone battlefield was transformed into a trap-filled domain tailored entirely to the red spider's advantage. Sticky, elastic silk coated every inch of the ground, ready to immobilise anything that touched it.
Forced to remain airborne, Enso didn't falter. Instead of seeing danger, he saw an opportunity. This was a perfect chance to sharpen his Void Step technique in real combat.
He shifted his foothold midair with every motion, running as if on invisible platforms. His steps defied gravity, and his rhythm made him difficult to track as he changed altitude freely.
He closed the distance in a flash, slicing forward with the full weight of his sword. This strike was more than an attack. It was a test to gauge the spider's defence and durability up close.
Despite its massive size, the red spider moved with surprising speed and agility, dodging with a fluidity that matched Enso's movements. The two exchanged attacks, the clash of chakra and instinct creating an intense spectacle.
The spider never took the attacks head-on. Instead, it kept its distance and diverted Enso's blade slightly with each clash.
But it couldn't avoid direct confrontation forever. Enso pressed forward, setting the pace and applying constant pressure until there was nowhere left to retreat.
'Vacuum Flash: Rampaged!'
A burst of slicing wind erupted from his blade, stronger and more chaotic than before. The wave blew away not only the spider's current threads but also those already spread across the ground. Webbing twisted and recoiled, whipping back toward its creator.
Like a fisherman's net, the strands tangled around the red spider, restricting its movement and clouding its vision.
But Enso wasn't finished.
He unleashed the Vajra Chain, infused it with chakra, and launched it toward the spider. It coiled tightly around its body, locking it in place. The more the spider struggled, the tighter the chain constricted.
This was no ordinary restraint. Enso had developed it after recalling a documentary he had once seen about spiders. One detail stood out: spiders recycle up to 80 percent of their webs by consuming them. Enso planned to prevent that.
He tapped the Vajra Chain with his blade, producing a sharp metallic clang. Then he spoke calmly.
"Surrender, spider. I don't want to kill you."
The red spider used all its strength to push the chain just enough to temporarily create some space to move. Then it proceeded to spit out silk, weaving a globe around its body. Enso tightened the chain as it pressed against the bouncy silk, squeezing the spider's body against it.
Before the spider could struggle further, a subtle ripple in the air signalled the arrival of others. Hana stepped forward gracefully, accompanied by Enma of the Sealing Lineages.
They examined the chakra chain with curiosity, but their expressions shifted to concern as they touched it and felt their chakra drain. Instinctively, they withdrew their hands.
Enma exhaled deeply and shook her head with a reluctant smile.
"The match is over. Enso is the winner."
She pulled a scroll from her sleeve and offered it to him.
"Place your blood mark here. It will finalise the contract."
Enso nodded and complied. As he withdrew the chain, the red spider stirred, slowly regaining its strength. It chewed through the remaining threads of its cocoon and peeked out cautiously.
It hissed at Enso, more frustration than threat.
Enma reacted immediately, knocking it lightly on the head with the palm of her hand. "Enough embarrassment for today."
The spider tried to explain itself, insisting its defeat was due to its own silk, a miscalculation, not weakness.
Enma responded with another playful tap.
"Just admit your defeat like a good spider. No need for so many excuses."
With a few more gentle knocks, the spider fell silent, sulking.
Enso approached with a smile after imprinting his blood on the scroll, his tone light.
"Let me help you out."
He focused his chakra into his blade, activating an S-Rank technique called Dark Lightning: Severing Blade, a refined variant of his Chakra Scalpel with lightning nature transformation. With a single downward swing, the binding threads split apart cleanly.
The red spider, now fully revealed and freed from the silk, stared at him silently. It had believed there was no way this human could break through its defensive cocoon.
But a creeping sense of dread surfaced as the blade effortlessly sliced through the silk, its confidence unravelling along with it.
Enso met its gaze calmly, without any hint of hostility.