章 97: C 89(1)
"It feels like we're an underground party. Next time, I'll bring some good things. As long as I'm in Konoha Village, we can talk anytime," Kain said, glancing left and right at the dim, damp Ryūchi Cave.
He was clearly uncomfortable with the environment: it was dark, humid, and likely crawling with snakes. The slick slime coating the ground only added to his unease.
"If it's about me, I can deliver it through a Summoning snake, but the White Snake Sage insisted on meeting the new contractor. That's why I called you here," Orochimaru explained, smiling faintly.
There was another reason as well: Konoha Village was no longer safe. His teacher, the Third Hokage, had begun to view Kain as a potential threat.
Given the circumstances, Orochimaru had deemed Ryūchi Cave a safer meeting spot.
"It might be due to the little pet I've been cultivating—or perhaps Ryūchi Cave is simply excited about finding a new contractor," Orochimaru added.
Curious, Kain asked, "Orochimaru, are contractors in Ryūchi Cave that rare? Wasn't Nawaki, your apprentice, one of them?"
Orochimaru shook his head. "He never signed a contract with Ryūchi Cave. He only learned a few snake-based jutsu. Nawaki's fighting style isn't suited for large-scale Summoning, so he wasn't allowed to sign the contract. As for Ryūchi Cave contractors, in the past century, it's only been you and me."
"Just two people?" Kain frowned, thinking back. If he remembered correctly, the Third Kazekage had also signed a contract with the snakes of Ryūchi Cave.
Orochimaru seemed to anticipate Kain's thoughts. Before Kain could speak, he clarified, "There are individuals who have signed Summoning contracts with specific snakes from Ryūchi Cave, but you and I are the only ones to hold contracts with the entire cave. Back then, the timing wasn't right for you to sign with a single snake."
"The Summoning scroll of Ryūchi Cave has never been circulated outside. Even I could only sign the contract after coming here," Orochimaru added.
"I see," Kain said with a nod.
They continued walking deeper into the cave until they noticed a faint light ahead. Emerging from the dark tunnel, they found themselves in a vast, open space at the base of a towering cliff.
Kain suddenly felt something and turned to look to his side. Not far from him, a creature over ten meters long lay coiled.
It wasn't just a snake—it had two wings, metallic-looking scales, a ferocious head, and four limbs growing from its abdomen.
"Orochimaru, is this one of your creations?" Kain asked in a low voice.
Before Orochimaru could answer, the mist in the area began to clear, revealing a massive stone statue on the far side of the clearing.
At the base of the statue sat a stone throne, upon which lay the White Snake Sage, coiled and smoking.
Orochimaru nodded respectfully to the Sage before introducing Kain. "White Snake Sage, this is Kain, the new contractor."
"Welcome, new contractor. Since you haven't yet Summoned a snake to fulfill your contract, I had Orochimaru bring you here," the Sage said, her sharp voice echoing effortlessly across the open space.
Her tone was like that of an elderly woman, piercing and commanding, carrying an ancient, otherworldly presence.
After witnessing the scene, Orochimaru's interest grew even stronger. The White Snake Sage, who typically showed disdain for everyone, was being unusually polite this time.
But what about the other test subject he had left here?
Kain nodded to the White Snake Sage and asked directly, "White Snake Sage, what do you want from me?"
The Sage wasted no time and replied, "It's about that creature over there."
She slightly raised her massive snake tail and gestured toward the dragon-like, snake-like creature in the distance. "This one was raised by Orochimaru. I hear cultivating this type of creature requires your support—continuous support, in fact."
"Well," Kain began, "in our country, this type of creature is called a fire dragon. I don't know if it's the same kind of dragon you're familiar with."
Kain could sense the White Snake Sage's keen interest in the dragon but couldn't decipher its exact intentions.
"I have a request for both of you," the Sage said. "Could you provide Ryūchi Cave with a batch of such dragons in the future? Preferably ones with a purer bloodline than this one."
Kain felt something was off and asked cautiously, "White Snake Sage, why do you want dragons?"
"To eat," the Sage replied bluntly. "This type of dragon is highly appealing to us and extremely beneficial. Their flesh and blood are far superior to those of humans or any other creatures."
The Sage admitted that it hadn't eaten in centuries, but after seeing the two dragons Orochimaru had cultivated, it couldn't resist devouring one.
Upon digesting it, the Sage experienced a sensation of immense comfort, similar to when it first practiced absorbing natural energy thousands of years ago.
The creature's flesh appeared to aid its evolution, which prompted the Sage to approach Orochimaru—and eventually Kain, the true "supplier"—with this request.
However, Orochimaru's expression darkened. "Eat? White Snake Sage, last time you claimed the other dragon had gone foraging."
"Apologies, Orochimaru," the Sage said, offering an unusually humble response. "Ryūchi Cave will compensate you for the loss."
This uncharacteristic humility surprised Orochimaru. From all the information he had gathered, Ryūchi Cave was known to be the least accommodating of the three great Summoning holy places.
For example, when Tsunade or Jiraiya summoned their respective creatures, they would assist in battle without hesitation.
In contrast, Orochimaru's Manda often demanded conditions—most commonly human sacrifices—before agreeing to fight. The White Snake Sage itself was even more aloof, rarely speaking to anyone at all.
"In the future," the Sage continued, "your agreement with Manda will be voided. You may summon it to assist in battle at any time, without requiring a sacrifice."
Orochimaru frowned slightly and responded, "Even so, that's far from sufficient. Cultivating these two dragons alone consumed a significant amount of my resources and energy, not to mention the difficulty of acquiring more."
His relationship with Ryūchi Cave had always been transactional at best.
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