The Rebirth Pill, though designed for smaller beings, could still heal a giant snake's wounds—its potency diminished but not rendered useless. Orochimaru glanced at Blue Snake, the massive serpent under him, and grinned.
"Come on, Blue Snake. Let's find the next one!" he commanded, popping the soldier pill into his mouth. With a graceful leap, he mounted the serpent's head, ready to face the other colossal snakes of the Great Snake Nest. Was he truly planning to fight them all just to locate Manda?
Unseen, Ichikishimahime followed Orochimaru, silently observing his relentless battles against one giant snake after another. Her brow furrowed in confusion. She could not comprehend his motives. "I'm not fighting that man, and I don't even care to try," she muttered.
The giant snakes seemed almost delighted to carry Orochimaru across the nest. Yet despite their willingness to obey, they bore visible resentment. Why had he captured their favor so easily? Why had they all submitted? Orochimaru, for his part, seemed oblivious to their grudges. For a fleeting moment, he realized that he had become, in some sense, the very bandit these snakes had feared.
Suddenly, the rock wall shuddered and splintered, and Manda, the colossal snake, raised its enormous head. Its eyes fixed on Orochimaru and the giant snake that had allowed him to sit atop it.
"You're causing quite a stir," Manda hissed, snapping its jaws. "Aren't you going to fight me? Relying on the Sage Mode of Ryuchi Cave, are you?"
Orochimaru's hand seals moved swiftly. "Sage Art: Lightning Release: Lightning Stimulation!" Lightning coursed over his body as the Yin Seal on his wrist released Yang Chakra, amplifying his physical strength.
With a violent punch, Orochimaru struck Manda's nose. The shockwave rippled through the nest, lifting Manda slightly off the ground. Its roar echoed across the cavern, a mixture of pain and fury.
"White Snake Scale Blade!" Orochimaru shouted, twisting his body. The scales on his white snake tail glinted sharply under the Yang-enhanced chakra, whipping across Manda's head. Scales and flesh scraped, blood gushing as the serpent screamed in agony.
Sensing Manda's rage, Orochimaru's hands blurred through the air as he performed his next technique. "Sage Art: Wind Release: Great Vacuum Orb!" He expelled a massive, high-pressure wind sphere, a swirling sphere of Wind Release chakra condensed to near-perfect force.
The vortex struck Manda with devastating impact. Its enormous body shattered in the air, shedding massive scales as it crashed into the ground. The snake's body writhing violently, it attempted to retaliate—but Orochimaru was already in motion.
"Wait!" Orochimaru's voice cut through the chaos. "Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation!" The ground erupted, shaping itself into giant hands that gripped Manda, halting its charge.
"What are you planning?" Manda spat, its eyes narrowing. Orochimaru's calm demeanor suggested a strange purpose: he wasn't here to destroy Manda, but to recruit a suitable summoning creature.
"I'm seeking a compatible summoning animal for myself," Orochimaru explained. Seeing the sudden ceasefire, he deactivated the Inorganic Reincarnation.
"I am the strongest giant snake in this nest. If I join you, your advantage will be clear," Manda proposed.
Orochimaru shook his head without hesitation. "No. You're too dangerous. I have no interest."
The rejection shocked Manda. A deviant suggestion had been made to the most formidable snake in the Great Snake Nest, only to be dismissed outright.
"Blue Snake, onward," Orochimaru said, leaping onto the serpent's head once more. Manda, though enraged, could only watch as the duo vanished deeper into the nest. Ichikishimahime, trailing silently, remained bewildered. Surely Orochimaru was seeking the ultimate summoning beast—but why reject Manda? Wasn't the redoubtable serpent enough?
No. Orochimaru had a different target in mind.
Blue Snake slithered forward, warning him: "Lady Orochimaru, this next area is extremely dangerous. Be prepared mentally."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "You can speak?"
"I always could," Blue Snake replied. "You just assumed I couldn't."
"Noted. I'll prepare myself. Lead the way." Orochimaru sat cross-legged atop Blue Snake's head, meditating to purify his Sage Chakra more efficiently.
Ahead, the land belonged to Shinza, a legendary red serpent of unmatched strength. "Lady Orochimaru, this is Shinza's territory," Blue Snake murmured.
Orochimaru's interest peaked. The territory was filled with giant snakes, far beyond any he had previously encountered. Shinza's reputation for his petrifying venom fascinated him. Even Manda had been forced to retreat several steps when facing this ability.
As they approached, a low rumble echoed across the nest. A massive red serpent, larger than Manda, rose, blocking their path.
"I am Orochimaru," he called. "Shinza, would you become my summoning beast?"
Shinza's tail whipped fiercely, a violent display of power. "You dare command me? I bow to no one!"
Orochimaru anticipated the attack, forming hand seals. Wind Release chakra swirled around him, forming a protective hurricane as Shinza lunged. The wind barrier dispersed the force, allowing Orochimaru to maneuver.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Stimulation!" His body surged with energy, and in a blink, he struck Shinza's side with a precise, powerful blow. Shinza's roar of pain filled the cavern, venom sputtering uncontrollably from its mouth.
"Wind Release: Night Wind!" Orochimaru shouted, creating a devastating hurricane that enveloped Shinza. Then, "Water Release: Water Pipe!" His white snake tail became a torrent of water, merging with the hurricane to form a massive vortex.
Shinza spun helplessly, trapped within Orochimaru's combined elemental techniques. Water and wind churned violently around him, leaving him disoriented and exhausted.
Orochimaru opened his eyes calmly, his aura radiating Sage power. "I offer you strength, Shinza. Fight alongside me as my partner."
Shinza paused, considering the offer. After a tense moment, the massive red serpent bowed, acknowledging Orochimaru's superiority. "I will join you in battle," he conceded, ready to serve as Orochimaru's summoning beast.
Ichikishimahime appeared beside them, astonished. In a short time, Orochimaru had fought and defeated nearly every giant snake of the Great Snake Nest, demonstrating his mastery and strategic genius.
The nest fell silent, save for the gentle ripple of snakes moving in respect for their new master. Orochimaru's Sage Mode chakra glowed faintly around him, a testament to his formidable strength, his unrivaled strategy, and his ability to bend even the mightiest beasts to his will.
With Shinza now allied, Orochimaru had achieved another step toward his ultimate goal—amassing the perfect summoning beasts to enhance his already terrifying power.
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