Due to the captives and the injured, Orochimaru and the others didn't arrive back at Maeda Take's manor until evening.
Knowing that two of the three major strongholds had been cleared, Maeda Take's round, white, plump face was beaming, smiling as brightly as a blooming white chrysanthemum, his small eyes narrowed into slits.
Orochimaru clearly caught the flashing calculation in Maeda Take's narrowed eyes. He figured this outwardly honest, but inwardly cunning, fat man was calculating what profit this excellent situation could bring him!
After quickly finishing dinner, Orochimaru returned to his chamber. He sat cross-legged on the bed and began his consistent, continuous chakra training.
About an hour later, a rhythmic knocking—"Thump, thump, thump—" came from outside the door.
Orochimaru opened his dark-golden snake eyes and focused.
Sarutobi walked in, holding a jet-black scroll in his hand, about the diameter of a palm and the length of an adult's forearm.
Orochimaru's eyes lit up. This was the Manda Summoning Scroll he had signed in his previous life.
Sarutobi noted the eagerness in Orochimaru's eyes and smiled warmly. He approached Orochimaru, handed him the Manda Summoning Scroll, and said with a smile, "I've reviewed this Manda Summoning Scroll. It is indeed a remarkable summoning beast. You must guard it well and put it to good use!"
"Yes, Sarutobi-sensei!" Orochimaru was slightly excited. With the Manda scroll, his strength was somewhat restored, and he could use many secret ninjutsu again.
Orochimaru solemnly accepted the jet-black Manda Summoning Scroll from Sarutobi's hands.
The black, antique scroll was titled with five large, centered characters: "Manda Summoning Jutsu." The typeface wasn't any common one; it was crooked and winding, as if pieced together from countless slender, small black pythons.
When looked at closely, one could faintly sense a strange, profound mystery in those five irregular characters.
The corners were somewhat worn and yellowed. The formerly rough scroll cover, polished by the passage of time, was slightly mottled and ancient, giving the entire scroll an air of having endured countless years.
Orochimaru stroked the Manda Summoning Scroll repeatedly, his eyes showing a sense of intimacy, as if he were seeing a long-lost close friend. He muttered in his heart, Old friend, across two timelines, we meet again. We will fight side-by-side once more!
Sarutobi looked at Orochimaru's expression, assuming he was merely excited to see a precious summoning jutsu, and thought nothing more of it. He continued, "You know the hand seals for the summoning jutsu, don't you?"
Orochimaru collected himself, looked at Sarutobi, and nodded.
Next, Sarutobi took out a familiar sheet of paper from the pouch on his back—Chakra Paper!
Sarutobi handed the Chakra Paper over: "I've devised corresponding training plans for both Jiraiya and Tsunade. Now that you've reached the Chūnin level, you should also test your chakra nature, so I can create a plan for you."
"Yes, Sarutobi-sensei!" Orochimaru, who always preferred to be in control, had already formulated a complete training and advancement plan for himself. Still, seeing Sarutobi's kind intention, he accepted the Chakra Paper and performed the test in earnest.
He channeled a thread of pure chakra into the white paper.
The square Chakra Paper, about the size of an infant's palm, immediately changed after Orochimaru injected the chakra.
The entire sheet instantly split in two, as if suddenly sliced by a sharp blade.
Then, a powerful force seemed to suddenly emanate from all four sides of the paper. The entire sheet shattered into fragments and scraps.
Finally, the shredded Chakra Paper suddenly ignited in Orochimaru's palm, turning into black ash.
The transformation finally stopped.
Sarutobi watched the changes in the Chakra Paper. An astonished look once again fell on Orochimaru, and he said in disbelief, "You child, you are actually a ninja with Fire, Wind, and Earth three-element chakra natures! Moreover, the sheer extent of the paper's change shows your chakra is both dense and pure. You are truly a monster!"
Orochimaru inwardly thought, Just as it was in my previous life—Fire, Wind, and Earth.
Hearing Sarutobi's praise, Orochimaru smiled slightly and said, "Sarutobi-sensei, you are busy. I'd like to go practice the Manda Summoning Jutsu."
Sarutobi looked helplessly at the pitch-black sky outside. Understanding Orochimaru's eagerness, he waved his hand, "Go on, go on. Come back soon, though. You must balance your training with rest."
Orochimaru, having received permission, quickly rushed out.
Arriving in the forest outside the town, Orochimaru was clearly excited. His dark-golden snake eyes examined the Manda Summoning Scroll for a moment before pulling it open.
Like other summoning scrolls, a long initial section slowly recounted the history of the Manda clan. However, unlike the Eight-Headed Serpent Summoning Jutsu, there was no restriction that only Jōnin could sign it. The end featured a long list of previous signers' names.
Orochimaru pulled it to the final blank space. A sharp light burst from his dark-golden snake eyes. He lightly bit the tip of his right finger on a sharp tooth, using the crimson blood as ink. With a solemn expression, he looked at the white scroll. With a flash of inspiration, he neatly wrote the five large characters: "Orochimaru of the Eight Heads."
The moment the blood-red name was finished, a familiar feeling suddenly arose in Orochimaru's heart—the summoning contract with the Manda clan, which now surfaced deep in his soul.
After signing the Manda Summoning Scroll, the black scroll suddenly shone with a deep-blue chakra light, melting into Orochimaru's left hand. It transformed into a bizarre, inky-black serpent mark, like a slender, coiled black snake, wrapped around Orochimaru's left forearm.
Excitement flashed in Orochimaru's dark-golden eyes. He licked his lips, I wonder if my "little guys" are still as obedient as they were in my previous life?
Dipping his right hand into the still-wet blood, he traced the inky-black serpent mark on his left hand. Orochimaru quickly formed the summoning hand seals!
Boar – Dog – Bird – Monkey – Ram
Summoning Jutsu!
The five complex hand seals were completed in the space of a breath!
Orochimaru slammed his left hand heavily onto the ground. One arcane, intricate ninjutsu formula after another rapidly spread out like a spiderweb!
Orochimaru's vast spiritual power skillfully connected to the space corresponding to the contract.
Suddenly, a giant, powerful, greedy, and evil presence pulled Orochimaru's spiritual energy toward it. In the spiritual sensation, a pair of gigantic, lantern-like, emerald snake eyes, filled with bloodthirsty, destructive killing intent, seemed to suddenly appear before him!
The moment he sensed the presence connected by the summoning jutsu, Orochimaru's face violently changed. Damn it! It's actually him!
🗒️NOTE:
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