Chapter 55: Dragon Cave's New Contractor
The sunset's afterglow was gradually sinking.
At the forward camp, in Orochimaru's tent—
"This morning I received intelligence saying the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, appeared not far from the camp. So I hurriedly led people out, prepared to engage the Fourth Mizukage in battle. But the result was discovering this was false information. Torune, you created this false intelligence, didn't you?"
Orochimaru, who'd just returned not long ago, sat in his chair. While flipping through numerous documents on his desk, he spoke without raising his head to Aburame Torune standing before the desk.
"Orochimaru, I don't understand what you're talking about."
Aburame Torune answered expressionlessly.
"I already told you I wouldn't interfere with you dealing with Hyuga Ritsu, but you still don't trust me. You went so far as to use this false intelligence to lure me away from camp... Oh, found it."
Orochimaru's document-flipping movements ceased. He pulled out two command documents, skimmed through the text at a glance, and with his lips curving slightly upward, smiled. "Having Kakashi's squad transport supplies to Mount Kinko, having Hyuga Ritsu depart from Mount Kinko to meet Kakashi's squad—does this mean tonight is Hyuga Ritsu's death date?"
Aburame Torune lowered his eyelids, saying woodenly, "Orochimaru, did you call me here just to say such meaningless nonsense?"
"What? Already impatient?"
"You're wasting time."
"So what? Is your time very valuable? Or do you have some urgent matter you're anxious to handle?"
Aburame Torune's poker face crumbled for an instant, revealing deep annoyance and disgust. But he still restrained this restless emotion, saying stiffly, "Orochimaru, if you have something to say, say it. If not, I'll take my leave."
"You've been like this since before—appearing carefree and composed, able to maintain an unchanged expression no matter what happens, but actually having no patience at all. Forget it, if you want to leave, go ahead!"
Orochimaru waved his hand dismissively.
He didn't care about today's matter, looking completely indifferent, as if he didn't mind at all that Aburame Torune had used tricks to deceive him into leaving.
But this instead made Aburame Torune's heart murmur with worry and unease, concerned that Orochimaru might have other methods to deal with him.
His feet seemed glued in place with strong adhesive—he stood motionless.
"Whatever you want to say, just say it. I'm listening right here." Aburame Torune didn't leave.
"You're such a character!"
Orochimaru laughed as if he'd anticipated this. Then he asked with some curiosity, "Why pick Kakashi's squad? Kakashi is Minato's student. If something delays them, do you think you can withstand Minato's wrath?"
"What does that have to do with me? I'm merely following protocol to fulfill my duties in your absence, Orochimaru. The manpower shortage isn't my fault. I've already given them the best conditions within my capabilities. I can't very well treat Hatake Kakashi like royalty just because he's Namikaze Minato's student, can I?"
"That's true. However... it's still what I said before. I advise you to contact the Mount Kinko defensive position to see if Hyuga Ritsu has disobeyed orders. If he hasn't, you need to be careful about how to clean up the situation if your plan fails!"
Having said that, without giving Aburame Torune a chance to speak, Orochimaru directly began shooing him away. "Go on, go on! Stop being an eyesore here. Go do whatever you need to do."
Aburame Torune pondered for several seconds before turning to leave.
After Aburame Torune left his tent, Orochimaru tossed down the documents in his hand and leaned back in his chair with eyes narrowed in thought for a moment. Then he stood up, came to the open space before his desk, extended his hand to bring his right thumb to his mouth, and bit through it with slight force.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
He crouched halfway down, both hands striking the ground.
Chakra released in an instant sketched complex curse seal patterns on the floor. As a puff of chakra smoke rose, a white snake as thick as a water barrel appeared before Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru, what do you want this time? Don't tell me someone else wants to sign a contract with our Dragon Cave?" The white snake stared at Orochimaru, speaking human language with a less-than-friendly attitude.
"What? Wasn't the contractor I previously recommended excellent enough?"
Orochimaru smiled as he met the white snake's gaze.
"Hmph, excellent indeed. The problem is they're too troublesome. Things finally calmed down these past few days. Before, they'd come to Dragon Cave almost every night to battle the serpents. Even that idiot Manda got annoyed by the harassment and was forced to agree to help him fight without requiring any sacrifices."
The white snake briefly praised, then couldn't help complaining endlessly.
However, in the next moment, she regretted airing this grievance.
"Oh! Even Manda would submit? Looking at it this way, have I been too gentle with you all?" Orochimaru stroked his chin, his face showing a contemplative expression.
The white snake immediately became alert, greatly alarmed. She hastily said, "Orochimaru, you mustn't go crazy like that youngster! Having that youngster causing trouble alone is already headache enough for us. If you join in the chaos too, you might anger the White Snake Sage. Then none of you will have a good outcome."
Having said that, she looked anxiously at Orochimaru.
What she said was a lie. The White Snake Sage wouldn't care how much chaos the contractors caused in Dragon Cave. Even if the serpents were killed, the Sage wouldn't care—after all, Dragon Cave contained countless serpents. Even if a batch died, new ones would quickly be hatched.
But snakes like her who'd gained intelligence and self-awareness weren't like those unintelligent fools living in a muddle. They enjoyed life and had their own hobbies.
So when that new contractor came to Dragon Cave late at night instead of sleeping, subjugating the serpents and disturbing her sleep, her mood became exceptionally foul. That's why she couldn't help complaining the moment she saw Orochimaru.
If Orochimaru followed that new contractor's example and caused trouble constantly, she truly wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully.
"By what you're saying, many of the serpents in Dragon Cave have already been subjugated by him?"
Orochimaru didn't say whether he'd change his approach to dealing with Dragon Cave's serpents in the future. He simply changed the topic with this question.
The white snake couldn't wait to end this topic, answering quickly, "That's right. Aside from the White Snake Sage and a few attendants serving the Sage, basically all other snakes have been beaten into submission by that youngster."
"Quite fast..."
A smile appeared on Orochimaru's face. His gaze shifted from the white snake's body, looking northward. He murmured, "Ritsu-kun, don't disappoint me! I'm still waiting for you to fulfill our transaction!"
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