On the morning of January 15th, Year 44 of Konoha, Orochimaru convened a second strategic meeting.
This time, however, it was no mere discussion—it was a true pre-battle mobilization. Strategies were laid out in full, personnel deployments adjusted with precision, mission objectives dissected and refined, until at last the final assignments were handed down.
Orochimaru himself would lead a force of three thousand shinobi in a direct assault on Sunagakure's supply depot. The reason for taking the bulk of their strength was simple: this would be a brutal engagement, one where casualties were all but inevitable.
As for Shimizu, his task was no less critical. He would command his own 17th Regiment, reinforced by two additional regiments—over a thousand men in total—and head toward the southwestern border of the Land of Fire, where they were to collapse the vital passage used by Sunagakure forces.
Yet beyond strategy, the meeting served another purpose.
Orochimaru brought Shimizu forward, deliberately and unmistakably, using his own authority and reputation to elevate him—transforming him from a mere subordinate into a commander with real power.
The meeting stretched on until noon before finally dispersing, but while others filed out, Shimizu remained behind.
"The one watching you… that was someone from Root, wasn't it?" he asked casually. "Why aren't they here now?"
Orochimaru didn't bother correcting the phrasing. After all, who in their right mind would dare monitor one of the legendary Sannin?
"They'll return this afternoon, if you calculate the timing," he replied.
"Then we still have time." Shimizu stepped forward slightly. "I've got a few questions."
Without hesitation, he laid out every doubt that had arisen during his experiment the previous night.
"So you stayed behind just to test your new technique…" Orochimaru mused, pausing briefly before continuing. "As for your first question—at your current level, it is impossible for you to summon an intelligent snake. Unless, of course, you visit Ryūchi Cave and personally find a sentient creature willing to form a contract with you."
"And your second question—normally, a summoned creature returns once it dies or its chakra is exhausted. Intelligent summons, however, can choose to dismiss themselves at will."
Shimizu frowned slightly. "But the one I summoned last night… it fell asleep and then disappeared halfway through."
"That," Orochimaru said calmly, "could mean it was reverse-summoned back, or simply that it decided to return on its own."
Shimizu exhaled, half amused, half resigned. "So in the short term, I won't be summoning anything like Manda—something that can actually communicate."
"After this mission is over, I can take you to Ryūchi Cave," Orochimaru offered.
Shimizu's eyes sharpened faintly.
Intelligent summons… Sage Mode… just wait for me.
Still, another thought surfaced.
"Besides Manda, are there other powerful, intelligent snakes there?" he asked, then added with quiet insistence, "On the same level, at least."
"There are," Orochimaru replied without hesitation. "Even Manda's domain only extends across the upper layers of Ryūchi Cave. As for what lies deeper… or how powerful those creatures might be, no one truly knows."
Shimizu's gaze flickered. That sounded very much like there were beings even stronger than Manda.
"Isn't Manda the King of the Ryūchi Cave?"
A curious smile spread across Orochimaru's lips.
"Ryūchi Cave does contain a kingdom," he said slowly. "And Manda is indeed its king… but that kingdom is one he established himself."
The implication was unmistakable.
"There are other kings in Ryūchi Cave?" Shimizu pressed, his mind already drawing parallels. Just as the human world was divided among nations and leaders, why wouldn't such a structure exist there as well?
The thought ignited something within him—a quiet, burning desire.
A truly powerful, intelligent summon… he would have it.
Then, as if recalling something, he asked, "Now that I've signed a contract with Ryūchi Cave… can I form contracts with other summoning clans as well?"
"Of course."
"They won't conflict?"
Orochimaru let out a low chuckle. "If you wish, you could sign contracts with countless summoning creatures."
He paused, his tone turning faintly mocking.
"Though in reality, such creatures are exceedingly rare—and those they acknowledge are rarer still."
His eyes slid toward Shimizu.
"You don't seriously believe that just because you've become a contractor of Ryūchi Cave, you could also gain the recognition of Mount Myōboku, do you?"
"…Well…"
Shimizu's expression stiffened ever so slightly.
It was one thing to entertain such thoughts in private.
Quite another to have them laid bare so plainly.
The idea had been beautiful—almost intoxicating in its promise—but reality, as always, proved far less accommodating.
Orochimaru's next words fell like a quiet verdict, extinguishing Shimizu's lingering hope. "Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave are naturally opposed. Those toads… they can smell the scent of snakes on you."
Shimizu's expression darkened. "So there's no solution?"
"For a thousand years, no one has broken this rule," Orochimaru replied evenly. Then, with that same faint, unsettling smile curling at his lips, he added, "If you believe you are the exception, you are welcome to try."
There it was again—that eerie smile.
Shimizu felt an irrational urge to punch him.
In the end, he exhaled and let the thought go. Fine… Ryūchi Cave it is. Having a summoning contract at all was already more than most could hope for.
And besides… Orochimaru had hinted at something deeper. If one ventured far enough into the depths of Ryūchi Cave, there might yet be surprises waiting.
A sudden thought struck him.
"Ryūchi Cave" (Dragon Earth Cave).…" he muttered. Then, his eyes sharpened. "Are there dragons down there?"
For a moment, silence hung in the air—before Orochimaru burst into laughter.
"…Is that funny?"
"If there were dragons," Orochimaru said, amusement still lingering in his voice, "would I be using Manda?"
Shimizu frowned slightly. "And how do you know you could defeat a dragon?"
If dragons truly existed in this world… could they possibly be weak? And even if they weren't, would Orochimaru be capable of subduing one?
Orochimaru's gaze flickered with something unreadable. "If Ryūchi Cave chooses to form contracts with humans, then naturally it seeks something in return."
"And when something desires something… you simply give it what it wants."
He paused, letting the implication settle.
"Take Manda, for example. I did not need to defeat it in battle to reach an agreement. I simply knew what it desired—living sacrifices."
"I see…" Shimizu nodded slowly, thoughtful now.
Of course, he wasn't naive enough to believe that anyone offering sacrifices would earn Manda's favor. Strength still mattered. Orochimaru had been acknowledged not only because he could meet the conditions, but because he possessed the power to stand as an equal.
Still… the idea lingered.
If things could be resolved without brute force, that was always preferable.
And what if—just what if—dragons truly existed?
Shimizu let the thought drift away for now, returning to something more immediate.
"You mentioned earlier that reaching Ryūchi Cave requires reverse summoning," he said. "So when are you going to teach me that? If you're too busy, I can always go on my own."
"Reverse Summoning," Orochimaru replied, "is a technique performed by a contracted summoning creature to bring you to its location."
He paused, then glanced at Shimizu with faint amusement.
"Do you really think that snake you summoned last night is capable of performing ninjutsu?"
"…Right."
Better not to mention it. That thing had been nothing more than a mindless brute.
A moment later, another thought surfaced.
"By the way… how are you storing my blood?" Shimizu asked. "You'll need to return to Konoha for your experiments. Won't it spoil if it's just left like that?"
"I've placed it in a refrigerated container," Orochimaru said, producing a small scroll roughly the length of two fingers, "and sealed it within this."
Shimizu's eyes lit up slightly. "How much can that scroll store?"
"Three seal slots," Orochimaru explained. "Which means it can store and release items three times."
He spoke with measured clarity. "Each slot could hold something as small as a single shuriken—or as large as a hundred kunai. It could store a human corpse… or even the body of a giant snake. Size and weight are irrelevant; only the number of uses matters."
"Of course," he added, "the larger and heavier the object, the more chakra it consumes when sealing and releasing it."
"So small items are manageable. But something like the snake you summoned last night…" A faint smile crossed his face. "That would drain you dry in an instant."
Shimizu stared at the scroll, his thoughts racing.
A dimensional pouch? A pocket space? Some kind of spatial storage artifact?
Without hesitation, he said, "Give me one."
He was already imagining it—dozens, even hundreds of kunai and shuriken preloaded with lightning chakra, sealed and ready. With something like that, his firepower would become practically inexhaustible.
"And teach me how to use it," he added. "While you're at it."
Orochimaru said nothing.
He simply looked at him.
"…What?" Shimizu asked, blinking.
"Uzuki-kun," Orochimaru said slowly, "is this part of our agreement?"
"Are we trading item for item… or are you planning to pay in currency?"
Shimizu froze for a moment before realization dawned.
"…Wait. This thing is expensive?"
Now that he thought about it, something this useful not being widely used in the shinobi world did seem… suspicious.
"It is likely worth no less than the chakra weapon on your back," Orochimaru replied calmly.
"…Forget it."
Shimizu sighed, instantly deflated. He was already broke as it was—and he had even been considering saving up for another lightning-based chakra weapon.
After a brief pause, he tried again.
"Then… teach me Wind Release instead. That's fine, right?" He hesitated, then added cautiously, "You're not going to charge me for that… are you?"
"…"
...
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