Chapter 56: The New Contractor of Ryūchi Cave
The glow of the setting sun was slowly sinking below the horizon.
At the frontline encampment, inside Orochimaru's tent.
"Reports came in this morning claiming that the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, had appeared near the camp," Orochimaru said lazily. He had only just returned and was seated at his desk, flipping through stacks of documents without even looking up. "So I hurried out with a team, prepared for a direct clash with the Mizukage—only to discover it was a false alarm."
His fingers paused as he turned a page.
"Ryūma," he added casually, "you fabricated that report, didn't you?"
Aburame Ryūma stood stiffly before the desk, his expression blank.
"I don't understand what you're talking about."
"I already told you I wouldn't interfere with your plans against Hyūga Ritsu," Orochimaru continued calmly. "Yet you still didn't trust me—so you used fake intelligence to lure me away from the camp."
He flipped another page.
"Oh? Found them."
Orochimaru pulled two written orders from the pile, skimmed them at a glance, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Kakashi's squad is ordered to transport supplies to Kinkō Peak. Hyūga Ritsu is ordered to depart from Kinkō Peak to intercept and support them." He chuckled softly. "So… tonight is Hyūga Ritsu's death sentence, then?"
Ryūma lowered his gaze, his voice flat.
"Orochimaru, did you summon me here just to spout meaningless nonsense?"
"Oh? Getting impatient already?" Orochimaru replied lightly.
"You're wasting my time."
"And why should that matter?" Orochimaru countered. "Is your time especially valuable? Or is there something urgent you're in a hurry to take care of?"
For an instant, Ryūma's rigid, mask-like composure cracked—revealing irritation and barely concealed hostility. But he forced it back down, his tone hard and stiff.
"Orochimaru. Say what you need to say. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
"You've always been like this," Orochimaru said with a shrug. "Calm on the surface, unshaken by anything—but in truth, utterly lacking patience. Fine. If you want to go, then go."
He waved his hand dismissively.
Orochimaru showed no sign of anger, as if he truly didn't care that Ryūma had manipulated events to draw him away. Strangely, that indifference made Ryūma uneasy.
His feet felt as though they'd been glued to the ground.
"…If you have something to say, say it," Ryūma finally said. "I'm listening."
"You really are an interesting one," Orochimaru laughed softly, as though he'd expected this reaction. "I'm curious—why Kakashi's squad? Kakashi is Minato's student. If anything happens to him, do you really think you can withstand Minato's wrath?"
"What does that have to do with me?" Ryūma replied coldly. "I acted according to regulations while you were absent. A manpower shortage isn't my fault. I gave them the best conditions I could within my authority. What—you expect me to pamper Kakashi just because he's Namikaze Minato's disciple?"
"A fair argument," Orochimaru admitted. "But I'll repeat what I told you earlier."
He leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing.
"You'd better contact Kinkō Peak and confirm whether Hyūga Ritsu disobeyed the order. If he didn't—then you should start thinking about how you'll clean up the mess after your plan fails."
Before Ryūma could respond, Orochimaru waved him off again.
"Go on. Stop standing there and cluttering my tent. Get back to whatever it is you're so busy with."
Ryūma hesitated for a few seconds, then turned and left.
After he exited the tent, Orochimaru tossed the documents aside and leaned back in his chair, eyes half-closed in thought. After a moment, he rose and stepped into the open space before his desk.
He raised his right hand, brought his thumb to his mouth, and bit down lightly, drawing blood.
"Summoning Technique."
He lowered himself into a half-crouch and pressed both palms to the ground.
In an instant, chakra surged outward, etching intricate sealing patterns across the earth. With a burst of pale chakra smoke, a white snake as thick as a water bucket emerged before Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru," the snake said coldly, speaking human words. "What do you want this time? Don't tell me you've brought yet another human who wants to sign a contract with Ryūchi Cave."
Its tone was anything but polite.
"Oh?" Orochimaru replied with a faint smile, meeting the snake's gaze. "Was the contractor I recommended last time not… satisfactory enough?"
"Hmph. Satisfactory? He's more than satisfactory," the white snake snorted. "The problem is that he's too troublesome. Things have only just calmed down recently. A while ago, he'd run into Ryūchi Cave almost every night and start fighting the snakes!"
It paused, clearly irritated.
"Even Manda—that idiot—got so fed up that he finally agreed to fight for him without demanding sacrifices."
The snake had meant it as a complaint.
But the moment the words left its mouth, it regretted them.
"Oh?" Orochimaru stroked his chin, his eyes lighting up with interest. "Even Manda gave in? In that case… have I been a little too gentle with you all?"
The white snake stiffened in alarm.
"Orochimaru! Don't you dare follow that little monster's example!" it blurted out hurriedly. "One lunatic stirring up trouble in Ryūchi Cave is already enough of a headache. If you start causing chaos too, you might actually anger the White Snake Sage. And when that happens—none of you will end well!"
It stared at Orochimaru nervously after speaking.
Of course, that warning was only half true.
The White Snake Sage couldn't care less about what human contractors did in Ryūchi Cave. Even if the snakes were slaughtered wholesale, it wouldn't matter—Ryūchi Cave had more serpents than anyone could count, and new ones hatched constantly.
But snakes like this one—those that had awakened intelligence and self-awareness—were different. They enjoyed comfort. They valued peace. They had… preferences.
And that new contractor? He'd been charging into Ryūchi Cave in the dead of night, subduing snakes nonstop, ruining its sleep and souring its mood for days on end.
If Orochimaru decided to join in on that madness?
Then forget peace—sleep itself would become a luxury.
"So," Orochimaru said calmly, changing the subject, "by your account, he's already subdued a large number of the snakes in Ryūchi Cave?"
Relieved to move on, the white snake answered quickly, "That's right. Aside from the White Snake Sage and a few personal attendants, nearly every other snake has already been beaten into submission by that brat."
"…That was fast," Orochimaru murmured.
A smile crept across his face.
His gaze drifted past the white snake, turning toward the north, and he spoke softly—almost to himself.
"Don't disappoint me, Ritsu-kun. I'm still waiting for you to fulfill our little bargain."