Under the purple mist of the dragon vein, a colossal white-scaled serpent coiled around the eye that sealed it. With four legs and dragon claws, it clasped the seal, slowly absorbing the swirling mist emanating from within.
Streams of purple dragon vein power flowed into the serpent, causing its scales to flare and wisps of green vapor to rise from its nostrils. The vapor gradually diffused, filling the entire underground space.
Shaya, hiding behind the Nine-Tails, marveled at the magnificent serpent, feeling a pleasant coolness spread through her body. "Mr. Fox," she asked, "why has Lord Kongchen turned into this?"
The Nine-Tails seemed intrigued by the "Mr. Fox" moniker and playfully nudged Shaya's head with a paw, making her flinch. "Haha!" the Nine-Tails chuckled. "He's a bit eccentric, don't worry about him. Just remember that most ninjas in the ninja world are normal."
"Is... is that so?" Shaya, feeling the soft fur on her head, dared to open her eyes and look at the Nine-Tails.
"Of course, how could I lie to such a cute little girl?" The Nine-Tails continued with a mischievous grin. "As for why he's like this, it's because he doesn't want to be human anymore!" Bursting into laughter, the Nine-Tails teased Orochimaru, finding it quite amusing.
"Kuyarama, gossiping behind someone's back isn't a good habit!" The white-scaled serpent slowly rose from the ground, its sharp claws scraping against the floor with a clang. "Sage Art – Transformation Jutsu!" A surge of green light enveloped the giant snake, and it gradually transformed back into Orochimaru's original form.
"This feeling..." Orochimaru closed his eyes, sensing the natural energy permeating the air. With a thought, several hands emerged from the ground, pinning the Nine-Tails firmly to the earth. "It's truly powerful!"
The Nine-Tails, caught off guard by the sneak attack, tumbled face-first. Forgetting to condemn Orochimaru's treachery, it stared at him in disbelief as he effortlessly manipulated natural energy. "You... you guy..."
"You can instantly enter Sage Mode?"
Orochimaru willed it, and the hands restraining the Nine-Tails dissolved. "Although I didn't fully achieve dragon transformation, I've gained something. I can now merge with natural energy anywhere, anytime. Sage Mode... has become a regular technique for me!"
"As for the incomplete dragon transformation, it seems I'll need to reach a higher level of physical strength and chakra before that can happen."
The Nine-Tails sprang to its feet and eagerly trotted over to Orochimaru. "Then what are you waiting for? Help me get revenge!" It exclaimed. "You know where that bastard Uchiha Madara is hiding, let's go cause some trouble!"
Orochimaru shook his head, speechless. "What's the hurry? Let's return to Konoha first, merge the power of this body with my original, and then head to the Snake Sage's cave to learn the combat techniques of Sage Mode."
Despite being rejected, the Nine-Tails' excitement remained undiminished. "First, let's go take care of Old White Snake? Fine!" it declared. "I've long been annoyed by her claiming the title of Sage. This time, I'll teach her a lesson."
Orochimaru ignored the creature, which seemed even more eager for trouble than himself, and smiled at Shaya. "Your Majesty, thank you!"
The Queen of Rouran, startled by their talk of revenge and destruction, vigorously shook her head. "N-no need to thank me! Lord Kongchen, as long as you leave as agreed, that's enough!"
Orochimaru nodded gently and took out a blank sealing scroll from his robe. With a surge of senjutsu chakra at his fingertips, he quickly inscribed something on it. "Write your name on this scroll and press your bloody fingerprint on it." He handed the scroll to Shaya.
Shaya accepted the scroll with a puzzled look, not understanding his words. "I promised Your Majesty that I would provide corresponding compensation to Rouran once I achieved the desired result. This scroll can summon me here once. When the disaster befalls Rouran in the future, open it!"
Shaya stared blankly at Orochimaru. "Summon? Disaster?"
Orochimaru nodded. "Indeed! These are the hand seals for the summoning technique. Practice them well; you'll find a use for them one day." He demonstrated the five hand seals slowly. After Shaya nodded, indicating she had memorized them, Orochimaru cast a final glance at the dragon vein seal still emitting energy, and then left the underground palace with the Nine-Tails.
"Kuyarama, let's go back!"
The Nine-Tails turned to look at the hesitant Shaya and grinned kindly. "Little girl, I can see you are a worthy queen. So, take my advice: memorize these five hand seals thoroughly."
Shaya clutched the one-time-use summoning scroll and nodded silently, following behind Orochimaru. Only after watching the man and the fox disappear into the wind and sand did Shaya quietly close the barrier and return to her palace.
This ninja named Kongchen had indeed kept his promise, taking nothing from Rouran but a negligible amount of dragon vein power. However, the more this was so, the more uneasy Shaya felt. If such a trustworthy person warned of a future disaster, it must be true, right? Then... she would practice the hand seals for the summoning technique diligently. Carefully hiding the summoning scroll in a secret compartment under her bed, Shaya sat on her bed, recalling the five hand seals Orochimaru had taught her.
In–Shèn–Yǒu–Xū–Wèi
Again and again...
For the sake of her people, she decided to trust that ninja one more time.
...
"Orochimaru, you're racking up more debts than ever!" The Nine-Tails wagged its head, counting. "The one owed to my other half isn't worth mentioning for now, probably still a long way off, and he's probably not in a hurry... Hmm... maybe..."
"Owed to that grumpy tanuki for solving the Jinchūriki problem, owed to that little girl from Rouran..." It tutted. "Tsk, tsk! Aren't you afraid you'll never be able to pay it all back one day?"
Orochimaru chuckled and held up three fingers to the Nine-Tails. "What I owe you will likely only be repaid when I fully master the Six Paths power. Since your other half isn't in a hurry, let's wait a bit longer!"
"As for Shukaku and Rouran's future problems... If nothing unexpected happens, those events won't occur for another decade or so. By then, those problems should no longer be problems."
The Nine-Tails nodded in agreement. "That's true! With the speed you're improving, you'll probably reach the level of that Hashirama Senju fellow in a few years."
"Right! How strong is this current body of yours? How much stronger is it than before?"
Orochimaru shook his head gently, clapped his hands together, and a surge of green light enveloped him as he instantly entered Sage Mode. "Who knows! Kuyarama, let's race and see who gets back to Konoha first!"
*Swoosh...* A faint whistling sound pierced the air as Orochimaru's green-light-clad figure vanished from the Nine-Tails' sight.
"Hey, that's cheating!" it grumbled. "You ran off before I even agreed?" With a grin, the Nine-Tails stomped its powerful legs and shot off like an arrow in Orochimaru's direction. "Picking on me because I can't achieve my full form, Orochimaru, you just wait!"