"Lord Orochimaru, you are quite different from the other humans I've met!"
Tsujinahime's personality differed from the other two Snake Sannin. Beloved by the White Snake Sage, she possessed not only the cold, brutal nature of snakes but also a childlike playfulness fostered by the Sage's pampering.
Just as she was now, Tsujinahime led the way, tilting her head as she observed Orochimaru.
Looking at Tsujinahime, who was as adorable and charming as a human girl, Orochimaru couldn't help but think of his recently acquired disciple, Yakushi Nonou.
That child, no longer trapped in the black vortex of Root, would probably look like this when she grew up.
"Is that so?"
"Then tell me, how am I different from the humans you have consumed?"
Tsujinahime licked her lips and chuckled, "You compare yourself to those fools who couldn't even pass the trial. Lord Orochimaru, you are truly amusing!"
"However..."
Tsujinahime's figure suddenly appeared behind Orochimaru, coiling around his back like a boneless snake. Her forked tongue flicked against Orochimaru's neck, hissing, "I really want to taste the difference between Lord Orochimaru's flesh and that of humans!"
Orochimaru chuckled, a killing intent slowly surfacing in his eyes.
"Why don't you try and find out!"
Tsujinahime snorted, finding it rather boring. She released her limbs from Orochimaru's body and resumed her charming demeanor.
"Lord Orochimaru is truly calm!"
"No wonder you've earned the favor of the Great Sage!"
Her eyes darted around, and Tsujinahime playfully blocked Orochimaru's path, looking up at him. "I've decided!"
Orochimaru stared with interest at this serpent princess, who appeared delicate but was filled with darkness within, and asked with a smile, "What is it?"
Tsujinahime tapped Orochimaru's chest with her finger and giggled, "If Lord Great Snake cannot conquer Manda, as long as you offer enough sacrifices, I can also be summoned as a contractor to fight for you, Lord Orochimaru!"
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, finally understanding where Manda's habit of demanding sacrifices each time it was summoned originated. If one of the three Snake Sannin of Ryuchi Cave was so greedy and bloodthirsty, it was not strange for Manda, who retained its serpentine form, to have cannibalistic tendencies.
"Oh?"
"And what if there are no sacrifices?"
Tsujinahime blinked, seeing that Orochimaru didn't seem to be joking. A hint of a sneer immediately appeared in her eyes.
"Lord Orochimaru, do you really think that with the Great Sage vouching for you, you can get the help of Ryuchi Cave without paying any price?"
"That doesn't align with the rules of the transaction!"
Orochimaru reached out and caressed Tsujinahime's face, grabbing her hair and pulling her close. He looked calmly into her eyes, which emanated a cruel light.
"Rules?"
"Shouldn't those be made by the stronger party?"
Terrifying dark chakra surged from within him, instantly binding Tsujinahime's body tightly to Orochimaru.
Tsujinahime's struggling body froze in place. A hint of fear appeared in her previously cruel and bloodthirsty eyes.
"You dare to harm me?"
Orochimaru's palm exerted force. The dark chakra, sensing Tsujinahime's inner fear, churned even more fiercely.
"In the face of the temptation to transform into a dragon, you are all mere pawns that the White Snake Sage can abandon at any time!"
"As long as there is a sliver of possibility for me to help the White Snake Sage successfully transform, your lives are insignificant!"
"Do you understand?"
Warm breath brushed against Tsujinahime's face, yet it sent a chill down her spine.
"I... I understand!"
Orochimaru let out a cold laugh, released her hair, and withdrew the dark chakra into his body.
"Lead the way!"
"Yes!"
Tsujinahime no longer dared to show any playfulness. Trembling, she lowered her head and responded, then silently began to lead the way.
...
"Manda, come out!"
Tsujinahime stopped before a towering cave and shouted into it.
With a rustling sound of scales against the ground, Manda's massive purple head emerged from the cave. Its lantern-sized eyes swept over Tsujinahime and Orochimaru, a greedy killing intent flashing in their cold depths.
"Tsujinahime, is this human a sacrifice you've brought for me?"
"Leave him here, and you may go!"
Tsujinahime let out a cold laugh, her eyes filled with mockery and pity as she looked at Manda.
"Lord Orochimaru is the new contractor of Ryuchi Cave, ordered by the Great Sage. Manda, surrender your soul imprint, lest you suffer fleshly pain!"
Manda immediately became enraged.
"A mere human dares to try and enslave me?"
"Even with the Great White Snake's command, if you anger me, even if he is the contractor of Ryuchi Cave, he'll merely be a snack for me!"
Seeing Manda's furious demeanor, a hint of imperceptible joy flickered in Tsujinahime's eyes. She turned to Orochimaru with a look of helplessness and concern.
"Lord Orochimaru, what do you think..."
Orochimaru smiled and shook his head, saying with a knowing look, "It's fine."
"The main purpose of this trip is merely the divine artifact."
"As for the choice of contractor... there should be more than one giant snake in Ryuchi Cave that can speak human language, right?"
"If this one is disobedient..."
"We'll just kill it and find another one!"
Looking at Orochimaru, who spoke these chilling words with a smile, Tsujinahime's pupils constricted, and she unconsciously took a step back.
Manda roared even louder, its massive maw filled with jagged fangs lunging towards Orochimaru.
"Arrogant human, become my food!"
Orochimaru ignored Tsujinahime's subtle movement and slightly tilted his head, gazing at the mountain-like snake head descending. A cold killing intent surfaced in his eyes.
Dark chakra overflowed from his body, forming a black tentacle. The hilt of the Kusanagi sword suddenly appeared above Manda's head. With a thought from Orochimaru, the Kusanagi sword in the tentacle extended.
"Puchi!"
"Roooar..."
With a light sound of a blade piercing flesh, Manda let out a painful groan, its massive head pinned to the ground. Its steel-hard scales seemed incredibly vulnerable against the sharpness of the divine artifact.
Watching Manda thrash, causing the cave it was in to rumble, Orochimaru controlled the tentacle to firmly press down on the Kusanagi sword and walked to its head, placing his hand upon it.
"Cruelty, rage, killing intent, fear, hatred..."
"Manda, in the face of the void's primal power, all your emotions are under my control."
"The stronger your anger, the faster my power grows!"
"Considering your strength is somewhat passable, I'll give you a choice."
"Submit, or die!"