Chapter Summaries

Orochimaru left Konoha to train and found a secluded valley where he summoned Manda. After Manda demanded a hundred human sacrifices and threatened to eat him, Orochimaru attacked and beat the serpent into submission.

• Orochimaru informed the Third Hokage, Danzo, and Tsunade that he was leaving Konoha, then traveled far from the village using Sonido.
• Orochimaru discovered a secluded valley and summoned Manda.
• Manda demanded a hundred living humans as food and threatened to devour Orochimaru if he refused.
• Orochimaru struck Manda with overwhelming force, dodged its counterattack, and battered it into the ground.
• Orochimaru stood on Manda’s head and warned the serpent to know its place or he would beat it to death.

Orochimaru brutally defeated Manda and repeatedly summoned him for beatings until the snake’s resistance weakened. After ten days, Orochimaru summoned Manda again and asked him to stay so they could talk.

• Orochimaru fought Manda, enduring his venom and tail strike before shattering his fangs and striking his vital point.
• Manda dismissed the Summoning Jutsu to escape, and Orochimaru decided to continue trying to tame him.
• Orochimaru stayed in the valley and beat Manda each day whenever he summoned him.
• After ten days of repeated beatings, Manda appeared increasingly unwilling to resist.
• Orochimaru summoned Manda again and told him not to leave because they could finally talk.

Orochimaru persuaded Manda to take him to Ryūchi Cave, where he arrived seeking the White Snake Sage. Upon entering the cave, he triggered a system choice offering him Sage Mode and an optimized Heaven and Earth Curse Mark, or Living Corpse Reincarnation.

• Orochimaru convinced the battered Manda to take him to Ryūchi Cave and said he would handle meeting the White Snake Sage himself.
• Orochimaru rode inside Manda's mouth as Manda reverse-summoned them to Ryūchi Cave, then spat him out and hurried away.
• Orochimaru washed off Manda's corrosive saliva and examined the strange energy surrounding Ryūchi Cave.
• Orochimaru entered the cave and received a system choice between learning Sage Mode for an optimized Heaven and Earth Curse Mark or refusing it for Living Corpse Reincarnation.
• Orochimaru favored the first choice and considered the potential of the system's optimized Curse Mark.

Orochimaru entered Ryūchi Cave to learn senjutsu and passed a crystal-filling trial before facing a second test built around food and seductive illusions. Shiro woke him from a scent-triggered genjutsu, but laughter sounded again as they continued deeper into the cave.

• Orochimaru chose to claim the improved Heaven and Earth Curse Mark later and followed Shiro deeper into Ryūchi Cave.
• Tagitsuhime reported to the White Snake Sage that Manda had brought Orochimaru, and the Sage told her to handle things herself.
• Orochimaru used Shadow Clones to fill the holes in a boulder with crystals and passed the first trial.
• Orochimaru entered a castle-like area and was ensnared by a genjutsu that made conjured food and seductive women seem real.
• Shiro bit Orochimaru and broke the illusion, leading him to suspect that its scent had triggered the genjutsu.
• Silver-bell laughter sounded again as Orochimaru recovered.

Orochimaru faced Manda and Garaga in Ryūchi Cave and defeated them, completing the cave’s trials. Tagorihime and Ichikishimahime led him to the White Snake Sage, who asked whether he was the one taking the trial.

• Manda and Garaga attacked Orochimaru together, and their boosted strength severed his body before he reconnected himself with snakes.
• Orochimaru fought back and left Manda and Garaga unconscious without killing them.
• Ichikishimahime and Tagorihime watched the fight and revealed that they had made Orochimaru’s trials harder.
• Tagorihime welcomed Orochimaru after his victory and led him with Ichikishimahime to the White Snake Sage.
• Orochimaru entered the vast cavern and saw the immense White Snake Sage, who asked if he was taking the trial.

Orochimaru met the White Snake Sage in Ryūchi Cave and began the dangerous trial to learn Sage Jutsu. As Natural Energy entered his body and signs of snake transformation appeared, the White Snake Sage told the three elders to save him if he could not endure it.

• Orochimaru recovered from seeing the White Snake Sage, greeted her respectfully, and praised Ryūchi Cave.
• The White Snake Sage examined Orochimaru, agreed to teach him Sage Jutsu, and warned that failure would cost him his life.
• Orochimaru sat at the altar and began circulating his Chakra after the White Snake Sage injected Natural Energy into his body.
• Orochimaru developed red snake markings and faint scales as he tried to absorb the Natural Energy before his Chakra ran out.
• The White Snake Sage instructed the three elders to intervene if Orochimaru could not hold on, while they watched him begin the trial.

Orochimaru adapted to Natural Energy and entered Ryūchi Cave’s hidden paradise to continue learning senjutsu. After hunger drove him to cook a large fish, Manda appeared, drawn by the smell.

• Rōshi continued training with Son Gokū while traveling as a monk.
• After meditating for half a month, Orochimaru opened his eyes and learned from Ichikishimahime that he had only begun learning senjutsu.
• Ichikishimahime led Orochimaru into Ryūchi Cave’s secluded underground paradise, where he sensed abundant Natural Energy.
• Orochimaru grew hungry, found a large fish, and cooked it in the hidden world.
• Manda arrived, scolded Orochimaru for trespassing, and eyed the cooking fish hungrily.

Orochimaru trained in sensing and controlling Natural Energy in Ryūchi Cave while winning Manda and the three women over with his cooking. After six months, he had nearly mastered Sage Mode and planned to leave in a couple of days.

• Orochimaru made Manda call him Brother Snake in exchange for grilled fish, and Manda eagerly caught fish for him.
• Tagorihime began guiding Orochimaru through the second stage of training: sensing Natural Energy and carefully absorbing it.
• Over the next half year, Manda gathered ingredients and seasonings for Orochimaru's meals, while the three women also enjoyed his cooking.
• Orochimaru nearly mastered Sage Mode and learned to activate it within a few breaths, maintaining it for most of the day.
• Orochimaru prepared food for the White Snake Sage and the others, then told Tagitsuhime and her companions he planned to leave in a couple of days.

After leaving Ryūchi Cave, Orochimaru encountered Rōshi and decided to test his Sage Mode against the Four-Tails Jinchūriki. Rōshi refused to hand over the tailed beast, and the two prepared to fight.

• Orochimaru left Ryūchi Cave after the White Snake Sage taught Shiro a snake cultivation technique.
• Orochimaru considered his Sage Mode and estimated that he could challenge most villages' Kage-level fighters.
• Orochimaru sensed a powerful Chakra fluctuation and flew toward its source to find someone to test his strength against.
• Rōshi trained to control the Four-Tails until the beast warned him that someone was approaching.
• Orochimaru identified Rōshi and asked to borrow the Four-Tails, while Rōshi mistook the request for provocation and refused.
• Orochimaru charged, and Rōshi threw a shuriken as their battle began.

Orochimaru battled Rōshi, absorbing his Lava Release attacks and overwhelming him with his speed and a Cero. Rōshi then transformed into the Four-Tails, Son Goku, and Orochimaru eagerly prepared to face the beast head-on.

• Rōshi attacked Orochimaru with Lava Release, but Orochimaru absorbed the heat and struck him with a sudden Sonido-assisted punch.
• Rōshi called on the Four-Tails and gained a Tailed Beast Cloak, but Orochimaru suppressed his Lava Release and hit him with a Cero.
• Rōshi survived the Cero by entering his Complete Tailed Beast Transformation as the Four-Tails, Son Goku.
• Son Goku offered to take control of the body, while Orochimaru stood ready to test himself against the transformed beast.

Orochimaru battled Four-Tails and its jinchūriki Rōshi, matching the Tailed Beast’s strength and surviving its attacks. After Four-Tails used clones to escape, Orochimaru collected the severed tails for research and flew back toward Konoha.

• Orochimaru fought Four-Tails with taijutsu and energy attacks, enduring its Tailed Beast Bombs and magma while growing stronger.
• Rōshi and Four-Tails decided to retreat and used a larger Tailed Beast Bomb to cover their escape.
• Orochimaru activated Sage Mode and struck one of four Four-Tails, revealing it was a clone that left behind a severed tail.
• Orochimaru tried to pursue the remaining Four-Tails, but Rōshi had escaped beyond the range of his Mind Net.
• Orochimaru sealed the four tails, absorbed the surrounding magma, extinguished the forest fire, and flew toward Konoha.

While flying back from Ryūchi Cave, Orochimaru learned how the Heaven and Earth Curse Mark worked and planned to base its versions on Mito’s and Hashirama’s cells. He decided not to apply Hashirama cells to himself yet and continued wishing he had a way to store his scrolls.

• Orochimaru flew into the Land of Fire and examined the system’s Heaven and Earth Curse Mark reward.
• Orochimaru learned that the mark could incorporate selected cells and the host’s will, passing some of the original cell owner’s traits to its recipient.
• Orochimaru planned to use Mito’s cells for an Earth Curse Mark and Hashirama’s cells for a Heaven Curse Mark.
• Orochimaru learned he would create the marks with inscribed scrolls, his cells, and a drop of blood, which also allowed limited sensing and one-way message transmission.
• Orochimaru rejected the idea of giving himself a Hashirama-based mark and resolved to keep researching Hashirama cells.
• Orochimaru looked at the four Sealing Scrolls he carried and regretted not having storage space like Obito’s separate dimension.

Orochimaru returned to Konoha, greeted Shizune, and went to report to Hiruzen. Danzo pressed Hiruzen to support him as the next Hokage, but Hiruzen rejected the idea and said the village needed a younger leader, leaving Danzo furious.

• Orochimaru returned home, greeted Shizune, and learned Tsunade had passed out drunk.
• Orochimaru left to report to Hiruzen and visit Danzo about his research and the eyes.
• Danzo demanded to know when Hiruzen would step down, and Hiruzen said the villagers would choose the next Hokage.
• Danzo argued that his years of service and contributions entitled him to the position.
• Hiruzen told Danzo that neither the villagers nor the great clans would accept him as Hokage.
• Danzo demanded Hiruzen's support, but Hiruzen said Konoha needed a young Hokage, leaving Danzo seething.

Orochimaru confronted Danzo over their stalled research partnership, then agreed to enter the Fourth Hokage election after Danzo raised the possibility. The chapter ended with Orochimaru receiving max-level Earth Release and the pair heading into Root's base with separate agendas.

• Orochimaru briefly reported his return to the Third Hokage, then left the office as Danzo stormed out.
• Danzo told Orochimaru to resume work, but Orochimaru threatened to end their cooperation unless Danzo delivered what he had promised.
• Danzo softened his stance, acknowledged Orochimaru's value to his research, and asked whether he would consider becoming Hokage.
• Orochimaru triggered the Fourth Hokage election choice, chose to enter the election, and received max-level Earth Release.
• Orochimaru agreed to let Danzo handle his entry into the election, and the two went to Root's base.

Orochimaru tested his newly acquired max-level Earth Release and discovered that gravity control could generate energy and enable flight. He carried a drunken Tsunade to the Valley of the End, where she asked why he had brought her there.

• Danzo had researchers give Orochimaru reports on Hashirama Cells, and Orochimaru reviewed their slow progress before leaving Root.
• Orochimaru tested Earth Release techniques and found that he could use them without hand seals, fly, increase gravity on himself, and create a Gravity Field.
• Orochimaru returned to Tsunade's home and found her asleep at the table with a wine bottle while Shizune was absent.
• Orochimaru carried Tsunade into the sky to get some air, and she woke up and questioned his ability to fly.
• Orochimaru brought Tsunade to the Valley of the End, where she recognized the statues of Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara and asked why they had come there.

Orochimaru took Tsunade to watch the sunset, nearly confessed his feelings, and learned she planned to leave Konoha with Shizune in a few years. They also discussed the coming Hokage succession, and Orochimaru asked Tsunade to tell him before she left.

• Orochimaru brought Tsunade to the top of Uchiha Madara's statue to watch the sunset, and they shared a quiet moment together.
• Orochimaru nearly confessed his feelings, but Tsunade ended the moment and he joked that he had been caught in a genjutsu.
• Orochimaru carried Tsunade toward Konoha, and she punched him when they landed on the water.
• Orochimaru asked whether Tsunade wanted to become Hokage after their teacher retired, and she said she planned to leave Konoha with Shizune in a few years.
• Tsunade asked whether Orochimaru would seek the position, and he said he was uninterested but expected Konoha's leaders to put him forward.
• As they neared Konoha, Orochimaru asked Tsunade to tell him before she left, and she nodded.

Orochimaru visited Jiraiya at the training ground and met Jiraisui, the boy Jiraiya had raised for two and a half years. Orochimaru gave Jiraisui a Sealing Scroll filled with duplicating Explosive Tags, and Jiraisui eagerly asked whether he could accept it.

• Orochimaru startled Jiraiya with a Little White Snake, and Jiraiya fell from the tree before recognizing him.
• Orochimaru said he had come to see Jiraisui, while Jiraiya complained about raising the boy and enduring rumors that he was Jiraisui's father.
• Jiraiya introduced Jiraisui to Orochimaru as his godfather's friend, and Jiraisui politely greeted him as Uncle Snake.
• Orochimaru gave Jiraisui a Sealing Scroll containing Explosive Tags that could be duplicated using Chakra and mental control.
• Jiraiya told Jiraisui to accept Orochimaru's gift, and Jiraisui asked if he really could.

Orochimaru reunited with Jiraiya, Minato, Kakashi, and Jiraisui, shared a barbecue meal with them, and read Jiraiya’s novel, “Icha Icha Paradise.” Before leaving, Orochimaru gave Jiraiya a ninjutsu scroll to teach Jiraisui when he saw fit.

• Jiraisui thanked Orochimaru for teaching him a large-scale attack technique, and Orochimaru learned about the boy’s training progress.
• Minato and Kakashi arrived, and Jiraiya invited Orochimaru to lunch at a barbecue restaurant.
• Jiraiya showed Orochimaru “Icha Icha Paradise,” and Orochimaru took the novel with him after looking through it.
• After the group returned to the training ground, Orochimaru handed Jiraiya a ninjutsu scroll for Jiraisui.

Orochimaru gave Jiraiya a scroll containing Wood Release techniques and returned to Danzo’s laboratory, where Danzo recruited him as a Hokage candidate. Orochimaru agreed to raise his profile while resuming experiments with Hashirama Cells, as Danzo pursued a campaign that the Third Hokage was unlikely to support.

• Orochimaru told Jiraiya to keep his identity secret for five years and gave him a scroll containing Wood Release techniques.
• Jiraiya realized Orochimaru had obtained the techniques through questionable means but chose not to hand over the scroll while Yamato was nearby.
• Orochimaru returned to his laboratory, where Danzo proposed backing him as a Hokage candidate and told him to appear more often around the village.
• Orochimaru agreed to Danzo’s plan, while Danzo believed Orochimaru’s reputation made victory likely and the Third Hokage favored his other disciples.
• Orochimaru resumed experimenting with Hashirama Cells, seeking to develop a perfect serum and body.

Orochimaru began teaching moral education at the Ninja Academy after Danzo arranged for him to substitute. He challenged his students to think beyond ninjutsu and prepare practical plans for life after graduation.

• Orochimaru arrived at the Ninja Academy, greeted Shikaku Nara and the other teachers, and received his timetable.
• Orochimaru entered his assigned classroom and introduced himself as the students' substitute moral education teacher.
• Orochimaru began the lesson on a ninja's self-cultivation, while reflecting on Obito's future actions and his own reputation.
• A young Hyuga student claimed that the class had good character because they supported the Will of Fire.
• Orochimaru asked how the students would earn a living if they refused missions, jobs, or merchant work, then assigned them to write graduation plans.