He was immediately welcomed with a small celebration. Although Li had not entered the main battlefield, he had still tied down the Grass Ninja reinforcements. Not to mention, the more than two hundred heads he had taken were enough to make him something of a hero. Afterward, everyone dispersed.
On his way back to the clan, Li was stopped by Orochimaru.
Orochimaru wore a brilliant smile. Since Li had not shown disappointment the instant he saw him, Orochimaru could be sure that Li had completed the mission. "Li, you did well this time. Come have a drink at my place."
"Of course." Li followed Orochimaru directly to his residence.
Once there, Li used the Summoning Jutsu to bring out Jugo. Orochimaru inspected his condition and had just nodded when Jugo suddenly widened his eyes. Gray keratin rapidly spread over his body, and Orochimaru frowned before leaping backward.
Jugo easily tore apart all the shackles on his body, let out a wild roar, and lunged at Orochimaru. Li frowned. "Orochimaru-sensei, what's going on? You never said he was this aggressive!"
Orochimaru's expression was equally unpleasant. He slammed a hand against the ground, and countless black snake shadows tightly bound Jugo. "Damn it. You didn't put him in the Summoning Realm, did you?"
"Please, Orochimaru-sensei. If I didn't put him in the Summoning Realm, were you expecting me to carry him back on my back?" Li complained. "But he can't enter the Summoning Realm?"
Only after seeing Jugo subdued by a single strike did Orochimaru speak. "Luckily, you kept him in the Summoning Realm and never took him out. Otherwise, if something had happened on the road, wouldn't it have been a complete disaster? All right, go. I can handle things here myself."
Hearing that, Li nodded, then said, "Oh, right, Orochimaru-sensei.