The Land of Fire, Sunagakure's lodgings.
Under cover of night, Kabuto Yakushi slipped into Orochimaru's room. In the unsteady candlelight, Orochimaru sat with his head propped on one hand, wearing a conical hat and veil, as if waiting for him.
"Good evening, Lord Orochimaru."
Kabuto knelt on one knee, deeply curious. They were only half a day's journey from Konoha. Why had Lord Orochimaru summoned him?
"Do you have any information on Uchiha Shinmoku?"
Orochimaru asked directly.
"Um..."
For a moment, Kabuto wondered if Orochimaru had developed senile dementia. He had already answered that question the last time they met, and when the second exam ended, he had been told the target's priority remained unchanged. So he had put off gathering more information on Shinmoku.
There was just one thing wrong with this man. He was always trying to read Orochimaru's mind. Orochimaru glanced at him and said:
"Yesterday, I met with Shinmoku."
"I see... Wait! Yesterday?" Kabuto's mind stalled. "Then he must have... How did he know?"
"I don't know."
"Does Konoha know?"
"That's what I should be asking you."
Kabuto lowered his head and reviewed the intelligence he had gathered recently. After a long while, he said:
"My assessment is that Konoha doesn't know. But I can't judge Shinmoku's personality or motives, so I can't assess the risk."
That was consistent with Orochimaru's own assessment. His eyes curved slightly. Shinmoku had hidden himself well. Orochimaru had almost thought another Shisui Uchiha had appeared.
"Continue the mission," Orochimaru ordered. "But bring in more people."
"Should I... bring those two along?"
"Go ahead."
"Yes!"
Ryūchi Cave.
Shinmoku held a scroll nearly half his height and stared at it, baffled.
Was the White Snake Sage really handing out scrolls this casually?
He had passed a few simple tests that were like child's play, and now he was Ryūchi Cave's representative? Or, to put it in more impressive terms... a Shinobi World emissary?
Heaven knew, all he wanted was to sign his name and become a summoner... But an inheritor had responsibilities!
Still, he couldn't refuse to sign.
Unrolling the scroll, Shinmoku bit his finger and wrote his name in the first box.
"What now?" He looked at the White Snake Sage.
"You can summon them directly, but aside from a few young ones curious about what the outside world looks like, no one will answer you. I suggest you first sign a contract with a snake you like... though there's no guarantee it'll work."
The White Snake Sage could tell Shinmoku knew nothing, so she explained everything in detail.
"Got it."
Shinmoku looked at the loli who had lived for who knew how many centuries. He had just learned her name: Ichikishimahime.
"I don't need to. I can sense summons. If you call sincerely, I'll appear."
Oh, so she was one of the "young ones" the White Snake Sage had mentioned.
Shinmoku mused to himself. When he came back to his senses, the four of them had disappeared, leaving him alone to face the gloomy, tangled corridors.
A gust of wind blew by, sending a chill straight through him. Then came hissing from all directions. Before long, a mass of snakes had surrounded him.
Round heads, square heads, triangular heads—countless long snakes slithered and coiled around one another. Scales prickled up along Shinmoku's arms, just like a snake's.
The stronger ones had their own lairs. Most of the ones gathered here were probably "free-range." He knew that, but it did nothing to ease his discomfort.
"Lightning Release: Spider Web!"
Shinmoku formed Hand Seals, and a web of lightning spread out from him.
"Cat Rush."
The hand signs extended the attack, and dozens of cat-shaped arcs of electricity rose from the web.
The jutsu was reasonably powerful, more than enough to clear out fodder. It was perfect for this.
In a flash, the smell of roasted meat filled the air. Most of the snakes passed out... possibly cooked. A few escaped, and only a handful kept coming.
Shinmoku stopped the jutsu and signed contracts with them.
He still needed a few that could make an impression, so he began wandering aimlessly.
There were plenty of snakes with their own territory. Some looked like trouble, while others gave off a dangerous smell from far away. After half a day, Shinmoku had only tamed three.
The first wasn't very big, but had a powerful swallowing ability. It could be used for defense.
The second was about five meters long and as thick as a barrel. Its iron-gray scales were hard, making it useful for defense.
The last one was huge, coiled throughout an entire lair. But it had a gentle temperament and disliked fighting. It would still make an impressive display.
That should do it.
Um... which way was the exit?
He'd been too caught up in the thrill of fighting to leave any markers.
Shinmoku stood at attention, turned left, turned left, turned left, turned left, went around in a circle, then turned around again.
Yeah, this way looked more familiar.
He wasn't worried. He could always find a local to lead him out. He'd make it eventually.
As he walked, white mist suddenly rose from beneath his feet, like dry ice, and the temperature dropped.
Had he stumbled into some big shot's territory?
He couldn't sense anything.
Shinmoku activated his Sharingan and went on alert.
He proceeded cautiously for ten minutes, but the mist around his feet still hadn't cleared. It seemed he had ended up back where he started.
Fire Release: Great Fireball.
Shinmoku breathed a fireball toward a stalactite hanging nearby. The stone pillar exploded with a crash.
It was real, then fake, but not a genjutsu...
Shinmoku thought of Yakumo Kurama. This was similar, but not quite the same.
Illusions? The abilities of the White Snake Sage and the three elders?
"Heh~"
A clear, airy laugh sounded by his ear and echoed through the cavern. He couldn't tell where it came from.
It could speak human language.
"Hello." Shinmoku looked around as he greeted it.
"Who are you?"
"Uchiha Shinmoku."
"Did you kill that Orochimaru?"
Was that conclusion based on the scroll on his back?
Shinmoku understood and answered honestly. "No. I passed the test, and the White Snake Sage gave me a new scroll... Want to sign?"
"Heh." The voice seemed to laugh in exasperation. "What you should be doing right now is begging me to let you go."
"I can leave whenever I want." Shinmoku shrugged. "But you might not get another chance like this."
The instant he finished speaking, a pair of azure slit pupils appeared before him. They were less than ten centimeters apart.
Invisible?
Shinmoku swallowed involuntarily and leaned back slightly, taking in her full appearance.
She looked a lot like the White Snake Sage, only smaller.
A direct descendant?
"Sharingan? Interesting... Hold out your hand."
Her voice carried a command that allowed no argument. Shinmoku held out his hand.
Fangs touched his palm and withdrew at once.
"You can go. Don't call me unless it's important."
So... the contract had already worked?
"What's your name?"
"You can call me White Snake Fairy."
As she spoke, her figure slowly faded, and the white mist gradually receded.