Become My Ninja Pet

[Disposition: White Snake]

[Name: Mamba]

[Age: 34 (Juvenile)]

[Length: 100 cm]

[Current Transformable Forms: None]

[Ninjutsu: 3]

[Genjutsu: 1]

[Sage Arts: 5]

[Taijutsu: 2]

[Speed: 3]

[Evaluation: He understands a certain degree of ninjutsu and possesses talent as well as a fairly agile mind. However, the order in which he was cut down left him harboring all sorts of dark thoughts. It is said that he has a female snake he likes, but because of his own failings, he can only grit his teeth and bury those feelings deep within.]

A series of system evaluations and data echoed through Itachi Uchiha's mind, making him pause slightly.

This little snake seemed fairly promising. If that was the case, he had other ideas.

"That's about it... so can you let me go now?"

Mamba helplessly shook his tail, producing a rustling sound. Unexpectedly, he was a rattlesnake. That rhythm was strangely disorienting.

Itachi Uchiha pondered the information he'd gathered. He hadn't expected such major divisions within Dragon Cave, with struggles between different factions already emerging.

Deep within the nest of Dragon Cave's most violent serpent hordes lived a one-eyed crimson serpent named "S inga," a great snake with reverse scales. S inga had lost one eye in battle long ago.

As a result, it had become a destructive menace that caused trouble everywhere. It was an exceptionally violent snake, one even the White Snake Sage couldn't do anything about. The snakes living in Dragon Cave all despised it, and no one wanted to approach it. However, according to its nature, removing its reverse scale would make it docile.

Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, this fellow had gathered many snake followers under him, seemingly intending to overthrow Dragon Cave's entire internal power structure.

If that was the case, Itachi had found an opening to exploit.

"Letting you go is still too early."

Itachi nodded.

"Don't tell me you really want to turn me into snake soup? Or are you... Come on, I'm a guy too."

Mamba's gaze turned strange, as though he'd seen through the other's thoughts.

However, Itachi directly pulled a scroll from his pack and tossed it onto the ground.

"Mamba, I want you to be my ninja pet."

At those words, the little white snake's expression darkened. Even he knew that shinobi sometimes signed contracts with intelligent animals, using them as tools in battle.

Once such restraints were imposed, it was naturally an enormous disadvantage for ninja pets like them, who were ordered around at will.

They might even be summoned straight out of warming their beds with a girl, only to block bullets.

Usually, only conquered animals would agree to such unreasonable demands. But for wild, untamed creatures like them, the very request was unreasonable.

Of course, there were also summoning contracts where both sides signed an agreement of equal cooperation.

But such things were exceedingly rare in the Shinobi World. Once a blood-bound equal contract was signed, it meant they would share glory and ruin alike. A single careless mistake could get both parties killed. And humans generally had shorter lifespans than ninja pets.

Thus, pets bound by such contracts in the Shinobi World could even be branded with the stigma of discrimination.

"You don't seriously think I'm afraid of you, do you? Trying to subdue me this way is absolutely impossible."

Mamba roared. Damn it, did this guy think he was some ignorant little brat who could be tricked with a lollipop into taking off his pants and going home with some creepy uncle?

Try again in a hundred years!

"Absolutely impossible? If anything, following me would be your honor."

Itachi Uchiha curled his lip and didn't force the issue. Generally speaking, only strength could make these unruly creatures bow their heads. But he hadn't dealt much with snakes yet. If it weren't for senjutsu and his clan's migration, he wouldn't want to put up with Orochimaru's bird-brained attitude.

Mamba had originally been ready to fight for his life, but he hadn't expected that man to seemingly lose all interest and simply prepare to leave.

It was like a bandit who had almost stripped a woman bare and was about to commit some lewd act, only to suddenly come to his senses at the last moment because of the woman's furious ridicule and resistance.

Damn it, preserving her chastity had suddenly become irrelevant. This was the greatest insult to her beauty—ptui! This was the greatest insult to his abilities.

Lord Mamba wasn't someone this kind of guy could insult so casually.

"Hmph!"

Itachi Uchiha frowned. He sensed many lifeforms steadily approaching from all around him. Rustling sounds filled the darkness, as though hundreds of venomous snakes were converging.

With that many, his kunai probably wouldn't even be enough.

He hadn't expected to encounter such trouble at the very entrance of Dragon Cave. It seemed he'd underestimated this sacred land of inheritance after all.

"You think you can just leave after touching me? Aren't you being a little too naive?"

Seeing that his underlings had arrived, Mamba let out a cold chuckle. As a noble snake, he naturally commanded one region. Snakes were inherently lustful, and their frequent mating had led to a culture in this clan where strength was everything. Much of that strength came from the gifts of bloodline.

Mamba swiftly climbed onto the head of a giant python, assuming the posture of a king. In an instant, hundreds of venomous snakes had surrounded Itachi Uchiha.

Even unknown creatures coiled above on the damp stalactites. If he made even a slight mistake and fell into that snake pit, he probably wouldn't even leave scraps behind.

"Why do I feel like you're the one acting like some dumped woman? What's wrong? Still can't get over it?"

Itachi Uchiha smiled, slipping his hands into his sleeves.

He had also tossed his fire striker aside. As one of the few sources of illumination in the darkness, it was the sole source of his vision. In other words, with both hands free, he not only had to protect his own life, but also ensure that his only light source continued to illuminate the terrain.

"You're the one who can't get over it... I see you're really stubborn, kid. Boys, get him! Take down this bastard!"

Mamba could no longer hold back and immediately shouted to the surrounding snakes. He absolutely couldn't lose face in front of his underlings!

This bastard had to be eliminated.

In an instant, these not-too-intelligent snakes leaped into the air with bloodshot eyes, using the elasticity of their bodies to shoot toward Itachi Uchiha like arrows.

For a moment, the dark mass almost looked like a rain of snakes falling from the sky.