Meanwhile, Manda was also talking with Orochimaru.
Unlike the calm on this side, however, Manda was far more irritable over there.
He glanced at Gamabunta and Jiraiya ahead, then turned his gaze toward Orochimaru atop his head and said,
"Orochimaru, you've saddled me with another troublesome opponent. Do you have a death wish?"
Yet Orochimaru did not even lower his head at the threat, as though he were ignoring Manda entirely.
Orochimaru was not doing this deliberately. He simply knew Manda's temperament well. The snake was arrogant and cold-blooded, and no amount of talking would improve his attitude.
Sure enough, his silence only irritated Manda further.
Manda thrashed his enormous head wildly, trying to throw Orochimaru off, then threatened him again.
"Do you have a death wish, Orochimaru? Answer me!"
Yet Orochimaru remained silent.
His feet seemed glued to Manda's head. No matter how violently Manda thrashed, Orochimaru remained perfectly composed.
But knowing he would need Manda's assistance in the coming battle, Orochimaru did not push him too far. He waited for Manda to vent his anger, then said calmly,
"One hundred sacrifices."
At Orochimaru's words, Manda immediately became much more docile. His enormous eyes rolled as though he were considering something.
For a cold-blooded, malevolent summoned beast like Manda, living human sacrifices were the ultimate delicacy. He could not possibly refuse.
But Manda was also greedy, so he began to bargain.
"No. This time, I want two hundred sacrifices."
"No problem."
Orochimaru agreed without a second thought.
In the past, he would have had other reservations.
But now that he understood his own ideals and ambitions, the lives of ordinary people were no different from commodities in his eyes.
So it was merely a few more sacrifices. He could give them without a care.
Seeing Orochimaru agree so readily,