After getting information about Summoning Island from the sailors, Orochimaru wasted no time and headed there alone.
What Orochimaru did not know was that, just as he set foot on Same-Age Island, a ninja cat vanished from the bushes in a puff of white smoke.
Orochimaru strolled across Summoning Island with a relaxed expression, not believing the summoning beasts here could pose a threat to him.
"Hiss, hiss, hiss..."
Orochimaru looked up toward the sound and saw a centipede as large as a giant python gnawing on something.
On closer inspection, he saw a human corpse. The remnants of white clothing suggested it had been a doctor.
"Interesting! It looks like they're making something quite remarkable."
Orochimaru lightly stamped his right foot. Countless small snakes immediately emerged in a dense mass beneath his leg, then slithered off in every direction.
Orochimaru had no interest in the giant centipede. He felt that if he did not find the Uzumaki Orphan soon, his trip might well have been for nothing.
Just as Orochimaru suspected, inside a cave on Summoning Island, the so-called Ultimate Summoning Beast was becoming impossible to suppress. Its white tendrils strained to break free of their restraints, and its lantern-sized eyes were slowly opening.
"This is bad! We can't hold it down much longer! Honoka, hurry!"
"Yes!"
A red-haired girl formed hand seals, then dropped to one knee and braced both hands against the ground. Before long, several chains emerged from a circle of light on the ground and tightly bound the summoning beast's body.
With Honoka putting all her strength into suppressing it, the summoning beast soon fell asleep again. The researchers wiped the fine sweat from their foreheads and let out long breaths of relief.
"Whew... Honoka, thank goodness you're here!"
Honoka gave a bitter smile. "I